Arizona Cardinals tight end Jermaine Gresham may have some good karma coming his way in the 2018 season.Gresham came to the rescue of flyer Delilah Cassidy, who was being told at the airport gate that she would need to go back to the ticket counter to pay a $50 luggage fee since her credit cards weren't working, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. If she had, she would have missed the flight.Gresham overheard and came forward to swipe his card at the gate and pay the full fee, allowing Cassidy to make the flight.Cassidy later tried to pay Gresham the $50 in cash, but he wouldn't accept it, simply telling her to pay it forward.This all happened without Cassidy knowing who Gresham was - until after the flight.

Injuries are an annual cause of torment for fantasy owners, but in the offseason, they're one of the best ways to find value in drafts.That's because some owners are hesitant to invest an early pick in a player they last saw being carted off the field, creating an opportunity for those who can accurately predict the recovery times and performances of those potential fantasy stars.Let's take a look at the top players who are on the mend and break down how to approach them heading into the season.Andrew Luck, QB, ColtsIt feels like a case of deja vu with Luck after we debated his fantasy stock heading into the 2017 season. The Colts continue to preach patience, but they did the same last year before deciding to hold their franchise passer out for all 16 games. Luck blamed "skipped steps" for ultimately derailing his last rehab, and is still targeting a full return by the start of training camp.Fantasy Prognosis: When healthy, Luck is a top-five fantasy QB, but doubts about his football future grow with each passing day. With an ADP in the 11th round, you can easily pair him with a safer option like Philip Rivers or Matthew Stafford, but at that point why take Luck at all? Don't waste an early-season roster spot on a second quarterback just to gamble on Luck returning to his 2016 form; save it for stars emerging on the waiver wire in the first month.Carson Wentz, QB, EaglesA torn ACL and LCL suffered in Week 14 brought Wentz's September availability into question, but it appears he's well ahead of schedule. Wentz was seen jogging and throwing at OTAs in May, easing the worries of Eagles fans and fantasy owners. However, the defending Super Bowl champs have no reason to rush their star quarterback's recovery, especially when backup Nick Foles helped them cross the finish line in February. The last thing the Eagles want is for Wentz to suffer a setback, but all signs point to him being ready around Week 1.Fantasy Prognosis: Despite playing in just 13 games, Wentz posted the fifth-most fantasy points among QBs, and his on-pace stats would have ranked him second behind only Russell Wilson. As of now, the injury is creating a nice value opportunity, with Wentz's ADP sitting in the sixth round as the eighth quarterback off the board. Even if he misses time early in the year, it won't be hard to find a temporary replacement.Deshaun Watson, QB, TexansWatson tore his ACL six weeks before Wentz, and is unsurprisingly ahead in his rehab efforts. That's great news, as Watson's injury ended one of the most promising debuts we've seen in a while. His progress will need to be monitored throughout the offseason, but there's a strong probability he'll be on the field to begin training camp.Fantasy Prognosis: Even if he wasn't coming off an injury, there's zero chance Watson could maintain the insane production he was giving fantasy owners in 2017. And while his recovery is on track, one key element to watch will be his willingness to run - something that could be compromised if he doesn't trust his knee. Watson had 269 yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns in seven appearances last season, and said he has no plans to change his game after the injury. Unless we hear about a setback, he's worthy of being the third quarterback taken in redraft leagues.D'Onta Foreman, RB, TexansWatson wasn't the only Texans rookie lost for the season in 2017. Foreman was in the middle of a breakout performance in Week 11 when he tore his Achilles, an injury few running backs have ever fully come back from. At 22, Foreman's age works in his favor, but reports that he could start the year on the six-week PUP list have driven his fantasy stock down. Texans GM Brian Gaine also didn't seem overly optimistic when he told reporters he's hoping Foreman will be ready for the start of camp.Fantasy Prognosis: Lamar Miller was losing his grip on the Texans' lead-back role prior to Foreman's injury, so if the sophomore can get healthy, the starting job is well within his reach. Miller was a fantasy RB2 with Watson under center, and if Foreman does miss the first month, it's possible Miller regains his hold on Houston's backfield. The smartest play here might be to scoop up both backs, which you should be able to do with a fifth- and a ninth-round pick.Dalvin Cook, RB, VikingsSome injuries are easier to assess than others, and fortunately Cook projects to be all systems go for Week 1. He tore his ACL in early October, but was able to participate in individual drills at OTAs and doesn't appear to be in any danger of missing regular-season action.Fantasy Prognosis: Playing in a loaded Vikings offense, Cook was a fantasy force during the opening month of his rookie season. He returns to a lineup that upgraded at quarterback with Kirk Cousins and still boasts one of the best defenses in the NFL. Minnesota will have plenty of scoring opportunities and clock-killing carries for Cook, who deserves to be considered in the back end of the first round.David Johnson, RB, CardinalsA wrist injury sidelined Johnson for almost all of the 2017 campaign, robbing fantasy owners of one of the league's most productive players. He's now completely recovered and went on the record saying he's still aiming to eclipse 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season.Fantasy Prognosis: Johnson nearly reached those lofty totals in 2016, posting 1,239 rushing yards and 879 receiving yards. The Cardinals drafted receiver Christian Kirk, but they still lack a dependable pass-catcher outside of Larry Fitzgerald. The offensive line could be the biggest issue facing Johnson, but he has the upside to be fantasy's No. 1 overall player.Julian Edelman, WR, PatriotsEdelman feels like a forgotten man after an ACL tear last August kept him out for the entire season. However, the timing also put him on the road to recovery sooner than anyone else on this list, giving him ample time to enter 2018 at full strength. He hasn't been cleared for contact yet, but recently participated in individual drills at OTAs.Fantasy Prognosis: Edelman's health shouldn't be a problem entering the season, but it's understandable to have concerns about a 32-year-old receiver coming off a serious knee injury. Still, while he'll take a back seat to Chris Hogan in the touchdown department, Edelman's connection with Brady is undeniable - with 90-plus catches in three of his last five seasons - so he warrants consideration as a fifth-round pick in PPR leagues.Allen Robinson, WR, BearsSeriously, how many star players tore their ACL in 2017? Robinson was lost in Week 1, sidelining him for his final 15 games with the Jags. And after signing with the Bears in March, his new team wasn't taking any chances, opting to limit him during OTAs. Robinson will be 10 months removed from the injury when camp opens, and should be unencumbered.Fantasy Prognosis: Robinson is just two years removed from a monster 1,400-yard, 14-touchdown season. The potential is still there, but some growing pains should be expected with a new team, and more importantly, a new quarterback. Overall, escaping the Jacksonville offense is a huge boon for Robinson's fantasy prospects, especially with Matt Nagy revamping the unit in Chicago. Robinson carries more risk than other players being selected in his range, but he counters it with WR1 upside.Odell Beckham Jr., WR, GiantsA fantasy campaign without Beckham didn't feel right. Luckily, his ankle woes are almost completely behind him following a season-ending injury in Week 5. The Giants are being cautious with their best player, but Beckham will be ready for training camp.Fantasy Prognosis: Beckham falling to the late first or even into the second round in fantasy drafts seems wrong, but it's another example of an injury creating a window of value. His numbers over four games last season put him on pace for 100 receptions, 1,208 yards, and 12 scores - right around his career averages. The are more mouths to feed in the Giants' passing attack these days, but Beckham will continue to eat first. Don't let him get out of the opening round.Jordan Reed, TE, RedskinsNo one wants to give up on a fantasy player as talented as Reed, but he's almost impossible to trust after missing 28 games in his first five seasons due to various ailments. He was limited to just six outings last year while dealing with toe and hamstring injuries and underwent a toe procedure in April that kept him out of team drills at OTAs. Even if Reed is "healthy" entering the season, it seems like only a matter of time before he's sidelined again.Fantasy Prognosis: Reed's ceiling is as high as anyone at the position, including Rob Gronkowski, and he's coming at a bit of a discount in the middle rounds. Some owners will be enticed by that combination, but it looks like fool's gold to me. Don't spend your fantasy season frustrated over whether Reed will be active on Sundays.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Veteran wide receiver Brandon Marshall acknowledged Wednesday that he didn't have many suitors in free agency before signing a one-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday.Related: Brandon Marshall announces signing with Seahawks"I didn't have a ton of options," Marshall said, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN. "I think the sentiment around the league is that I'm done, and I get it. Rightfully so. When you get on the other side of 30 and your production slips and you have a big injury, people just count you out. So it was an interesting process. It was a humbling process, to say the least."Marshall played just five games last season for the New York Giants, recording 18 receptions for 154 yards and no touchdowns before his season was ended by an ankle injury.Now that he's signed, the 34-year old is excited to join the sixth team of his career for a 13th year in the NFL."There were some really tough days that I had to push through, mentally and physically, so for this to be an opportunity and come to (fruition), you can't ask for a better situation," Marshall said. "You've got probably a top-three quarterback (Russell Wilson), you've got one the best franchises, you've got a young nucleus, guys that are hungry and ready to compete."Marshall was seen wearing his usual No. 15 at Wednesday's organized team activities.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt received an honorary doctorate from the Baylor College of Medicine on Tuesday, and it seems he's already putting it to use."He wrote me up a prescription this morning," Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said, per Sarah Barshop of ESPN. "He told me to take three chill pills a day and call him in the morning. I thought I've been more chilled out, but I guess he doesn't think so."Related: Chiefs' Duvernay-Tardiff becomes 1st active NFL player with M.D.He didn't stop there, writing up a more serious prescription for fellow defensive end Christian Covington.

