New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles said Thursday that Josh McCown will open training camp in July atop the quarterback depth chart, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.Bowles listed McCown ahead of free-agent acquisition Teddy Bridgewater and rookie Sam Darnold, but added that nothing is concrete."The competition will heat up when we're in pads and when those things count," the coach said.McCown, who performed admirably for the Jets in 13 games last year, has been the presumed leader in the clubhouse throughout the offseason, but it was Bridgewater who impressed onlookers the most at OTAs and minicamp.The Jets have also stated numerous times that Darnold, the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, will have a serious shot at winning the starting gig.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants finished minicamp Thursday with a fight, as defensive tackle Damon Harrison and rookie guard Will Hernandez got into a scuffle that led to an injury scare for left tackle Nate Solder.It's unclear what sparked the incident, but at one point Harrison swung Hernandez's helmet at the rookie's head, fortunately missing his target."It has been very competitive the whole camp and there's certain things that we can't do," first-year head coach Pat Shurmur told reporters after practice, courtesy of SNY's Ralph Vacchiano. "We gotta settle down. The situation where scuffles break like that, we just take them out of the practice and let them cool off."Solder, who was caught in the melee, got his leg rolled up on by a teammate and limped off the field. The Giants' prized free-agent acquisition told reporters afterward his knee "hurt a little bit," according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan, but Shurmur said Solder should be "fine."Shurmur chalked up the initial scuffle between Harrison and Hernandez to healthy competitiveness, but admitted the helmet swing bothered him.Hernandez has already been involved in a number of dust-ups in his brief tenure with the Giants. He was drafted in the second round in April, and was known for playing with a mean streak at UTEP."It's very competitive up there," Shurmur said. "Will Hernandez is a very competitive guy, and they just kind of butted heads."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim isn't concerned about David Johnson, the centerpiece of his team's offense, skipping minicamp amid contract talks.The running back is slated to be a free agent after the 2018 season, but Keim said the Cardinals won't let him get close to the open market."I don't think there is any question David is one of our core players and someone we look forward to having a long-term future with," Keim said, according to Darren Urban of the team's official site."(It's) no different from in the past, when we've rewarded players like Patrick Peterson, Chandler Jones, Larry Fitzgerald, and Carson Palmer, just to name a few. There's no doubt in my mind moving forward that we will keep a positive outlook and again, look forward to rewarding him just like we have players in the past."Johnson missed all but one game of the 2017 campaign due to a wrist injury. Prior to that, he shined during a breakout 2016 season, racking up 2,118 yards from scrimmage and 20 total touchdowns, production that should put him in position to be the highest-paid player among running backs.Devonta Freeman currently holds that title among backs on long-term deals, earning $8.25 million per season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Fantasy managers willing to take late-round risks on once-hyped, since-forgotten players can be greatly rewarded.Whether they lost their luster due to injuries, falling down depth charts, or simple underperformance, each of these four players has an opportunity to return to fantasy relevance in 2018.Chris Carson, RB, SeahawksNot only is Carson returning from a leg injury that prematurely ended his rookie campaign, but the Seahawks appeared to draft his replacement by selecting running back Rashaad Penny 27th overall in April.Carson's 4.2 yards per carry led Seahawks running backs last season and his 208 rushing yards - in just four games - ranked third on the team behind quarterback Russell Wilson (586) and running back Mike Davis (240), who played six contests.In Penny's final season at San Diego State, he gained 2,027 yards on the ground and scored 21 total touchdowns. He's expected to slot in atop the depth chart immediately. But Carson - who's available at an ADP of 11.11 - should retain some work as the No. 2. He's a top-tier handcuff for the unproven rookie on an offense that will welcome any help it can get in the red zone.Cody Latimer, WR, GiantsIn his tenure with the Denver Broncos, Latimer never lived up to his second-round status from the 2014 draft. Now 25 years old, he sports career totals of 35 receptions on 60 targets for 445 yards and three touchdowns, setting career highs in each category in 2017.The Giants landed Latimer relatively early in free agency on a one-year, $2.5-million contract. He's expected to replace the released Brandon Marshall opposite Odell Beckham Jr. on the outside, with Sterling Shepard operating out of the slot.Adding No. 2 pick Saquon Barkley and hiring Pat Shurmur as head coach should help balance out a Giants offense that ranked fourth in pass-play percentage at 61.97 last season (according to Team Rankings). However, Latimer's still likely to get his largest role to date and could quickly become fantasy relevant while posting new career highs across the board.Cameron Meredith, WR, SaintsMeredith and the Saints are hoping he can return to his 888-yard, four-touchdown form from 2016, when he played on a Chicago Bears team that handed starts to Jay Cutler, Brian Hoyer, and Matt Barkley.With Meredith seemingly on the verge of a bigger breakout, his 2017 season was wiped away by a torn ACL. The 6-foot-3 receiver joined the Saints on a two-year, $9.5-million deal this offseason and is set to take on a significant role in an offense featuring the best quarterback he's ever played with.At least three Saints players have racked up a minimum of 700 receiving yards in each of the past four years, setting a reasonable floor for Meredith as the presumptive No. 3 receiver behind Michael Thomas and Ted Ginn Jr.Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, PatriotsA failed first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in the 2013 draft, Patterson found some success as a kick returner and offensive gadget player with the Oakland Raiders in 2017. He rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns on 13 attempts over 16 games, his highest output since his rookie season.The Patriots aren't likely to use him as a rusher so frequently, but he's among the top options to replace suspended wide receiver Julian Edelman for their first four games. Chris Hogan and Jordan Matthews are projected to be the top options at receiver, while Patterson will compete with Phillip Dorsett, Malcolm Mitchell, Kenny Britt, and rookie Braxton Berrios for any remaining targets.Patterson may have a small window of opportunity - if he can even earn a roster spot, never mind a prominent offensive role - but he's also expected to replace the departed Danny Amendola in the return game, and could help fantasy teams for at least the first quarter of the season as an upside option out of the FLEX.