The Green Bay Packers made sweeping changes to the coaching staff following the 2017 season, including the decision to move on from quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt.The veteran assistant's contract expired and the team decided to go in a different direction, apparently without consulting star quarterback Aaron Rodgers."I thought that was an interesting change ... really without consulting me," Rodgers said Thursday, as per Rob Demovsky of ESPN. "There's a close connection between the quarterback and his (position) coach. That was an interesting decision."Van Pelt, who had served as Rodgers' position coach since 2014, was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals shortly after the Packers let him go.While Rodgers may not sound overly pleased to lose Van Pelt, he probably isn't opposed to the club's hiring of Joe Philbin as offensive coordinator. The former Miami Dolphins head coach spent nine seasons on the Packers' staff, including five as offensive coordinator. The star quarterback spoke glowingly of his former coordinator before the Packers played the Dolphins in 2014."I owe a lot of my success to working under him (Philbin)," Rodgers said as per Demovsky. "He helped me a lot over the years with different reminders."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's the first weekend of February, which means it's time for the near-annual tradition of watching Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.For the third time in four years, and eighth time in 17 seasons, Brady and the Patriots will appear in the big game, this time facing a Philadelphia Eagles franchise looking for their first-ever Super Bowl title.The betting line opened with the Eagles as 5.5-point underdogs, but has dropped to 4.5 as money comes in on the NFC champion. Despite that movement, it's still time to don a retro Randall Cunningham jersey, sing your best version of "Fly Eagles Fly", and collect your winnings after an upset victory.Philadelphia Eagles (+4.5) vs. New England PatriotsFor much of the AFC Championship Game, it looked as though it would be the Jacksonville Jaguars representing the conference in Minnesota. The AFC South champion used a methodical offense to keep Brady off the field and a dominant defense to punish him when he was on it.The brilliance of Belichick and Brady shone through in the second half, however, and the Patriots found enough offense to get them to the Super Bowl yet again. The challenge awaiting them with the Eagles is similar to that posed by Jacksonville: a dominant defense with a very solid rushing attack limited in the passing game.Philadelphia's trio of LeGarrette Blount, Jay Ajayi, and Corey Clement helped lead the league's third-ranked rushing attack, while the defense only allowed 18.4 points per contest, good for fourth-best in the league. The Jaguars showed a team can move the ball on the ground against New England, and Nick Foles, while limited, certainly offers more in the passing game than Blake Bortles.Brady has rarely lost throughout his storied career, but the best chance to take him down has always been when teams can pressure the legendary passer with just four players. The Eagles are well-equipped to do so, as the team led the NFL this season in quarterback pressures, as per Pro Football Focus.Philadelphia rotates through seven players on the defensive line, something the Jaguars couldn't do, and that hurt them in the fourth quarter two weeks ago when Brady's passer rating jumped from 87.5 to 136.3. The fact the Eagles should still be fresh in the final frame bodes well for the upset chances.Every Patriots Super Bowl win with Belichick and Brady has been by a six-point margin or smaller, with three decided by a field goal. It's a good bet this one follows suit and comes down to the end.Pick: Eagles 24, Patriots 23Conference championship record: 1-1

Relative to his position, Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald is arguably the best player in the league every year.This should come as no surprise with Donald's body of work ranking as one of the most impressive starts to a career in recent memory, earning four Pro Bowl selections, three first-team All-Pro nods, and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2014. It could be argued that only Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt made a larger impact defensively through their first four years.Donald was named the best pass-rusher and highest-graded interior defender by Pro Football Focus, an outlet that consistently rates him as the top player in the NFL. In a year where there aren't any obvious edge rushers, Donald should capture Defensive Player of the Year for the first time in his career, an award that seems long overdue.

If you're hoping Larry Fitzgerald would consider continuing his NFL career outside of Arizona in the wake of Bruce Arians' and Carson Palmer's retirements, prepare to be disappointed.Larry Fitzgerald Sr. said Tuesday his son will either return to the Cardinals in 2018 or retire."There's no chance," Fitzgerald Sr. told Sporting News' Alex Marvez on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "This will be it."If it's not with the Cardinals, we've seen the last of Larry Fitzgerald in the National Football League wearing No. 11."The Cardinals hired former Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks to replace Arians, and will probably look to draft Palmer's successor in April. For Fitzgerald, the question is whether he wants to spend his potential final season on a team that's unlikely to challenge for a title."Larry talked to me about what he should do," Fitzgerald Sr. said. "I told him, 'If you still love the game and are passionate about it and with the way you're playing, it shows me you still have it. You still want to win.'"He really wants to get a championship ring, there's no doubt about that. But now they've got a new situation there."What isn't in doubt is Fitzgerald's ability to perform at a high level despite heading toward his 35th birthday.The star wideout caught 100-plus passes for over 1,000 yards for the third straight season, and would almost certainly be in high demand if he wanted to continue playing away from the only NFL franchise he's ever known.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Smith may have posted career highs in 2017 in passing yards (4,042) and touchdowns (26), and led the league with a 104.7 quarterback rating, but history suggests he'll struggle to repeat that with the Washington Redskins.Smith, who turns 34 in May, will soon officially be the fourth quarterback Andy Reid has traded over his head-coaching career. How have the first three trades panned out for the teams that dared to do business with the current Kansas City Chiefs bench boss, a noted quarterback guru? Not very well.A.J. FeeleyThe trade: Feeley sent to Dolphins for 2nd-round pickFeeley earned a spot in Philadelphia Eagles lore in 2002, coming off the bench as a third-stringer to lead the team to four straight wins and the top seed in the NFC playoffs. Reid later traded Feeley to the Miami Dolphins, where he threw 11 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 11 outings during the 2004 season. He lost the starting job to Gus Frerotte in 2005, and that was all she wrote for the Feeley era in Miami.Kevin KolbThe trade: Kolb sent to Cardinals for 2nd-round pick, Dominique Rodgers-CromartieKolb showed potential in Philadelphia, but the combination of Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick, and untimely injuries kept him from ever securing the starting job. So, in the summer of 2011, Reid traded the former Houston star to the Arizona Cardinals. Kolb threw for over 300 yards with two touchdowns in his Cardinals debut, but it all went downhill after that. He was released after two seasons in Arizona, finishing his forgettable stint in the desert with 11 touchdowns to nine interceptions.Donovan McNabb(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)The trade: McNabb sent to Redskins for 2nd-round pick, future 4th-round pickMcNabb, too, was sent to the Redskins in a blockbuster deal. The longtime face of the Eagles' franchise saw his star collapse immediately in Washington, as he tossed more interceptions (15) than touchdowns (14) for the first and only time in his career in 2010. The Redskins traded him to the Minnesota Vikings after one season, and McNabb was out of the league a year later. Meanwhile, the fourth-round pick that the Eagles acquired for McNabb helped them eventually land Nick Foles - the same Nick Foles who'll start for Philadelphia on Sunday in Super Bowl LII.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL can be great. It can also suck - consistently and without mercy.And the 2017 season was one of the suckiest years in recent memory. The officiating was consistently terrible, stars like J.J. Watt, Aaron Rodgers, and Deshaun Watson went down with injuries seemingly every week, and President Donald Trump took every opportunity to attack the league and its protesting players.So, let's celebrate everything that was bad about the 2017 season with the NFL Awful Awards, looking at some of the worst personnel moves, decisions, and players from the campaign:Worst coaching decisionAnd the award goes to ... Sean McDermott starting rookie Nathan PetermanBuffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott may have been the only person on the planet who thought it was smart to bench Tyrod Taylor for Peterman as a response to his defense giving up 47 points the week prior.Disaster was predicted, but few could have foreseen how quickly and spectacularly Peterman would implode as he threw five interceptions in the first half. If Andy Dalton hadn't saved the Bills' season, McDermott's horrendous call likely would've ensured another playoff-less January. - BrowneBiggest draft bustAnd the award goes to ... John RossBilled as the fastest receiver in the draft, the No. 9 overall pick contributed zero receptions, zero yards, zero touchdowns, and a lost fumble on one rushing attempt in his rookie campaign for the Cincinnati Bengals. - ChippinWorst social media presenceAnd the award goes to ... Russell WilsonWilson seems like a good guy, but his Twitter account is like being stuck in an awkward conversation with that weird but well-meaning cousin at a family dinner. From his cringy "inspirational" selfie videos to his constant promotional tweets, Wilson is social media at its worst.Also, did you know Wilson is married to Ciara?! - Browne