The NFL may have a growing fad.As the Dallas Cowboys began life without longtime star wideout Dez Bryant, quarterback Dak Prescott openly questioned whether any team in the league needs a No. 1 receiver.Meanwhile, Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was asked about his team's apparent lack of a No. 1 option in the passing game and responded by saying: "For us, we want everybody to be part of the offense, we want a defense to have to cover everybody. I thought that was something we did very well last year," per Mike Kaye of First Coast News.With that in mind, here are six teams without a certified No. 1 wideout that are looking to win with a balanced receiving attack in 2018:Dallas CowboysProjected top option: Michael Gallup

Philadelphia Eagles fan Patrick Hanks got married in a Carson Wentz jersey over the weekend, much to his bride's disappointment.Jennifer Sullivan told The Associated Press that she was so sure the Eagles would lose Super Bowl LII that she told her now-husband he could wear a jersey during their wedding ceremony if they beat the New England Patriots.The couple exchanged vows at Bear Creek Mountain Resort in Macungie, Pa., on Saturday, and Tag Visual Media was there to capture the moment Hanks changed out of his tux jacket and into his jersey.

The White House confirmed Wednesday that the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles will visit President Donald Trump on June 5, according to John Ourand of Sports Business Journal.The invitation to the NFC team had already been extended, though several notable players, such as Chris Long and Malcolm Jenkins, have said they won't be joining their teammates in Washington.Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said he believes the visit should be "an individual decision" for his players.It was unclear if the Eagles would continue the tradition of visiting the White House after team owner Jeffery Lurie recently labeled Trump's time in office as a "disastrous presidency."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the second time this decade, the Indianapolis Colts are in the midst of an injury crisis regarding their franchise quarterback.In 2011, it was Peyton Manning's surgically repaired neck that was causing a statewide panic until the future Hall of Famer was ultimately released. Now, the man who replaced Manning, Andrew Luck, is fighting his way back from his own lost season due to a lingering right shoulder injury."Everything is an individual thing, so you have to be careful speaking on it since injuries are different," Manning said when asked about Luck by ESPN's Mike Wells after playing with Tiger Woods in Wednesday's Pro-Am."But it's also universal. For me, I was a (repetition) guy. I liked to get all the reps on practice. The theory of 10,000 reps, I believe in that. I felt like I was kind of behind because I hadn't gotten the reps even though you have a lot in the bank. It took me a few games before I felt like I was coming back. Getting as many reps as possible is key."Related: Colts GM: Luck has 'chip on his shoulder' to prove doubters wrongLuck has yet to resume throwing after a setback from his 2016 surgery last October, but Indy has consistently said it expects him back and ready to lead the offense for July's training camp.Despite Luck's lack of action on the field, optimism regarding his return has been bolstered by recent pictures showing the 28-year-old in top physical shape compared to the 2017 offseason.

Christian Kirk has escaped legal punishment as court records obtained by Ian Rapoport of NFL.com show that the Scottsdale City Court has dropped the charges of disorderly conduct and property damage against the Arizona Cardinals rookie.The charges stemmed from an incident in early February after the former Texas A&M star was arrested after becoming intoxicated and throwing rocks while leaving the PGA Tour's Waste Management Phoenix Open.The second-round pick from April's draft is expected to add significant pop to a passing attack that added both rookie Josh Rosen and veteran Sam Bradford in the offseason at quarterback.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns safety Damarious Randall is, as of Wednesday afternoon, on the hook to buy over 820,000 jerseys for people who retweeted his pledge regarding the outcome of the NBA Finals.At $99.99 per Browns jersey, a stunned Randall is already facing an unfeasible $82-million bill if the Cleveland Cavaliers defeat the highly favored Golden State Warriors."Honestly, I didn't think it was going to get over 100 (retweets), to be honest," Randall said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Pat McManamon.Related: Joe Thomas makes offer on Warriors-Cavs outcome after Randall jersey promiseRandall added: "We'll talk about this after the series is over," noting that he intends to do something for the fans regardless of who takes home the Larry O'Brien Trophy.The veteran defensive back said he would "100 percent" fulfill his pledge in a follow-up tweet, but didn't reveal exactly how he intends to pay considering his contract is only worth $7.9 million over four years."I definitely didn't think the Cleveland fan base would go this crazy about it," Randall said. "Obviously, it is a joke. Just to know how passionate this fan base is, it is really encouraging."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the LeBron James-Michael Jordan debate intensifies with James set for his eighth consecutive NBA Finals appearance, retired Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant opted to take his talents to the New England Patriots' offseason camp.

