Now more than a week removed from the 2018 NFL Draft, prospective picks and proposed deals continue to emerge.One such deal that did not come to fruition was one in which the Buffalo Bills would have traded with the Denver Broncos for the No. 5 overall pick.Before the draft, the two AFC clubs came to an agreement on a trade in which the Bills would have swapped their No. 12 and No. 22 picks for the Broncos' first-round selection, Albert Breer of The MMQB reports. The deal hinged on the top four picks working out in the Bills' favor.With their sights set on a quarterback, Buffalo anticipated running back Saquon Barkley and defensive end Bradley Chubb both going within the first four picks. Had that scenario played out, the Broncos would have missed out on Chubb by one spot and therefore would have agreed to move down to No. 12 and No. 22.The Browns surprised both clubs by selecting corner Denzel Ward with the fourth pick and the Broncos opted to stay put to get their desired player, Chubb.Once the deal was off the table, the Bills began working on moving up to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' spot at No. 7 or the pick the San Francisco 49ers held at No. 9.In the end, it cost the Bills their No. 12 pick and two second-round selections to deal with the Bucs in order to grab quarterback Josh Allen at seventh overall.The deal with the Broncos that never happened allowed the Bills to hold on to their second first-round selection, which they used to move up to No. 16 overall to draft linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.Got all that? There will be a quiz later.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's important to remember these primers are not intended to be tiers for drafting. You can view our complete tight end rankings here.2018 Fantasy Primers

During an incredible run to the AFC Championship Game last season, the Jacksonville Jaguars showed they have what it takes to be Super Bowl contenders for the foreseeable future.With one of the league's best defenses and the top-ranked rushing attack, many point to quarterback Blake Bortles as the only thing holding the team back from hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.When asked Friday if Bortles was the man to lead the Jaguars to the Super Bowl, receiver Marqise Lee offered a very blunt answer."He ain't got no choice," Lee said with a smile on NFL Network's "NFL Total Access." "He understands, as far as his last two years, how important it is for him to get his game up and get us going. That's the reason why we were going this year and that's the reason why we made it that far. He didn't have a turnover in the playoffs."Lee and Bortles both entered the NFL with the Jaguars after being selected in the 2014 draft. The former USC star said the change in Bortles over their four-year careers has been noticeable."In my first two years, in the huddle, we'd get into some situations and you see, 'OK, Blake ain't speaking up right now, Blake is chillin,'" Lee said. "In the last two years, all right, Blake is in the huddle, come on, let's get it. We down two touchdowns, we about to go down there and score. You saw that confidence right there, and that helped me."Lee led the team in catches last year with 56 and will be counted on even more after Allen Hurns' offseason departure to the Dallas Cowboys. Should Bortles continue his improved play, it wouldn't be shocking to see the Jaguars battling for the Super Bowl next February.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hall of Fame head coach Bill Parcells took time to reflect upon one of his star pupils, Jason Witten, after the longtime Dallas Cowboys tight end announced his retirement this week.Parcells served as the Cowboys' head coach from 2003-2006 - Witten's first four seasons in the league - and on Friday he raved about the 11-time Pro Bowler he helped mentor."Jason Witten is what pro football is supposed to be about. He came to the Cowboys, got himself established very early, maximized his potential as a player and sustained very, very good play for an exceptionally long period of time and made a significant contribution to the team every year,” Parcells said via ESPN's Todd Archer. “Now he’s transitioning to another career (ESPN analyst) by virtue of his reputation and his affiliation with the Cowboys and the success he has had. That’s what pro football is supposed to be.”During his playing days, Witten established a reputation as one of the best tight ends of his generation and didn't miss a single game following the 2006 season.Parcells added that Witten was very well prepared for the rigors of NFL football, while lobbying for the tight end's induction into Canton."I don't think there’s much doubt he’s going to wind up in there," the former coach said. "His credentials are certainly worthy."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be the starter for however long he desires, but he's not exactly thrilled about his newest competition.Roethlisberger was considering retirement prior to the 2017 season but told the Steelers in January that he plans to play for the foreseeable future.The team selected fellow quarterback Mason Rudolph in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, and Roethlisberger was unimpressed and a bit dismayed by the pick."I was surprised when they took a quarterback because I thought that maybe in the third round, you can get some really good football players that can help this team now," Roethlisberger told "Cook and Poni" of KDKA Pittsburgh on Friday. "And nothing against Mason, I think he's a great football player ... I just don't know how backing up or being the third guy, who knows where he's going to fall on the depth chart ... helps us win now."Roethlisberger added that he feels "the worst" for the Steelers' backup quarterbacks, Joshua Dobbs and Landry Jones."I'll be honest, I wasn't worried about (Rudolph) coming and taking my job," Roethlisberger said. "I feel confident that I can go out and beat whoever I need to beat out for my job. ... I do feel bad for those guys."I don't know what's going to happen. I assume Landry's still the two, I don't really know. And Josh, same thing. Last year you take him in the fourth round, so does that mean the Steelers screwed up in that pick? Like do they think that he wasn't the one that they thought, or has he not developed the way they thought? Why else would you take a quarterback in the third round the next year?"Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins claimed quarterback Bryce Petty off waivers from the New York Jets, the team confirmed Friday.Petty was cut by the Jets on Thursday after three seasons with the club. He appeared in 10 games for New York, throwing four touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing 53 percent of his passes.The 26-year-old Petty could duel with Brock Osweiler for the backup job behind Ryan Tannehill in Miami.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

President Donald Trump wants Colin Kaepernick involved in a series of summits on race alongside other athletes and musical artists, Darrell Scott, a black Cleveland pastor and Trump ally, told Diane Herbst of People.Kaepernick has remained without an NFL job since opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in March 2017. The quarterback, who ignited a series of protests against racial injustice and police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem throughout the 2016 season, has since filed a grievance accusing teams of colluding to keep him off the field."(Trump) is 100 percent for it," Scott said of the summit. "He was very enthusiastic about it."Added Scott, "It’s not going to be a black-only event. It will be a melting pot."Trump has been highly critical of the NFL and players protesting during the anthem, saying those who do should be "fired."

The Seattle Seahawks announced Friday that they have released veteran defensive end Cliff Avril with a failed physical designation.Avril has spent 10 seasons in the NFL, the last five coming with the Seahawks.He was limited to four games in 2017 due to a neck injury and was reportedly dealing with nerve damage that required surgery. Head coach Pete Carroll acknowledged at the time that he would have a "hard time playing football again."Avril was a part of the Seahawks' Super Bowl XLVIII championship team and was involved in one of the biggest plays of the game. He forced the errant pass from Peyton Manning that led to Malcolm Smith's 69-yard pick-6 just before halftime.He's just one season removed from his first trip to the Pro Bowl after recording 11.5 sacks in 2016.

Hopefully, he was just paying homage to those who came before him because Sam Darnold looked more like Christian Hackenberg and Mark Sanchez than a potential franchise quarterback in his first New York Jets practice.The No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft fumbled his very first snap in 11-on-11 drills at rookie camp Friday and fumbled another snap a couple plays later.The USC product also took two sacks in the opening round of 11-of-11.

Baker Mayfield intends to start for the Cleveland Browns after being chosen with the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, but he won't let his competition with designated started Tyrod Taylor distract the team."It's not going to be something that separates the locker room,'' Mayfield said Friday before his first rookie minicamp practice, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.Browns head coach Hue Jackson has been adamant that Taylor, who was acquired via trade with the Buffalo Bills well before the draft, will be the team's starting quarterback in 2018.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants safety Landon Collins suggested offensive tackle Ereck Flowers is skipping voluntary team workouts because he resents the club for signing Nate Solder to replace him at left tackle."He's just unhappy that they picked up (Solder)," Collins told a local radio station Friday when asked about Flowers' absence, according to SNY. "That's it."The Giants drafted Flowers ninth overall in 2015 to be Eli Manning's blindside protector, but he's struggled immensely to fill that role. As a result, New York shelled out major money to bring Solder away from the New England Patriots in free agency.Flowers, therefore, will either change positions or be relegated to the bench if he remains on the roster in 2018. New York reportedly tried to trade him during the NFL draft, but no deal was made."Definitely, I would say he needs to be here, as a teammate and as a captain, because we need him here, need to get the line together so they can be on the same page," Collins said of Flowers. "We got a quarterback, we got a running back, we got these talented wide receivers, we got to run with this."Collins, though, added Flowers "has to work harder" if he's to ever reach the potential the Giants saw in him when they drafted him.Flowers had his fifth-year contract option declined by New York, meaning he'll become a free agent after the 2018 campaign.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oakland Raiders agreed to terms Friday with free-agent linebacker Derrick Johnson, a longtime member of the rival Kansas City Chiefs, according to NFL Network's Michael Silver.Johnson had spent all 13 seasons of his NFL career in Kansas City, earning four trips to the Pro Bowl over that span. The 35-year-old saw action in 15 games last year, registering 71 tackles and one forced fumble.The Raiders signed veteran linebacker Tahir Whitehead in free agency, but the position remains one of concern for Jon Gruden's crew as the offseason crawls along.