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Put Thomas Davis' retirement celebrations on hold.The longtime Carolina Panthers linebacker - who's suspended for the first four games of the upcoming season after testing positive for a banned estrogen blocker - said Thursday he's considering reversing his decision to retire at the end of the 2018 campaign."I'm very open to the possibility of playing next season," Davis said, according to Jourdan Rodrigue of the Carolina Observer. "You haven't been listening. I'm very open."The 35-year-old is expected to have a reduced role in 2018, the final year of his contract. It's unclear if the Panthers would be interested in bringing back Davis for another season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett said Thursday he'd never make a move like Kevin Durant did to win a championship."You hopped onto a 73-9 team and he took the easy way out, in my mind," Garrett said of the former Oklahoma City Thunder and current Golden State Warriors star to Ken Carman and Anthony Lima of 92.3 "The Fan.""It's different when LeBron left. He went to (Miami to join) Wade and Bosh, but it wasn't something that was already guaranteed, something you already knew was going to have immediate success. (James) had to jell and work things into place."Garrett's opinion might be skewed by the fact that he plays in Cleveland, but his comments were scathing, nonetheless."If I were him, I would've never made a move like that in the first place,'' he added. "Me, I'm too competitive to try and ride on somebody's coattails to get a W. But for him, you might as well stay at the spot you're at now. There's no point in leaving since you've already taken that moniker where he's been called the snake and cupcake and all that. You might as well stay and just keep on winning."Garrett, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft, was part of a Browns squad last year that went 0-16. He posted seven sacks in his rookie campaign.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson continues to praise veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor.After his team's final minicamp Wednesday, Jackson reiterated his post-draft promise that Taylor would be the Browns starting quarterback even after selecting Baker Mayfield No. 1 overall."Tyrod walked in here, I made a commitment to him and he's held up his end of the bargain with not just the way he works but the way he plays and the way he leads,'' Jackson said Wednesday, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. "He's earned the right to be the starting quarterback here."Related- Manziel: Mayfield in 'better situation' learning from TaylorAcquired from the Buffalo Bills for a third-round pick in March, Taylor is not thinking about losing his job to Mayfield."I feel that (it's my team)," he said. "I never doubted that. It takes time to learn guys on both sides of the ball. It takes time to learn the building, but as far as me commanding and taking control of the huddle, taking control of groups when we're working out and speaking up when stuff needs to be said, I definitely feel comfortable in doing that. I think guys respect that."Taylor will be tasked with leading Cleveland out of the NFL's cellar in 2018. The Browns have a 1-31 record over the last two seasons.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons announced Monday that star wide receiver Julio Jones won't report to the team's mandatory minicamp.Although Jones is absent while reportedly seeking a new contract, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is not concerned."He's great for our organization and our team," Ryan said Wednesday, according to MMQB's Jonathan Jones. "They'll resolve (Jones’s contract dispute) and get those things worked out."The 2016 NFL MVP, who signed a lucrative five-year extension himself last month, continues to vouch for his teammate."I understand that there’s a business side to this sport, too," Ryan said. "I don't like getting involved in other people’s business. I know I don't like speaking about my business, so it’s not my place to get into that.""As far as drama or anything like that, he's one of the best teammates you could ever be around. He’s one of the most unselfish players. He's all about winning, and those are the things that you love."Jones and Ryan remain one of the top offensive duos in the NFL, accounting for 43 touchdowns since 2011.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets apparently aren't taking it easy on rookie quarterback Sam Darnold.Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates said Wednesday the team is giving Darnold a full test this offseason. It could be an opportunity for Darnold to prove he's worthy of starting in 2018."Are we giving him bits and pieces of the offense or are we throwing everything at him? We're throwing everything at him," Bates said, according to Manish Mehta of the Daily News. "If he can handle it, if he can prove that he's the starter, then that will take place when the time comes."The No. 3 pick has impressed his OC with how quickly he's picked up whatever has been asked of him."People don't understand that getting a snap from under center and the huddle experience of calling these long paragraph kind of plays," Bates said. "It's not easy. I've been around some rookies that took a whole year to be able to get in a huddle and have confidence and calls those plays. Ever since rookie minicamp, he hasn’t flinched. Everything we've thrown at him, he’s been able to handle. So, we’re excited."Darnold will head into July's training camp battling with veterans Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater for the starting job.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Erica Wilkins, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, has filed a federal lawsuit against the team because of a disagreement regarding monetary compensation, according to The Associated Press, via ESPN.Wilkins, who worked for the Cowboys from 2014 to 2017, alleges she wasn't fully paid for her work and made less money than the team's male mascot, "Rowdy." She is seeking "unpaid overtime wages, minimum wages, and all other available damages," according to court documents filed Tuesday.Wilkins' lawsuit claims Cowboys cheerleaders were paid an average of $8 per hour, while the team's mascot made $25 per hour, and roughly $65,000 per year. She also claims some of her payments were incomplete.Related: Redskins exec resigns in wake of cheerleading scandalThis isn't the first lawsuit filed against NFL teams by former cheerleaders in 2018. The Houston Texans have been sued twice over the last month, with the claims citing a lack of monetary compensation and poor work environment.