Dez Bryant is no longer with the Dallas Cowboys, but their coaching staff is still talking about him.Bryant, who had spent his entire career with the Cowboys prior to being released on April 13, recorded 69 catches for 838 yards and six touchdowns last season, but it wasn't enough for the franchise to retain him.Although Bryant is a free agent, Cowboys wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal noted that No. 88 wasn't close to approaching Pro Bowl form in 2017."I still saw he's physical and violent at the route top," Lal said of Bryant to Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News. "He's still one of the best slant runners in the league."Without getting into specifics, I just saw more inconsistencies in his game."Lal was asked to specify how or when Bryant was inconsistent, but he declined."I really don't want to get into specifics in that, but a general feeling," he said.Bryant has yet to sign with a new team since his release.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL released a statement Thursday explaining it won't take further action after reviewing the situation of former Buffalo Bills president Russ Brandon.Brandon, who also served as the president of the Buffalo Sabres, resigned from his posts with Pegula Sports and Entertainment on May 1 following an internal investigation into his personal conduct with employees.Related: Bills, Sabres president Brandon resigns after reported misconduct investigation"We are satisfied the club addressed the matter in a timely, thorough, and appropriate manner. There will be no further action (taken) by the league office," the NFL wrote in a statement obtained by Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News.Brandon joined the Bills in 1997 and was named president in 2013.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Josh Allen has huge shoes to fill if he is to become the savior of the Buffalo Bills. The rookie quarterback took a huge stride Thursday after meeting Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly.Kelly, revered in Bills history as the greatest quarterback in franchise history, took time to meet with the Bills' first-round pick during the first day of rookie minicamp. Allen couldn't have been more impressed."That's where I want to be. That's eventually (the goal of) my career, to be regarded in the city of Buffalo like a Jim Kelly. I think that every quarterback who plays here wants to be in the same sentence as him, just because of what he is and what he holds to the city. For him to come out here is an awesome experience," Allen said via ESPN's Mike Rodak.Buffalo traded the 12th, 53rd, and 56th overall pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in order to select Allen seventh overall.Kelly didn't speak to reporters Thursday while recovering from surgery to remove oral cancer."For him to come out and show support and show everybody that he's doing well, speaks volumes," Allen said. "That's a tough guy right there to (go through) what he's been through and come out and still be himself."He's going to hopefully be a mentor to me, and I'm going to take everything that he says very heavily, just because of what he's done on the field and what he's done for the city of Buffalo. For a quarterback in Buffalo, it's a dream come true to meet a guy like him."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Saquon Barkley says there's justification for teams to select elite running backs very early in the NFL draft - as the New York Giants did by taking him No. 2 overall last month - due to their versatility on the field."(I'm) more than a running back. Completely more than a running back. That is why when people try and put the 'Why should a running back go that high?' Obviously, you look at the past three years and the position of the running backs and what the (Ezekiel Elliotts) and the Le'Veon (Bell)s have been able to do, they are more than a running back," Barkley said during his media availability at Giants rookie minicamp."I look at myself as more than a running back. I am not a guy that just lines up in the backfield and is going to bang his head, bang his head, bang his head. I am a guy that is willing to do anything for this team. Whether it be a kick returner or a punt returner, running down on kickoffs, lining up in the slot, running a dummy play, or a fake play, whatever it takes."During his three-year college career at Penn State, Barkley recorded 43 rushing touchdowns and eight receiving scores, adding two kickoff returns for touchdowns in his final season.He envisions himself as a similar do-everything threat in the NFL."I want to be an athlete, not just a running back," Barkley said. "Obviously, I play the running back position but I want to be an all-around guy and an all-around player."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After he was criticized for the better part of a week, Ben Roethlisberger felt it was finally time to reach out to new Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph.So he picked up his phone and sent him a text, according to Rudolph.

New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has finally broken his silence about the drama he created in February when he reneged on a deal to coach the Indianapolis Colts.Primed to become the head coach of the Colts, McDaniels backed out at the last minute and instead chose to stay on with the Patriots. The decision by McDaniels came after New England's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII.Three months later, McDaniels has no regrets, saying Friday that he's "very happy with the decision" he made, according to Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald.McDaniels was believed to be following then Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia out the door. Patricia became the new head coach of the Detroit Lions, but McDaniels eventually chose to remain behind head coach Bill Belichick in New England.The move reignited discussion on whether the NFL would change rules regarding the hiring of coaches, but those talks were tabled indefinitely in late March.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A leading candidate has emerged in the bidding to become the next owner of the NFL's Carolina Panthers.David Tepper, a minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, is believed to be the leading candidate after fellow contender Ben Navarro was informed the sale is moving quickly in another direction, sources told ESPN's David Newton.Tepper met with team officials on Wednesday, Newton reports, and an announcement is expected as early as Monday or Tuesday.Tepper is a hedge fund manager whose net worth is estimated to be $11 billion. Navarro is the founder of a South Carolina-based financial group.The Panthers were expected to settle upon a candidate to recommend as their next owner ahead of the NFL's spring meeting in late May.The team was put up for sale after reports of workplace misconduct involving founder and owner Jerry Richardson became public in December.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles have launched a commemorative wine to celebrate their first Super Bowl championship.The team partnered with Kansas City-based winery Mano's Wine to create "Championship Red," a limited-edition blend of Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon and Monterey Merlot that's been aged for 15 months, as well as a "Championship Bubbly" champagne. The wine retails for $49.95, while the champagne costs $24.95.