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers defensive backs coach Curtis Fuller resigned this week, and the team revealed Thursday that the decision came after an internal investigation into "complaints of inappropriate conduct" against him, a Panthers spokesman told David Newton of ESPN."After approaching Coach Fuller with the findings of an investigation into complaints of inappropriate conduct, we accepted his resignation," Panthers spokesman Steven Drummond said. "The Panthers are deeply committed to ensuring a safe, comfortable, and diverse work environment where all individuals, regardless of sex, race, color, religion, gender, or sexual identity or orientation, are treated fairly and equally."Related: Ex-Panthers employee shares harassing notes she says Richardson wroteThe Panthers are currently up for sale after revelations about owner Jerry Richardson's own workplace misconduct. A former employee recently shared inappropriate notes she says Richardson sent to her, while the owner has also been accused of using a racial slur toward a team scout.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bill Belichick has been handpicked by U.S. President Donald Trump for a new role.Trump announced on Friday that he intends to appoint the New England Patriots head coach as a member of his Council on Sport, Fitness, and Nutrition.Belichick hasn't been shy about his support for Trump, confirming he wrote a supportive letter to the Republican candidate ahead of the 2016 election and defending it by stating their "friendship goes back many years.""My comments are not politically motivated in my friendship and loyalty to Donald," Belichick said at the time.The sports council will also include former NFL running back Herschel Walker, Dr. Mehmet Oz, golfer Natalie Gulbis, retired baseball closer Mariano Rivera, and beach volleyball legend Misty May-Treanor, among others.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Earl Thomas is the only original member of the Legion of Boom still standing in Seattle - pending a resolution on Kam Chancellor's playing future - but Seahawks general manager John Schneider believes the safety is still all-in on staying with the franchise despite trade rumors involving the Dallas Cowboys gaining momentum during the draft.The Seahawks reportedly listened to at least two offers for Thomas and sought a second-rounder for the six-time Pro Bowler, which apparently was ultimately too high of a price for Dallas."My sense is that he wants to be here," Schneider said, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra. "I haven't got that sense from his agents at all."Thomas fueled rumors about a potential move to his hometown Cowboys after running after head coach Jason Garrett and telling him to "come get me" following a Dec. 24 win.The veteran safety has just one year remaining on his deal, so even if a trade is now off the table with the draft in the rear-view mirror, his future remains one of the biggest questions surrounding the Seahawks.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The football-weary eyes of Cleveland will once again zero in on the Browns’ most recent No. 1 overall pick quarterback, the next savior for a franchise hoping to land one every other year.But joining the quarterback-starved fans of Northeast Ohio in paying close attention to Baker Mayfield’s career path are an army of NFL executives, scouts and owners, all of them waiting to see the influence Mayfield's career can potentially have on some decades-old mores of personnel evaluation.Mayfield - the cocky swashbuckler who went from Oklahoma walk-on to headline-making Heisman winner - will determine whether the door stays open for future anti-measurable, nonconformist QBs who have long felt the cold shoulder of the NFL's strict adherence to prototype size, arm strength, and personality in evaluating the sport's most important position.Mayfield measured at 6-foot-1 in February, and many scouts agree that his short frame, barely-above-average arm, and appetite for the dramatic made him one of the riskiest No. 1 overall picks in draft history despite an esteemed college resume of 12,292 passing yards, 119 touchdowns passes, and a 70 percent completion clip in three seasons."I was a little surprised," said one NFC personnel man whose team didn't select a quarterback in this year's draft. "I love the player, love how competitive he is. He's very passionate."But ..."But he's very brash and we've seen some of the things that can rub people the wrong way."And ..."He's not going to be able to see (the field) over anybody," the personnel man continued. "He thrived in offense at Oklahoma where they moved him a lot. Is it a little bit of red flag not having ideal measureables? Yeah."Even with the NFL's rapid trend toward mirroring the college game, Mayfield's selection at No. 1 overall is a watershed moment, especially in a year in which four other quarterbacks were selected in the first 32 picks.None of the other four QBs taken in the first round came with unblemished scouting reports, but Browns general manager John Dorsey's decision to gamble on Mayfield provokes the question about whether the league is about to embark on another major scouting paradigm shift or if the Browns were just … well … Brown-ing."That's a great question," said another NFC scout whose team didn't draft a QB. "A lot of guys I talked to about him saw him more as a mid-to-late first-round quarterback, even second-round quarterback, frankly. I think it's a function of the college game is giving you what it's giving you. You just don't have many prototypical drop-back quarterbacks who have pro-style experience who are 6-foot-3-plus, who have above-average arm strength, etcetera, etcetera. Just not many of that."He's just a function of what the college game is turning out, all shapes and sizes, guys who play more hybrid, spread offenses with much simpler concepts. I think what trumped it for him is his instincts and accuracy are very good. You're betting on that over-riding some of his measureables being deficient."Success wouldn't make Mayfield the first anti-measureable to debunk conventional wisdom that franchise QBs must be built like an Adonis and carry themselves with the stoicism of an FBI agent.