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Jake Fisher is on track in his recovery from heart surgery after beginning minicamp at full-go.The 25-year-old, a second-round pick in the 2015 draft, was limited during voluntary organized team activities, but he declared Wednesday he had been cleared for all football activity, according to Laurel Pfahler of ESPN.Fisher underwent a cardiac ablation procedure on Nov. 18 to correct an irregular heartbeat, limiting his 2017 season to just eight games. He participated in 11-on-11 drills for the first time since the surgery Tuesday and returned to practice again Wednesday."I was able to get out there and put my best foot forward and just keep getting better and knock some rust off," Fisher said after practice. "I've been trying to get back, so it's been a process, but you've got to understand and trust your trainers, your coaches and what they decide for you. Ultimately, it's not necessarily up to me what I want to do. There's a plan and I've got to stick to it."Fisher originally received medical clearance for workouts in late February, but he's remained cautious and continued to monitor his heart rate. He'll continue receiving checkups every few months.The Bengals' leading candidate for the starting job at right tackle admits it will take a little time for him to get back to full speed."I was a little rusty, but I knew that's how it was going to be," Fisher said. "I hadn't played football since last November, so there's going to be rust. You've just got to take it (for) what it is, understand what you're doing wrong, and fix it and get out there the next day and do it again."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert has played in just 10 games over the last two seasons, and it appears he's facing another malady heading into the 2018 campaign.Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said Tuesday that the veteran tight end is dealing with an undisclosed medical issue this spring, Jim Owczarski of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.When asked for an update Wednesday, Lewis admitted he did not know if Eifert will be ready for training camp in July, according to Bengals.com's Geoff Hobson.Cincinnati re-signed Eifert to a one-year contract in March worth up to $8 million, but it appears his status for this upcoming season is completely up in the air. The former first-round pick was limited during organized team activities last month, as well.If Eifert were to miss time in 2018, Tyler Kroft and C.J. Uzomah would see a bump in snaps at tight end.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rickie Fowler couldn't have found a better athlete than Tom Brady to play a round of golf with two days before the U.S. Open.After all, Brady owns five Super Bowl rings and three NFL MVP awards. Who better to have around as Fowler seeks his first major championship?Fowler, Brady, Phil Mickelson and a few others played a round at nearby Friar's Head on Tuesday. Fowler learned something about the quarterback: He can putt.Fowler says, ''If I can take that into this week, that's one that can help me.''He stressed the importance of relaxation heading into the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, one of his favorite American courses. He says a big part of success is being rested mentally and physically.It will be plenty hectic Thursday morning when Fowler tees off with Hideki Matsuyama and Marc Leishman. The threesome in front of them is Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Mickelson.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints will sign running back Terrance West, a source told Herbie Teope of NFL.com.West was part of group workout Wednesday that reportedly also included veteran running backs Jamaal Charles and Tim Hightower.The 27-year-old could help fill the void left by Mark Ingram's season-opening four-game suspension, though he'll likely be competing for a roster spot with Daniel Lasco, Jonathan Williams, Trey Edmunds, and rookie Boston Scott.West started four games for the Baltimore Ravens in 2017 and totaled 138 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and 23 receiving yards over five total games.A third-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2014, West has played for the Browns, Ravens, and Tennessee Titans.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys have locked down their All-Pro right guard, agreeing to terms with Zack Martin on a six-year extension worth $84 million with $40 million in guarantees, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing a source.The deal, which will pay Martin $14 million annually, makes him the highest-paid guard in the NFL. It tops the free-agent deal Andrew Norwell signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this offseason for $66.5 million ($13.3 million annually).Martin's contract is second only to Nate Solder's as the most lucrative deal for an offensive lineman across the league. Solder also made it rich in 2018 free agency, landing a $15.5-million-per-year deal with the New York Giants.Martin has reached the Pro Bowl in every one of his four seasons in the NFL and was named a first-team All-Pro in 2014 and 2016. The Cowboys have now signed three parts of their vaunted offensive line to long-term deals after extending Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith and Pro Bowl center Travis Frederick in recent years.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants rookie running back Saquon Barkley won't hold out of training camp even if he is still unsigned when it begins in July."I'll be here no matter what," Barkley said Wednesday to Tom Rock of Newsday.Barkley, the No. 2 overall pick from the 2018 NFL Draft, isn't the only high-profile draftee still unsigned, but rarely has a first-round pick reported to training camp in the past without a contract in place.In 2016, third overall pick Joey Bosa stayed away from Chargers camp until the end of August due to a contract dispute with the organization."I forgot I haven't even signed that yet," Barkley said of his pending contract. "I'm not really focusing on that right now. I'm just focused on having fun and playing football. The way I think about it. when I was growing up I didn't have a contract, I didn't get money to play, so it doesn't bother me not having a contract right now."As the No. 2 overall pick, Barkley is expected to receive a four-year contract from the Giants worth about $31.5 million.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs will soon need a considerable raise from the $1.9 million he'll earn in 2018 on the final year of his rookie contract.However, the fifth-round pick in 2015 is focusing only on the season ahead."This is a business and there's a lot going on," Diggs said Wednesday on "PFT Live" with Mike Florio. "Being a small portion of it I'm definitely sitting back just working each and every day and letting that stuff handle itself. I have people who will handle that. For me, it's just coming in and working every day. It's not about any contract or anything like that, I'm trying to win. That's all I’m concerned about."Diggs put up a career-best eight touchdowns in 2017 while helping the Vikings advance to the NFC Championship Game, adding 207 yards and scoring once in two postseason contests.The 24-year-old's 2,472 career receiving yards rank second to Oakland Raiders wideout Amari Cooper among receivers from the 2015 draft class.