We're just 99 days away from the kickoff of the NFL's 2018 regular season.With things how they currently stand, here are 99 reasons to look forward to the upcoming season, in no particular order.1. The return of Jon Gruden2. Richard Sherman's revenge games with the Seahawks3. Relaxed catch rule4. The renewed Colts-Patriots rivalry5. Better Thursday night games6. Carson Wentz's return from ACL injury7. Shaquem Griffin's debut season8. Kirk Cousins with a team that wants him9. Hope for the Browns10. A season with the Eagles as defending champs11. Players one-upping last year's touchdown celebrations12. Andrew Luck throwing a football again13. Less violent kick returns14. The Jaguars' new jerseys15. A full season with Jimmy Garoppolo at the helm16. Jimmy Graham in Packer green17. Saquon Barkley in the pros18. Aaron Rodgers' return from injury19. QB battles featuring Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, and Lamar Jackson20. The new Monday Night Football booth21. The Rams' souped-up secondary with Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib22. Larry Fitzgerald's 15th season23. Former Comeback Player of the Year Eric Berry's second comeback24. The Titans' new jerseys25. A second year of Alvin Kamara26. The Honey Badger in Houston27. The Jets with a future at quarterback28. A healthy Deshaun Watson29. Derrick Henry out from under the shadow of DeMarco Murray30. A full year of Josh Gordon31. Patrick Mahomes at the controls32. One more year of Beast Mode33. Malcolm Butler vs. the Patriots in Week 1034. The Niners' new throwback jerseys35. A full season of Ezekiel Elliott36. Ndamukong Suh in L.A.37. Resolution to the league's anthem issue?38. A healthy David Johnson39. Fortnite-related touchdown dances40. Marcus Mariota under a new offensive approach41. Brady vs. Rodgers in Week 942. Cam Newton with more receivers43. Minneapolis Miracle rematch in Week 844. The Steelers' new throwback jerseys45. Stricter rules on helmet fouls46. Jordy Nelson in Silver and Black47. The Vikings' No. 1-ranked defense48. J.J. Watt fully recovered49. Michael Bennett and the champion Eagles50. The inner turmoil of the Patriots51. The new NFC West rivalry: Rams-49ers52. The Broncos' two-headed pass-rushing monster53. Marcus Peters vs. the Chiefs in Week 1154. The return of the Bears' orange alternates55. The Jaguars' top-ranked pass defense56. Brandin Cooks with the Rams57. The AFC South arms race58. Odell Beckham Jr. back doing his thing59. NFC Championship Game rematch in Week 560. A good London game: Eagles-Jaguars in Week 861. No requirement to wear Color Rush on TNF62. Mitch Trubisky with weapons63. Patriots-Steelers in Week 1564. The Dolphins' updated uniforms65. Case Keenum tries to hold onto the magic in Denver66. Jarvis Landry in Cleveland67. The wide-open AFC West68. Dalvin Cook's recovery from a torn ACL69. Another year of Gronk after his flirt with retirement70. What should be a thrilling Offensive Rookie of the Year race71. The Raiders' final season in Oakland?72. The prime-time slate73. T.J. Watt vs. Derek Watt in Week 1374. A season starting without a suspension-related court battle75. A crowded field for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors76. Allen Robinson in the Windy City77. AFC Championship Game rematch in Week 278. A full season of Malik Hooker79. Multiple coaches entering the year on the hot seat80. The Lions with a running game81. Thanksgiving tripleheader with Falcons-Saints closer82. Ryan Tannehill's return83. Steelers-Jaguars rematch in Week 1184. More run for Joe Mixon85. AJ McCarron with a starting job86. Brandon Marshall in the Emerald City87. No more QB controversy in Washington88. A healthy Antonio Brown after late-season injury89. The Bucs with some semblance of a defense90. A league without Ed Hochuli and Jeff Triplette91. Football on Christmas Eve92. The McCourty twins playing together93. Michael Crabtree vs. the Raiders in Week 1294. The Griffin brothers playing together95. No more extra-points after game-winning TDs96. Frank Gore back in his hometown of Miami97. Julian Edelman's return from a year away from football98. Tony Romo on the Super Bowl LIII broadcast99. Super Bowl LIII(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Now that sports betting is headed to be legalized in several U.S. states, and with NFL teams currently going through their Organized Team Activities, it's a good time to look at the team win-total projections coming out of Las Vegas.Using the totals set out by Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino, let's look at projections for all AFC teams and which teams are most likely to exceed or fall short of expectations. Later this week, we'll examine the NFC teams.Baltimore Ravens (Total: 8)Only three times in the 10-year John Harbaugh/Joe Flacco era have the Ravens failed to exceed eight wins. One of those seasons, a 5-11 mark in 2015, was hampered by Flacco's ACL injury. After a slow start in 2017, Baltimore won five of its last seven but lost to the Bengals in the season finale to miss the playoffs at 9-7. Flacco rebounded from a rocky first half and some back problems to catch fire down the stretch, as the Ravens averaged 31.8 points per game over their last five games. With Lamar Jackson hot on his heels, look for Flacco to be motivated this season.Projection: OverBuffalo Bills (Total: 6 1/2)The Bills have some elements to withstand the natural learning curve that'll come with starting rookie quarterback Josh Allen - a powerful running game led by LeSean McCoy, some playmakers in Kelvin Benjamin and Zay Jones and decent enough talent on defense. It seems unlikely they'll win nine games again and return to the playoffs behind a rookie quarterback, but they're talented enough to win at least seven.Projection: OverCincinnati Bengals (Total: 7)So much needs to go right for the Bengals to eclipse this mark. Andy Dalton must return to 2015 form, Marv Lewis has to get his defense back to top-10 level, and second-year wideout John Ross - last year's ninth overall pick - needs to catch his first professional pass. Even with that, the AFC North should be ultra-competitive, especially with the Browns on the rise. This team needs too many things to go right to reach this number.Projection: UnderCleveland Browns (Total: 5 1/2)You heard it here first: The Browns are legit - or at least, legit enough to win at least six games. Baker Mayfield will be Offensive Rookie of the Year and have his transition eased by the presence of Josh Gordon, Jarvis Landry, Carlos Hyde, and a strong offensive line. The defense has some good, young talent. Postseason? Not likely. At least six wins? Put it in the books.Projection: OverDenver Broncos (Total: 7)The Broncos, a top-five defense for the past four years, opted against drafting a quarterback with