It's important to remember these primers are not intended to be tiers for drafting. You can view our complete wide receiver rankings here.2018 Fantasy Primers

The Buffalo Bills hired Dan Morgan as their director of player personnel on Friday.Morgan starred for the Carolina Panthers during his playing career, earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in the 2004 season. He later served as the director of pro personnel for the Seattle Seahawks.The role with the Bills was previously held by Brian Gaine, who left the organization to become the general manager of the Houston Texans.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Ryan will be the quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons for the foreseeable future after the club announced a five-year extension for the 32-year-old on Thursday.While the ability to lock Ryan down is certainly news, it's the reported terms that set the league abuzz, as sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that Ryan will be the NFL's first quarterback to make $30 million per season, and receive a record $100 million guaranteed.While Ryan is routinely mentioned among the top quarterbacks in the league, most of that reputation is thanks to his MVP-winning season in 2016. The former Boston College star led the league in quarterback rating with an incredible 117.1 total thanks to a 4,944-yard passing season with 38 touchdowns to just seven picks.Other than that standout season, Ryan hasn't cracked the top 10 in quarterback rating over the last five years, leaving many out there to think that former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan's move to the San Francisco 49ers means Ryan won't be able to regain his 2016 form.How would you rate the deal?Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets have waived quarterback Bryce Petty, the club announced Thursday.Petty was selected by the Jets in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Baylor and completed 49.1 percent of his passes for 544 yards, a touchdown, and three interceptions during the 2017 season.New York drafted its elusive quarterback of the future in Sam Darnold with the No. 3 pick in the 2018 draft, rendering Petty expendable. Darnold will compete against Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater for the starting job.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles picked up head coach Doug Pederson's contract option for the 2020 season, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Pederson was reportedly originally signed to a four-year contract, but the Eagles picked up the fifth-year option on the deal following their Super Bowl LII victory over the New England Patriots.The Eagles have gone 20-12 in the regular season in Pederson's two years as head coach.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

ESPN confirmed Jason Witten will join its Monday Night Football broadcast next season as an analyst, after the 11-time Pro Bowl tight end officially announced his retirement Thursday from the Dallas Cowboys and the NFL.Witten's abrupt career change follows the path his former quarterback, Tony Romo, paved last year when he hung up his cleats for a broadcasting gig with CBS Sports."Jason's passion, his insight, and his ability to clearly communicate his knowledge of the game impressed us," ESPN executive vice president of content Connor Schell said in a news release. "He has the potential to be an exceptional analyst and we can't wait to get started."Cowboys fans will have an opportunity to welcome the franchise's all-time leader in receptions back to the Big D as a broadcaster Nov. 5, when his old mates host the Tennessee Titans.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams are going all-in for a Super Bowl this winter and it seems Brandin Cooks figures to be with the team for the long haul.Cooks, acquired in a trade with the New England Patriots in April, is expected to be the Rams' top receiver in 2018, headlining a group that includes Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods.The 24-year-old is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2018 season and Rams general manager Les Snead hinted at a possible extension for Cooks, noting that he's among many players that need new deals."We've been in discussions with his agents and they're well aware we want to get something done," Snead said to Adam Schein of Mad Dog Sports Radio. "We do think he's a perfect fit for us. We want to make sure that he's around, and around for a long time. We also have some other contracts we need to deal with over the next month, two months."It's rare for a player as young and productive as Cooks to play for three teams before he turns 25, but it's key that the Rams lock up one of their best offensive weapons while emerging as the new power of the NFC West.