Now 40 years old, it seems Tom Brady can't go anywhere without someone asking him about his eventual retirement.That includes Super Bowl week in Minnesota, where the New England Patriots pivot was asked the question yet again despite leading the NFL in passing yards this season."Why does everyone want me to retire so bad? I don't get it, I'm having fun," Brady joked during his press availability on Wednesday. "I know I'm a little bit older than most of the other guys, but I'm really enjoying it."The entire AFC would probably be very happy if Brady opted to retire, as the path to the Super Bowl for that conference has involved the Patriots and the legendary quarterback for a record seven straight seasons.Unfortunately for those teams, Brady has continuously said he hopes to play into his mid-40s, which means he could stand in their way for another few seasons.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski remained in the concussion protocol Wednesday, head coach Bill Belichick said at his news conference with reporters.Gronkowski said Tuesday evening he was confident he'd pass the final stages of the concussion protocol Wednesday, adding he wasn't worried about his availability for Super Bowl LII versus the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.Gronkowski, the Patriots' leading receiver during the regular season, was again limited in practice. He did not wear the red jersey he's worn in previous days that indicated his status as a player in the concussion protocol.The 28-year-old has been in the protocol since taking a shot to the helmet during the AFC Championship Game.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles have returned to the big game for the first time since Super Bowl XXXIX and will meet the same, or at least a similar, opponent in the New England Patriots.While the Patriots are still fronted by quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick, the Eagles have unsurprisingly faced significantly more turnover in the past 13 years. The faces and names may be all completely new, but the Eagles' roster composition and playing style that have brought them to Super Bowl LII in Minnesota are similar to those that took them to Jacksonville in early February, 2005.Cruise through NFC(Photo courtesy: Action Images)The Eagles cruised to a record of 13-3 this season, winning both the NFC East division and No. 1 seed in the conference.Backup quarterback Nick Foles, once believed to be the impending downfall of the Eagles following Carson Wentz' season-ending Week 14 injury, led them to a 2-1 record to close the regular season, and the two necessary playoff wins.The 2004 Eagles also cruised through their conference, not losing consecutive games until the final two of the regular season, when many starters were rested as a result of the top seed already being obtained.Oddly enough, the Eagles beat the Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons in the playoffs that year, too, though the order was reversed in 2017.Lean on D, O-line(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)The '04 Eagles were composed of 10 Pro Bowlers, five of those coming from the defense and one from the offensive line.This year's team has six players named to last Sunday's Pro Bowl: two from the offensive line and two from the defensive unit. Additionally, center Jason Kelce was named First-Team All-Pro, but was not chosen for the exhibition game.The Eagles ranked in the middle third of the league in both seasons in terms of pass protection, giving up an identical 36 sacks in both 2004 and 2017. But an athletic, mobile offensive line ranked among the top five teams in both second-level rank and open-field rank in both seasons, courtesy Football Outsiders, showing an excellent ability to block downfield.That ability led to a league-leading 19 rushes of 20-plus yards this season. They ranked T8 with 11 such plays in 2004.Here's a look at some key pass defense stats from both seasons:INTSCKYDS/G20041747200.820171938227.3The '04 team had a significantly better sack total, but both sides were among the top 10 in passer rating allowed, while amassing a number of interceptions. They also ranked significantly better in passing yards and touchdowns allowed.And the rush defense ranks:TDFUMYDS/G2004137118.920177379.2The 2017 team has excelled in shutting down the opponents' rushing attack, while the '04 team focused on eliminating the passing game. The edge goes to this year's Eagles for being more balanced.Brady will be able to exploit any weakness in that pass defense, a unit that's struggled most against tight ends and pass-catching running backs, according to Football Outsiders' DVOA, two clear strengths of the Pats' offense.No Terrell Owens-like recovery for Wentz(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)As with Wentz this season, the 04' Eagles lost their most dangerous offensive weapon in the final weeks of the campaign, when Owens suffered a serious leg injury expected to keep him out for the remainder of the season.As legend has it, Owens would miraculously return for Super Bowl XXXIX to catch nine of 14 targets for 122 yards.Wentz won't be suiting up in Super Bowl LII, leaving Foles in charge to go head-to-head with Brady.Prediction(Photo courtesy: Action Images)As admirably as Foles has performed through two playoff games, particularly while throwing for 352 yards and three touchdowns against the NFL's No. 1 scoring defense in the NFC Championship Game, he'll come up short against the Patriots.New England showed in their AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars they can shut down the rushing attack, as they limited Leonard Fournette to just 3.2 yards per carry and forced Blake Bortles to carry the load.By effectively shutting down Foles' top aides and security blankets in the backfield, the Patriots will be able to stifle Philadelphia's offense and win a low-scoring affair.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.What do you do when you write a weekly column titled “NFL Underdogs” but don’t like the only underdog on the board?That’s the question I’ve been wrestling with the past two weeks leading into Super Bowl LII, ever since the Philadelphia Eagles tore a strip off the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game. I’ll admit, it’s tough not to like the underdog Eagles against the New England Patriots in Minnesota this Sunday.Philly won outright as a pup in both playoff games, the Eagles are actually sporting dog masks in celebration of their underdog role, and overall teams getting the points are 9-1 against the spread in the postseason.For a guy who has to pick underdog ATS winners week in and week out during NFL season, the Eagles and the points seems like the perfect fit – almost too perfect. And if I’ve learned anything from 15 years of breaking down sports betting, it's that if a bet seems "perfect" it probably isn’t.So, here I sit with the Patriots -5 and a hole in my final NFL Underdogs column of the year. Hmmmm, if there was only another way to bet on the Super Bowl…First half money line: Eagles +135 / Patriots -160OK, so I’m not completely counting out the Eagles in Super Bowl LII. As we’ve seen from the Patriots, in last year’s Super Bowl and the AFC title game, they can be a little slow out of the blocks. Plus, Philadelphia looked tremendous to start the NFC Championship, pretty much putting Minnesota to bed in the first two quarters.Bill Belichick has carved his face in the Mount Rushmore of head coaches by making smart halftime adjustments and so not only do I like the Eagles first-half moneyline at +135 for a sort of bizarro middle of the Patriots -5 spread wager, but I’m also sprinkling some action (Salt Bae style) on the first half/full time moneyline prop of Eagles/Patriots at +600.Pick: Eagles (+135), First half/Full time ML Eagles/Patriots (+600)First quarter Over/Under 9.5 (Over -120/Under EVEN)This is the one Super Bowl bet I make every year without thought. Teams are always too amped up to start the Super Bowl, which means defenders are flying around the field like Mexican Luchadores and offenses are a little tight, which often leads to overthrown balls, dropped catches and some careless carries.As Ashton Grewal noted in his specific breakdown of this prop, there have been a total of 37 points scored in the opening 15 minutes of the past six Super Bowls, which averages out to about six points per first quarter.Last year’s Big Game, which had a first-quarter total of 13 points, posted double goose eggs from New England and Atlanta. And to add to that, the Patriots have failed to score a single first-quarter point in any of their seven Super Bowl appearances during the Brady/Belichick