Every year, there's a major shakeup among NFL teams that make the playoffs.Last year, eight of the 12 teams that made the postseason weren't in the playoffs in 2016. Three teams - including the Super Bowl-champion Eagles - had finished in last place in their respective divisions the prior year.Three of the four teams that appeared in last year's conference championships - Philadelphia, Minnesota, and Jacksonville - weren't in the 2016 playoff picture and combined for just 18 wins that season.Knowing that there's change every year atop divisions and in the playoff picture, here's a preview of this year's teams most likely to elbow their way back into the postseason after missing out in 2017.Tampa Bay BuccaneersTen seasons have passed since the Bucs last made the postseason. Their offseason moves reflected that sense of urgency to get back.Borrowing a page from the Super Bowl champions' playbook, the Bucs strengthened and deepened their defensive line, starting with the signings of two former Eagles linemen - Vinny Curry and Beau Allen - and traded for two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. The Bucs also drafted defensive tackle Vita Vea 12th overall to pair him inside with six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy.The Bucs should be as stout and athletic up front as any team in the league, a formula that helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl.Offensively, the Bucs have a plethora of weapons, starting with All-Pro receiver Mike Evans. DeSean Jackson's numbers dropped last year but rookie tight end O.J. Howard and rookie wideout Chris Godwin each averaged more than 15 yards per reception and should see increased roles.Eight of Tampa Bay's 11 losses last year came by six or fewer points. If quarterback Jameis Winston raises his game, and with a defense that should be much improved, the Bucs are more equipped to battle with NFC South foes Atlanta, New Orleans, and Carolina.New York GiantsThe Giants finished 3-13 last season, last in the NFC East by four games, and were one of three NFL teams that were outscored by more than 140 points. Their minus-142 point differential was more than twice the NFC's second-worst differential (Arizona, minus-66).Injuries to Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall compounded the team's inability to keep Eli Manning upright and protected in the pocket and failure to run the ball.It sure appears as if the Giants' entire offseason plan was build up around the 37-year-old Manning instead of rebuild, a decision that won't be proven right or wrong until two years from now.The Giants hired offensive guru Pat Shurmur to replace Ben McAdoo as head coach, signed former Patriots left tackle Nate Solder to a record-breaking deal, and practically sprinted to the podium to select transcendent running back prospect Saquon Barkley at No. 2, passing on several potential future franchise quarterbacks in the process.The team also hired defensive coordinator James Bettcher, who inherits a talented defense that underperformed last year trying to compensate for a dormant offense. Defensive end Olivier Vernon, defensive tackle Damon Harrison, cornerback Janoris Jenkins, and safety Landon Collins are all Pro Bowl talents at their respective positions.The Giants won 11 games two years ago with many of the same names. There's no denying that adding Solder and Barkley to the roster makes the team better, perhaps even good enough to win the NFC East for the first time since 2011.San Francisco 49ersLast year's decision to flip a second-rounder to the Patriots for Jimmy Garoppolo could be already viewed as rookie general manager John Lynch's finest moment. The Niners were 1-10 before Garroppolo seized control of the offense and went 5-0, completing 67 percent of his passes and registering a 96.2 passer rating.The Niners aren't loaded with playmakers, but look for Lynch to be aggressive on the trade market and waiver wire until the last day of training camp. Defensively, the front seven has a nice, young nucleus that includes first-round picks Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner, and Solomon Thomas. If linebacker Reuben Foster can avoid trouble - sure, a big "if" - the Niners should improve upon their 25th-ranked defense from last year and battle the Rams and Seahawks for the division title.The Niners found their quarterback of the future. The rest is about filling the holes around him.Cleveland BrownsDon't laugh, but the hapless, woeful, perennially pathetic Browns loaded up this offseason and have the chance to break through if No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield shows even a glimmer of the promise and potential he showcased at Oklahoma.Even with Joe Thomas' retirement, the Browns are strong on the offensive line. As for weapons, the trade for premier slot receiver Jarvis Landry, free-agent signing of running back Carlos Hyde, and latest return of Josh Gordon give Mayfield plenty of help to start his rookie season - assuming Gordon can stay away from trouble and another suspension. New offensive coordinator Todd Haley is perhaps the best assistant coach pickup of the offseason.The Browns probably shouldn't have passed on defensive end Bradley Chubb with the fourth overall pick but addressed a defensive need with Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward. Moves they've made in the past two years have replenished coordinator Greg Williams' crew with promising talent in defensive end Myles Garrett, defensive back Jabrill Peppers, and linebacker Jamie Collins.It won't be easy to usurp the Steelers for division supremacy, but stumbles by the Ravens and Bengals open the door for the Browns to move quickly up the AFC North standings and contend for a wild-card spot.Los Angeles ChargersAfter an 0-4 start, the Chargers won nine of their last 12 games and were poised to make the postseason until the Titans trumped them and the Ravens on the final weekend of the season to make the playoffs.The Chargers stayed put in the offseason, avoiding the splashy signing and pinning their hopes on the team's young talent coming back with future Hall of Fame quarterback Philip Rivers to carry over the momentum from last year's second half of the season.With the Chiefs and Broncos boasting new quarterbacks and the Raiders welcoming head coach Jon Gruden back into the league for the first time since 2008, the Chargers saw the least amount of change and turnover this offseason. Winning the AFC West is very feasible for them.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 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.

If anyone can relate to Ben Roethlisberger's scenario, it's Tommy Maddox.Roethlisberger recently criticized the Pittsburgh Steelers' decision to select quarterback Mason Rudolph with a third-round pick in this year's draft to be Big Ben's likely successor.When Roethlisberger was drafted in 2004, Maddox was the incumbent quarterback whose starting job was in jeopardy.As Roethlisberger has said, Maddox handled the situation with class and took a young Ben under his wing. Last week, Roethlisberger threatened to do no such thing for Rudolph."If he asks me a question, I might just have to point to the playbook," Roethlisberger said on the "Cook and Poni" show last week.Related: Retirement-teasing Big Ben can't complain about Rudolph selectionThough Maddox never treated Roethlisberger with such disdain, he understands his plight."I've heard a lot of people say he owes it. That kind of gets into a little bit of a slippery slope. His job is to win football games right now," Maddox said, in Roethlisberger's defense, to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN."But, with that said, I think everybody in the locker room, the more it gets along, the better this team is going to be."Roethlisberger is the owner of two Super Bowl rings, but he's yet to lead a loaded Steelers roster to the Super Bowl since 2010. While the 36-year-old still has a shot at another championship, it should remain his primary focus, Maddox said."I think Ben will treat (Mason) with respect. His No. 1 goal is to get ready to play and help the team be successful," he said.