- With h/t to Pro Football TalkCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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The Miami Dolphins have acquired defensive tackle Akeem Spence from the Detroit Lions for an undisclosed draft pick in 2019, the team announced Thursday.The pick will be in the seventh round, according to Justin Rogers of the Detroit News.Spence, 26, was originally drafted in the fourth round of the 2013 draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He spent just one season with the Lions, recording 39 combined tackles and three sacks in 16 games.He will carry cap hits of $4.25 million in 2018 and $3.25 million in 2019, the final years of a three-year $9-million contract he signed with the Lions last offseason, according to Over The Cap.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Ryan will continue to lead the Atlanta Falcons offense for the foreseeable future and will reportedly become the NFL's first $30 million per season quarterback in the process.The Falcons confirmed a five-year extension has been agreed upon with the star pivot, and sources told Chris Mortensen of ESPN that the deal will be for $30 million per season with a record $100 million guaranteed.The deal, which would reach $150 million over the five years should Ryan play the entirety of it, surpasses the three-year, $84-million guaranteed contract that Kirk Cousins received from the Minnesota Vikings.Ryan was entering the final year of his contract and both he and the club were eager to reach an agreement before the season began.The 32-year-old's numbers dropped off slightly from his MVP-winning season of 2016 without offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, but he remains in the upper echelon of quarterbacks. He finished the 2017 campaign with 4,095 yards passing and 20 touchdowns.One quarterback who will be particularly interested in the details of Ryan's contract is Aaron Rodgers. The Green Bay Packers star is expected to sign a new deal before the start of the season and can command significantly more than Ryan.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Redskins president Bruce Allen said Thursday the organization is investigating the veracity of a New York Times report detailing a 2013 cheerleader trip to Costa Rica which is said to have involved a topless photo shoot in front of male sponsors.Redskins cheerleaders told The Times they were required to take part in the shoot at the adults-only Occidental Grand Papagayo resort on Culebra Bay in front of a group of male sponsors and suite holders."We are immediately looking into this situation and want to express how serious we take these allegations," Allen said in a statement. "Based on the dialogue we've had with a number of current and former cheerleaders over the past 48 hours, we've heard very different first-hand accounts that directly contradict many of the details of the May 2 article."I can promise that once we have completed looking into this matter, if it is revealed that any of our employees acted inappropriately, those employees will face significant repercussions."Cheerleaders interviewed by The Times also said their passports were taken by the team upon arrival at the resort, and nine of the 36 women were told they'd personally been selected to escort sponsors to a nightclub.Related: Redskins remove 'who's hotter' cheerleader feature from websiteThe cheerleaders said they weren't asked to participate in sexual intercourse, but were distraught over being used a sex symbols to satisfy the team's male sponsors.Those accounts are disputed by Stephanie Jojokian, the director and choreographer for Washington's cheerleading team. Jojokian said the nightclub outing was optional and that sponsors did not hand-pick cheerleaders to serve as escorts.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If anyone knows the value of a tight end, it's Tony Gonzalez.The NFL's all-time leader in receptions and yards by a tight end had high praise for his contemporary, Jason Witten.Witten, who announced his retirement from football Thursday, will hang up his cleats ranked second to Gonzalez in both receiving categories."The guy can block, he can catch, and he can do both of them at an elite level, which make him, to me in my mind, a 100 percent complete tight end," Gonzalez said on NFL Network, per NFL.com's Nick Shook."He was a huge part of (the Cowboys') success ... you can ask those running backs who played with him how valuable he was. ... This is why he is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. I think, without a doubt, I'd put him in the top three, top four tight ends," he added.Gonzalez, widely regarded as the best tight end in NFL history, will himself be eligible to join the Hall of Fame in 2019 and is already paving the way for Witten to join him in the hallowed halls.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Redskins removed a "who's hotter" feature from their official website following allegations from team cheerleaders that they were forced to take part in a topless photo shoot in front of sponsors in 2013.

