After an intense first half of football between the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles, pop superstar Justin Timberlake continued the momentum with a spectacular-looking halftime show which included a touching tribute to the late Prince.Instead of a hologram, as was reported, a projection of the legendary singer was displayed on a purple screen behind Timberlake on the piano.Here are seven spectacular snaps from the halftime show of Super Bowl LII:Prince would've loved the flamboyance.Wow!J.T. rockin' it!Change of pace.Crowd getting involved.What. A. Shot.Got to love a dance number.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Football fans everywhere have been blessed with some incredible Super Bowls in recent years, and through 30 minutes of this year's event, it looks like that will continue to be the case.After trading opening field goals, Sunday's game between the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots erupted in to a highlight-filled football extravaganza.Here's the four craziest plays from the opening two quarters in Minnesota.Bomb to Alshon

(Warning: Story contains graphic images)Sean Payton has some company when it comes to the ballsiest coaching decisions in Super Bowl history.Philadelphia Eagles coach Doug Pederson sent his offense out to go for it on fourth-and-goal to end the first half, and the team absolutely nailed a trick play, running a direct snap end-around with a pass to quarterback Nick Foles.Twitter went into overdrive.

The Super Bowl may be the pinnacle of football, but that doesn't necessarily mean all aspects of the game live up to the hype.In the first half of Super Bowl LII between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles, the kicking left a lot to be desired.Rookie Eagles kicker Jake Elliott missed his first extra point wide right. Not to be outdone, Patriots veteran Stephen Gostkowski shanked his extra-point kick wide left after missing on just two during the regular season.Gostkowski also missed a 26-yard field goal - he hit the upright following a poor snap.Understandably, Twitter couldn't believe what it was seeing:

The Philadelphia Eagles entered halftime with a 22-12 lead over the New England Patriots.Philadelphia extended their lead on a trick play in the dying seconds of the first half. Trey Burton took an end-around off a direct snap before rolling out and finding a wide-open Nick Foles for a one-yard receiving touchdown.Foles finished the half 13 of 22 for 215 yards, one touchdown, and one interception to go along with the receiving score.Brady went 12 of 23 for 276 yards and no touchdowns.Patriots wide receiver Brandin Cooks left the game with a head injury and was quickly ruled out after getting hit by Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins in the open field.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

He almost had it.The New England Patriots went with a trick play in the second quarter of the Super Bowl, one that resulted in Tom Brady finding himself on the receiving end of a Danny Amendola pass.Brady was wide-open, but he couldn't quite make the catch.Twitter wasn't too kind to Brady's attempt at moonlighting as a wide receiver.(Warning: Story contains coarse language)

New England Patriots wide receiver Brandin Cooks was ruled out for the remainder of Super Bowl LII after taking a huge helmet-to-helmet hit from Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins on a 23-yard catch in the second quarter.Cook was taken to the locker room and diagnosed with a head injury.It's a huge blow to New England. Cooks is the team's primary deep threat and had 1,082 yards on 65 catches during the regular season, the second-most on the team.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler was benched due to a coach's decision to begin Super Bowl LII against the Philadelphia Eagles, NBC's Al Michaels revealed on the broadcast.Butler was relegated to special teams duty while Eric Rowe started in his absence."I made the decisions that give us the best chance to win," Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said when asked about Butler's status at halftime, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.The Patriots cornerback appeared to be emotional on the sidelines during the national anthem.

The NFL included deceased former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez in an "In Memoriam" video that was shown on video boards at U.S. Bank Stadium in the hours leading up to Super Bowl LII Sunday, according to Eric Skelton of Complex.Hernandez committed suicide in his jail cell in April. He was serving a life-without-parole sentence for murder.The slide containing Hernadez also apparently displayed several other lesser known players:

The Jones family legacy is set to continue at Arkansas as three-star quarterback John Stephen Jones announced his commitment to the Razorbacks Sunday.The grandson of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is ranked by ESPN as the 54th-best pocket-passing quarterback in the class of 2018, and the 213th overall prospect in the state of Texas. He made national headlines last season by throwing for over 500 yards in the Texas State title game at the Cowboys' AT&T Stadium.Jerry Jones attended Arkansas and was co-captain of the Razorbacks football team in 1964. His grandson held offers from Kansas, SMU, and Texas Tech before opting to follow in his grandfather's footsteps and head to Arkansas.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler missed the first quarter of Super Bowl LII against the Philadelphia Eagles for undisclosed reasons.Butler was battling an illness leading up to the Super Bowl, but was expected to start and was taken off the injury report.Eric Rowe started in Butler's absence.The Eagles marched down the field and kicked a field goal to take a 3-0 lead.New England responded with a field goal of their own but chaos ensued on the following drive. Eagles quarterback Nick Foles connected with Alshon Jeffery on a 34-yard touchdown pass with Butler on the sidelines, giving his team a 9-3 lead.