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The success of your dynasty team is directly linked to how early you can accurately assess talent.Identifying an aging player who still has plenty left in the tank can be just as valuable as acquiring a young star before their breakout. The same can be said for knowing the right time to cut ties with a prospect who isn't going to reach their originally anticipated apex or a veteran star who is nearing a production cliff.Here are 10 players who can help give your dynasty team an edge, if you make the right move with them.BuyMatthew Stafford, QB, Lions - It feels like Stafford, who is entering his 10th season, has been around forever. That kind of sentiment can lead fantasy owners to think they should be moving on before the inevitable decline hits. The Lions passer turned 30 earlier this year, but that's hardly an age to fear for quarterbacks. Stafford has been a top-12 fantasy QB in each of the last seven seasons and with a talented cast around him, that trend will continue for at least a few more years.Tarik Cohen, RB, Bears - In Cohen you have a perfect storm of fantasy variables coming together heading into the 2018 campaign. As a rookie, the 5-foot-6, 181-pound back showed game-breaking quicks that should have earned him more touches in an offense desperate for playmakers. New head coach Matt Nagy will not repeat the mistakes of his predecessors. He's already gone on record saying he will use Cohen all over the field, comparing the situation to what he had with Tyreek Hill in Kansas City. Jordan Howard is Chicago's lead back, but Cohen's role is going to grow significantly moving forward.Kenny Stills, WR, Dolphins - Why is no one talking about Stills? DeVante Parker continues to steal headlines, the most recent being a parallel to what we heard last year about him doing all the right things to prepare. Unfortunately, we saw the results of Parker's hard work in the form of a disappointing 57-catch, 670-yard, one-touchdown campaign in 2017. Meanwhile, Stills finished as the WR26 in fantasy with 847 yards and six scores. With Jarvis Landry's 161 targets no longer clogging up Miami's passing game, Stills is in position to lead the Dolphins' receiving corps and no one seems to have noticed yet.John Ross, WR, Bengals - Making a move for Ross is a classic example of testing the water to see if an owner has soured on a player. A horrific debut season resulted in no receptions, one rush for 12 yards, and just three appearances. Taking a chance on a former top-10 pick - in this case, the ninth overall selection from 2017 - is well worth a shot if his current owner is doubting Ross' future. The Bengals need to find another receiving weapon to pair with A.J. Green, so at some point, Ross will get the call.Gerald Everett, TE, Rams - Tight ends are notorious for having slow starts to their NFL careers, which allows us to give Everett a pass for a relatively quiet rookie campaign. Sean McVay got the most out of his skill position players during his first season in Los Angeles, which lends hope to a potential Everett breakout over the next two years. Dynasty owners could do worse than to invest in a quality young receiving tight end playing in a surging offense. Take advantage of the lack of discussion about Everett and stash him for when his star finally shines.Related: Top-300 Dynasty Rankings (Updated May 9)SellTom Brady, QB, Patriots - Brady will be 41 when he suits up for his 19th season. Regardless of his claims that he can play until 45 or of what his TB12 methods have done for him so far, time is going to defeat Tom and it's going to happen in the next couple years. If you're contending for a title and you want to tie your championship chances to Brady, that's understandable. But owners who have another starting option, or those who are in the middle of a rebuild, should be looking to acquire assets before the clock runs out.Derrick Henry, RB, Titans - This was supposed to be the year for Henry to finally reward fantasy owners who patiently watched him play behind DeMarco Murray for two years. The Titans clearly don't care about your dynasty dreams though, since they signed the dynamic Dion Lewis in free agency. Lewis was the RB19 a year ago while playing for the Patriots and brings starting-caliber talent to Tennessee. Both backs are going to be involved in the offense, but there are no guarantees Henry will see enough work to reach the RB1 status his owners have been waiting for.LeSean McCoy, RB, Bills - Shady is locked in for 300-plus touches if he stays healthy. The problem lies with the quality of those touches, playing in an offense with an uncertain quarterback situation, a brutally downgraded line, and one of the worst receiving corps in the league. Running backs need to be viewed on a shorter timeline than other positions in dynasty, but McCoy will enter the year on the wrong side of 30, putting his future beyond 2018 in question.Jarvis Landry, WR, Browns - Wide receivers who change teams often have a transition period in which they struggle with their new club. That's certainly within the realm of possibility for Landry, who has grown accustomed to seeing a massive amount of volume in Miami, averaging over 150 targets per year over the last three seasons. His workload will likely take a hit with the Browns while sharing targets with Josh Gordon, Corey Coleman, David Njoku, and receiving back Duke Johnson. Get ahead of the public and find an owner who believes in Landry's long-term value.Jimmy Graham, TE, Packers - Graham is no longer a physical freak capable of dominating opponents in every level of the passing game. The 31-year-old was able to salvage his fantasy numbers in 2017 by scoring 10 touchdowns. The Packers signed him hoping for more of the same, but touchdowns can be difficult to predict year over year. Catching passes from Aaron Rodgers should help him remain fantasy relevant for another year or two, but it's tough not to wonder whether he's the latest tight end whose production will crater once he arrives in Green Bay.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals signed quarterback Josh Rosen to a four-year, $17.84-million contract Thursday, the team confirmed.Arizona traded up to select Rosen 10th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.

A high school student attempted and failed to steal Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles' truck at a party hosted by teammate Brandon Linder, Jacksonville News 4 reports, citing the Jacksonville Beach Police Department.Joseph Horton, an 18-year-old student at Fletcher High School, broke into Bortles' Ford F-150 truck and attempted to speed away, only to be blocked in by other vehicles.Horton eventually gave up, got out of the truck, and walked into the party. Police were called when guests failed to identify Horton and arrived with Bortles and two friends closely monitoring him.After speaking with police, Horton was charged with burglary, trespassing, and grand theft.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With seven Pro Bowls, three rushing titles, and an MVP award to his name, it's hard to fault Adrian Peterson for being abundantly confident.Peterson's 2017 season didn't go as planned, faltering with the New Orleans Saints before being traded to the Cardinals. Arizona released Peterson in March and he remains unsigned.That won't deter Peterson from attempting a comeback, however, as he's intent on winning a Super Bowl in 2018."I'm healthy and I'm ready to roll," Peterson told NFL.com's Tom Pelissero. "If you want someone to help you win a championship and be productive - be very productive - you know how to contact me."Peterson was arguably the defining running back of his generation, becoming the last of seven power backs to top 2,000 yards in a season, steering the Minnesota Vikings to the playoffs in 2012.Although Peterson hasn't topped the 1,000-yard mark since 2015, he's still under the impression that few can beat him at his best."For whatever reason, it just didn't work out (in New Orleans), but when I got my shot in Arizona, I showed what I was able to do," Peterson said. "I know once I get back out there, I'll be blessed with a healthy season and show people I'm still the best in the league."At 33, Peterson may be a hard sell for teams, but his veteran experience may lend itself to an experienced group looking for another rotational back who can contribute to a deep playoff run.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider provided their depositions to Colin Kaepernick and his attorneys in the quarterback's collusion grievance filed against the NFL, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Carroll told reporters in April that the Seahawks were considering signing Kaepernick, with Russell Wilson, Stephen Morris, and Austin Davis currently on their depth chart. Seattle reportedly postponed a visit with Kaepernick after he declined to stop protesting police brutality and racial inequality during the national anthem.Kaepernick and his attorneys walked into the NFL headquarters on April 17 to reportedly depose commissioner Roger Goodell as part of his collusion case.The quarterback has remained unsigned since opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in March 2017, when it became apparent he was no longer in the franchise's long-term plans.