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson continues to make significant strides in his recovery from the torn ACL that prematurely ended his 2017 rookie campaign.Watson said Wednesday that his knee feels good and that he's "light years" ahead of where he was mentally at the end of last season, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.Related: Texans won't stop Watson from running despite ACL injuryThe 22-year-old totaled 1,699 passing yards and 19 touchdowns against eight interceptions - while adding 269 yards and two touchdowns as a rusher - through just seven games in his rookie campaign.And Watson's confidence seemed to remain high following the ACL injury, as he said ahead of Super Bowl LII that if New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady were to win a sixth championship, that he wanted to end up with seven.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Tannehill and Jarvis Landry had chemistry on the field, but the same can't be said of the former Miami Dolphins teammates off the gridiron."We didn't really have a good relationship anyway, so I'm not surprised," Landry told NFL Network in an interview set to air Wednesday afternoon, when asked why he hasn't heard from his former quarterback since being traded to the Cleveland Browns.Landry posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with Tannehill from 2015-16 and was named to the Pro Bowl both years. But he revealed his apparent distaste for the signal-caller a week ago, when he said the Browns' quarterbacks are "a lot better than what I had in Miami.""I wasn't trying to take a shot at him," Landry said of his apparent criticism of Tannehill. "I understand how hard every guy in this NFL works, especially at the position, especially at the quarterback position. But at the same time, too ... I give credit where credit is due."Landry has seemed to enjoy himself since joining the Browns, and on Tuesday he quickly supported teammate Josh Gordon's claim that Cleveland possesses the NFL's best receiving corps.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

So many of the NFL's brightest young stars are banking on 2018 as a comeback season after checking out early in 2017.There's almost one Pro Bowl player from every position hoping to bounce back from a major injury or prolonged stretch on the sideline, including David Johnson, Odell Beckham Jr., Aaron Rodgers, J.J. Watt, Eric Berry, Greg Olsen, Joe Staley, and Jason Verrett.But the one comeback story the NFL needs most is that of Andrew Luck, the Colts quarterback who missed all of last year after undergoing a January shoulder surgery that the team initially downplayed.The Colts told reporters Luck's rehab would last about six months, placing his projected return right around the start of training camp.That never happened.Not only did Luck miss the entire season, but concerns were also raised that his impairment would jeopardize the career of one of the NFL's most prolific young gunslingers.Luck, the No. 1 overall pick in 2012, guided the Colts to 11-win seasons in each of his first three years, advancing to the AFC divisional round in his second year and the conference championship the following year.But it's been downhill since. The shoulder and another injury cost him seven games in 2015 and likely impeded his 2016, in which the Colts finished 8-8 and missed the postseason for the second of three straight seasons.Last year became a nightmare for the franchise, with Luck never appearing in a game despite the organization's tune from earlier in the year. The Colts won just four games, fired head coach Chuck Pagano, and restarted a head coaching search in February after Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels got cold feet and decided to stay in New England after accepting the job.The Colts eventually hired former Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich, whose agent - Bob Lamonte - just happens to also represent Colts general manager Chris Ballard, making the hire seemingly convenient for the franchise after six other vacancies had been filled.Reich, whose demeanor and quarterback pedigree should mesh well with Luck, might turn out to be an excellent hire, but the embarrassment of being left at the altar by McDaniels will haunt the Colts if Luck doesn't return to the form that made him one of the NFL's rising stars from 2012-2015.The Colts are already well behind the eight ball, with the Titans and Jaguars usurping them over the past two seasons for AFC South supremacy, and the Texans building a formidable nucleus behind Deshaun Watson, Jadeveon Clowney, and, they hope, a healthy Watt.The NFL could use another quarterback surge in the aftermath of a nightmarish 2017 season that saw Rodgers, the rookie Watson, Carson Wentz, and Carson Palmer each finish the season on injured reserve.Although Wentz, Watson, and Jared Goff give the league some pizzazz at the game's most important position, Luck came out of Stanford as one the highest-rated quarterbacks in decades and appeared destined for superstardom until the injuries started piling up.Conversely, several of the league's elite quarterbacks are on the downside of their careers. The ageless Tom Brady is still king, but his 2017 season was marred by a scathing ESPN report detailing friction between he and coach Bill Belichick and then a loss to Nick Foles and the Eagles in the Super Bowl.Drew Brees brought the Saints back to the postseason but mainly played third fiddle behind the team's running game and defense. Last year was his first since 2009 that he didn't eclipse 4,500 passing yards. His 23 touchdown passes were his second-fewest in any season he's played at least 15 games.Ben Roethlisberger, 35, still plays at a Pro Bowl level but keeps hinting at retirement. Eli Manning, a 36-year-old two-time Super Bowl MVP, has seen his passer rating drop in each of the last two seasons. Palmer retired, Alex Smith was traded from Kansas City to Washington, and Philip Rivers missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year.The game thrives on elite quarterback play, and the NFL could really use Luck's re-emergence after ratings dipped and overall quarterback play last year declined.The Colts have tried to build around Luck for the past two years, even as the shoulder injury has either hampered him or taken him off the field altogether.Ballard has drafted four offensive linemen in his two seasons since becoming general manager, including Notre Dame's Quenton Nelson at No. 6 this past April. Some personnel believed Nelson and running back Saquon Barkley were the draft's two best overall prospects. Ballard also signed veteran guard Matt Slauson to bolster the line.All that's left is for Luck to resume practicing and show signs that he'll be leading the Colts out of the tunnel for their season opener at Lucas Oil Field on Sept. 9 against the Bengals.He started throwing footballs this week in front of media for the first time since last October. According to an NFL.com story, he didn't make strenuous throws and used a college ball, but reported no pain afterward.For the first time in quite a while, there's optimism about Luck's ability to get back on the field.Another setback would be disastrous for both the Colts and the NFL.