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The buzz in Philadelphia and Boston is palpable.Ahead of Super Bowl LII between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles, actor and comedian Gerry Dee visited both cities with a troupe of super fans from both teams as part of an epic Super Bowl experience with DAZN.As such, Dee had a unique opportunity to see how both cities are treating the lead up to the big game."I'm like the only guy in the world doing this right now," Dee told theScore a mere two hours before kickoff. The sports buff toured Philly with a group of four Eagles fans on Saturday and joined a group of four Patriots diehards on Sunday."I guess the best way to describe both cities, you could feel something's about to happen. Something's about to go down."Especially in Philly yesterday, you could just feel, they've never won it. I think if Philly wins or loses, it's going to be bedlam ... Philly's not getting there next year, they're not going back-to-back. You could tell, Philly's like, 'we're going to wait another 10 years' before they have (another) chance."Dee has attended a Super Bowl before and contends the live experience - from parking blocks away from the stadium to inflated prices at the snack stand - doesn't equal the feel of cheering on your team from your hometown."There's no buzz really inside it, it's corporate, there's no fans," he said of the pulse from a Super Bowl venue.For Super Bowl LII, Dee will be saddled up inside a Boston sports bar in the heart of Patriot Nation with fans who live and die with the team."They fell in love with their teams at 10 years old, different situations for each of them," Dee said. "The one guy, his daughter's middle name is Brady. We're talking diehard fans here."With such passion devoted to these teams, the outcome of Sunday's game is bound to elicit a wild response."For me, Philadelphia winning is like the (Toronto Maple) Leafs winning the Cup," Dee said, noting the championship drought for both teams. "You're talking 50, 60 years of not winning. That's a good parallel as far as what's at stake here for both cities ... I've got a guess that it would be absolute insanity if they win. If Philly loses, I think it'll still be insanity but it'll come out of more anger, and that's scarier."I don't get the sense if Boston loses or wins you'll have that. It'll be celebratory. This town's used to winning ... They're used to this, so when you're used to this, you act like you've been there."Regardless, Dee's prepared for any outcome, and the revelry that will take place afterward."I brought a torch. I'm eyeing a tree right now. That's the tree I'm going to burn down if they lose, out of anger," Dee joked."No, I'm going to try to get out of there. I want to get out of there with like 20 seconds left and just run. I don't think you're going to get out of the bar very quickly if you wait till the end."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While Ryan Shazier does have movement in his legs, his current progress toward walking again isn't quite as advanced as reported earlier Sunday morning.A source close to Shazier told Michelle Tafoya of NBC that the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker wants to clarify the Sunday morning report that he was engaged in a regular walking routine. Shazier does have movement in his legs but still requires assistance when trying to walk.Shazier underwent spinal stabilization surgery on Dec. 6th after suffering a significant injury in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals two days earlier.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If you're tired of seeing Tom Brady and the New England Patriots represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, we have some bad news for you.The Patriots' star 40-year-old quarterback told "Westwood One" on Sunday that he will return for a 19th NFL season."You're gonna see me playing football next year," Brady said, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. "I don't envision not playing. You're at the end of the race but you've got your biggest mountain to climb right at the end."Hopefully all the lessons we've learned have allowed us to be at our very best for this moment and that's what it's going to take and that's what we're prepared for and that's what I go out and expect our team to do."Brady has little reason to walk away. He was just named the regular-season MVP for the third time in his career, and New England possesses a strong core of talent that should keep them in title contention as long as Brady stays healthy.While some speculated that earning a sixth ring Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles would lead Brady to hang his cleats up, it appears the rest of the NFL will have to wait a little longer for the future Hall of Famer to stop being a near-immovable roadblock in front of the Lombardi Trophy.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson was killed early Sunday morning when he was struck by a suspected drunk driver, according to Indiana State Police.Jackson was 26 years old.The Colts released the following statement confirming Jackson's death:

We won't have to wait long for a decision regarding Larry Fitzgerald's future.The longtime Arizona Cardinals receiver told Rich Eisen of the NFL Network on Super Bowl Sunday that he'll make a decision "in a week or so" on whether to return for a 15th season or retire, according to network reporter Ian Rapoport.Fitzgerald added that he's "excited about what the future holds."On the field, Fitzgerald remains at the top of his game. He recorded his third consecutive season of 100-plus catches and added 1,156 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2017. He was far and away the Cardinals' top receiving threat. Tight end Jermaine Gresham ranked second on the team in catches with 33 and J.J. Nelson was second in yards with 508.The team recently hired Steve Wilks as their new head coach after the retirement of Bruce Arians.Fitzgerald may also be "excited" about his off-field prospects, however. He's a world traveler and will have no shortage of opportunities once his playing career comes to an end.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Father Time still remains undefeated, but New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is giving him quite a walloping before he accepts defeat, as the 40-year-old captured his third MVP award after another outstanding regular season.Many cite the late-season injuries to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown as reasons for Brady's clear path to the award. However, the Patriots quarterback was no slouch this year, leading the league in both passing attempts and yards, and carrying his team to the top seed in the AFC.With his previous MVP wins coming at the ages of 30 and 33, respectively, here's a look at how Brady stacks up against the younger versions of himself.YearPass Att.Cmp. %YardsTD200757868.9480650201049265.9390036201758166.3457732(Bold numbers indicate he led the league)Brady was leaned on more heavily by the Patriots in 2017 than in either of his previous two MVP-winning campaigns. Despite attempting a league-leading 581 passes, his completion percentage still checked in above his career rate.While he led the league in yards for the third time, it's a number he's topped four other times in his career. His touchdown total took a bit of a dive, as he's exceeded 32 in six prior seasons. His eight interceptions matched his number from 2007 but were twice as many as he threw in the 2010 campaign.However, while putting up his typically impressive numbers, Brady did miss out on another accolade he managed to take home in each of his two previous MVP-worthy seasons.YearMVPPro BowlAll-Pro 1st-TeamOPOY2007YYYY2010YYYY2017YYYNLos Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley, widely viewed as Brady's top competition for this season's MVP award, was named the 2017 Offensive Player of the Year.It's no surprise that when Brady goes, as do the Patriots. In each of the three seasons he's been named the Most Valuable Player, the Patriots offense has been one of the best in the league at putting points on the board - a number which generally correlates with Brady's ability to throw the ball.YearRecordPPGP. YDS/G200716-036.8 (1)295.7 (1)201014-232.4 (1)240.4 (11)201713-328.6 (2)276.1 (2)That 2010 team used BenJarvus Green-Ellis for a 1,000-yard rushing season, just one of three such performances the Patriots have received from a running back dating back to that season.While there's no competition to the Patriots' undefeated 2007 season - with blistering offensive production powered by the quarterback and recent Hall of Fame inductee Randy Moss - 10 years later, Brady is still driving one of the league's best offenses, and more importantly, one of the final two remaining in early February.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In his Super Bowl LII pep talk Saturday night, Brett Favre reminded the Philadelphia Eagles what could happen if they become complacent versus the New England Patriots."They're a tremendous team, their quarterback is the greatest to ever play, Bill Belichick is the greatest coach to ever coach," Favre said to Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia while recalling his speech. "You know what they're about. They're going to play the whole game. Don't ever say ... like (the Atlanta Falcons did) last year, 'We have it won and we're going to go through the drive-thru.' That's not a good idea."Favre, who won his only Super Bowl against the Patriots at the end of the 1996-97 season, was a special guest of Eagles coach Doug Pederson on the eve before the Super Bowl. The two were previously teammates on the Green Bay Packers."Doug and I go way back. Dear friends, hunting buddies, golfing buddies; we were teammates for almost 10 years," Favre noted, according to ESPN. "My success as an NFL player is in part because of our connection and friendship."Favre added that he congratulated the Eagles on all they've accomplished this season and kept his message to the team mostly lighthearted.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Before he was acquired by the New England Patriots last offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles nearly executed a trade with the New Orleans Saints for wide receiver Brandin Cooks, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.A deal with the Eagles apparently would've seen Cooks go to Philly for safety Malcolm Jenkins - who began his career with the Saints - plus a third-round draft pick and a pair of fourth-round selections. The trade was scuttled at the last minute.Cooks was ultimately shipped to the Patriots, along with a fourth-round pick, for New England's first- and third-round picks.Cooks enjoyed his third straight 1,000-yard season in 2017, and posted seven touchdowns for the Pats, who'll meet the Eagles in Super Bowl LII.After losing out on Cooks, the Eagles went after Alshon Jeffery in free agency, signing him to a one-year deal that worked out well and led to Jeffery inking an extension in December.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.Each week during the season, Monty Andrews has broken down some of the underlying betting mismatches on the National Football League slate, giving you an inside edge when handicapping the matchups and setting your daily fantasy rosters. We are down to Super Bowl LII and we use Monty's penchant for finding mismatches to handicap The Big Game.