the fifth overall pick. Count me among those skeptical of Case Keenum replicating the magic of his 2017 season with an entirely new coaching staff and in new surroundings. The Broncos lack playmakers around him. Perhaps they chose Bradley Chubb fifth overall with the expectation of picking their QB in 2018, after another rough season.Projection: UnderHouston Texans (Total: 8 1/2)The Texans are one of the toughest teams to handicap. If J.J. Watt and DeShaun Watson return healthy and to pre-injury form, the Texans could blow this number to pieces. If not, they might not be much better than last year's four-win team. The Texans have a good core - Jadeveon Clowney, DeAndre Hopkins, and Whitney Mercilus - and the Tyrann Mathieu signing could be one of the most impactful of free agency. Right now, they look more like a 9- or 10-win team than not.Projection: OverIndianapolis Colts (Total: 6 1/2)Even if Andrew Luck is healthy enough return by the season opener, which isn't certain at the moment, that doesn't guarantee a good season. The Colts were 8-8 with Luck pulling the trigger in 2015 and 2016, and the roster doesn't appear significantly better in 2018. Quenton Nelson, the sixth overall pick, should improve the O-line, but the defense lacks pass-rushers and depth. Could be another long season for the horses.Projection: UnderJacksonville Jaguars (Total: 9)Even with a defense that should be top five, at worst, color me skeptical that Jacksonville can duplicate last year's run to the AFC Championship, or even repeat as AFC South champs. They'll play a first-place schedule this season and lost three of their top five receivers from last year, which won't help Blake Bortles' development. They only won 10 last year so it's not hard to see the Jags struggling to reach nine in 2018.Projection: UnderKansas City Chiefs (Total: 8 1/2)The Chiefs haven't won fewer than nine games since Andy Reid became head coach in 2013 and haven't won fewer than 10 in their past three seasons, so this number seems criminally low. Sure, the Chiefs are moving on from Alex Smith to the unproven Pat Mahomes, but Mahomes inherits an offense with playmakers everywhere. Forget winning at least nine games, the Chiefs should be shoo-in for double-digit wins and should be considered the favorite to win the AFC West for third straight season.Projection: OverLos Angeles Chargers (Total: 9)Thanks to wins in six of their last seven games in 2017, the Chargers are a popular pick to win the AFC West and make the postseason for the first time since 2013. They've assembled a nice defense, led by pass-rushers Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram and corner Casey Hayward, but the Bolts have plenty to prove before they should be considered locks to win 10 or more games. Nine seems right for them.Projection: PushMiami Dolphins (Total: 6)Head coach Adam Gase is changing the culture in South Beach, starting with last year's trade of Jay Ajayi. The roster purge continued this offseason with the exits of Ndamukong Suh, Jarvis Landry, Mike Pouncey, and Lawrence Timmons. Nobody really believes Ryan Tannehill is Gase's quarterback for the future. The Fins won six games last year but from a talent perspective don't appear better going into 2018.Projection: UnderNew England Patriots (Total: 11)These are tumultuous times for the reigning AFC champs. Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski have skipped the first round of OTAs, and Bill Belichick's "Patriot Way" has come under question. It seems to signal turbulence ahead, but as long as Brady is in the huddle, the Pats should be considered favorites to win the AFC East. They'll win at least 10. More than 11? I have some doubts.Projection: PushNew York Jets (Total: 6)The Jets were fortunate to have QB Sam Darnold fall into their lap at No. 3 (thanks, Giants), but Darnold doesn't have much support for his rookie season, especially at receiver and running back. Ask Carson Wentz about those perils. This is a total rebuild, and while there's reason for optimism (finally) for Gang Green, eclipsing six wins for a team that won five last year doesn't seem feasible. However, the Jets shouldn't be an abject failure, either.Projection: PushOakland Raiders (Total: 8)I'm not buying into Jon Gruden resurrecting the Raiders, especially after a nine-year coaching absence. Derek Carr lost his favorite target in Michael Crabtree. Amari Cooper has been inconsistent, Jordy Nelson is 33, Kolton Miller was a questionable pick at 15th overall, and too many of their defensive players are long in the tooth (Reggie Nelson, Leon Hall, Derrick Johnson). Are the Raiders three games better than last year's six-win team? I don't see it.Projection: UnderPittsburgh Steelers (Total: 10 1/2)It's worth wondering how the loss of offensive coordinator Todd Haley will impact an offense that's placed in the top 10 in each of the past four seasons, top three in three of the last four. But the Steelers have won at least 11 games in three of the past four years and bring back most of their personnel from last year's 13-win team. It's possible they take a small step back, but doubtful they regress by three or more losses.Projection: OverTennessee Titans (Total: 8)The Titans can go either way. They made the playoffs last year with nine wins and upset the Chiefs in the wild-card round but fired the head coach following a 21-point loss and hired unproven Mike Vrabel. Marcus Mariota threw more picks than TDs last year and the Titans have some question marks on offense and defense. But, the team may also have improved with the additions of cornerback Malcolm Butler, defensive lineman Bennie Logan, and rookie linebacker Rashaan Evans. The hunch here is Vegas is right on the money.Projection: PushGeoff 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 is co-host of "The Sports Shop" on Facebook.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It wasn't a lengthy partnership due to a season-ending knee injury, but the Deshaun Watson-DeAndre Hopkins connection certainly had Houston Texans fans fired up during the 2017 campaign.The rookie quarterback and star receiver showed excellent chemistry from Watson's first start on, and that potential has Hopkins excited about their future together."It gives me chills sometimes just to think about what we did in the little time we had together," Hopkins said after OTAs on Wednesday.After Watson entered the opening-week game versus the Jacksonville Jaguars at halftime, the pivot connected with Hopkins 44 times over seven games for 599 yards and seven touchdowns. The former Clemson stars showed that, when healthy, they are as dangerous as any tandem in the league.As for Watson's return from the knee injury that ended his season? He looks to be in midseason form in his accuracy to Hopkins at OTAs.