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints safety Marcus Williams had an excellent rookie season until one catastrophic play grew to define it.Williams, who starred for the Saints during the 2017 campaign, was memorialized on highlight reels everywhere after missing a key tackle in the final seconds of the team's 29-24 playoff loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs turned upfield, Williams made a poor read on the ball and was left sprawling on the floor in horror.After a heartbreaking end to the year, Williams has moved past the moment."I don't really talk about that. But I'm doing good, the family's doing good. There's nothing really major going on in my life that's changing except for me helping these kids," Williams said via ESPN's Mike Triplett, making reference to his work with children at NFL Youth Education Town center in New Orleans.Williams wasn't the only standout rookie for the Saints, with running back Alvin Kamara and cornerback Marshon Lattimore sweeping Rookie of the Year honors. The second-year safety is expected to be a key component of a Saints defense that is looking to solidify a Super Bowl bid and Williams isn't going to be deterred by his infamous mistake."You always gotta push yourself to be the best you can be," Williams said. "Man, I feel like we can be great. We're a tight group. We're hanging out. It's a great environment that I'm in and that we're in, and I feel like we're gonna be a great secondary this year."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick has come to the defense of former coordinator Matt Patricia.A day after a 1996 sexual assault charge against Patricia resurfaced in The Detroit News, questions abounded as to whether the Lions, Patricia's current employer, or the Patriots knew anything about the decades-old indictment."The New England Patriots were not aware of the matter which recently came to light," Belichick said in a statement obtained by Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "For 14 years in our organization, Matt conducted himself with great integrity and is known to be an outstanding coach, person and family man. We have always been confident in Matt's character and recommended him highly to become the head coach of the Detroit Lions."Patricia said Thursday at a press conference the incident was not raised in interviews with the Patriots or Lions."I've interviewed for a lot of jobs ... It was never an issue, it never came up as anything because it was dismissed and I was innocent," he said. "It just has never been a part of any process that I have been involved with before."Patricia says he was falsely accused of sexually assaulting a woman in South Padre Island, Texas, during spring break in 1996. Patricia and a friend were indicted by a grand jury of one count of aggravated sexual assault, but the case was dismissed after the woman said she would not testify.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants have cleared some room in the backfield for rookie Saquon Barkley, announcing Thursday that they've released running back Paul Perkins ahead of his third season.Perkins recently underwent surgery for a torn pectoral suffered prior to the start of the team's offseason conditioning program.The fifth-round pick of the 2016 draft rushed for 456 yards on 112 attempts as a rookie, but managed just 90 yards on 41 attempts last season. He's played a total of 25 career games but remains without a touchdown.Jonathan Stewart, Wayne Gallman, and Jalen Simmons are the remaining names behind Barkley on the Giants' depth chart.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Redskins aren't being secretive about how they intend to use Derrius Guice.Washington took the power back with its second-round draft pick and plans to deploy him early in downs."He's more of a first-, second-down banger," head coach Jay Gruden said, according to ESPN's John Keim. "... Our role for him is quite easy to see. It's first, second down."With Guice, the Redskins can eschew the running-back-by-committee approach they've used in previous seasons, at least when it comes to the lead back. Concerns about Guice's ability to catch the ball out of the backfield or contribute in pass protection, however, will force him to the sidelines on third downs for now."He has some improvement to do in the pass pro, without a doubt, and I think he'll be the first one to tell you," Gruden said. "That's something that sometimes in college, with only 20 hours of practice a week, some of the fundamentals as far as pass-blocking sometimes (get) swept by."The Redskins' running game ranked 28th in the league last season. Guice rushed for 1,251 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior for LSU. That was down from his previous campaign, where he racked up 1,387 yards and 15 touchdowns.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville has emerged as the favorite to host the 2019 NFL Draft, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The final decision is expected to come during the league's spring meeting in Atlanta from May 22-23, Schefter adds.Nashville has risen from a group of finalists consisting of Denver, Kansas City, Las Vegas, and Cleveland/Canton. The same group - minus the 2019 host - will also vie to be the site of the 2020 draft.The draft was held in New York City from 1965 through 2014, before moving to Chicago for 2015 and 2016. The draft has since taken to the road, stopping in Philadelphia in 2017 and Dallas in 2018.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia used a previously scheduled press conference Thursday to again insist on his innocence after his 1996 charge of aggravated sexual assault came to light Wednesday.A woman told Texas police that Patricia, then 21, and one of his fraternity brothers burst into her hotel room and violently sexually assaulted her during spring break. The two men were arrested and later indicted, but the case was dismissed in 1997 after the woman decided she wouldn't testify."I'm here to defend my honor and clear my name," Patricia said. "I was innocent then and I am innocent now. I was falsely accused of something I did not do."Patricia said that while he is thankful the case was dismissed, he was never given an opportunity to clear his name. After reading a prepared statement, he took questions from the media, but declined to go into detail about the night in question."This was something that was very traumatic to me when I was 21 years old and when it was finally addressed, I tried to put it behind me," Patricia said.The Lions admitted Wednesday that they hadn't been aware of the case. When asked why it hadn't come up in the hiring process, Patricia said he'd never been questioned about the case in any job interview."I've interviewed for a lot of jobs ... It was never an issue, it never came up as anything because it was dismissed and I was innocent," he said. "It just has never been a part of any process that I have been involved with before."Patricia maintained that he has the full support of the Lions' front office and ownership and stated that he is "100 percent" still the head coach of the team.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Police in Frisco, Texas closed the domestic violence case against Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle David Irving on Wednesday, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.An ex-girlfriend of Irving's hacked his Twitter account late last month and called police to report incidents of domestic violence. She later recanted those claims.The police have made Irving's file inactive.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

ESPN unveiled a revamped four-person Monday Night Football broadcast team Thursday.Only one member returns, as sideline reporter Lisa Salters remains in her role for a seventh season.Recently retired Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten is replacing new Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden as the booth analyst. He'll be joined by Joe Tessitore as the play-by-play voice, replacing Sean McDonough, who returns to college football after two seasons of NFL coverage.Tessitore has been with ESPN since 2002, covering boxing and college football.The fourth member is former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Anthony "Booger" McFarland, who will occupy the new role of field-level analyst."Booger and Jason are my dream team. Everyone who auditioned was so impressive," Tessitore said. "With Boog and Witt, it was the chemistry and knowing we have only scratched the surface of what it will be. They felt like brothers or best friends with me in the booth. It has been effortless with them. It’s been fun."The crew will debut Sept. 10 when the Los Angeles Rams visit the Raiders for Gruden's sideline return.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was spotted courtside with rappers Meek Mill and Gucci Mane during Game 2 of the Boston Celtics-Philadelphia 76ers playoff series, many wondered what the trio could have been talking about.

Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia denied Wednesday that he committed any wrongdoing in a sexual assault case he and a friend were indicted - but never tried - for in 1996.Patricia and another man, Greg Dietrich, were charged with aggravated sexual assault following a supposed incident that took place over spring break in 1996. The case was dismissed in January 1997 after the accuser chose not to proceed to trial. Patricia addressed the matter through a statement after the case was brought back to light by The Detroit News:As someone who was falsely accused of this very serious charge over 22 years ago, and never given the opportunity to defend myself and clear my name, I find it incredibly unfair, disappointing, and frustrating that this story would resurface now with the only purpose being to damage my character and reputation. I firmly maintain my innocence, as I have always done.I would never condone any of the behavior that was alleged and will always respect and protect the rights of anyone who has been harassed or is the victim of violence. My priorities remain the same - to move forward and strive to be the best coach, teacher, and man that I can possibly be.The Lions acknowledged that their background checks on Patricia prior to his hiring didn't uncover the sexual assault case. Detroit made him a first-time head coach in February, plucking him off the New England Patriots' staff.Lions owner Martha Firestone Ford, president Rod Wood, and general manager Bob Quinn also put out a statement offering Patricia their collective support:Responding to a published report this evening from the Detroit News, the Detroit Lions are aware that a criminal charge involving sexual assault was brought against Matt Patricia in 1996. Matt was 21 at the time and on spring break in Texas. The charge was dismissed by the prosecutor at the request of the complaining individual prior to trial. As a result, Coach Patricia never had the opportunity to present his case or clear his name publicly in a court of law. He has denied that there was any factual basis for the charge. There was no settlement agreement with the complaining individual, no money exchanged hands and there was no confidentiality agreement. In discussions today with Lions management, the reporter involved acknowledged that the allegations have not been substantiated.As an organization, the Detroit Lions take allegations regarding sexual assault or harassment seriously. Coach Patricia was the subject of a standard pre-employment background check which did not disclose this issue. We have spoken to Coach Patricia about this at length as well as the attorney who represented him at the time. Based upon everything we have learned, we believe and have accepted Coach Patricia’s explanation and we will continue to support him. We will continue to work with our players and the NFL to further awareness of and protections for those individuals who are the victims of sexual assault or violence.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The free-agent market provided Derrick Johnson with a handful of suitors, but the return of Jon Gruden to the Oakland Raiders led the veteran linebacker to ultimately pick the team he once considered a rival."He's a very inspiring man," Johnson said of his new head coach Wednesday during an appearance on NFL Network. "He's a guy who can get the players to play at a high level. He's a proven winner. He's a guy who has a lot of respect in this league and I have a lot of respect for him, and definitely a big reason why I ventured this way."Johnson spent 13 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs before taking his talents to Oakland on a one-year deal. He was a four-time Pro Bowler over his time with the Chiefs.The 35-year-old added it was his meeting with the Raiders that assured him signing with the Silver and Black would be the right decision."The biggest thing was the Raiders had more of a plan for me," Johnson said. "At this age, when you have a plan for a guy that's 35 years old, that's an opportunity you have to look into more. Meeting the coaching staff, meeting everybody here at the organization - I've always had respect for the Raiders even though I wanted to tear their heads off playing for K.C. - but just having the utmost respect for them, great organization, glad to be here."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions didn't come across a 1996 sexual assault case involving Matt Patricia when they conducted background checks before hiring him as their new head coach in February, the team acknowledged to Robert Snell of The Detroit News.Patricia was indicted in the case but never tried because the accuser chose not to proceed to trial, according to old court documents. Lions president Rod Wood initially told the publication he had no knowledge of the case but later responded with support for Patricia."I am very comfortable with the process of interviewing and employing Matt," he said. "I will tell you with 1,000 percent certainty that everything I've learned confirmed what I already knew about the man and would have no way changed our decision to make him our head coach."Patricia was one of two men accused of raping a woman during spring break in 1996. They were both arrested at the time and later charged with one count of aggravated sexual assault.Wood said the woman recanted her accusations against Patricia and the other man involved, Greg Dietrich. However, the newspaper found no existing records to support that claim.One of the defense lawyers who represented Patricia in the case said he believes the sexual assault never took place."In my opinion, it was a fabrication," attorney Jeff Wilson said. "I'm telling you it was a 'he said, she said.' I don't know what type of problems the girl was having; I don't know why she made that allegation. We vehemently denied that he was doing anything wrong or did anything wrong."Specific details from the case are murky because the police report was discarded and central figures involved had no recollection of it. Patricia was 21 years old when the incident supposedly took place.The Lions made Patricia a head coach for the first time in his career when they hired him from the New England Patriots. He coached in New England from 2004-17, spending his last five seasons as the team's defensive coordinator.Wood said Lions general manager Bob Quinn - who worked with Patricia in New England - was also unaware of the indictment before he hired Patricia.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

General manager Thomas Dimitroff is confident Steve Sarkisian will take a significant step forward as offensive coordinator in 2018, after the Atlanta Falcons' offense took a major step backward in his first season running the unit."It's his second year now calling plays in the NFL, he gets a good idea of what flies and what doesn't fly with the personnel we have and don't have," Dimitroff said Wednesday on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "I think that's gonna be where he's gonna make some major strides."Sarkisian was a surprise hiring by the Falcons last year, who poached him from the college ranks to replace Kyle Shanahan - now the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers He drew plenty of criticism in his first campaign with the Falcons, and it grew exponentially after a puzzling series of play calls at the end of the team's 15-10 loss in the NFC Divisional Round versus the Philadelphia Eagles.The Falcons led the NFL in scoring two seasons ago - Shanahan's last year as the offensive coordinator - but regressed to 15th in 2017.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Peyton Manning is weighing an offer to join a group led by billionaire Ben Navarro that's bidding to purchase the Carolina Panthers, sources told Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.Navarro is the one who reached out to Manning about joining his group, according to the report. Manning would become a limited partner if he enters the group and if Navarro is awarded the franchise.The Panthers are currently owned by Jerry Richardson, who intends to sell the team over the summer following reports of workplace misconduct involving him. He's also publicly endorsed Navarro, a businessman from Charleston, S.C., as his preferred buyer.Manning has been a hot commodity since retiring from the NFL in 2016. He recently turned down broadcasting jobs with ESPN and FOX, and was previously rumored to be on the radar of the Cleveland Browns for a front-office gig.Between career earnings, endorsements, and investments, Manning is estimated by Forbes to have made about $400 million in total earnings.