The Indianapolis Colts may not officially have a head coach, but it seems they already have an idea of who they want as their offensive coordinator.While it is largely expected that the Colts will hire Josh McDaniels to be the team's next head coach following Super Bowl LII, the team has also reportedly identified Darrell Bevell as its top target to fill the role of offensive coordinator, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, citing sources.Bevell spent the past seven seasons as offensive coordinator with the Seattle Seahawks before being fired on Jan. 10.The 48-year-old is also receiving interest from both the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants, Rapoport reportsCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Super Bowl LII

Former Washington Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan has joined the Cleveland Browns front office as a personnel consultant for the 2018 NFL Draft, sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.He reportedly participated in full scouting sessions with the Browns on Saturday, his first day on the job.McCloughan marks the third major front-office addition by the Browns over the last two months. In December they hired ex-Kansas City Chiefs general manager John Dorsey for the same role, and a month later they brought in former Green Bay Packers executive Eliot Wolf to assist him.McCloughan owns an extensive scouting background and earned widespread praise for his drafting in Washington. He was fired from the Redskins in March 2017 after two years on the job. The team claimed McCloughan was battling alcoholism, but rumors around the league suggested he was dumped because of a power struggle with team president Bruce Allen.The 46-year-old has been operating his own scouting service since being let go by the Redskins.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Odell Beckham Jr. is unsigned beyond next season, and the prolific wideout is growing impatient waiting for contract talks to heat up with the New York Giants."It's that time just to get it over with. I really want to do it so I can move past it," Beckham said Saturday at the NFL Honors show, according to Dan Duggan of NJ.com. "It's too much sitting around thinking, 'Where am I going to be at?' I need to know where I can start buying furniture for a house. I want to have a place set where I know, 'OK, this is home. I can always go back to home.'"Even if they fail to hammer out a long-term agreement, the Giants could place the franchise tag on Beckham after next season, so it's unlikely he'll need to furnish a home outside the Big Apple anytime soon.Still, Beckham's contract situation could cause plenty of angst as it lingers into the offseason. Beckham, who had his 2017 season end after just four games because of a fractured ankle, has previously stated his desire to be the highest-paid player in the NFL. A contract that big could cripple the Giants' salary cap structure, but team owner John Mara has repeatedly asserted his confidence in getting a deal done.Beckham racked up more than 1,300 receiving yards and 10-plus touchdowns in each of his first three campaigns in the league. The 25-year-old human highlight reel posted 25 receptions for 302 yards and three scores in four contests this season before fracturing his ankle.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The pending introduction of a new head coach doesn't seem to be jeopardizing Jim Bob Cooter's future with the Detroit Lions.Despite the anticipated hiring of New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia as the Lions' next head coach following Super Bowl LII, the team is still expected to retain Cooter, even with Patricia likely to form his own staff, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, citing league sources.Though Cooter and Patricia do not have an existing relationship, they do have an important mutual friend in Lions general manager Bob Quinn, according to Schefter. Quinn gained experience working with Patricia while serving various roles in the Patriots scouting department from 2004-15 and has known Cooter for the past two years as general manager of the Lions.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Redskins may not be willing to allow quarterback Kirk Cousins the freedom of reaching free agency.The team is considering placing the franchise tag on Cousins in order to trade him so they can recover some of the compensation they sent to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for Alex Smith, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Cousins is set to hit free agency when the new league year opens March 14, and he's expected to be the marquee signal caller, and player, on the open market.The Redskins sent a third-round pick in the 2018 draft and cornerback Kendall Fuller to the Chiefs for Smith earlier in the week. The franchise tag would allow them to explore a trade with a number of teams expected to be interested in Cousins.Related: Ranking the top 6 destinations for Cousins after Redskins landed SmithCousins' franchise tag is expected to be worth approximately $34.5 million against the cap in 2018, presenting a risk to the Redskins should Cousins delay signing or cause a hangup in any potential trade.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Shazier has taken another significant stride in his road to recovery, as the injured Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker has regained movement in his legs and has begun "a regular walking routine," according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, citing sources."(Shazier is) making incredible progress," a source familiar with his recovery said, per Schefter.Shazier was released from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Rehabilitation Institute on Thursday to transition to an outpatient therapy program.Exactly one month has passed since Shazier's father said his son began to regain feeling in his legs, and almost two months since he underwent spinal stabilization surgery after being injured on a tackle versus the Cincinnati Bengals, making Sunday's update a very encouraging development.