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.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. 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Free-agent running back DeMarco Murray received an invite from the New Orleans Saints for a workout on Wednesday, but the veteran preferred not to work out with a large group of running backs, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported, citing a source.Little has been heard about the seven-year pro since he was released by the Tennessee Titans in March. Murray reportedly visited with the Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, and Detroit Lions in the days after his release, but there has been nothing more since the draft.Murray is holding out for a job as a significant contributor, according to Schefter.The Saints could be in the market for some insurance at running back considering their leading rusher in 2017, Mark Ingram, has been suspended for the first four games of the upcoming season.Last year's Rookie of the Year, Alvin Kamara, is expected to draw the lion's share of the carries in Ingram's absence.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots called teams about a potential Rob Gronkowski trade three days before the 2018 NFL Draft, a league source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.It's unclear what the Patriots sought in return for the five-time All-Pro tight end, who publicly declared two days before the draft that he would return for the 2018 season. There were whispers leading up to the draft that Gronkowski was available for trade because of his reluctance to commit to his playing future, as well as his desire for a revised contract.A recent rumor claimed the Patriots were on the verge of trading Gronkowski, prompting quarterback Tom Brady to threaten retirement and owner Robert Kraft to veto the transaction. Kraft labeled that report "hogwash" on Tuesday.Related - Gronk dismisses trade rumors: 'Shows how much fake news is out there'The agent for rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield - who was selected by the Cleveland Browns first overall - said after the draft that New England tried to trade up to land his client.Gronkowski, who turned 29 years old in May, posted 1,084 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 14 regular-season contests last year.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In their search for a pass-rusher to replace DeMarcus Ware, the Denver Broncos appear to be turning to ... DeMarcus Ware.The Broncos are hiring the former linebacker as a pass-rushing consultant, a source informed ESPN's Adam Schefter.Ware won his lone Super Bowl ring with the Broncos in 2015 and formed a dynamic duo with Von Miller from 2014-2016. Together, they racked up 60 sacks in those three seasons.Last season, Denver finished 22nd in the league in sacks with 33.Ware, hired on a part-time basis, would likely oversee the development of fourth-year pro Shane Ray and first-round draft pick Bradley Chubb.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Indianapolis Colts general manager Ryan Grigson has joined the Seattle Seahawks in a front-office role, according to his agent Buddy Baker.Grigson served as GM of the Colts from 2012-16. He had a brief stint with the Cleveland Browns in 2017 following his dismissal from Indianapolis.The Colts made the playoffs three times in Grigson's five years at the helm, but his free-agent signings and draft history left much to be desired.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.Running back is the most volatile fantasy position from year to year, as injuries and ineffectiveness can turn early-round picks into instant regrets while stars emerge from the deepest spots on the roster.Let's take a look at the rushers who are currently undervalued and will continue to be until public perception catches up to the reality of their situations.Who will exceed expectations?

The Washington Redskins' offense made a significant change in the 2018 offseason, trading for quarterback Alex Smith after the club determined it wouldn't retain Kirk Cousins as a free agent.As mandatory minicamps begin, head coach Jay Gruden sounds like a fan of the move. He praised Smith for his football IQ on Tuesday, calling his new signal-caller "the smartest guy I have ever been around, without a doubt," according to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.Despite his kind words, Gruden warned that Smith needs to get familiar with his offense quickly."He has got to get (the offense) down by the first game," Gruden told reporters, according to Florio. "So I think he is already close to having it down for the most part. Each game plan is going to change with different concepts depending on who we play from time to time. But he needs to get it down and he will get it down. That's why we got him here. ..."We are not in here to build the team around him. The team is built and he has to lead it, like, right now. This isn't a two- or three-year process. This is a one-year process and we have got to win right away."Washington finished 7-9 in 2017, and has surpassed nine wins just once over the last 12 seasons.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck took a major step on his road to recovery Tuesday after undergoing shoulder surgery in 2017 - he was spotted throwing at practice for the first time since October.The former No. 1 overall pick still has a long way to go before suiting up in a regular-season contest, but the recent news will have NFL fans excited at the prospect of the premier quarterback returning to the field.But just how good can Indianapolis be with Luck upon his return? Here's a look at key Colts stats with and without their star quarterback since he was drafted in 2012:With LuckWithout LuckGames7026Record43-2710-16Win %61%39%PPG25.217.2Playoff wins30There are times where numbers do not tell the entire story, but this isn't one of those instances. The numbers speak for themselves: since entering the league, Luck has perennially made the most of a subpar Colts roster, winning two division titles and leading his 2014 squad to the AFC Championship game with a below-average defense, and with a rushing attack featuring Trent Richardson and Dan Herron.Luck's return will allow Indianapolis to compete in the AFC under new head coach Frank Reich. When healthy, the Stanford alum is a top-tier quarterback. His best completions leave fans and evaluators in awe, as there aren't many signal-callers that can sling it like Luck. Arm strength, poise, accuracy, high football IQ, timing - he has it all.