Era. Insane. God damn insane.Pick: Under 9.5 (EVEN)First score of the game: Touchdown -160, Other +140Due to the safety slamming sportsbooks for three years in a row between Super Bowl 46 and Super Bowl 48, some bookies aren’t offering a prop on a safety being the first score of the game. Instead, we’re left with this vanilla option.As mentioned, first quarters are generally low scoring and the Patriots have taken their sweet-ass time getting on the board in Big Games. New England also boasts a “bend but don’t break” defense that is much better than the stats would indicate. Its opponents score a touchdown in only 48 percent of their trips inside the red zone – among the lowest in the league.With those factors in mind, I could see a field goal drawing first blood Super Sunday and even if a safety does open scoring (while not providing that classic +7,500 payout), at least the “other” has us covered.Pick: Other +140First turnover: Interception -140, Fumble +120I have to credit my Covers Sunday Live Wire co-host Maddy Palmer with this pick. The second she said it, it sounded like money.With the Eagles likely to play keep-away from Brady & Co., which means a lot of running plays, and New England utilizing a trio of running backs (White, Lewis, Burkhead) with handoffs and short tosses, the opportunity for an early fumble is very much alive.As mentioned, offenses can find themselves battling Big Game jitters in the opening minutes, leading to miscommunications and careless slip-ups. We saw some of those from Philadelphia in the opening frame of the NFC Divisional Round against the Falcons, in which the Eagles put the ball on the ground in each of their first two possessions.Note: If this pick doesn’t come through, blame Maddy.Pick: Fumble +120Will there be a 2-point conversion attempted? Yes +145, No -170Due to the nature of this pointspread – sticking around the dead number of five points – I’m thinking we get some weirdo scoring in the Super Bowl. All it takes is a missed extra point to start a team thinking about going for two, and we’ve seen enough botched PATs this season.Philadelphia is no stranger to going for the deuce, recording six successful 2-point conversions this season – most in the NFL and double what the next NFL team on the list had converted. The Patriots have converted twice.In conjunction with this prop, you can also grab plus-money odds on “Yes” there will be a successful 2-point conversion, which is currently priced at +250. Might as well go all in.Pick: Yes attempt +145 / Yes successful +250Player to score first touchdownSince the Patriots are the favorites, I spent my limited energy looking into their historical scoring tendencies this season and discovered that while New England has been beaten to the touchdown punch in both playoff games, it has scored a TD first in 12 of its 18 games overall.In those dozen games, half of those first-strike touchdowns were scored by versatile RB Rex Burkhead, who is paying out at +1,200 to be the first player to score a touchdown in Super Bowl LII.Burkhead, who allegedly is the player who injured Brady’s hand in practice ahead of the AFC Championship, has been slowed by a knee injury in recent weeks. He missed Week 17 and the Divisional Round before getting limited run in the conference title game. However, he’s now had an extra week off and could get a crack at the end zone when the Pats step inside the 20-yard line Sunday.Pick: Rex Burkhead +1,200Brent Celek receiving yards Over/Under 3.5 yardsCelek has been an Eagle since 2007. His role in the offense has declined with age and with the emergence of fellow tight end Zach Ertz. He boasted 76 receptions for 971 yards and eight touchdowns in 2009, and has watched those numbers slide throughout the years. Celek had just 14 receptions in 2016 and only 13 this season.He didn’t have a catch in the free-for-all NFC Championship (targeted once) but did reel in one pass for a total of six yards versus Atlanta in the Divisional Round. On the year, he’s averaging 10 yards per reception and could be a secret weapon for the Eagles in Super Bowl LII.With Ertz drawing the attention of the Patriots defense and Philadelphia using a lot of playaction to keep New England guessing, Celek could easily slip out off a block, snag a pass, and find himself four or more yards down field. We’re not asking for the world Brent – just four yards.Pick: Over 3.5 +120Color of the Gatorade bathSince 2000, water has been dumped on the Super Bowl-winning coach seven times, orange five, yellow two, blue once and four Super Bowl finales have gone without a Gatorade bath (joyless), including last year when the Patriots won in overtime. Simply playing the odds, I've got to go with Water/Clear at +385. You know for certain there's plenty of water around but you have no clue what color Gatorade is being served up on the sidelines.Pick: Water/Clear +385Last week: 2-0 ATS

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell revealed the league has hired independent investigator Mary Jo White to look into reports of workplace misconduct by Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson. The announcement came at Wednesday's State of the League press conference.Reports emerged in December that the Panthers made multiple confidential payouts to former employees who said Richardson sexually harassed them or used racist comments. The NFL announced it would begin an investigation into the matter shortly thereafter.Richardson has since declared he will put the team up for sale. Goodell said Wednesday that he hopes the next owner keeps the franchise in Carolina.White was previously hired to investigate the Bountygate scandal involving the New Orleans Saints in 2012.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals are expected to move on from veteran running back Adrian Peterson this offseason after acquiring him during the 2017 season from the New Orleans Saints, reports Mike Jurecki of 99.7 FM Arizona Sports Station.Peterson, 32, was set to have a $2.88-million cap hit in 2018 with no dead money remaining, according to spotrac.com.The seven-time Pro Bowler had an up-and-down year in 2017 after suffering a season-ending injury three games into the 2016 campaign. Peterson had just 27 touches over four games with the Saints before being traded to Arizona, where he became the lead runner before a neck injury ended his year in Week 12.Peterson rushed for 448 yards on 129 attempts with two touchdowns over six games for the Cardinals in 2017, bringing his career totals to 12,276 yards on the ground and 99 rushing touchdowns over 11 seasons.The Cardinals won't need to replace Peterson as a starter as 2016 first-team All-Pro running back David Johnson is expected to return from injury in time for training camp.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is signed on to play in Mexico City through the 2021 season, and commissioner Roger Goodell announced Wednesday that the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs will match up in the 2018 edition of the international game.While he didn't announce the date of the contest, Goodell confirmed the teams during his annual Super Bowl media address.The New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders made the trek to Mexico City for the 2017 edition of the game Nov. 19.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Denver Broncos will be in the hunt for Kirk Cousins if Von Miller has anything to say about it.After it was made clear that Cousins wouldn't be returning to the Washington Redskins next season, Miller sees an opportunity for his team to get away from the lowly quarterback play of recent seasons by adding the 2016 Pro Bowler."(Cousins) knows exactly how I feel about Kirk Cousins and what he'd mean to our team," Miller told the Dan Patrick Show on Wednesday. "And what he would mean to a lot of other teams. He's the hot quarterback on the market right now."Related: Ranking the top 6 destinations for Cousins after Redskins landed SmithMiller joked Broncos "need" the six-year pro, clarifying that a lot of teams need a quarterback that can play at the level Cousins has recently. Miller told Patrick he wouldn't jump out of his seat to recruit the quarterback, but the pass-rusher wasn't shy about wanting to bring Cousins."I'd like to have Kirk," said Miller. "We have great quarterbacks now. Kirk could take us over the edge."The Broncos' passing offense was ranked 20th in 2017 and 21st in 2016.