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles became the first NFL team to sign its entire class of 2018 draft picks on Wednesday, though it's worth noting the crop only includes five draftees.Second-round tight end Dallas Goedert headlines the Eagles' class, as Philly traded out of the first round on draft night.Eagles' 2018 draft picksRoundPlayerPosition2Dallas GoedertTE4Avonte MaddoxCB4Josh SweatDE6Matt PryorOL7Jordan MailataOLThe Eagles made another addition to their roster Wednesday, signing veteran running back Matt Jones.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones is expecting a huge campaign from third-year running back Ezekiel Elliott, whose quieter offseason has allowed him to regroup from a turbulent 2017."Yes, I think that I give him a big arrow (up) as to what his performance might be without the overhang of the issue he faced last year," Jones told ESPN's Todd Archer on Wednesday.Though he was still productive as a sophomore, Elliott lacked the pep in his step he showcased as a rookie when he rushed for 1,631 yards and 10 touchdowns. The beginning of his second season was hindered by an on-again, off-again six-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. The ban stemmed from a months-long investigation into a domestic violence case.This offseason has been a calmer one for Elliott, who hasn't been embroiled in legal issues and controversies." ... From the standpoint of mentally, there is no question - I'm 100 percent sure - to not have that on your mind, to not have the ambiguity of not knowing timelines, those kinds of things, there's no doubt in my mind it will make a significant difference in how he can focus, how he can focus not only on the next practice but the next game and the entire season," said Jones.Elliott racked up 983 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games last season, but his mark of his 4.1 yards per carry was a full yard lower than what he produced two seasons ago.Dallas figures to lean heavily on Elliott this upcoming season, as a couple of longtime playmakers in the passing game - receiver Dez Bryant and tight end Jason Witten - are no longer on the roster.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys have just two more years left to enjoy quarterback Dak Prescott's team-friendly rookie contract.Prescott carries cap hits of just $724,848 for 2018 and $815,848 for 2019, according to Over The Cap.Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones knows the fourth-round pick is due a significant raise when he's eligible for a new deal next offseason."... At that position, it kind of is what it is,” Jones said Wednesday at the team’s annual golf tournament, according to Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. "You kind of, when the time comes, (expect to pay him). I know Dak is going to have a good year this year. I hope it’s up there. It’s going to be as he deserves. He was a fourth-round pick. No one deserves to get paid fairly more than he does."Jones mentioned the five-year, $150-million contract the Atlanta Falcons recently handed to quarterback Matt Ryan, and Aaron Rodgers' seemingly imminent megadeal with the Green Bay Packers, when discussing the soaring value of NFL quarterbacks."We all see what some of the other guys are who aren’t Aaron Rodgers, who aren’t Matt Ryan, (are getting paid)," Jones said. "He’s going to do well. We certainly know that’s going to happen. We’ve got that planned in our budgeting for the salary cap."Prescott led the Cowboys to the postseason while making the Pro Bowl and being named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2016. He regressed somewhat as a sophomore, posting a significantly lower completion percentage and nine more interceptions than he had as a rookie, though some of his struggles can be blamed on running back Ezekiel Elliott's six-game suspension.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Franklin Park Zoo in Boston followed through on its Super Bowl bet with the Philadelphia Zoo this week, naming its newest-born goat after Eagles quarterback Nick Foles.

Along with running a cannabis-friendly gym and launching his own brand of marijuana, former Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams has been busy studying astrology since retiring from the NFL.Williams now bills himself as a professional astrologer, offering natal chart readings for $300 a session. He also looks to the cosmos for financial advice, and told CNBC's Tom Huddleston Jr. that astrological transits inspired him to invest in Bitcoin."When I look at things, I tend to look at astrology to get insight," Williams said. "The insight that got me interested in Bitcoin was the planet Uranus is about to enter into Taurus."Williams said Uranus "is about revolution; it's about a change in the way we do things; it's about innovation," while Taurus "is about resources and finances."So far, Williams has invested $50,000 into the cryptocurrency."I didn't want to go crazy," he said.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints dont plan to sign a veteran running back to help them out during Mark Ingram's season-opening four-game suspension, a team official told NFL Network's Steve Wyche.Related: Saints' Ingram suspended 4 games for violating PED policyA handful of successful veterans remain on the free-agent market, including DeMarco Murray, Adrian Peterson (who had a brief stint with the Saints to begin last season), and Jamaal Charles. But the Saints have less than $4 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap, and appear content with their own in-house contingent of potential replacements.Reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowler Alvin Kamara will be expected to handle a larger role on the ground in his sophomore season. He rushed just 120 times as a rookie.The Saints also have a quality supporting cast with Jonathan Williams, Daniel Lasco, Trey Edmunds, and sixth-round rookie Boston Scott.Ingram and Kamara led the Saints to the fifth-most rushing yards in the league last season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent wide receiver Brandon Marshall is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday, according to Jordan Ranaan of ESPN.Marshall was released by the New York Giants in mid-April with a failed physical designation.Marshall played just the first five games of last season before being shut down due to an ankle injury. The 12-year veteran had recorded 18 receptions for 154 yards and no touchdowns prior to the injury.He had signed a two-year, $11-million contract with the team as a free agent last offseason.The Seahawks may be looking for receiver help as a result of losing Paul Richardson to the Washington Redskins in free agency this offseason. They also lost tight end Jimmy Graham to the Green Bay Packers and failed to seriously address either position in the 2018 NFL Draft.Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett, and Marcus Johnson currently front the Seahawks' receiving corps.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oakland Raiders left tackle Donald Penn will not be charged in relation to a domestic violence incident involving his wife, a spokesman for the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office confirmed to TMZ Sports.Penn and his wife, Dominique, denied they were involved in a physical altercation after law enforcement was called to their home April 29. The couple is in the process of a divorce."The office rejected this case because of lack of corroboration and on the ground that there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction on the domestic violence matter," the spokesman said"Bottom line, lack of sufficient evidence."According to the police report, Penn slapped his wife's backside, grabbed her by the wrist, and poured a drink over her head during an argument.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A former first-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts is moving forward in his quest to Congress.Former wide receiver, turned Republican candidate Anthony Gonzalez, defeated Ohio Sen. Christina Hagan and physician Michael Grusenmeyer on Tuesday in competition to replace U.S. House of Representatives member Jim Renacci, according to Sabrina Eaton of Cleveland.com.