When the Seattle Seahawks began their mandatory minicamp Tuesday, star safety Earl Thomas wasn't there, as promised.Related: Thomas intends to hold out until Seahawks resolve contract disputeAs Thomas holds out for a reworked deal, head coach Pete Carroll was asked if the six-time Pro Bowler would be present for the team's season opener against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 9."We'll see," Carroll said, according to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times.The 2018 season is the final year of Thomas' current contract. He carries a cap hit of $10.4 million.Speculation has swirled surrounding the 29-year-old's future with the team that drafted him 14th overall in 2010.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Josh Allen continues to draw praise from his new Buffalo Bills teammates.Less than two weeks after cornerback Tre'Davious White said he thinks Allen is "going to be one of the best young quarterbacks in this league for a long time," veteran running back LeSean McCoy added to the hype."I've got to be honest, he's pretty good - and I'm not a big fan of rookies," McCoy said at minicamp, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "A lot of guys as rookies, they're not like him. ... He's good. He's smart. He has to learn, of course, he throws some passes that probably shouldn’t have been thrown, but other than that, he has a strong arm, he's very intelligent - he's too smart, I tell him sometimes."We have conversations and I say, 'Easy. This is not like an exam. Just talk to me. You can say yo. You can say wassup.' But as a talent level, he’s going to be really good for a lot of years, when he takes over eventually. We took him early in the draft so that's just common sense, but he's special."The Bills traded up to select Allen with the No. 7 pick. He'll enter training camp in July competing with returnee Nathan Peterman and free-agent addition AJ McCarron for the starting job.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Michael Bennett joined the team for the start of mandatory minicamp Tuesday after sitting out the entirety of organized team activities.Bennett said the workouts he skipped don't quite live up to their "voluntary" title.Attending NFL OTAs "is the only job in the world that's voluntary and they expect you to show up," he said, according to Tim McManus of ESPN.The Seattle Seahawks traded Bennett to the Eagles in March. Weeks later, he turned himself in on a felony charge of injury to the elderly stemming from an incident at Super Bowl LI."I just let my lawyer handle that and just do what I need to do on the field," the 32-year-old said Tuesday. "Me being here, it's all about football and trying to be a great player, be a great teammate, and be a great citizen."Bennett's next court hearing is June 27.Though he was in Philadelphia earlier in the spring, Bennett said he's spent most of the time since the trade "working with my kids, teaching after school, coaching basketball, and doing whatever I can to help out."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram spoke publicly for the first time since being issued a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.Ingram was suspended on May 8 following the best season of his career in which he rushed for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns, adding 58 receptions for 416 yards during the 2017 campaign.While the veteran running back disagrees with the ruling, he's doing his best to move on from the sanction."I fought it hard," Ingram said Tuesday via Herbie Teope of NFL.com. "I don't agree with it, I'm going to serve my suspension and I'll be back."The decision was made. The ruling was made and I'm going to serve my suspension."Ingram formed one half of arguably the most dangerous running back tandem in the league last year alongside Alvin Kamara, steering the Saints to an 11-5 record and the NFC South title.Although he disagrees with the suspension, Ingram is confident that Kamara and the rest of the running group will perform admirably while he's out of action."Just keep pushing, keep grinding," Ingram said. "It's not the end of the world. I'm going to be back, I'm going to be ready and those guys need to step up. Alvin is going to do a great job, I'm sure of it, and the rest of the guys are going to do a great job of preparing and putting themselves in position to have success. I'm going to be rooting for my teammates real hard and hopefully, we're 4-0 when I come back."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A St. Louis jury ruled in favor of former running back Reggie Bush on Tuesday.The jury ordered the Los Angeles Rams to pay Bush $4.95 million in compensatory damages and another $7.5 million in punitive damages for the injury he suffered at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis in 2015, according to Joel Currier of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.The Rams were found 100 percent liable for the season-ending knee injury Bush suffered in a Nov. 1 game as a member of the San Francisco 49ers. Bush slipped on what his 2016 lawsuit called a "concrete ring of death" after being pushed out of bounds, severely injuring his knee. The concrete surface was covered with rubber padding two weeks later.The Rams moved to Los Angeles the season following the injury."I'm very happy with the verdict," Bush told the Post-Dispatch. "The people spoke and decided very fairly."Bush's lawyer had asked for a judgment ranging from $10 million to $15 million, arguing that the running back was in line for a three-year contract in that range at the time.He signed a one-year, $1.5-million contract with the Buffalo Bills for the 2016 season and said in December that he plans to retire.Rams spokeswoman Joanna Hunter didn't comment on the verdict, while attorneys for the team said they plan to file a motion for a new trial.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oakland Raiders waived quarterback Christian Hackenberg, the team announced Tuesday as part of a series of moves.Hackenberg was acquired by the Raiders from the New York Jets on May 22 for a conditional 2019 seventh-round draft pick. The Raiders will therefore keep the pick, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The 23-year-old was selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Jets but never met expectations and never even played a down during his two seasons in New York.After being waived by the Raiders, Hackenberg's NFL run as one of the biggest draft busts in recent memory may have reached its end.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is growing increasingly sure of his ability to start the 2018 season on time.Luck was firm in his response when asked by reporters if he will be ready for the season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1."Absolutely. No knock on wood. I believe it in my bones," Luck said, according to Kevin Bowen of 1070 The Fan.Head coach Frank Reich said Luck will feature in the preseason, though he isn't a fan of his starting quarterback playing much during August.Luck is continuing his recovery from a shoulder injury that cost him the entirety of the 2017 season. He was seen throwing on Tuesday at team practice, though owner Jim Irsay later clarified they were high school-sized footballs.Luck said he had some soreness - not pain - after throwing, according to NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots are getting an early summer break.Patriots players were informed on Tuesday that it would be their final day of practice before training camp, according to Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal.The team had practices scheduled for Thursday and Friday, but players were sent home following a great minicamp."I'm excited about this team and I think we're going to have a lot of fun this year," owner Robert Kraft said.Training camp will begin in late July, though official dates have not been announced.