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the playoffs down to the final two teams, theScore's football editors make six bold predictions for Sunday's Super Bowl LII matchup between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles.Brady no-shows, Patriots still winMore often than not, Tom Brady is the essential cog in the Patriots machine - even more so in crucial situations. But, at age 40, the rest of the roster picks up the slack. Brady will throw for fewer than 200 yards and zero touchdowns, while New England's running game and defense will propel them to a sixth Super Bowl title in the Belichick-Brady era. - Jack BrowneMalcolm Butler seals victory for Patriots, againHistory will repeat itself in Super Bowl LII. Three years after Malcolm Butler introduced himself to the world with a game-sealing interception of Russell Wilson to clinch Super Bowl XLIX, the Patriots' cornerback will strike again, picking off Nick Foles in the end zone to stop a last-minute Eagles' comeback drive. - Arun SrinivasanBlount outproduces Patriots' backfieldCast off after leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns last season, LeGarrette Blount will stick it to his former team by gaining more yards on the ground than the trio of Dion Lewis, Rex Burkhead, and James White. With touchdowns scored in each playoff game thus far, Blount will cement his status as a clutch performer, after scoring eight touchdowns with the Patriots over three visits to the postseason. - Esten McLarenFoles sets Super Bowl passing record in lossBrady was great last year, but Foles is going to put up better numbers this time around. The Patriots' defense has been porous at times this season, and there aren't many who believe Foles can get the job done. This isn't going to stop him from rising up and delivering a historical performance, however. After falling to an early deficit, Foles will be forced to go to the air a lot, and while in the end it won't be enough to secure a victory, he will carve his name into the NFL record book. - Dylan PeregoTimberlake brings out THE Janet JacksonNo wardrobe malfunctions on this day, but social media will still explode after J.T. brings out his former Super Bowl halftime running mate for a reunion. For the record, the NFL has said Jackson isn't banned from performing at the Super Bowl, despite longtime rumors to the contrary. - Alex ChippinGronk ends up in a dog maskIf Rob Gronkowski was willing to throw haymakers at the end of Super Bowl XLIX because he was excited about winning, there's no way he can resist the urge to troll the Eagles with one of their underdog masks. Gronk will be on that podium barking like a mutt when the Patriots take home the win. - Mitch Sanderson(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A New Jersey community came together to send a school bus driver to the Super Bowl.More than 60 people waited for Gary Kelmer at the last stop on his bus route Monday to surprise the lifelong Philadelphia Eagles fan with two tickets and airfare to Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis, according to Anita Oh of CBS Philly. The station was there to capture the special moment.Amy Smith of Mount Laurel, N.J., came up with the idea to start a GoFundMe campaign for Kelmer after the NFC Championship Game. In five days, she was able to raise more than $5,000."He just goes over and beyond," Smith said. "He's so kind, he's a wonderful person, he does so much for the community."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.Just ahead of last week’s reveal of what I like to call “The Great Wall of Proposition Bets,” Jay Kornegay was talking about the incredible growth of these Super Bowl wagering options.From just a few offerings back in the late 1980s and early ‘90s to now a 30-page packet at the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook, prop bets have become as much a part of Big Game betting as the pointspread and the total.Or even more.“Sixty percent of the betting on the game is on the props,” Kornegay tells Covers, noting he considers betting on the game to include wagers on the side, total, moneyline and prop bets. “That percentage keeps going up, as more people get more comfortable betting the props.”And that’s not just at the Superbook, which Kornegay operates as vice president of race and sports for the Westgate. Sportsbooks all over Vegas have thick packets full of props, and offshore books are loading up their boards as well. Covers checks in on which offerings are drawing the most attention for Sunday’s clash between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles.South PointSportsbook director Chris Andrews cut right to the chase when discussing props at his shop on the south end of Las Vegas Boulevard.“I got four that we really got steamed on,” he says, noting that led to some speedy odds movement. “We move props a little more drastically. We get bet on it, we move the hell out of it!”For example, Andrews pointed to this prop: Will there be a roughing-the-passer penalty? Yes opened -120, with No at even money, which seemed to make sense. Tom Brady’s ability to draw such a flag probably looks like a good bet to most observers. But by Saturday, a couple days after the props went up, bettors had a clearly different opinion.“We were at No -240, and +200 on Yes,” Andrews says, noting the line had settled down a bit by Tuesday, but No was still running -215, with Yes at +185.Andrews also opened total punts at 10.5, with the Over at -120. Now, the total is 9 shaded to the Under at -135.“I was debating between 10.5 and 11,” he says. “That’s a huge move.”The other two big ones Andrews mentioned:• Who will have more gross passing yards? Brady opened a -25.5-yard favorite over the Eagles’ Nick Foles, and the Patriots QB has since blown up to a 45.5-yard chalk.• How many total completions will Brady have? Andrews opened at 23.5, with the Over -120, and saw it bet up to 27.5 (-110) before a little buyback to 26.5 (-110)SuperbookKornegay had three prop bets that stood out: Total receptions for Patriots running back Dion Lewis opened 4.5, with the Under at -125, and the Under is now -180; rushing yards for Eagles running back Corey Clement opened at 6.5 (-110) and was bet up to 10.5 (-110); and the Yes on Foles throwing more than one touchdown pass went from -200 to -240.“That’s our biggest prop decision currently,” Kornegay says of the Foles TD pass offering. “Most of the props that are receiving attention are getting bet on both sides.”William Hill U.S.Nick Bogdanovich, director of trading for William Hill U.S. in Las Vegas, cited a prop of Over/Under on Nick Foles passing yards as a particularly big mover. It opened at 268.5 and dropped to 251.5.“It’s a hard number to make because there’s not much data,” Bogdanovich says. “He had basically a couple mop-up games at the end of the regular season, then two playoff games that were real. That 350 yards against the Vikings was probably an aberration. We opened a little high, and they bet it down. I’m sure he’s gonna throw the ball plenty of times, but bettors think it’s going under.”Not that Bogdanovich is overly concerned about those bettors.“They’re wrong on these as much as they’re right,” he says.Moving to the other QB in this game, William Hill has an Over/Under prop on Brady rushing attempts that opened 2.5 at a price of -110 on each side, and now the Under is -165.“That was a big mover. They think he won’t rush the ball three times,” Bogdanovich says, adding he’s not so sure about that. “If Brady kneels down at the end of the game, that might be two or three rushes right there. He’s the best QB sneaker in the history of the game. If they’re in that position, he’ll sneak for sure.“It’s a crapshoot, and that’s the beauty of this thing. People have their opinions, we have ours, and we’ll see what happens in the end.”CG TechnologyThree prop bets stood out to Jason Simbal, vice president of risk management for CG Technology, which operates sportsbooks at The Cosmopolitan and Venetian on the Vegas Strip, along with several other shops around town.All three offerings are tied into scoring. First up: Will there be a score in the last two minutes of the second half? No opened -105 and is now at -132.Second: Will there be a score in the first 3:30 of the first quarter? That’s seen huge movement on the No, which opened -190 and is now at -400.Finally: Total touchdowns combined by both teams. CG books opened at 5.5, with the Over at -140, and that price is now down to -105, with bettors jumping on the Under.BetDSISuper Bowl proposition bets often wander far away from the action on the field, and offshore sportsbooks such as BetDSI recognize that fact. Further, offshore sites have much more latitude on the type of props they can offer, which leads to this gem:How many times will the word “Dilly” be said during the broadcast? BetDSI set the Over/Under at 12.5, and It’s important to note the phrasing, since generally “Dilly” comes in twos for the popular commercial campaign, as in “Dilly Dilly.” So, seven “Dilly Dilly” drops, and the Over is in – something bettors took so strongly to heart that the prop is now off the board.“We actually had to pull this prop off the board due to the overwhelming action received on the Over,” says Scott Cooley, odds consultant for BetDSI. “Bettors are assuming we were a bit too light on the total, or something has leaked that we haven't seen, which is possible. We decided to stand pat with the liability we have instead of re-posting with a different number or heavy juice. Here's to hoping we don't hear more than a dozen ‘Dillys’ from the folks at Bud Light on Sunday.”Will Al Michaels or Cris Collinsworth say “GOAT” (presumably in shorthand reference to Greatest Of All Time)? Yes opened +360 and No -500, and it’s now at +240/-300, so Yes is drawing the bulk of the action.Who will Rodney Harrison predict to win? Now of course, Harrison was a former standout defensive back for New England. The Patriots opened a -330 favorite, with Philly (or should I say Philly Philly?) +240 on the buyback. It’s now exploded to Pats -550/Eagles +350.TheGreek.comScott Kaminsky, director of this offshore book, said he’s taken a couple eye-catching pops on proposition bets, including on: Will more points be scored in the first quarter, or the third quarter?“We had sharp action on third quarter -130,” he says. “Now we’re at -150 on the third quarter and +125 on the first quarter.”Other props getting attention at TheGreek.com:• Will the last kickoff of the game result in a touchback? Kaminsky says “a smart guy” took No at +115, moving No to even money, with Yes a -130 favorite.• Will there be a score in the first seven minutes of the game? No opened +105, drew sharp action and moved to -120, with Yes -110 on the buyback.Nevada and offshore sportsbooks hope the money keeps rolling in on the props as the weekend approaches – provided the books end up on the right side, of course. Bookmakers certainly don’t want to see the big plus-money props hit, such as Yes on a safety or overtime, but props tend to be a good market for the books.“In general, yes, the props always do well, because it’s the Super Bowl,” Kaminsky said, alluding to heavy volume. “Some years, the props can make or break your Super Bowl.”Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles are tasked with the unenviable responsibility of stopping the New England Patriots' offense in order to win their first Super Bowl in franchise history.It's not an impossible assignment, however. The Eagles ranked first in rushing defense by traditional and advanced metrics, boasting an array of talent that would make most defensive coordinators swoon.Tom Brady is the leading candidate to win NFL MVP and there isn't much a defense can do to neutralize him, so it'll be on the Eagles to completely erase Dion Lewis, James White, and Rex Burkhead.Here we provide further insight into the Eagles' plan of attack:

After sitting out the entire 2017 season, former Buffalo Bills safety Aaron Williams announced his retirement from professional football Wednesday in an open letter published by The Player's Tribune.The letter, entitled "To Buffalo," begins with an apology from Williams to Bills fans for not taking his role seriously during his first two years in the league, and explains how he later grew to appreciate playing in Buffalo before he suffered a serious neck injury against the Miami Dolphins in 2016."I've been thinking a lot about those two years lately, because today, I'm officially retiring from the NFL. And those two years … man, I wouldn’t say I wasted them, but … I guess I kind of did. And that hurts now more than ever because I honestly wish I could have those years back - to do over, to do things the right way," Williams said."Especially now that the game has basically been taken away from me."Williams was released by the Bills in March 2017, and finishes his career with 59 games played, 184 tackles, and seven interceptions.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thursday Night Football has a new home for the next five years as FOX Sports announced Wednesday that it's officially won the bid to broadcast the weekly game, beginning in the 2018 season."As one of the leaders in sports television and a recognized innovator of NFL game broadcasts for many years, we're excited to be extending our partnership with FOX Sports, one of our most trusted and valued partners, to include Thursday Night Football," commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement obtained by Darren Heitner of Forbes.The agreement includes 11 games during the season between Weeks 4-15. NFL Network will get seven exclusive games that will be produced by FOX. Sources told Darren Rovell of ESPN that the deal is worth an annual average of more than $660 million.That would represent a significant increase in the value of the package, as CBS paid $37.5 million per game for eight games during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. NBC joined CBS the past two seasons and broadcast five games at a cost of $45 million each. FOX will pay an average of more than $60 million per game in the new deal.Digital rights to Thursday Night Football belonged to Amazon Prime last year and have not yet been sold for the 2018 season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Now that the Minnesota Vikings' season is over, Adam Thielen is coming clean on the nature of his ongoing back injury.The wide receiver addressed the ailment Wednesday and confirmed he played through fractures in his back during the team's NFC championship loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, according to Ben Goessling of The Star Tribune.It was reported prior to the NFC Championship Game that Thielen had suffered the injury after taking a hit from New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore during their divisional showdown. Thielen clarified that the injury did not affect him that much and he doesn't expect it to linger into the offseason, according to Goessling.The 27-year-old enjoyed a career year this season, finishing fifth in the league in receiving yards with 1,276 while adding four touchdowns.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Redskins safety D.J. Swearinger is more than a little frustrated over the team trading Kendall Fuller to the Kansas City Chiefs as part of the Alex Smith deal.Swearinger criticized the trade in a series of since-deleted tweets. "People say they wanna win right but you throw away your best defender!?!?" he wrote. Somebody you can set a standard with?!?! #Defense will win championships!!"In another tweet, the safety said:

The 2017 season provided plenty of impressive performances at each position, with late-season injuries affecting two serious MVP bids.Those players get a shot at redemption here, as we look at seven players worthy of being named Offensive Player of the Year (OPOY).7. Tom Brady, QB, PatriotsBrady led the league in passing yards and ranked third in passing touchdowns this season while completing 66.3 percent of 581 attempts with just eight interceptions along the way.His 4,577 yards would have ranked fourth in the league last season and just sixth in 2015; it's a mark he's beaten himself on four occasions. His 32 touchdown passes make up just his seventh-best output of his career.While his own past merits shouldn't take away from what he was able to accomplish this season - as a 40-year-old - his MVP candidacy is built primarily on other factors that build on statistical accomplishments - leadership, experience, and name value to mention a few.6. Le'Veon Bell, RB, SteelersLike Brady, Bell falls a little short by virtue of past accomplishments. He's recorded more rushing and receiving yards in a season before.Bell ranked third in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, while 13 running backs had more receiving scores. His importance to the Steelers' offense can't be ignored, but the rest of the running back class is starting to catch up.5. Carson Wentz, QB, EaglesWentz threw for more touchdowns than Brady while playing three fewer games. He wouldn't have had a shot at the yardage title even if healthy all season, but he's deservedly credited with the Eagles' impressive turnaround.His 33 touchdowns to seven interceptions through just 13 contests shattered the marks from his rookie season, making him the most improved player among this year's candidates.4. Todd Gurley, RB, RamsWidely viewed as Brady's top competition for the MVP award, Gurley ranked second in rushing yards and first with 13 rushing touchdowns. he also added another six scores as a receiver.It was the best season of his three-year career by most meaningful statistics, and he was the poster boy of the Rams' rise from the bottom of the standings to an NFC West title, nearly reaching 2,100 total yards from scrimmage.3. Antonio Brown, WR, SteelersBrown was on track to make history as the first receiver to win the MVP award prior to an injury in Week 15 that knocked him out for the final two games of the regular season. He returned to form to catch seven passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns in the divisional round.Brown still has a shot to become the first wide receiver to be named OPOY since Jerry Rice in 1993. Rice caught 98 balls for 1,503 yards, and 15 touchdowns that season. Brown topped both the reception and yardage totals in two fewer games.2. Russell Wilson, QB, SeahawksOf the quarterbacks discussed, none were relied on as heavily as Wilson, who led the Seahawks in both passing and rushing. While no Seahawks running back could produce at a sustained level behind one of the league's worst offensive lines this season, Wilson had little trouble, averaging 6.2 yards per carry on 95 attempts, his highest yardage total since 2014.His 34 passing touchdowns matched a career-best mark set in 2015.1. Deandre Hopkins, WR, TexansHopkins led the league in receiving touchdowns, while ranking fourth in yardage (1,378) and sixth in receptions (96).Six of those 13 scores came with Tom Savage and T.J. Yates passing him the ball, making his statistics all the more impressive. The two replacement quarterbacks completed just three other touchdown passes in place of rookie signal-caller Deshaun Watson.Hopkins' route to the award didn't open until Watson's season-ending injury following Week 8. Watson himself was on pace to compete, as was receiver Will Fuller, who began the season with seven touchdowns in his first four games. Following Watson's injury, Fuller would not score another touchdown for the rest of the campaign, and wouldn't top 44 receiving yards in a single contest.Hopkins' ability to produce with lackluster quarterback play proves his worthiness for the 2017 OPOY honor, as he served as a necessary crutch for his quarterbacks and team as a whole, while posting top-of-the-league numbers.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Life came at Kendall Fuller fast Tuesday night.The 22-year-old cornerback is now a member of the Kansas City Chiefs after being included in the surprising trade that sent quarterback Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins, but his involvement in the deal clearly went unnoticed for some time.Fuller initially took to Twitter to insist he was safe from the deal, but what followed was a humorous timeline of denial, realization, and acceptance.