Fifteen years. That's what Jason Witten gave the Dallas Cowboys, and the best they had to show for it was six playoff appearances and zero trips to the NFC Championship Game.Witten will retire Thursday after a decade-and-a-half of regular-season and playoff disappointments to join his former quarterback Tony Romo in the broadcasting arena.He will don an ESPN blazer, and soon after will be fitted for a gold jacket. Yet, while the surefire future Hall of Famer will be remembered as a consummate professional and one of its most reliable receiving targets, his career is just as memorable for how unsuccessful the Cowboys were during his time there.Witten leaves Dallas as the franchise leader in games played (239). He battled through multiple bumps, cuts, and bruises to suit up for 179 consecutive regular-season starts, second on the active players list only to Philip Rivers. The last time Witten missed a game came in his rookie season in 2003.He left it all out on the field for the franchise, a point best underscored by his memorable catch and run versus the Eagles in 2007.As illustrated in that one play of thousands in his career, Witten would stop at nothing to further advance the Cowboys. However, the sad reality is the farthest they could go was the divisional round of the NFC playoffs.Much more was expected of "America's Team." Witten and Romo arrived in 2003 and once Romo became the starting quarterback three years later, visions of future titles were dancing in the head of owner Jerry Jones. Four years on, Dez Bryant arrived as a celebrated first-round draft pick, hailed as the final piece of the puzzle.Together, Romo, Witten, and Bryant formed the modern-day version of the Cowboys' triplets, a term coined for the Hall-of-Fame trio of Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, and Emmitt Smith. The next group was expected to uphold their predecessors' championship standard.Yet, while the original version won three Super Bowls in a four-year span, their successors managed just two playoff wins.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)It's interesting how the blame for that has been apportioned; Romo has long been the scapegoat for the Cowboys' playoff failures and Witten and Bryant have, for the most part, been spared such criticism.As an individual, Witten surpassed the level of excellence attained by the Cowboys tight ends that preceded him. He exceeded the output of former greats Doug Cosbie and Jay Novacek and will go down as the best at his position in franchise history: He's leaving the team as the franchise leader in receptions (1,152) and receiving yards (12,448), and third in receiving touchdowns (68).While his resume will also include playoff failures, he'll be absolved of the blame, as he should be. He won't be the first Hall of Famer without a Super Bowl ring. But his CV feels incomplete without an appearance in the big game, or even the game that comes before it.Cowboys fans are left to wonder what might have been.There was Romo's botched snap in the 2006 wildcard game versus the Seahawks, the injuries that derailed multiple seasons, and, of course, the infamous non-catch call on Bryant near the end of the 2014 divisional playoff game against the Packers.That season had the mark of something truly special. The Cowboys sported a 12-4 record and won their division for the first time since 2009, and led for much of the second-round playoff game only to see a crucial catch negated by a now-defunct rule.It remains the high-water mark for the Romo-Bryant-Witten-led Cowboys. Much bigger - in Texas, after all - were the expectations.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Newly-signed New York Giants defensive tackle A.J. Francis didn't take long to move on to his new team, signing on Wednesday following a Monday release from the Washington Redskins.He also didn't waste any time letting his old team know what he truly thinks.

Newly-signed New York Giants defensive tackle A.J. Francis didn't take long to move on to his new team, signing on Wednesday following a Monday release from the Washington Redskins.He also didn't waste any time letting his old team know what he truly thinks.

Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath has thrown his support behind free agents Eric Reid and Colin Kaepernick.Kaepernick has gone unsigned since opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers after the 2016 season, and Reid hasn't been signed since playing out his contract with the club this past season.Both players played a large role in widespread league protests last season that saw NFLers kneeling during the national anthem."I think in Eric's case - and even Kaepernick's case - they are good enough players to be out there and having a job. Why aren't they? I don't know," he told FOX Business' Stuart Varney on "Varney & Co." on Thursday.Related: Eric Reid files collusion grievance against NFLNamath said the owners reserve the right to employ whomever they choose, but he doesn't think there has been any collusion going on among the owners to keep Reid and Kaepernick unsigned. He also said he doesn't feel as though the two damaged the game with their protests.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath has thrown his support behind free agents Eric Reid and Colin Kaepernick.Kaepernick has gone unsigned since opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers after the 2016 season, and Reid hasn't been signed since playing out his contract with the club this past season.Both players played a large role in the kneeling protests during the national anthem that became a widespread league movement last season."I think in Eric's case - and even Kaepernick's case - they are good enough players to be out there and having a job. Why aren't they? I don't know," he told FOX Business' Stuart Varney on "Varney & Co." on Thursday.Related: Eric Reid files collusion grievance against NFLNamath said the owners reserve the right to employ whomever they choose, but he doesn't think there has been any collusion going on among the owners to keep Reid and Kaepernick unsigned. He also said he doesn't feel as though the two damaged the game with their protests.