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Francisco 49ers and pending free-agent quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo have gained significant momentum on a long-term contract extension, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.A deal could reportedly be finalized in the near future and is expected to make Garoppolo one of the higher-paid quarterbacks in the league.The 49ers went 5-0 with Garoppolo in the starting lineup to finish the regular season, and the 26-year-old has yet to lose any of the seven games he's started in his career.Garoppolo completed over 67 percent of his passes for 1,560 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions after being acquired from the New England Patriots before the midseason trade deadline. The Eastern Illinois product spent three-plus seasons backing up Tom Brady in New England.San Francisco could place the franchise tag on Garoppolo if they're unable to work out a long-term deal before free agency.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL Honors took place on the eve of Super Bowl LII and it's clear that some teams will have a brighter future than others.On an evening meant to showcase the league's talent across the board, the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints shone brightest, stacking up hardware as the night progressed.Here is a recap of the league's annual awards ceremony.Brady captures 3rd MVP award Tom Brady could become the only player with six Super Bowl victories on Sunday night. Before the big game kicked off, Brady captured his third NFL MVP award and it wasn't particularly close, gaining 40 of 50 first-place votes.Related: Tom Brady wins 3rd MVP of careerThe New England Patriots quarterback is quite obviously focused on Super Bowl LII, but the award is a testament to his overall dominance after throwing 32 touchdowns against eight interceptions this year. A victory on Sunday would cap off another outstanding year for Brady's iconic career.The Saints Go Marching In Related: Kamara beats out Hunt for Offensive Rookie of the YearIn retrospect, we may look back at the Saints' 2017 draft class as one of the best freshman crops of all time. For the time being, New Orleans is making the rest of the league's scouting personnel look silly.Related: Saints' Lattimore earns Defensive Rookie of the Year awardAlvin Kamara and Marshon Lattimore won Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year, respectively, on Saturday night. Kamara took the league by storm and evolved into one of the NFL's most dynamic all-around backs with over 1,550 total yards and 13 total touchdowns, while Lattimore featured as one of the league's premier cornerbacks. Buoyed by their youth movement, the Saints are coming for everyone in 2018.What a difference a year makes Related: Gurley earns Offensive Player of the Year awardThe Rams' drastic turnaround was one of the best stories of the 2017 season, and they were handsomely rewarded Saturday night.Related: Aaron Donald named Defensive Player of the YearAlthough he finished second in MVP voting, Todd Gurley captured Offensive Player of the Year, while teammate Aaron Donald earned Defensive Player of the Year. Gurley and Donald became the first teammates to complete this feat since Jamal Lewis and Ray Lewis in 2003.Related: McVay wins Coach of the Year after Rams' amazing turnaroundThe real catalyst for the turnaround may have been head coach Sean McVay, who revamped the team's offense entirely during his first year in Los Angeles. McVay earned Coach of the Year and could be in the infant stages of what may be a tremendous legacy at 32 - eight years younger than the reigning MVP.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class is set, with the likes of Randy Moss, Terrell Owens (at last), and Ray Lewis headlining a star-studded group.Now, our attention moves to the 2019 class and which modern-era candidates could be making the trip to Canton, Ohio, next year.Here's a prediction of who will be fitted for a gold jacket in 2019:LocksEd Reed, Champ Bailey, Tony GonzalezIf you like game-changing defensive backs, the 2019 class will likely be for you, as Reed and Bailey are both in their first year of eligibility.The former Baltimore Ravens safety was voted Defensive Player of the Year in 2004, named an All-Pro five times, and was widely known as the most feared defensive player in the league for quarterbacks due to his unbelievable range, speed, and instincts. No safety has gotten into Canton on their first attempt since 1986, but Reed is all but certain to break that streak.Meanwhile, Bailey was the quintessential shutdown cornerback, but one with a hell of an eye for the football. He was named to 12 Pro Bowls - more than any other cornerback in NFL history - and had 52 career interceptions. He spent his 15-year career with the Washington Redskins (five seasons) and Denver Broncos (10 seasons). Bailey has a small chance of falling victim to the logjam of Hall of Fame-worthy players, but he should make it in on his first go-around.Lastly, the man who helped revolutionize the tight end position, Gonzalez, is also in his first year of eligibility. During a 17-season career with the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons, he caught more passes than any player not named Jerry Rice. He's also sixth in all-time receiving yards and seventh in all-time touchdown catches, made 14 Pro Bowls, and was named to the first- or second-team All-Pro teams 10 times. In short, Gonzalez has a resume that would likely make half the Hall of Fame jealous, though he never won a ring. He's in.This is their yearAlan Faneca, Isaac BruceThe Hall of Fame has a serious logjam of offensive lineman after inducting none in the 2018 class, and that will have to change in 2019.Fanceca fell short for the third straight time this year, but his resume is undeniably worthy of enshrinement. During his 10 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers (he also spent two years with the New York Jets and one with the Arizona Cardinals to end his career), few would have argued his standing among the best guards in the league. He appeared in nine Pro Bowls, was named a first-team All-Pro six times, and made the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 2000s. A number of offensive linemen could fill this spot, but Faneca has waited long enough.With Moss and Owens soon to be draped in gold, Canton voters will be free to reward one of the other greatest receivers of that generation in Bruce. When he retired in 2009, Bruce's 15,208 receiving yards only trailed Rice. He was an integral member of one of the greatest offenses of all time - the St. Louis Rams' "Greatest Show on Turf" - and made four Pro Bowls, including a three-year stretch from 1999-2001.Other candidates: London Fletcher, Asante Samuel, John Lynch, Steve Hutchinson, Edgerrin James, Ty Law, Tony Boselli, Kevin Mawae, Brian Waters(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt was named the recipient of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award at Saturday's NFL Honors show.Watt helped raise over $37 million for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts in the Houston area."J.J. is one of the most selfless, giving and inspiring young men in the NFL and we are proud he is a Houston Texan," Texans owner Robert McNair said in a statement, according to NFL.com's Austin Knoblauch. "During one of Houston's worst disasters, J.J. was our shining light after raising more than $37 million for victims affected by Hurricane Harvey."The three-time Defensive Player of the Year initially had a goal of $200,000 when announcing his fundraising campaign, but quickly blew past that mark and raised over $37 million in 19 days."I cannot thank everyone enough for their support and donations from across the country and around the world," Watt said in October to those who donated to his fundraising campaign."You have truly shown what is possible when everyone bands together for one common cause. While we are going to do some truly incredible things with this $37 million to make it stretch as far as possible, it is only one small step in the massive recovery effort that lies ahead. I encourage you to please continue to find organizations to donate to, whether they be some of the ones listed below or others. Houston will bounce back from this and we will rise up stronger than ever."Watt missed most of the 2017 season with a fractured tibial plateau in his left leg.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player on Saturday for the third time in his 18-year career.Brady also won the regular-season award in 2007 and 2010.The 40-year-old became the oldest player to be named NFL MVP after completing 66.3 percent of his passes for 4,577 yards and 32 touchdowns against eight interceptions this season.He earned 40 MVP votes, while Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley earned eight and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz got two.The Patriots superstar will lead his team into Super Bowl LII against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in hopes of winning his sixth title. Brady has been named Super Bowl MVP four times.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay was named Coach of the Year on Saturday.The then-30-year-old McVay was hired as the youngest head coach in NFL history last year, taking over for Jeff Fisher. He transformed the offense into a juggernaut out of the gate and revitalized 2016 No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff.Related: McVay's quick fix of Rams makes him easiest COTY choice in yearsThe Rams won the NFC West at 11-5, earning their first playoff appearance since 2004 and their first division title since 2003. They finished first in the league in points per game (29.9).McVay also helped Todd Gurley to a dominant season in which he led the league in total yards from scrimmage and touchdowns, earning him Offensive Player of the Year honors Saturday.The Rams went home with an impressive haul of hardware, as Aaron Donald took home the award for the league's best defensive player.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen was named Comeback Player of the Year as part of Saturday's NFL Honors.Allen tore his ACL during the 2016 season opener, missing the entire campaign after signing a four-year, $45-million extension in June of 2016.The Chargers' star rebounded valiantly in 2017, recording 102 receptions for 1,393 yards and six touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl selection. Allen finished third in receiving yards behind Antonio Brown and Julio Jones.Allen will continue to feature as the Chargers' top receiving option for the foreseeable future.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints swept the Rookie of the Year awards at the NFL Honors show on Saturday, as Marshon Lattimore was named Defensive Rookie of the Year after teammate Alvin Kamara claimed the offensive award.The Saints finished ninth in the league in completion percentage allowed during the former Ohio State star's debut season, up from a league-worst 32nd in 2016. Lattimore led all first-year players with five interceptions and contributed 52 tackles during the club's run to the NFC divisional playoff round.New Orleans became just the second team in NFL history to win both the offensive and defensive Rookie of the Year awards in the same season, joining the 1967 Detroit Lions in the record books.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame class was announced Saturday at the NFL Honors award show.Randy Moss, Ray Lewis, Terrell Owens, Brian Urlacher, Brian Dawkins, Jerry Kramer, Robert Brazile, and Bobby Beathard will all be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer.Moss was one of the defining receivers in league history. Only one player has more receiving touchdowns, but he may be the best deep-ball receiver in NFL history. Starting his career with the Minnesota Vikings, he holds the records for most receiving scores by a rookie and most in a single season. He spent time with the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, and San Francisco 49ers en route to six Pro Bowls and four First-Team All-Pro selections.Considered the best middle linebacker of his generation, Lewis spent the entirety of his 17-year career with the Baltimore Ravens, winning two Super Bowls. He was named a first-team All-Pro linebacker seven times, was selected for 13 Pro Bowls, and was twice named Defensive Player of the Year.Finally entering the Hall after two snubs, Owens is second overall in receiving yards, eighth in receptions, and third in receiving touchdowns. Though his personality often created tension among teammates, he was one of the most consistent players of his time, recording at least 1,000 receiving yards in eight straight seasons. The six-time Pro Bowler started his career with the San Francisco 49ers before moving on to the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, and Cincinnati Bengals.Easily the best NFLer to be drafted out of New