Mock Drafts

Jon Gruden's infectious, energetic personality is one of the main reasons the Oakland Raiders head coach was such a well-loved media personality during his nine-year spell away from the sidelines.Apparently, Raiders players are already feeling the Gruden effect."I think he definitely has guys buying in," tight end Jared Cook said Tuesday, according to Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "I mean, I bought in for sure because he knows what he's talking about, and you can tell a difference in a coach that knows what he’s talking about and a coach that does not."Cook continued to heap praise on the $100-million coach, saying he "really makes you like football again."Derek Carr could be the main beneficiary of an offensive mind like Gruden's, and the quarterback applauded the head coach - who is contracted through 2028 - for helping the team quickly move on from its 2017 struggles."He said to hit the reset button," Carr said, "and then we have hopefully 10-plus years to, 'Let’s just ride and figure this thing out, grow every year, and do this thing.' When a coach comes in and does that for everybody, not just me but for everybody, that weight is lifted off. It's like, 'OK, that's done. Whatever that was (in 2017), let's just move forward. Let's just have fun together and work hard.'"Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joe Thomas better have been saving for his retirement.The former Cleveland Browns star left tackle one-upped his ex-teammate Damarious Randall's pledge Wednesday, promising to buy retweeters a signed, game-worn Stephen Curry jersey if the Golden State Warriors defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers for the third time in four years during the NBA Finals.Related: Browns' Randall pledges to buy jerseys for retweeters if Cavs top Warriors

Donald Trump's potential influence over the NFL's new national anthem policy has come to light in the first testimony to come from Colin Kaepernick's collusion grievance against the league.Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones revealed details of a phone conversation with the President of the United States in which Trump made it clear he wasn't going to let go of the issue of players protesting during the anthem."This is a very winning, strong issue for me," Trump told Jones, according to Andrew Beaton of the Wall Street Journal. "Tell everybody, you can't win this one. This one lifts me."Trump reacted positively to the NFL's decision, but still took issue with the league allowing players to stay in the locker room during the anthem if they wish, saying "maybe you shouldn't be in the country."It's been speculated that the NFL's anthem policy is an attempt to dissuade the president from further verbal attacks. The league and its owners are reportedly "terrified" of Trump, one league source told the Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman.Trump called for protesting NFL players to be "fired" at a rally prior to Week 3 last season, causing widespread demonstrations across the league.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Torrey Smith made his feelings about the NFL's new national anthem policy clear on the day of its announcement, criticizing the league on Twitter for implying those who protested had disrespected "The Star-Spangled Banner."Smith continued to blast the rule Tuesday, saying the NFL has effectively branded Colin Kaepernick and his fellow protestors as "villains.""When you see reactive policy ... I always think that's a problem," Smith said, according to ESPN's David Newton. "Especially when the message has been changed and guys aren't against the military and they've been protesting for what Kaepernick originally started, against (police) brutality."Smith added: "It almost makes it seem like a guy like Kaepernick and Eric Reid and guys who started it originally, like what they did was in vain, like they were villains. That's not the case."Smith and Kaepernick were teammates on the San Francisco 49ers in 2015 and 2016, and the pass-catcher has been a staunch defender of the quarterback ever since.While Smith is no fan of the anthem policy, the veteran said he wasn't exactly shocked by the NFL's decision."You're disappointed but not surprised," Smith said. "At the end of the day, the league is about money, it's a business. To try to silence those guys when they're trying to do the right thing for our country, I don't know what to say about it."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kam Chancellor's NFL future remains unknown.The Seattle Seahawks safety suffered a season-ending neck injury in November - an injury so severe that head coach Pete Carroll said Chancellor would "have a hard time playing football again."The eight-year vet hasn't yet called it quits, however."If my body says I can play, I'm playing," Chancellor said on WVEC-TV in his hometown of Virginia last week, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com.The 30-year-old added that he won't be reckless."If my body says don't play, I'm not playing. I'll listen. I'm a very good listener," he said.Seahawks general manager John Schneider said last week that Chancellor is scheduled to undergo a scan in June or July that will help shed some light on his recovery, according to the Seattle Times' Bob Condotta.Seattle's secondary remains in flux. The team parted ways with longtime corner Richard Sherman and the future plans of Chancellor and free safety Earl Thomas are still up in the air.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Values are based on 12-team leagues with a $200 salary cap in a standard-scoring format.Auction Values