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson still cherishes the team's surprise run to Super Bowl LII, but he doesn't want the same underdog mentality to carry over into the 2018 season."I want those guys to remember it, I want those guys to embrace it," Pederson said Tuesday, according to Tim McManus of ESPN. "It's a great motivating factor for us to sort of rip off the dog masks and no longer be the underdog, but be the hunted, have the target on our back."Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson popularized the dog masks in last year's postseason and even sold merchandise on his website for charity.Pederson has set the end date for the Super Bowl celebration at 12:01 a.m., June 15 - the day after the Eagles are scheduled to receive their championship rings."Honestly, after the ring ceremony, to me, we've put that to bed, we've put that to rest, and we move on to 2018," he said.The Eagles are tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers at 10.5 projected wins for next season, according to Bovada - half a win shy of the favored New England Patriots.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are waiting for running back Le'Veon Bell to sign a second-consecutive franchise tag, and they've grown accustomed to his summer holdouts."I think last year a lot of guys were like, 'Oh, Le'Veon's not here,'" wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey said, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "Nobody cares. We're out here and we have to get work done. ... We'll see him when we see him. Next man up."The Steelers placed the franchise tag on Bell in early March. The one-year deal would pay him $14.5 million in 2018. Bell can accept the tag, agree to a long-term extension with Pittsburgh by the July 16 deadline, or continue a holdout and risk being fined by the team.Bell rushed for 1,291 yards and nine touchdowns on 321 carries last season, and caught 85 of 107 targets for 655 yards and two touchdowns over 15 games.The 26-year-old's continued dominance helped to erase any concerns over missed offseason workouts."If anything, when you don't have contact for nine months, it's going to be a little bit (of a transition)," Heyward-Bey said. "But the guy was leading the league in rushing (late in the year), had the most carries, first year he didn't get hurt. He comes here in shape. If he was a guy we were worried about that he'll come overweight or not in condition ... not at all. That guy's a pro."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tennessee Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan isn't expected at the team's minicamp.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. He entered into contract talks with the Titans on an extension, but they were unable to reach a resolution before the start of camp."As we start the mandatory veteran minicamp, we were informed by the representatives for Taylor Lewan that he would not be attending the camp," Titans general manager Jon Robinson said in a statement."We have had several constructive conversations over the last five-six weeks about his contract status. He is currently under contract and we are working to keep Taylor as part of this organization for a long time."Lewan has been a stalwart on the Titans' offensive line his first four seasons in the league, garnering praise from analysts and colleagues alike.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

True to his confident form, Josh Gordon said Tuesday that the Cleveland Browns have "the best receiving corps in the NFL.""Just based off of talent alone," he told reporters at Browns minicamp, including Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. "... That's just my opinion, but (we're) not short on talent at the wide receiver position at all."Gordon, who returned to the field last year for the first time since 2014 after overcoming off-field issues, is set to lead a receiving group that also features three-time Pro Bowler Jarvis Landry and 2016 first-round pick Corey Coleman.Landry was acquired in a trade with the Miami Dolphins, and his production in short-yardage situations could nicely complement Gordon's ability to stretch the field."He ain't lying," Landry said, when asked about Gordon's assessment, per Zac Jackson of The Athletic.Gordon led the NFL with 1,646 receiving yards in 2013, the last season when he played more than five games, and Landry recorded an NFL-best 112 catches in 2017.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent running back Jamaal Charles is scheduled to visit the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The 31-year-old Charles spent last season with the Denver Broncos but drew only 69 carries for 296 yards and one touchdown. He suffered major injuries that shortened his 2015 and 2016 campaigns.Prior to his stint in Denver, Charles played nine seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs, earning trips to the Pro Bowl after four of them. He rushed for a career-high 1,509 yards with five touchdowns in 2012.New Orleans is also working out former Baltimore Ravens running back Terrance West on Wednesday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Saints could use some depth in the backfield with veteran Mark Ingram set to sit out the first four contests of the 2018 season due to a suspension after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur announced Tuesday that wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is doing well and has been "cleared to practice," according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.The 25-year-old had been recovering from the ankle injury that ended his 2017 season in Week 5.Beckham attended the first day of the team's mandatory minicamp. The Giants are hopeful he'll participate in some team drills during the week, but his preference is to avoid team reps as part of his reconditioning process, a source told Josina Anderson of ESPN.Shurmur added that the receiver's absence from team drills has nothing to do with his contract situation, stating: "I'm not worried about it and neither is he."Beckham enters the 2018 season on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract at a cap hit of $8.459 million, according to Over The Cap. It was reported in late March that the star receiver wouldn't set foot on the field without an extension.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who continues to work his way back from a shoulder injury, was seen throwing regular footballs Tuesday at practice for the first time since October.Luck missed the entire 2017 season after encountering a number of setbacks in his shoulder rehab.