Mexico, Urlacher was taken by the Chicago Bears ninth overall in 2000 and stayed with them his entire career, retiring with the most tackles in franchise history. A member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, Urlacher won Defensive Player of the Year in 2005 and was named a first-team All-Pro linebacker four times and a Pro Bowler in eight seasons.One of the most beloved players in Philadelphia Eagles history, Dawkins was a nine-time Pro Bowler, getting his final call in the last year of his career. He's a member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team. He had his No. 20 jersey retired by the Eagles in 2012 and finished his career as a member of the Denver Broncos.Kramer spent his entire career with the Green Bay Packers (1958-68) and earned five first-team All-Pro selections and three Pro Bowl nods. The guard helped the Packers win the first two Super Bowls in league history.Brazile was named to five first-team All-Pro teams and seven Pro Bowls during his career with the Houston Oilers. The linebacker won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1975 and was named to the 1970s All-Decade Team.Beathard rose to fame as the Miami Dolphins' director of player personnel (1972-1977), helping the team win two Super Bowls. Later in his career, he was the Washington Redskins' GM (1978-89), winning two more championships.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year on Saturday.Gurley's teammate, Aaron Donald, captured Defensive Player of the Year earlier in the evening. The duo becomes the first pair of teammates to win Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year honors since Jamal Lewis and Ray Lewis in 2003 with the Baltimore Ravens.It was revealed that Gurley earned 37 votes, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown received eight, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady gained four, and Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins obtained one.The 23-year-old rushed for 1,305 yards and 13 touchdowns, adding 64 receptions for 788 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games.Gurley was an integral part of the Rams' ascension in 2017, helping the team win the NFC West for the first time since 2003.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara was named Offensive Rookie of the Year on Saturday.The third-round pick started off his first season relatively slowly, with just 15 carries over the first four games as the Saints attempted to integrate Adrian Peterson into the lineup.However, after Peterson was released, Kamara was the sparkplug that turned New Orleans into one of the league's most dominant rushing attacks over the remainder of the season.He formed a standout duo with Mark Ingram, finishing the season with 728 rushing yards, 826 receiving yards, and an average of 6.1 yards per carry.The Saints runner beat out Kareem Hunt for the award, with Deshaun Watson being the only other player to receive a vote.

If you thought a gold jacket was going to change Terrell Owens, think again.After Owens announced his admission to the 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, Jason Whitlock - a TV personality and former ESPN writer who has argued the receiver doesn't deserve a place in Canton - offered his congratulations.However, he was quickly rebuffed in hilarious fashion:

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.MGM Resorts VP of Race and Sports Jay Rood says he’s facing one of the biggest liabilities to come across his desk, with a $3 million Super Bowl wager that came in on the Eagles.The multimillion-dollar bet came in during the bye week, but Rood would not reveal whether the bet was against the spread or on the moneyline. Either way, it has had a major impact on the lines.“We took a big bet, we took a $3 million bet. That is obviously why we moved our position. We went down from two dollars on the moneyline to $1.80 and from 5.5 to 4.5,” Rood told Covers’ Patrick Everson on Saturday afternoon. “We're still looking to fade our position a little bit. Obviously, if the Eagles win outright, that's the worst-case scenario.”As of right now, it looks like MGM Race and Sports will be rooting for the Patriots to win but not cover, and Rood added that they'd like to see the game stay under.While this bet may present the biggest risk Rood has seen since he’s been with MGM Race and Sports, it’s not the biggest bet he’s seen. That would be a $7.6 million Super Bowl moneyline bet on the Rams back in the 2001-02 season where, if you’ll recall, the Rams were two touchdown favorites over Tom Brady and the Patriots, ultimately falling 20-17.The line is currently at Patriots -4.5 (Even) with the moneyline -200 (Eagles +170).Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Randy Moss, Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher, and Brian Dawkins are among the players who have been selected to the 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, according to multiple reports.Terrell Owens is also among the players from this year's class and announced his selection on Twitter.Jerry Kramer, Robert Brazile, and Bobby Beathard round out this year's class.The official announcement is expected later Saturday evening.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams was named the 2017 NFL Defensive Player of the Year at Saturday night's NFL Honors show.Donald's dominance has been unquestioned throughout his four-year career, but being a defensive tackle has likely kept him from winning the award. The last player to claim the honor at his position was Warren Sapp in 1999.The 26-year-old registered 32 tackles, 11 sacks, and five forced fumbled in 14 games this season, but his impact goes far beyond the regular stats. According to Pro Football Focus, Donald ended the season with a 99.7 pass-rush grade - the highest in the NFL - and finished with a whopping 91 total pressures. That figure is a stunning 21 more than the next-highest interior lineman, Geno Atkins.Donald received 23 votes for the honor - six more than Calais Campbell of the Jacksonville Jaguars.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens announced Saturday he'll be part of the 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, which is set to be formally announced later in the night at NFL Honors.Owens was controversially snubbed the last two years but will apparently enter Canton on his third attempt.