Should Indianapolis Colts backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett be called upon to play again in 2018, he'll do so feeling much better about the offense he finds himself in.Brissett heaped praise on new head coach Frank Reich and can pinpoint the offense's biggest improvement under the former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator."The play-calling. It’s no knock on anybody. But that’s what makes offenses different. We’re all running the same plays to get in the end zone," Brissett said, per Stephen Holder of the Indy Star. "It’s just how you call them and when you call them."Brissett is in his first full offseason as a member of the team, having been acquired from the New England Patriots last September.While the Colts are expecting Andrew Luck to return from his shoulder injury in time for the upcoming campaign, Brissett feels as though he'll be better prepared if called upon again."It's great because I get to go out there and practice with the guys and do the stuff that I'm going to do (during the season)," Brissett said. "Last year, I got traded in the beginning of the year so it was kind of hard. But no excuse. Now I get to practice the reps and the plays with the same guys."Brissett posted 3,098 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 16 games - 15 starts - last season, adding another 260 yards and four scores on the ground.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In response to the NFL's new national anthem policy, New York Jets CEO Christopher Johnson said last week he would not discipline any player who violates the league's rules.Johnson's position appears to have impressed his players, who have shown their support recently."We've been actively in conversations with Christopher on how we can go about it and other ways to make change," wide receiver Jermaine Kearse told reporters Tuesday, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. "I'm very appreciative of him. I think he kind of gets it, the fact that he has taken ownership, to support us and be actively involved."Related - Look: Antonio Brown takes knee in Instagram post following NFL's new anthem policyJohnson reportedly held a team meeting last Thursday, where he told players "where he stood," according to left tackle Kelvin Beachum. The Jets' CEO did vote for the policy but later made it clear he would support his players.Head coach Todd Bowles echoed his players' appreciation."It's always nice to have the owner have your back," Bowles said. "It's about the issues for us. We didn't have a problem a year ago. We'll continue to talk as a group, as a team, and as an organization and go forward from there.""We try to focus on the issues and do things behind the scenes that make a difference, as opposed to sitting out here and going tit for tat with a lot of this going on."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL's new anthem policy - which can punish teams if any of their players kneel - has been met with widespread criticism among players, and that sentiment extends to the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.Related: NFLPA director rips anthem policy for trying to 'exert control' over playersSafety Malcolm Jenkins, who's been a leader of the player protests in support of social justice issues, initially said he disagreed with the decision by NFL owners to "thwart the players' constitutional rights to express themselves."He doubled down on those comments Tuesday."I think it's a still a bad idea and something that was unnecessary," Jenkins said, according to Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia. "But now there's a media storm the league has kind of brought on itself."Defensive end Chris Long was outspoken in support of the protests last season, and was vocal about his intention to skip the Eagles' championship visit to the White House if they were invited, which they were earlier this month.He said the new policy confuses the true meaning of the protests and is "driven by fear.""It's their (the owners') right, but I think it was a dumb move and I think it was clumsy," Long said. "I don't think it was rooted in patriotism. I love this country, I love our vets, the guys protesting love our country and love our vets. I think it was driven by fear of a diminished bottom line, which I already wrote on Twitter, you can see that on Twitter. The underlying factor is they're afraid of the president. I don’t really need to expound much on that. It's their right, again, but it's a clumsy rule."The Eagles' trip to the White House is believed to be scheduled for early next week.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL's coaching carousel is a never-ending ride as front offices around the league constantly search for ways to reenergize their respective teams.This offseason, seven new head coaching gigs were handed out, meaning almost a quarter of the league is under new stewardship. So, out of the five rookie head coaches, Pat Shurmur (did you forget his time with the Cleveland Browns?), and the $100-million man in Oakland, who will win the most games in 2018?Jon Gruden - Oakland RaidersRaiders' 2017 record: 6-10 (3rd in division)Raiders owner Mark Davis essentially handed Gruden the keys to the franchise by giving him $100 million over 10 years. As a result, he's probably now the most powerful head coach in the NFL not named Bill Belichick.So, for better or worse, this is Gruden's team. His first offseason back in the NFL has been met with widespread criticism, though, namely for how the Raiders' additions have skewed toward the older side (Jordy Nelson, Derrick Johnson, Leon Hall, Doug Martin etc.) and for reaching for offensive tackle Kolton Miller in the first round of the draft instead of taking a defensive game-changer like Derwin James.On offense, there's only one way for the stagnant and unimaginative unit to go after 2017, and Gruden still possesses an enviable offensive mind. But whether it will be enough to get Derek Carr back on track as a franchise-level quarterback remains to be seen. With the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos looking stronger, and the Kansas City Chiefs unlikely to drop off barring a Patrick Mahomes meltdown, it's hard to see the Raiders improving their record unless Gruden can morph Carr into a star overnight.2018 record prediction: 5-11Frank Reich - Indianapolis Colts(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Colts' 2017 record: 4-12 (3rd in division)Reich, the ex-Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator, has his work cut out after the Colts quickly pivoted to him after being jilted by Josh McDaniels.General manager Chris Ballard has done an admirable job overhauling Indy's talent, but this is still one of the league's worst rosters - especially on defense, which has unproven players at every level. Moreover, Reich won't have the benefit of a weak AFC South, like Chuck Pagano did for the majority of his time in charge.The Colts, as always, won't get far without Luck, who, despite looking like a linebacker, has yet to resume throwing. Assuming the star quarterback plays the majority of the season and at close to his previous level in Reich's Super Bowl-winning system, the head coach should sniff .500 in his first year, as Luck has never finished with a record worse than 8-8 when he's started 15-plus games.2018 record prediction: 7-9Mike Vrabel - Tennessee TitansTitans' 2017 record: 9-7 (2nd in division, wild-card berth)Just seven years ago, Vrabel was a month away from accepting the linebackers coach job at Ohio State. The former NFL veteran has had a rapid rise up the coaching ranks, and the Titans clearly saw enough to believe he was the man to break Tennessee out from the rigidity and stagnation of the Mike Mularkey era.Houston finished last in points allowed during Vrabel's one season as the Texans' defensive coordinator - though injuries played a major part in that - so how much he can improve the Titans' unit is the team's second-biggest question. The first is the development of Marcus Mariota.Mariota should thrive in an up-tempo spread offense, but it's no guarantee after years of struggling in an ill-fitting system, developing bad habits. The Titans will field a much more enjoyable - and likely productive - team in 2018, but won't have the benefit of a weak AFC wild-card race to help propel them above .500 and into the playoffs.2018 record prediction: 8-8Pat Shurmur - New York Giants(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Giants' 2017 record: 3-13 (4th in division)New York has every piece it needs to succeed on offense, and Shurmur showed how well he can pull a unit together after losing his starting quarterback and running back while the offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings in 2017. But, Eli Manning is the key cog in the Giants machine, and Shurmur needs to squeeze one or two more solid years out of the two-time Super Bowl winner if the substantial investments at running back and offensive line are to pay off.The NFC East could be formidable next season, too. The Eagles are the clear class of the division, but the Giants, Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Redskins could all conceivably morph into wild-card contenders, which means they could hold back one another from double-digit wins.If Manning can just get the ball into the hands of Saquon Barkley and Odell Beckham Jr., few teams should be able to keep up, and Shurmur should earn the first winning record of his head coaching career.2018 record prediction: 10-6 (wild-card berth)Matt Patricia - Detroit LionsLions' 2017 record: 9-7 (2nd in division)Patricia inherits a team that had a winning record in 2017, yet won only one game out of seven against opponents who finished the year above .500. The Lions' offense will always put up points with Matthew Stafford under center, but the team needs Patricia to inject whatever magic they have bottled up in New England if it's to consistently win big games moving forward.Part of the issue is the 27th-ranked defense. Patricia has led top defenses before, but with an underwhelming talent level in 2017, the Patriots were 29th in total defense. It's fair to wonder what he can do to boost the unit, which still has only two real difference-makers in Ezekiel Ansah and Darius Slay.While the Lions made moves to jump-start their consistently awful ground game, we need to see the improvements to believe it. Detroit is an average team, but Patricia will get a taste of the losing life as his squad is crushed under the weight of the NFC North's powerhouses - the Green Bay Packers and Vikings.2018 record prediction: 6-10Matt Nagy - Chicago Bears(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Bears' 2017 record: 5-11 (4th in division)The Bears, clearly inspired by the champion Eagles' blueprint, went after an offensive-minded head coach to pair with their young quarterback, and then proceeded to use their ample cap space to give Nagy all the weapons he needs to mold Mitch Trubisky into a star.Consequently, Chicago will enter 2018 as one of the hyped non-playoff teams who could make the leap into the postseason. However, while the talented squad could make significant noise, it's still a rebuilding team led by an inexperienced head coach and quarterback. The 2017 Los Angeles Rams are the exception, not the rule.Still, don't overlook the 10th-ranked defense, which should be even more stout thanks to rookie linebacker Roquan Smith. If the defense can carry the team while the offense gels early in the year, the Bears could blaze through the second half of the season despite playing in maybe the toughest division in football.2018 record prediction: 9-7Steve Wilks - Arizona CardinalsCardinals' 2017 record: 8-8 (3rd in division)The Titans and Lions are the only two teams on this list who finished last season with a better record than the Cardinals, but Arizona is facing arguably the biggest transition of all after losing Bruce Arians and Carson Palmer to retirement. Wilks, with just one season as an NFL coordinator, is facing a tough task to fill the void.Either Sam Bradford or rookie Josh Rosen be Wilks' Day 1 starter. But it's fair to question how effective Bradford can be after his umpteenth knee injury. Rosen could be a future star, but his gunslinging style should lead to plenty of interceptions, and consequently, losses if he's forced to start.The returning David Johnson could carry the offense, but the unit lacks depth and could be derailed with even one or two injuries to key personnel. The defense-focused Wilks has a lot of young talent to work with on that side of the ball, and he made a name for himself by developing such players. Still, progress is unlikely to be made rapidly enough for the head coach to avoid the NFC West's basement in Year 1.2018 record prediction: 5-11Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Player rankings are the weapon of choice for most fantasy owners entering a draft, but they aren't the only tool you should be using.Breaking down each position into tiers will help you prepare by properly identifying player value, allowing you to react accordingly when runs happen during your draft.Position Tiers