Let the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes begin.The Redskins reportedly agreed to acquire Alex Smith from the Kansas City Chiefs in an out-of-nowhere blockbuster Tuesday, and in so doing, effectively ended the Cousins era in Washington.Cousins, who played under the franchise tag over the last two seasons, will now be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. And while the veteran isn't among the best players at his position, it's almost unheard of for a 29-year-old Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback to hit the open market.A bidding war is inevitable, so which teams have the best shot at securing his services?6. Buffalo BillsProjected 2018 cap space: $29.4 millionThe Bills have made it clear they don't believe in Tyrod Taylor as their long-term starter, and Nathan Peterman is likely to be a hard sell after his five-interception performance, so Buffalo should be in the quarterback market.The problem for Buffalo is it can't offer anything to Cousins that other teams can't. The Bills were a playoff team (just), sure, but little about their roster stands out - especially on the offensive side. LeSean McCoy is obviously a star, but at 29 years old, he'll likely only be around with Cousins for a season or two.Buffalo does own two first-round picks with which to boost their roster, but they'd be hard-pressed to sign Cousins and other significant free agents with their available cap space. Sorry, Bills nation, Cousins likely won't be your savior.5. New York JetsProjected 2018 cap space: $72.6 millionThe Jets have the money to pique Cousins' interest, as well as the lure of playing in a huge market like New York, but they're far down the list of contenders when it comes to the quality of their roster.Robby Anderson, Jermaine Kearse, and Bilal Powell are solid but hardly compelling weapons, and Cousins may be hesitant to lock himself into another subpar offense in terms of talent after experiencing losing his top two targets - DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon - before this season and watching most of his remaining targets go down with injury during the campaign.The real issue with the Jets is the inherent dysfunction for which the franchise is known. Cousins has been at the whim of one such franchise for years now, and is likely looking for a more stable team to help guide him through the prime of his career.4. Cleveland BrownsProjected 2018 cap space: $109.7 millionSeriously, don't laugh.The Browns have an insane amount of cap space and a solid group of offensive weapons - including Josh Gordon, Duke Johnson, and Corey Coleman - to entice Cousins. While unlikely, Cleveland could blow every other contender out of the water and push Cousins' contract toward $35 million per year.Of course, Cousins would need to be blown away by the pitch from a team that's won just one game in two seasons. But new Browns general manager John Dorsey is highly regarded and could sell the quarterback on the potential of the Browns' roster, the team's two top-four picks, and the fact he can make him richer than any other player in NFL history.3. Minnesota VikingsProjected 2018 cap space: $52.6 millionThe three quarterbacks on the Vikings' 2017 roster - Sam Bradford, Case Keenum, and Teddy Bridgewater - are all out of contract and set to be free agents, so Minnesota needs to find an answer under center.Re-signing Bridgewater on a relatively small one-year deal and franchise-tagging Keenum is the most likely path for the Vikings, but they have the cap space to enter the race for Cousins.He'd likely give his non-throwing arm to toss passes to the duo of Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen, as well as being backed up by Minnesota's dominant defense. It would be a bold move for the Vikings after a successful 2017, and Keenum would certainly be the cheaper option.However, if Minnesota thinks it's a quarterback upgrade away from a Super Bowl title, they could be a dark-horse candidate for Cousins.2. Denver BroncosProjected 2018 cap space: $29 millionJohn Elway needs to make another splash at quarterback if the Broncos are to rebound from a dismal 2017, and dipping into the free-agent market didn't work out too badly last time with Peyton Manning.Despite their struggles this season, the Broncos are still built to contend now - and Cousins said Tuesday he'll prioritize winning over money. Denver would likely need to shed some of its high-priced veterans on the defensive side - such as Aqib Talib - to have enough room to make a run at Cousins, but they should still be able to keep a solid core around him.Paxton Lynch and Trevor Siemian definitely aren't the answer, but the Broncos - and Elway especially - might be reluctant to go all-in on Cousins and could position themselves as a solid mid-tier option if he truly favors on-field success over maximizing his contract.1. Jacksonville JaguarsProjected 2018 cap space: $16.5 millionIf Cousins wants to win now, he should look no further than the Jaguars, who are coming off an AFC Championship Game appearance in which they pushed the New England Patriots to the brink.The Jaguars' vaunted defense is chock full of young, affordable talent, and while the opposite side of the ball isn't nearly as loaded, Cousins would elevate the unit simply through sheer competency after years of being held back by Blake Bortles.Speaking of Bortles, chasing Cousins would require Jacksonville to move on from its longtime starter. Bortles' $19-million fifth-year option is only guaranteed for injury and he can be released with no financial consequences before mid-March.The only real question for the Jaguars is if they want to invest so much in a quarterback when their defense has proven it's capable of carrying the team with minimal help from the offense.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

It appears Alex Smith, Kirk Cousins, and Patrick Mahomes will all be starting quarterbacks next season, so which one would you rather have?Smith was reportedly traded from the Kansas City Chiefs to the Washington Redskins on Tuesday night, ensuring Cousins will move on from the Redskins in free agency and paving the way for Mahomes to become the Chiefs' starter after spending his rookie year behind Smith.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns just can't find a quarterback.The Browns tried to trade for Alex Smith prior to the Kansas City Chiefs reportedly agreeing to send the veteran signal-caller to the Washington Redskins, a league source told Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.Six teams - likely including the Browns - showed interest in acquiring Smith, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Browns own the No. 1 overall pick and over $100 million in cap space, so they have the ammunition to make some serious noise in the quarterback market this offseason to finally fill their void under center - it just won't be Smith.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