For the better part of the last three decades, Ichiro Suzuki's singular focus has been baseball.You'll forgive him, then, for not knowing the greatest quarterback of all time by name.During spring training last year, according to Peter Gammons of The Athletic, Ichiro received a text message from a number he didn't recognize. The person on the other end, Ichiro told those milling about the Miami Marlins' coaching room, had gotten his number from Alex Rodriguez and was keen to come meet him and study his famous stretching routine. Ichiro then scrolled to the bottom of the text."What's the guy's name?" asked one of the coaches."Some guy named Tom Brady," replied Ichiro. "Who the f--- is Tom Brady?"Brady, of course, is the ageless and venerable quarterback who's led the New England Patriots to five Super Bowl championships throughout his illustrious career since debuting with the club in 2000.It's unclear whether Brady - whose discipline and routines, like Ichiro, is also the stuff of legend - ever got to meet the Seattle Mariners icon and get those stretching pointers.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril is making it clear he hasn't retired since being released with a failed physical designation."I actually just told everybody that I’m going to be working at a radio station, KJR 950 in Seattle. We’ll see how it shakes out, though," Avril told Bob Papa Ed McCaffrey on The Opening Drive on Tuesday.Avril said he has been contacted by a "few" teams about extending his playing career, but won't do so without doctor permission."I'm feeling a lot better, I'm moving around, I'm getting better. But I still have some doctor's visits that I have to go and see what he thinks. But for the most part, I feel great. We'll see what the doc says, though," Avril said.The 10-year veteran started the first four games of the 2017 season, but was shut down for the remainder of the year after suffering a potential career-threatening neck injury in Week 4.Originally a third-round pick of the Detroit Lions in 2008, Avril sports career totals of 299 combined tackles, 74 sacks, 29 forced fumbles, and one interception.The Super Bowl XLVIII champion and former Pro Bowler is at peace with his career if this is, in fact, the end."I’m definitely ready (to move on if the doctor recommends as much). I’ve had about eight months now to kind of wrap my brain around it. My wife and I, we’ve been talking about it. We talk about it pretty much every other week, just understanding, ‘Hey, if you’re not going to play anymore, what’s next? Start preparing yourself for that.’ And that’s kind of where I’m at right now," Avril said."I’m OK if I’m not able to play ball. If the doctor tells me, ‘Hey, you should definitely reconsider not playing,’ I’m OK with that at this point of my career."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears rookie linebacker Roquan Smith recently endured every new employee's worst nightmare when several of his personal items, including a team-issued iPad, were stolen from his car Saturday.Smith announced Wednesday on Twitter that most of the items had been returned, though the Athens-Clarke County Police Department confirmed to NFL.com's Herbie Teope that the iPad hadn't been recovered.

While Danica Patrick's NFL allegiance has shifted since she started dating Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the same can't be said for her father.T.J. Patrick has been a fan of the Chicago Bears over 50 years, and recently told Autoweek that he "can't be a Packers fan." He also shared a humorous story about how he planned on tackling Rodgers when Danica introduced them for the first time."Actually, the first time we met him I told the kids I was going to wear my Brian Urlacher jersey and tackle him," T.J. recalled. "I couldn't find it. He walked in and asked, 'Where is your jersey?' I told him I couldn't find it. He said, 'I would respect you a lot more if you had it on.'"He's good about it. He knows. He is very intelligent and still has a sense a humor."Danica confirmed her relationship with Rodgers in January, at which point she also confessed to being a new convert to the Packers.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets wide receiver Quincy Enunwa is working his way back from a neck injury that ended his 2017 season after just one preseason start in which he didn't catch a single pass.He feels confident he'll be ready to go as soon as he's needed in 2018."It feels good," Enunwa said Tuesday, according to Darryl Slater of NJ.com. "It's as 100 (percent) as I'm supposed to be. I'm probably ahead of schedule, but I'm doing everything with the guys, running routes, catching the ball. There's really no setbacks right now."The Jets added wide receiver Terrelle Pryor in free agency, while 2017 breakout star Robby Anderson returns along with veteran Jermaine Kearse.Enunwa will get his first opportunity to work and compete with this group when organized team activities (OTAs) open on May 22. He wouldn't confirm whether he'll be out there, as he and the team will want to be sure he's fully recovered from the injury."I've been able to run for a long time. It hasn't really been a hindrance. I don't have medical knowledge, but I feel like this injury compared to a knee is a little bit easier to come back from. The worst part about it is, if you don't heal all the way, then hits are bad. But just in terms of physically being able to play, I've been able to do that for a while."Enunwa was coming off a breakout 2016 season with 58 receptions on 106 targets for 857 yards and four touchdowns.The sixth-round pick of the 2014 draft is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time at the conclusion of the coming season. He's playing out the year on a restricted free-agent tender that carries a cap hit of $2.914 million, according to Over The Cap.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram released a strong statement of denial Wednesday following the suspension he received Tuesday for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy.Ingram's agents said their client "vigorously challenges" his four-game ban and stated that the substance flagged in his sample was "permissible with the proper use exception from the NFL."