The Baltimore Ravens seem to like what they have in first-round quarterback Lamar Jackson, but they're still deciding how to best use him during his rookie season.Related: Ravens cooking up ways to get Lamar Jackson on the field right awayHead coach John Harbaugh said he's expecting Jackson to be active on game days, and perhaps even in on the action - in an unconventional way."Gosh, I sure like him out there helping us," Harbaugh said, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. "If you put two quarterbacks on the field at once, what options does it create for our offense? That's what we're trying to figure out."Harbaugh and the Ravens will need to get creative with Jackson, as veteran Joe Flacco is expected to retain the starting job for at least the 2018 season.The 33-year-old signal-caller is under contract for the next four years and carries a $24.75-million cap hit this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It didn't take long for Josh Allen to crack the top unit.The Buffalo Bills' first-round draft pick will see some reps with the first-team offense during the team's minicamp, head coach Sean McDermott said Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Allen was the third quarterback taken in this year's draft and was thought to require more development than others chosen in the first round.The Bills also signed AJ McCarron in March after trading last year's starter, Tyrod Taylor, to the Cleveland Browns days earlier. McCarron was expected to be the starter in Buffalo upon his signing, but it appears he'll face some competition from the rookie.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons are conducting their own USO tour to visit active-duty members in Iraq this offseason.Head coach Dan Quinn, center Alex Mack, guard Ben Garland, and kicker Matt Bryant will be among the Falcons who will visit members of the U.S. military at three bases."We are fired up to have this rare opportunity to show our appreciation for our troops and spend time with them during their deployment," Quinn said on the team's official website. "We have so much respect for what these men and women do every single day, and I think this is a great opportunity to show our gratitude to all the members of our armed services at these bases."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals star running back David Johnson will hold out of mandatory minicamp this week as his agent and the team discuss a new contract, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Johnson has one year remaining on his rookie deal, and is set to earn a base salary of $1.88 million in 2018. Schefter added that the sides are hopeful of reaching a deal before the start of the season.The 26-year-old Johnson played in only one game last season due to a dislocated wrist, but was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2016 after racking up 1,239 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground along with 879 yards and four scores through the air.He attended voluntary organized team activities last week, but was held out of certain drills while reportedly nursing a minor injury.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Peyton Manning's legal team revealed human growth hormone (HGH) was sent to the now retired quarterback's Florida home on Dec. 16, 2015, but that it was not intended to be used by him, Laken Litman of the Indianapolis Star reports, citing documents filed in federal court.It was disclosed that the HGH - sent from a clinic in Indianapolis - was for Manning's wife, Ashley, to treat a condition that hasn't been revealed to the public.During court proceedings, Al Jazeera claimed the second source for its allegations against Manning in the 2015 documentary "The Dark Side: Secrets of the Sports Dopers" was Manning's lawyer, according to Will Hobson of The Washington Post. However, Manning's lawyer merely confirmed that the HGH was for Ashley, not Peyton, and flatly rejected the notion that the hormone was for the former QB.One of Manning's attorneys, Matthew McGill, blasted Al Jazeera for citing off-the-record information in its documentary, while contending that the network used Ashley's private medical records to lodge a patently false claim against Peyton."We went to their lawyers in good faith, we explained that their source was a pharmacy intern who had unlawfully compromised Ashley Manning's private medical information," McGill said to Hobson. "Instead, they exploited her private medical information to raise these baseless innuendos about Peyton. Any notion that we confirmed Sly's veracity as a source is obviously false, and is beneath contempt."Al Jazeera countered, defending the veracity of its reporting."Al Jazeera stands by its reporting, and wants the whole story told," Al Jazeera attorney Charles Scheeler said to Hobson. "We invite the Manning parties and Plaintiffs to join Al Jazeera in a request to unseal all court filings in this case. Let's let the public see the full story and draw their own conclusions."The NFL previously ruled that it found no evidence that Manning used HGH, while Major League Baseball cleared Washington Nationals infielder Ryan Zimmerman and former Philadelphia Phillies standout Ryan Howard of using substances, after Al Jazeera alleged all three players used the banned substance in the same documentary.Related: NFL determines Manning didn't use HGHWhile Manning hasn't taken legal action against Al Jazeera, Zimmerman and Howard filed a defamation suit against the network, which also details its allegations against the five-time NFL MVP.Manning retired after the 2015 season, after leading the Denver Broncos to victory in Super Bowl 50.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Suspended Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory is expected to meet with NFL officials this week in New York in his bid to be reinstated, multiple sources told ESPN's Todd Archer.Gregory reportedly applied for reinstatement in May after a year-long suspension for multiple substance-abuse violations. According to Archer, commissioner Roger Goodell may be one of the league officials he'll be meeting.Daniel Moskowitz, Gregory's attorney, declined comment. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said last week that the team would leave all proceedings in the NFL's hands."We don't have anything to report differently, other than that I know he's wanting to move forward with the appeal," Jones said. "I don't really have anything new to report on that front other than that. I know he's done the application process, but I'm pretty sure he hasn't had the actual appeal."A second-round selection out of Nebraska in 2015, the 25-year-old Gregory has played in just two games over the last two seasons due to multiple suspensions.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.After releasing our Offensive Line Rankings, we broke down some of the players who would benefit most from improved blocking on their teams.Unfortunately, every story doesn't have a happy ending. Here are some players whose fantasy stock will take a negative hit because of weak or unproven lines.Offensive Line Rankings

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is entering the tail end of his career, but he's certainly not approaching the upcoming season that way.Manning is tasked with steering the Giants out of the NFC East basement after the team sputtered to a 3-13 mark in 2017. With a new managerial regime in place, along with second overall pick Saquon Barkley in tow, the Giants are expected to compete for a playoff spot again, even with Manning turning 38 next January.Some believed the Giants should've taken in a quarterback with the No. 2 pick to replace Manning, while stating that he's no longer good enough to lead the team to its third Super Bowl of his career. Manning, to little surprise, disagreed."That's not the way I look at it," Manning said to Art Stapleton of USA TODAY. "And I think I still have some peak years left, so we can make it right."Manning knows he has to galvanize the Giants' fan base in a year where one of their principle rivals, Philadelphia Eagles, won the Super Bowl. If Manning is to be believed, the 2017 campaign should be viewed as an anomaly."There's some excitement for this year, which is good," Manning said. "Obviously, some changes, and when you have new players, new draft picks, free agency, so I think, you know, hopefully guys remember, hey, two years ago we won 11 games. Last year, obviously, we went through a tough streak, but that's football, it can change very quickly from year to year, from good to bad or bad to good. So I think it's good to see the fans are excited, and I'm excited to be back and want to give them something to keep cheering for."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.