FOX is close to winning the broadcast rights for Thursday Night Football, outbidding CBS and NBC, sources told Bloomberg's Scott Soshnick and Lucas Shaw.The new deal, which is believed to be higher than the $45 million per game that CBS and NBC paid last year for TNF, has still not been finalized.The announcement of the deal could come as soon as Wednesday, sources told John Ourand of Sports Business Journal.Despite falling ratings across the board for the NFL, networks again entered a bidding war for the rights to TNF. CBS and NBC paid a combined $450 million to air 10 games last season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski says he expects to be out of the concussion protocol Wednesday, paving the way for him to play in Super Bowl LII on Sunday.When asked Tuesday evening if he'll be ready for the Super Bowl, he said "yes," according to Kimberly Jones of NFL Network.Gronkowski has been in the concussion protocol since taking a shot to the helmet during the AFC Championship versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. He returned to practice Saturday but still has to pass the final stage of the protocol before being cleared to suit up Sunday.The 28-year-old led New England in receiving this season with 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Redskins will sign quarterback Alex Smith to a four-year extension once their trade to acquire him from the Kansas City Chiefs is finalized, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Smith, who had one year left on his deal with the Chiefs, will reportedly be tied to the Redskins for five seasons in total.He'll earn $23.5 million per season over the four-year extension, including about $70 million in guarantees, according to Chris Mortensen of ESPN.The 33-year-old is coming off his second consecutive Pro Bowl season after posting career highs in passing yards (4,042) and touchdowns (26) in 2017, while throwing only five interceptions. He made three Pro Bowls in five years with the Chiefs, but was never able to push Kansas City past the divisional round of the playoffs.Smith provides the Redskins with stability at the most important position on the field after they failed repeatedly to strike a long-term deal with Kirk Cousins. Cousins is set to hit free agency in March after playing the last two years under the cloud of the franchise tag.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to trade quarterback Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins, sources told Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star.The Chiefs will receive a 2018 third-round draft pick and cornerback Kendall Fuller, a source told Field Yates and Adam Schefter of ESPN. The trade cannot be completed until the first day of the new league year on March 14.Fuller initially denied he was the other player involved in the trade, before acknowledging his mistake with a comical GIF on Twitter.Schefter confirmed the slot corner was part of the move, reporting that the Chiefs "view Fuller as a bonafide starter," which helped make the trade possible.The Redskins will lock up Smith immediately, as the two parties reportedly agreed on a new four-year contract extension.The blockbuster move likely signals the end of Kirk Cousins' time in Washington. Cousins has played under the franchise tag the last two seasons, and Washington either has to hit him again with a $34-million tag or let him walk in free agency.The Chiefs will move forward with 2017 first-rounder Patrick Mahomes under center and save $17 million by trading Smith.Smith had an MVP-type season, throwing for a career-high 4,042 yards and 26 touchdowns against just five interceptions.However, another high-profile early playoff exit, coupled with the presence of Mahomes, meant his five-year stint in K.C. was likely to come to an end.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles will have Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre speak to the team Saturday night ahead of Super Bowl LII versus the New England Patriots, according to Gil Brandt of NFL.com.Favre has a connection to Eagles coach Doug Pederson, as the two were teammates for seven years with the Green Bay Packers.The charismatic Favre won his only NFL title against the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots' season ended up where many predicted it would - a Super Bowl appearance - so it's easy to forget the campaign started with a disaster, namely the season-ending injury to Julian Edelman in the preseason.Rob Gronkowski may be the Patriots' best offensive weapon and one of the NFL's few true unicorns, but Edelman is arguably more important to keeping the New England machine rolling.Edelman's innate understanding of how to attack defenses stemming from his college days as a quarterback, his outstanding quickness, body control, and route-running skills, and his chemistry with Tom Brady all combine to make him invaluable to New England's dink-and-dunk attack.But, in true Patriots fashion, they found a way to not only survive without Edelman but to thrive. And it all starts with Danny Amendola, one of the more underrated New England players.Edelman and Amendola share obvious similarities: They're both slot-based receivers standing at almost the same build (Amendola is an inch taller, Edelman is 10 pounds heavier). But it's their shared ability to find space - especially in zone defenses - and their mastery of underneath routes that has allowed Amendola to somewhat fill the void left by Edelman, along with other factors, such as the extended use of the likes of James White in the short-passing game.The trust the Patriots have in Amendola in critical situations was highlighted in the second half of the AFC Championship Game win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. With Gronkowski out for the second half with a concussion, Amendola stepped up in a big way, including two touchdowns catches.On an important third-and-18 in the fourth quarter, and backed up to their own 25-yard line, the Patriots were looking to take advantage of the Jaguars' passive coverage approach with Amendola in the slot (second from the top):

Kirk Cousins wants to get paid, but his desire to win is apparently his top priority after missing the playoffs in three of the past four seasons.The Redskins quarterback will likely either receive the franchise tag for the third straight season (at a sky-high cost of $34 million) or be allowed to test the open market, where he's all but certain to receive the long-term deal Washington's been reluctant to give him.And if does become a free agent, Cousins said Tuesday on "PFT Live" he's willing to make financial "sacrifices" to ensure on-field success."Is money a part of it? Sure. Is it the only thing? No," Cousins said, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "It is about winning, and that's what I want more than anything, so I'm going to be willing to make sacrifices or do what has to be done to make sure I'm in the best possible position to win, and that's what the focus is going to be."Cousins' murky future has dominated the Redskins' landscape for the past few years, and he would probably be the most sought-after free agent if he's allowed to walk this offseason.As his career crossroads approaches, the veteran pivot was hesitant to hint at what path he expects to take."We'll see where it ends," Cousins said of his career in Washington. "It may end this March, it may end years from now. Who knows?"Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There will be no greased light poles in Philadelphia during Super Bowl LII.Philadelphia police used Crisco to deter Eagles fans from climbing the poles following the team's NFC Championship win over the Minnesota Vikings, but people still found a way up.