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets receiver Robby Anderson's arrest warrant, issued due to a missed court date, has been lifted after it was revealed a clerical error meant he wasn't informed he had to attend that date, his attorney, Ed O'Donnell, told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.O'Donnell confirmed all felony charges against his client - included harming a public servant and aggravated fleeing police - have been dropped, and expects the remaining charge of reckless driving to be resolved on his next court date on July 19.Anderson will return to court in August in a separate trial after being arrested at a music festival in Miami last May.The 24-year-old had a breakout season with the Jets in 2017, catching 63 passes for 941 yards and seven scores.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets receiver Robby Anderson's arrest warrant, issued due to a missed court date, has been lifted after it was revealed a clerical error meant he wasn't informed he had to attend that date, his attorney, Ed O'Donnell, told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.O'Donnell confirmed all felony charges against his client - included harming a public servant and aggravated fleeing police - have been dropped, and expects the remaining charge of reckless driving to be resolved on his next court date on July 19.Anderson will return to court in August in a separate trial after being arrested at a music festival in Miami last May.The 24-year-old had a breakout season with the Jets in 2017, catching 63 passes for 941 yards and seven scores.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan will miss four-to-six months after undergoing back surgery for a herniated disc last week, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter and Field Yates.Jernigan will need to recover at the low end of his recovery timetable if he's to be ready for Week 1, and is certain to miss the team's entire offseason program.Acquired through a trade with the Baltimore Ravens a year ago, he started 15 games for the Eagles and was a big reason for the reigning Super Bowl champion's No. 1-ranked run defense.While his loss is a significant blow, Philadelphia has arguably the deepest defensive line in the NFL. Veteran Haloti Ngata should move into the starting lineup alongside Fletcher Cox, while Michael Bennett's ability to play across the line will likely be utilized to an even greater degree.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan will miss four-to-six months after undergoing back surgery for a herniated disc last week, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter and Field Yates.Jernigan will need to recover at the low end of his recovery timetable if he's to be ready for Week 1, and is certain to miss the team's entire offseason program.Acquired through a trade with the Baltimore Ravens a year ago, he started 15 games for the Eagles and was a big reason for the reigning Super Bowl champion's No. 1-ranked run defense.While his loss is a significant blow, Philadelphia has arguably the deepest defensive line in the NFL. Veteran Haloti Ngata should move into the starting lineup alongside Fletcher Cox, while Michael Bennett's ability to play across the line will likely be utilized to an even greater degree.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Recently released wide receiver Dez Bryant celebrated his former Dallas Cowboys teammate Jason Witten in an Instagram post Thursday.

Recently released wide receiver Dez Bryant celebrated his former Dallas Cowboys teammate Jason Witten in an Instagram post Thursday.

Andrew Luck hasn't stepped onto an NFL field in 16 months and has yet to resume throwing since a setback in his rehabilitation from shoulder surgery in January 2017.While the Indianapolis Colts are confident the star quarterback will be ready for the start of the upcoming campaign, there are some who believe Luck will never be the same player again - if he manages to return at all.Colts general manager Chris Ballard said his franchise player is raring to prove to his doubters that he remains among the league's elite."I think he's got a little bit of a chip on his shoulder to prove some people and naysayers wrong," Ballard told Sporting News' Alex Marvez on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "That's a beautiful thing with a quarterback that I think is top five in this league."Luck will return to a radically different offense. New head coach Frank Reich is installing a similar scheme to the one he ran with the Philadelphia Eagles, while the likes of Donte Moncrief and Frank Gore left in free agency.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrew Luck hasn't stepped onto an NFL field in 16 months and has yet to resume throwing since a setback in his rehabilitation from shoulder surgery in January 2017.While the Indianapolis Colts are confident the star quarterback will be ready for the start of the upcoming campaign, there are some who believe Luck will never be the same player again - if he manages to return at all.Colts general manager Chris Ballard said his franchise player is raring to prove to his doubters that he remains among the league's elite."I think he's got a little bit of a chip on his shoulder to prove some people and naysayers wrong," Ballard told Sporting News' Alex Marvez on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "That's a beautiful thing with a quarterback that I think is top five in this league."Luck will return to a radically different offense. New head coach Frank Reich is installing a similar scheme to the one he ran with the Philadelphia Eagles, while the likes of Donte Moncrief and Frank Gore left in free agency.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It sounds like Aaron Rodgers will soon be an even richer man.The Green Bay Packers' star quarterback used to hold the title of the NFL's highest-paid player, but he has since been surpassed by a handful of fellow quarterbacks. However, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst believes a new deal is close, one that will likely push the two-time MVP back to the top of the pile."Both sides are working toward it and we're confident we'll come to an agreement soon," Gutekunst said, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.Gutekunst added negotiations "are taking (their) normal course ... normal time."Another former MVP in Matt Ryan is also seeking a new contract that should exceed Kirk Cousins' $28-million-a-year deal, and it's possible Green Bay is waiting for the Atlanta Falcons to reset the market before finalizing Rodgers' deal.