It's unlikely the New England Patriots need any more help, but Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten was happy to provide guidance for the defending champions ahead of Super Bowl LII versus the Philadelphia Eagles.Witten plays the Eagles twice a year in the NFC East and dispensed some advice for Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, who is looking to win his third Super Bowl of his career."They really play aggressive, they hunker down and they’re daring you to beat them," Witten said via The MMQB's Andy Benoit. "Their corners have been beat on double moves maybe as high as anyone in the league. The thing is, those defensive backs have so much confidence in that rush that they hover around that first down marker. They really get on their heels and hunker down because they’re almost daring you to run by them. So for a tight end who’s running a lot of intermediate routes - and Gronk’s inventory is a little more vertical than most - with that, you have to expect the defenders will be hanging around those first down markers. So you have to use deception in your route concepts with your leverage and how you attack to get separation."Witten also believes it's unlikely the Eagles will try to stop Gronkowski by getting a defensive end to redirect him early in his route."I often wonder: Would the Eagles ever adjust and tighten their defensive end alignments? Really, they believe so strongly in their system, it’s straight get off the ball and rush. So I would be surprised if they pushed or hit Gronkowski. But I’ll tell you, tight ends, when D-linemen jam like that, it can really slow you down in your route because the clock in your head goes off. It’s a nice formula, but I don’t see Philadelphia doing it, I think they have a lot of confidence in their back end and their coverage ability."Although Gronkowski has likely finished his preparation for Sunday's game by now, he may have to thank Witten if the Patriots emerge victorious again.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.We’re one day away from the big game in Minneapolis, and sportsbooks throughout Nevada and offshore are trying to firm up their positions. Covers checks in on the Super Bowl action and line movement, with insights from Tony Nevill, sportsbook director at Treasure Island on the Vegas Strip, and Scott Cooley, odds consultant for offshore sportsbook BetDSI.eu.

Hall of Fame candidate Isaac Bruce apparently doesn't need to be hopeful of his chances of being selected to the 2018 class on Saturday night - he already considers himself in."I feel in my mind I've always been a Hall of Famer from Day One since 1994," Bruce said, according to Nick Shook of NFL.com. "I went out with the production, showed what I can do and I was satisfied. I'm sitting here honestly satisfied that I am who I am and that's all by the grace of God, man."Bruce amassed totals of 15,208 receiving yards, 91 touchdowns, and 1,024 receptions on 1,770 targets over a 16-year career with the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams and San Francisco 49ers. He was selected to four Pro Bowls, including a three-year stretch from 1999-2001.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints punter Thomas Morstead delivered a check for $221,143 to the Minnesota Children's Hospital on Friday, fulfilling a promise he made after the Vikings defeated his club in the NFC playoffs.Morstead was on the crushing end of the Minneapolis Miracle three weeks ago. Afterwards, a Vikings fan encouraged his fellow supporters to donate to the punter's charity for playing through a painful rib injury in the playoff game."It's been crazy, dude," Morstead told Mike Triplett of ESPN on Friday night. "I'm totally exhausted right now, but it was a great experience. The people here are so friendly. I couldn't believe just walking on the street or at the NFL experience, all these different Vikings fans being like, 'Holy crap, that's Thomas Morstead.' It’s just crazy to think that anyone would know who I am outside of New Orleans."It took mere days for donations to top $100,000, prompting Morstead to send it all back to Minnesota in person. With the funds piling up, the Minnesota Children's Hospital began encouraging donors to direct donations to Morstead's personal charity, Louisiana's Child Life program."It's cool because everyone's kind of sharing in the vibes and the good energy," said Morstead.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Nelson Agholor received IV treatment Saturday morning after feeling sick and weak, and is expected to be fine for Super Bowl LII, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Agholor reportedly felt better afterward.He's one of several Eagles players who received medical treatment of some sort this week after experiencing flu-like symptoms.The 24-year-old had a career year in 2017, racking up 768 receiving yards and eight touchdowns while catching 62 of 95 targets in the regular season.He has added another 83 yards with six catches on seven targets through the Eagles' two playoff games thus far.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals running back Adrian Peterson is aware of reports that the team may cut him this offseason, but it won't affect his desire to keep playing."I know I can play. If you watch football, as far as being an evaluator of talent, if a guy has something left in the tank ... he was able to see (I) can still play the game. … I would want to play maybe four more years, four to five more years," Peterson said, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.Peterson has one year remaining on the two-year, $7-million contract he signed with the New Orleans Saints last year, but the Cards can cut him without being charged with any dead cap.Set to turn 33 years old in mid-March, Peterson hit a resurgence in Arizona, following a release from the Saints after just four games played.He racked up 448 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 129 carries for the Cardinals, adding 66 yards on nine receptions. He recorded more than 130 rushing yards in two of his six games after failing to top 33 yards in his failed stint with the Saints.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Justin Timberlake denied he'll be bringing out old bandmates *NSYNC or Janet Jackson during his Super Bowl LII halftime performance, but it appears he does have something special up his sleeve.Citing sources from inside Timberlake's rehearsal, TMZ reports the show will feature a hologram of Prince to honor the late musician in his hometown of Minneapolis.Prince's Super Bowl XLI halftime performance is widely considered one of the best ever.When asked Thursday at a press conference if he was planning an *NSYNC reunion, Timberlake responded, "Well ... no."The pop star was also asked about Prince's influence, and called him "the greatest all-around musician I could think of in popular culture."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.