It appears a marriage between the San Francisco 49ers and free-agent wide receiver Dez Bryant will not be occurring any time soon.Despite a recent Instagram comment from Bryant - later deleted - claiming interest in joining San Francisco, the team is unlikely to sign the veteran receiver, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Although Pelissero adds there's a mutual respect between Bryant and the 49ers, general manager John Lynch is reportedly happy with their current receiver group of Pierre Garcon, Marquise Goodwin, Trent Taylor, and 2018 second-round pick Dante Pettis.Bryant was released in April after spending eight seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. He caught 69 passes for 838 yards and six touchdowns in 2017.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Three days before making his CFL debut, Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Johnny Manziel is focused on relaxing and enjoying his first snaps with the team."(The goal is to) just go take a snap and have some fun," Manziel told reporters Tuesday. "There's no pressure, there's no 'go out and throw 10 touchdown passes in one drive.' It's just ball."The former NFL first-round pick says he feels comfortable in head coach June Jones' offense as it resembles the system he ran in college."There's a lot of concepts that coincide with what I did at (Texas) A&M," Manziel said. "It's a similar system as far as throwing the ball. I feel like I have a pretty good grasp of everything that we're doing."Jones said he will "probably script a number of plays" for Manziel ahead of the quarterback's preseason debut Friday versus the Toronto Argonauts.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With his top tight end already ruled out for the 2018 season because of a torn ACL, Philip Rivers hopes the Los Angeles Chargers are receptive to the idea of bringing back Antonio Gates for a 16th season."I'd always be excited if he walked back in the door," Rivers said Tuesday of his longtime teammate, according to Jack Wang of the Los Angeles Daily News.The Chargers announced publicly at the end of April they would not re-sign Gates, a free agent who's spent his entire career with the franchise.The 37-year-old was surpassed on the depth chart permanently last season by Hunter Henry, but the season-ending ACL injury suffered by Henry recently leaves the Chargers with a major hole at tight end."It would get my vote," Rivers added when asked about the possibility of reuniting with Gates for another campaign.Even with his athletic abilities in decline, Gates has remained a reliable target in the short-passing game for Rivers over the past few seasons. The two have been Chargers teammates since 2004.Gates, who notched 316 yards and three touchdowns receiving across 16 contests last season, hasn't appeared to attract significant interest as a free agent.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quarterback Nick Foles said Tuesday he was never told about a trade offer that would send him to the Cleveland Browns, and he certainly didn't ask the Philadelphia Eagles to refrain from making the deal before they acquired Tyrod Taylor, according to Jeff McLane of Philly.com.A report last week claimed the Eagles rejected the Browns' offer after running the scenario by Foles, who preferred to remain in Philadelphia - even as a backup to Carson Wentz.Foles came off the bench late last season to relieve an injured Wentz, and led the Eagles all the way to a Super Bowl LII championship.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks have signed free-agent wide receiver Brandon Marshall, the 13-year veteran announced Tuesday on Instagram.Marshall signed a one-year, incentive-based contract worth up to $2 million with the NFC West team, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Cleveland Browns defensive back Damarious Randall could soon be in an enormous financial hole thanks to a seemingly innocuous tweet Monday night.

Kansas City Chiefs right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif can now add "Doctor" to his name.The 27-year-old graduated from McGill University in Montreal on Tuesday with a Doctor of Medicine degree. This season, he'll become the first NFL player to take the field as a physician.

New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur told reporters Tuesday that wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is nearing medical clearance on his injured ankle, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.Beckham has been a limited participant in team workouts throughout the offseason as he continues to recover from last year's ankle surgery.The 25-year-old was absent from New York's organized team activity Tuesday, but Shurmur said he knew ahead of time that Beckham wouldn't be there.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As eyes turn to training camp, every NFL team is feeling like it nailed its offseason decisions.But, as the regular season and playoffs always illuminate, for every savvy, well-reasoned move, there's a colossal error.Here, we break down each NFC team's crowning achievement and biggest misstep this offseason, starting with the NFC East.NFC

Denver Broncos general manager and executive vice president John Elway fell short in his attempt to qualify for the 2018 U.S. Senior Open Championship next month.Elway failed to land one of two qualifying spots Monday, according to Arnie Stapleton of The Associated Press. The 39th annual tournament takes place this year at The Broadmoor's east course in Colorado Springs, Colo."I haven’t been playing very well. I haven’t been playing much, either," Elway said. “But it was fun to be out here and compete. It’s a lot of work in that rough."The 1.4-handicap golfer shot 10 over par, finishing in a tie for 18th.Elway will still serve as the event's honorary chairman.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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

Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens admires Bill Belichick, and clearly, the feeling is mutual.The New England Patriots head coach spoke highly of Stevens following the Celtics' loss in Game 7 of the NBA's Eastern Conference finals on Sunday."Coach Stevens is incredible," Belichick told Greg Bedard of Boston Sports Journal, according to Larry Brown Sports."He always points out that the players are the ones who, regardless of the situation, have made this a special team, defying all expectations and adversity game after game after game. But he clearly is a driving force behind it. Coach Stevens is a phenomenal person, leader, teacher and strategist, and the job he does is a model for all coaches."Stevens has spent a lot of time with Belichick, even borrowing the famous "do your job" mantra during the Celtics' 2017 playoff run. As the 41-year-old explained to NFL Network's Cynthia Frelund recently, he often comes away from their meetings feeling "inadequate as a coach."