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It sounds like Aaron Rodgers will soon be an even richer man.The Green Bay Packers' star quarterback used to hold the title of the NFL's highest-paid player, but he has since been surpassed by a handful of fellow quarterbacks. However, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst believes a new deal is close, one that will likely push the two-time MVP back to the top of the pile."Both sides are working toward it and we're confident we'll come to an agreement soon," Gutekunst said, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.Gutekunst added negotiations "are taking (their) normal course ... normal time."Another former MVP in Matt Ryan is also seeking a new contract that should exceed Kirk Cousins' $28-million-a-year deal, and it's possible Green Bay is waiting for the Atlanta Falcons to reset the market before finalizing Rodgers' deal.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jason Witten appears to be the latest NFLer to trade in his helmet and pads for a microphone, as he has reportedly elected to join ESPN's Monday Night Football broadcast.Witten is considered one of football's gentle giants, but little is known of his personality and broadcast abilities.With former teammate Tony Romo and former Cowboy Troy Aikman as a gauge, how will Witten fare as an analyst? Vote in the poll above.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a classy move for one of their most loved players, converting the majority of injured linebacker Ryan Shazier's $8.72-million base salary in 2018 into a signing bonus, meaning he'll receive the money immediately, ESPN's Adam Schefter and Field Yates report.Shazier has already been ruled out of next season after he underwent spinal stabilization surgery Dec. 6.Related: Shazier still targeting Pro Bowl, All-Pro honors after spinal injuryThe playmaking linebacker was able to walk out onto the 2018 NFL Draft stage recently to announce one of Pittsburgh's selections.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten has decided to retire from the NFL and will join the Monday Night Football broadcast crew, ESPN's Adam Schefter and Todd Archer report.The career Cowboy informed owner Jerry Jones and head coach Jason Garrett after struggling with the decision, multiple sources told Archer.ESPN has been searching for a new lead analyst since Jon Gruden returned to coaching by joining the Oakland Raiders this offseason. After running through candidates, the network reportedly offered Witten north of $4 million per season to fill the role.The news reportedly came as a surprise to the Cowboys, who ultimately drafted a tight end in the fourth round of this past weekend's draft.Witten played for the Cowboys for 15 years. He retires with 1,152 career receptions, 12,448 receiving yards, and 68 touchdowns. He was named to 11 Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams, and was the 2012 Walter Payton Man of the Year.He ranks fourth all time in career receptions, first in Cowboys franchise history in catches and receptions, and third in franchise history in receiving touchdowns - just three scores behind Bob Hayes and five back of Dez Bryant.During Witten's time in Dallas, the team never made it past the divisional round of the playoffs.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's important to remember that these primers are not intended to be tiers for drafting. You can view our complete quarterback rankings here.2018 Fantasy Primers

Robby Anderson appears to be in some legal trouble yet again, as an arrest warrant has been issued for the New York Jets receiver in South Florida, according to Broward County court records, per the New York Daily News.Anderson or an attorney were apparently due in court Tuesday stemming from a driving arrest in January, but his lawyer, Ed O'Donnell, claimed there was no notice given for the receiver to appear."I received no notice," O'Donnell told the Daily News on Wednesday night. "Robby received no notice. And the bondsman received no notice. A written plea of Not Guilty was filed on January 29th. Since that date, we've never gotten any notice to be in court for this matter."I intend to take care of this (Thursday) … First I got to figure out where it is. I didn't even know who issued the warrant for non-appearance … Craziness. Craziness."Anderson's previous charges included harming a public servant and aggravated fleeing police, but both were dismissed. He's still facing a lesser charge of reckless driving that was slated to be addressed in court Tuesday.Anderson is also awaiting a separate trial in August after being arrested at a music festival in Miami last May.The 24-year-old had a breakout season with the Jets in 2017, catching 63 passes for 941 yards and seven scores.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thanks to the offseason signing of Case Keenum, the Denver Broncos have an established starter at quarterback for the first time since Peyton Manning retired.And while many praised John Elway for bringing Keenum aboard, nobody seems happier than receiver Emmanuel Sanders."This is the first time in two or three years that I'm not standing up here talking about a quarterback debate," Sanders said Wednesday. "I went out to the team store and I saw Case Keenum jerseys. I was like, 'Thank God, I don't have to deal with that again.' Case is our guy."Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, and Brock Osweiler all saw action last year for Denver, but none posted a quarterback rating higher than 75. Siemian's 73.3 rating was the highest of the three, but that was still just 29th best in the league.Sanders added that the uncertainty at quarterback made it difficult for the receivers to build chemistry with multiple people."You don't have the same mindset," he said. "You have to talk to two different quarterbacks. When you're going into individual routes, you have to go to one guy and then go with the next guy. You don't really gain that chemistry. You're not maximizing the opportunity. Now we're maximizing the opportunity and hopefully it pays off."Keenum is coming off a season that saw the veteran throw for 3,547 yards and 22 touchdowns while posting a rating of 98.3, seventh best in the league. His addition should go a long way toward getting Sanders back to the brilliant form he displayed during Manning's days under center. The 31-year-old caught just 47 balls last year - his lowest total since 2012 - while also battling injuries.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.