About 15 months ago, Dak Prescott looked like the NFL's next special, young quarterback. The Dallas Cowboys - more specifically, owner Jerry Jones - seemed to have lucked upon his savior in the fourth round of the NFL Draft after failing to trade back into the first round.Prescott, the Mississippi State product, blew the league away after replacing an injured Tony Romo by leading Dallas to a 13-3 record and showing remarkable accuracy, poise, and leadership rarely seen in any rookie, let alone one selected 135th overall.Prescott's 104.9 passer rating set an NFL rookie record, buoyed by an interception-less streak of 176 attempts to start his career. He made the Pro Bowl, won the league's award for top offensive rookie and even shone in his playoff debut, a divisional-round home loss to the Packers in which he passed for 302 yards and tossed three touchdowns - another league rookie record - en route to a 103.2 passer rating.Fast-forward to May 2018, as the Cowboys have gathered for yet another offseason program in which the franchise faces as many questions as answers about its future. As Prescott begins his third season, the Cowboys should be harboring Super Bowl aspirations. Instead, they more resemble an organization confronting a difficult fork in the road.Prescott comes off a sophomore season that wasn't nearly as productive or impressive as his rookie year. When Dallas lost Pro Bowl halfback Ezekiel Elliott to a six-game suspension last November, coinciding with an injury to Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith, Prescott couldn't take the team on his shoulders.He went three consecutive games without throwing a touchdown pass, all losses, as Dallas sunk from 5-3 to 5-6 and killed its chance to repeat as division champs. In those six games minus Elliott, Prescott threw five touchdowns and seven interceptions, after being picked off just four times his entire rookie year.In total for 2017, Prescott threw fewer touchdowns, three times as many picks, watched his passer rating drop nearly 20 points - from 104.9 to 86.6 - and his completion percentage tumble by almost five percentage points. In his 32 career starts, Prescott hasn't thrown a touchdown in 10 of them, an indication of just how valuable Dallas' run game is to the team's offensive success.The quarterback who once seemed destined to follow in the footsteps of Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach now enters 2018 as the NFL player most under the gun.Prescott will be eligible for a contract extension next offseason. The biggest question facing the franchise and player is whether he will prove he's worthy of the $25-million- to $30-million-a-year price tag that's become the going rate for the league's better quarterbacks, or if the Cowboys will be back at square one next offseason, still seeking the next QB to end the team's Super Bowl drought.Outside of Elliott, Prescott's weaponry isn't exactly intimidating. Dez Bryant is gone, as is future Hall of Fame tight end Jason Witten, a duo which combined for 132 catches, 1,389 yards, and 11 touchdowns in 2017. Free-agent signing Allen Hurns' production has dropped sharply since his 1,000-yard 2015 campaign. Hurns, now the Cowboys' top speed threat, hasn't played more than 11 games in each of the past two seasons, nor has he eclipsed 500 receiving yards. He has five touchdown receptions since catching 10 in 2015.The Cowboys didn't draft an offensive playmaker until taking Colorado State wideout Michael Gallup in the third round (81st overall) and didn't address the tight end position until taking Stanford's Dalton Schultz in the fourth (137th overall).The Cowboys signed former Rams "weapon" Tavon Austin to be their multi-dimensional, pass-catching running back and added former Bills receiver Deonte Thompson to join Terrance Williams, an inconsistent receiver whose yards-per-reception average has dropped steadily since Prescott replaced Romo as the starter.There's no question Prescott prefers to work the middle, where his accuracy is strongest, but his reluctance to push the ball downfield has limited the explosion in Dallas' offense.Prescott's 65 percent completion percentage has helped the Cowboys move the chains consistently, but his 7.37 yards-per-attempt average since the start of 2016 ranks 19th in the NFL, behind known dink-and-dunker Ryan Tannehill (7.39).What's more, the NFC East should be one of the league's tougher divisions in 2018. The Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles return 19 of 22 starters and the New York Giants are refurbished after signing left tackle Nate Solder in free agency and drafting elite tailback prospect Saquon Barkley to join a cast of weapons which includes Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard, and Evan Engram.The Cowboys will have to match up against some prolific offenses. They can't afford Prescott taking another step back.Other QBs under the gun entering 2018Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his fifth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition.Scroll down to see his dynasty startup rankings for 2018.PPR Dynasty Rankings

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his fifth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition.Scroll down to see his dynasty rookie rankings for 2018.PPR Dynasty Rankings

Free-agent signings in the NFL have dried up of late, and part of the reason is that any additions prior to Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline still counted toward the compensatory draft pick formula.For those who are understandably confused by the NFL's compensatory pick process, the league calculates the value of unrestricted free agents signed and lost based on their contracts, plus other factors such as postseason honors and playing time, and if a team has a net loss, then they're awarded equivalent draft picks in the following year's draft.The Los Angeles Rams, for example, are likely to be awarded two third-round picks next year, according to OverTheCap.com, tied for most of any team. This is because Sammy Watkins and Trumaine Johnson were signed to two of the richest contracts in free agency, while the bulk of Los Angeles' additions were either through trade, such as Aqib Talib, or were someone who had been released, like Ndamukong Suh - neither trades nor released-player signings count toward compensatory picks.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)But now that the deadline has passed and any subsequent signings won't affect valuable compensatory picks, we may see a flurry of free-agent action over the coming days as teams look to snag the best of the remaining available players.While most of the big names have long been off the open market, a solid group of free agents still need to find new homes.Here are some notable free agents still available:

Few players are enjoying a change of scenery more than New England Patriots cornerback Jason McCourty.McCourty was traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Patriots in March, joining his twin brother, Devin, on the AFC juggernaut.Although Devin has enjoyed two Super Bowl victories and two Pro Bowl selections, his brother hasn't come close to that level of success. Nonetheless, Devin believes Jason adds a much-needed vantage point to the Patriots' locker room."He brings leadership that I think we don't have on this team; he knows how to deal with adversity," Devin McCourty said Tuesday to ESPN's Mike Reiss."Sometimes we get in a routine - we've won a lot of football games - and it's always good to hear a different perspective of what it takes so you're not kind of getting worn down or thinking this is too much. You get a perspective from him going 0-16. He always tells me, 'Last year, worst year ever.' I think hearing that motivates you and lets you know you're doing the right things that push you."Jason signed with the Browns in May 2017, and though he had a decent individual season, the club crumpled to an 0-16 mark, leaving him helpless."When you don't make it to the playoffs and you're watching those games, I think there's envy in every game you watch," Jason said. "As you're watching other teams, whether it's Dev as my twin brother or maybe a team you beat throughout the season or a team you came close (to beating) ... There's definitely professional envy because you want to be there. That's what you train all offseason for."New England searches for every competitive advantage it can unveil and adding a talented defensive back with family ties could help spur another run to the Super Bowl.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants co-owner John Mara reiterated his desire to work out a long-term extension with superstar receiver Odell Beckham Jr., but suggested the club isn't in a rush to get something done."I wouldn't say (there's) a sense of urgency," Mara replied when asked about the potential extension Tuesday, courtesy of Art Stapleton from NorthJersey.com. "The contract will get done when it's supposed to get done."Beckham has been vocal throughout the offseason about wanting a new contract - and about not wanting to wait for it. He's also said he wants to be the highest-paid player in football."It's not the first contract negotiation we've ever had," Mara added. "It will get done when it's supposed to get done."Even with the discontent over his contract, Beckham has attended all of the Giants' voluntary workouts this offseason. The 25-year-old posted more than 1,300 receiving yards and at least 10 touchdowns in each of his first three campaigns in the league despite suiting up for all 16 games just once. He was limited to four contests in 2017 due to a fractured ankle.In the absence of an extension, Beckham will play the 2018 campaign under the final year of his rookie contract. The Giants could keep him off the open market next offseason by using the franchise tag if the two sides don't work out a new deal beforehand.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.