The Seattle Seahawks relied almost exclusively on Russell Wilson's arm and legs to put points on the board last season, and his insane workload partly led to the dismissal of Darrell Bevell, the only offensive coordinator Wilson has ever known in the NFL.Brian Schottenheimer is the man tasked with guiding Wilson through the prime years of his career, and the quarterback said his new well-traveled coordinator is asking more from a mental standpoint compared to the team's previous scheme."It's definitely some added stuff for sure, there's definitely more on the plate," Wilson said, according to John Boyle of the Seahawks' official website. "We've always had a lot of information, but it's even more. But that's OK. I'm ready for more and more and just continue to see how far we can take it. I think we're going to have a great offense, I really do."Wilson threw 34 touchdowns and essentially acted as his own running game in 2017, rushing for 586 yards and three touchdowns - both team highs.The Seahawks drafted Rashaad Penny toward the end of the first round in an attempt to lessen Wilson's responsibility, but with the defense in a clear state of transition, the play of the veteran pivot will still likely determine how successful Seattle is next campaign.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One U.S. congressman says he won't be watching NFL games in wake of the league's new national anthem policy.Representative Keith Ellison of Minnesota announced Sunday on Twitter that he's decided to boycott the NFL for the 2018 season.

Robert Griffin III doesn't believe the addition of first-round pick Lamar Jackson to the Baltimore Ravens will affect his ability to crack the roster out of training camp.Griffin looked to be the front-runner to claim the backup job to Joe Flacco before the NFL draft, but the selection of Jackson means Griffin will have to convince the Ravens they should carry three quarterbacks."When they drafted Lamar, I didn't look at it as a shot at me or a shot at Joe," Griffin told Mike Jones of USA TODAY Sports. "It was 'OK, Lamar is coming in here, and it's our job to help him learn the offense and help him compete.' So, for me, my job is to show them that I’m an asset to the team and not a detriment … One (reporter) asked me if I was trying to showcase for other teams. No, my focus is, 'I'm a Baltimore Raven. I'm showcasing to them that this is where I'm supposed to be.'"Griffin signed with the Ravens at the beginning of April after spending the previous season out of football. The former No. 2 overall pick is looking to reignite his career in Baltimore.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats head coach June Jones said Monday he expects Johnny Manziel to make his CFL debut Friday in the preseason game against the Toronto Argonauts, according to TSN.June praised Manziel for being mentally "plugged in" since his arrival north of the border, but said he won't force the former NFL first-round pick into action if he doesn't feel the passer is fully prepared.Related: 'Johnny Football' has chance to live up to nicknameJeremiah Masoli sits atop the Tiger-Cats' quarterback depth chart after starting 12 games in 2017. Manziel, meanwhile, is set to battle for his place in a quarterback room that also contains Vernon Adams Jr., Bryant Moniz, and Dane Evans.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Adrian Peterson wouldn't mind sharing a backfield with Todd Gurley in St. Louis. The problem is, Gurley's Rams have been in Los Angeles for two years now."Obviously, I've mentioned Houston a couple times," Peterson said recently on ESPN's NFL Live while discussing his options for the upcoming season. "I feel like Green Bay wouldn't be a bad look as well. Carolina. There's some options out there. You know, Miami. Down there in St. Louis. That would be a nice look, too, with Todd Gurley."You see around the league they have a two-back system. Guys are really not pounding the ball 20, 30 times a game, so I think that leaves the door open for a couple opportunities for me."Peterson has struggled to find employment coming off a season in which he rushed for 529 yards and two touchdowns over 10 appearances with the New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals.Related: Saints' Payton open to bringing back Adrian PetersonThe 33-year-old ranks 12th on the NFL's all-time rushing list with 12,276 career yards.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here's how NFL players and teams recognized Memorial Day - one of the most patriotic days of the year in the United States - on social media Monday:

As eyes turn to training camp, every NFL team is feeling like it nailed its offseason decisions.But, as the regular season and playoffs always illuminate, for every savvy, well-reasoned move, there's a colossal error.Here, we break down each AFC team's crowning achievement and biggest misstep this offseason, starting with the AFC East.AFC

Free-agent wide receiver Dez Bryant commented on an Instagram post that he wants to take his talents to the San Francisco 49ers, though he later deleted it.

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Cassius Marsh spent nine games with the New England Patriots last year; nine too many, if you ask him."They don’t have fun there. There's nothing fun about it. There's nothing happy about it," the fifth-year veteran told Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. "I didn't enjoy any of my time there, you know what I'm saying? It made me, for the first time in my life, think about not playing football because I hated it that much."Patriots Nation apparently didn't take too kindly to Marsh's criticism, and Marsh responded by doubling down on his stance."I just want to address all you Patriots fans who don't like this new article. I'm sorry to hurt your feelings," Marsh said in an Instagram video, via ProFootballTalk's Michael David Smith. "Seems to be breaking your heart. But if you can't handle the truth, stay off my page. Don't read articles."That's how I felt. That's how I still feel and I'm grateful to be away from there, grateful to be where I'm at."After three years in Seattle, New England acquired Marsh in exchange for a pair of draft picks before the start of the 2017 regular season.Marsh struggled over his nine contests with the Patriots, compiling 19 tackles and one sack, but said he was misused by Bill Belichick and his coaching staff."They asked me to do a bunch of stuff that I had never done: covering running backs and receivers and basically almost never rushing the passer, which is what I did in playing defensive line," he said.Marsh said he eventually told Belichick it was his desire to move on from the team."I confronted (Belichick) about all the things that were going on," he said. "I won't get into detail, but it was B.S. things they were doing. I just wasn't a fan. And so I, basically, without asking to get cut, I kind of asked to get cut. … I had confidence that I would have an opportunity elsewhere and I would take advantage of it."Marsh eventually got his wish, and the 49ers claimed the UCLA product after the Pats waived him in November. He posted 11 tackles and two sacks over the remaining six games with San Francisco.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LeBron James is headed to an eighth consecutive appearance in the NBA Finals.James dominated as the Cleveland Cavaliers took down the Boston Celtics by a score of 87-79 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday night, and the NFL took notice.Here are the best player reactions from around the league.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown appears to have found a way around the NFL's new anthem policy.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones denied rumors his absence from team workouts this offseason stems from discontent with his contract."It's not even about that," the five-time Pro Bowler told TMZ Sports on Thursday. "Everybody wants a story right now. There's no story to be told. I'm just working, I'm getting myself better, I'm just working on myself right now."Jones, who has three years left on his contract, skipped every part of the Falcons' voluntary offseason program, leading some to speculate about his future in Atlanta. The 29-year-old also turned heads when he removed a slew of Falcons-related photos from his Instagram account."There's no bad blood between me and the team or anything like that," Jones said. "It's just everybody on the outside trying to look in and trying to destroy what we built there."I'm not going nowhere. I love the team, I love the organization, I love everybody there. We good."Related: Falcons GM dismisses concerns about Jones' social media, missed workoutsJones has established himself as one of the game's best players over the last four years, posting more than 1,400 yards receiving in each season since 2014.Falcons head coach Dan Quinn previously said Jones will attend mandatory minicamp in June.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.