There is a lot to discuss, as always, leading up to the Super Bowl. Much will be made of the Patriots' amazing run of NFL dominance. Meanwhile, coming off his best game as a professional, Nick Foles is now a gigantic wild card for this game. Which Foles will we see?But let's pivot off the main storylines and identify two integral players for each team who are too often overlooked. Any of these four guys could make the play that decides the Super Bowl.Patriots DT Malcom BrownThe Patriots' first-round pick from the 2015 draft is a key component on a defense allowing just 14.4 points per game since Week 4. A behemoth who moves well for his size, Brown does the dirty work in the middle of New England’s defensive line, often occupying several blockers.But Brown also makes a lot of plays for a big man in a role that usually doesn’t lend itself to playmaking. In this game, take note as to where New England aligns its big defensive tackles. A feasible tactic is putting Brown head up over Jason Kelce, who is one of the league’s best centers and extremely impressive blocking on the move and playing in space.Putting Brown directly over Kelce could help negate the latter's athletic advantage and force Philadelphia’s center to deal with power and brute force, which isn’t his specialty. It might not get a lot of attention, but if Brown can control the middle of the line of scrimmage and stymie the Eagles’ potent interior run game, it will go a long way to another Patriots Super Bowl victory.G Shaq MasonMaybe the biggest key for New England is getting the Eagles' exceptional defensive line blocked. The Patriots offense is extremely well-coached and excellent in the run game, but Philadelphia is one of the toughest defenses to run against in the league. New England’s starting pair of offensive tackles played well against an equally dangerous Jaguars’ defensive front in the AFC Championship Game, but Mason had a tough day.However, he is New England’s best lineman, and will have to be on top of his game Sunday. Coming from a run-heavy Georgia Tech program and greatly lacking in height compared to his peers, Mason was not an ordinary guard prospect and lasted until the 131st pick overall in 2015. When he arrived in New England, he had to basically learn pass protection from scratch, but was a powerful leverage-based run blocker with some nastiness to his game.Well, Mason has improved by leaps and bounds to become one of the better guards in the league. That ability to protect will be greatly challenged against Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, Timmy Jernigan and the rest.Eagles DE Brandon GrahamGraham has just 38.5 career sacks in 111 NFL games, including 9.5 in 2017. But those stats simply do not do this player justice. Graham is a wrecking machine.He will line up at defensive end in Philadelphia’s standard four-man front on early downs, but in passing situations, Graham usually aligns next to Cox on the interior. The Eagles have possibly the league’s best defensive line, and it's extremely deep. Cox gets the most notoriety and deserves all of his accolades, but Graham is one of the best in the business over the past two seasons and rarely garners such recognition.The biggest key to beating Tom Brady is getting a consistent pass-rush with just four defenders. Philadelphia is very capable of that, and Graham is one of the main reasons why.S Malcolm JenkinsA first-round cornerback prospect out of college, Jenkins now does it all. He can play single or two high well away from the ball. He can walk down in the box and play the run as well as many linebackers. He is a good blitzer. He also has covered the opponent’s slot receiver or receiving tight end with success. The glue to Philadelphia’s terrific defense, there are few players like him.The Eagles prefer to play zone coverage and are a heavy Cover 3 team, but they also can play man to man. Assuming Rob Gronkowski plays, getting New England’s star tight end covered with some success is always extremely difficult. The way Philadelphia’s defense is set up, those duties will most likely fall on several players and the Eagles like to go to a big nickel package, as we saw against Minnesota with Corey Graham as their third safety.The combination of Philadelphia’s athletic linebackers and versatile safeties match up as well as anyone can against Gronkowski, although don’t be surprised if we see quite a few snaps of man coverage with Jenkins shadowing him. That outcome of that matchup could be one of the biggest keys to this game.Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns and spent 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast." Find him on Twitter @WilliamsonNFL.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Add Dwayne Bowe to the list of former NFL players interested in playing in Vince McMahon's XFL reboot in 2020.Bowe, who has been busy pursuing a rap career since he was released by the Cleveland Browns in March 2016, told TMZ Sports he would give the league a shot - provided it pays well."I'd definitely do the XFL," the wide receiver said. "If the money's right, I'd definitely do it."McMahon has stated that he won't accept players with criminal backgrounds, which would seemingly rule out Bowe, who was arrested for speeding and possession of marijuana in 2013. He later pleaded guilty to charges of littering and defective equipment.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Central Florida star defender Shaquem Griffin will be going to the NFL Scouting Combine after all.The second-team All-American linebacker - despite an amputated left hand - was initially denied an opportunity to run the gamut of combine tests for prospective NFL teams, but he posted a video online on Tuesday celebrating his inclusion.

The most surprising news in the world of professional football last week had nothing, or little, to do with the NFL.After failing in his first attempt to organize a professional football league, Vince McMahon, the godfather of fake wrestling, announced he is organizing his resources to take another shot at bringing the XFL to life. Though his initial XFL league only lasted one season, and was helped by an NBC Sports partnership, McMahon believes he can and will make enough changes to get the XFL "in the black" this time around.His press conference offered few details. Possible cities, corporate partnerships, or particular rules were left out. His statements were fairly ambiguous. He gave us a date, the winter of 2020, which leaves two years to plan, organize, and market the league. It also gives McMahon two years to retreat if he doesn’t see the stars aligning.His first marketing ploy was to capitalize on the small cross-section of the NFL fan base disappointed or outraged at the perceived disrespect some players are showing to the U.S. flag by kneeling during the national anthem.Of the few details offered at the press conference, forcing the players to stand as a league rule was announced for a particular reason. Also, McMahon said players who have arrest records, including DUIs, won’t be allowed to play in the league. So, it looks like Johnny Manziel and many others will have to try and rebuild their careers through the CFL and Arena League.I don’t want to get political with this article, but it is obvious (at least to me) that McMahon is attempting to capitalize on certain aspects of his good friend Donald Trump’s belief that many NFL players are America-hating criminals. Though I don’t believe this is true, McMahon’s only listed player requirements tell you a lot about what demographic of America he is trying to reach.It is true some Americans have stopped watching the NFL because of the kneeling, but it is also true many NFL fans are cutting the cord on their television sets in general, and watching football in other formats that aren’t as easily tabulated as are the Nielsen Ratings. McMahon’s initial requirements will hurt his league more than it helps.Either way, I do believe there is enough passion for football in the United States for another outdoor league that fills the gap between college football and the NFL. Currently, college football is the NFL’s minor league, and once a player doesn’t make it to the NFL directly after college, his options of getting paid to play football in the U.S. are limited.When I was a rookie with the Washington Redskins in 2001, I was on my way to NFL Europe after the season. Once Marty Schottenheimer was fired and Steve Spurrier hired, I stayed in the D.C. area to compete to make the team. Soon after, NFL Europe closed its doors as it was losing roughly $30 million a year for the NFL owners.Quarterback development is a major issue in the NFL, and the Euro league was a great way for third-string and practice squad players to get game reps in the offseason. Quarterbacks such as Kurt Warner, Jake Delhomme, Brad Johnson, Jon Kitna, Jay Fiedler, Kelly Holcomb, Scott Mitchell, Shawn Hill, Jim Miller, and Doug Pederson all went on to have decade-long NFL careers after playing in Europe.Would they have had the same longevity and success if they didn’t get that extra game experience as a young quarterback? Probably not, and the NFL badly needs more depth at the position. This should be a very important focal point for the XFL.Since McMahon offered very few details, and we are basically working with a blank canvas, I’d like to throw out some ideas.First, the sport of football is extremely exciting, but there are too many plays that are boring in the NFL. To add plays that have more value, the XFL can make a couple huge yet simple rule changes that would make the league a lot more fun to watch.First, there shall be no kickoffs or punts.Instead of kickoffs, the team receiving the ball to begin each half and after every score starts at the 50-yard line. This immediately puts them on the edge of the “scoring zone”. If they move the ball to the 30 and kick a field goal, the other team then gets the ball at the 50. If the FG is missed or if they fail on fourth down, the team on defense gets the ball at that spot and is going the other way.If the defensive team pushes the offensive team into their own territory through sacks and penalties, they will be even closer to scoring when they get the ball back. In a way, this type of football is more like tug of war, with the teams starting in the exact middle of the field and on equal footing.Starting at the 50, with no kickoffs or punts, adds much-needed excitement to the game. The explosion of the NFL Redzone Channel shows the value of “scoring zone” plays. It also eliminates plays that are extra dangerous (kickoffs), and have become somewhat boring (punts).By its design, the game would be set up more like a Civil War-era battle. The lines are drawn on both sides, the men meet in the middle, with a back-and-forth advancement/retreat of each side.Currently, when a team has the ball on its own side of the field, runs three plays and punts, the battle completely shifts to the other side. This is not how wars were fought in the "days of yore." The battles slowly moved in either direction until a victory (score) was accomplished. Currently, the teams are continually placed at a long distance from a chance of scoring, which means the majority of NFL plays have less excitement.With these rules, there would be serious repercussions for failing to convert first downs when you are deep in your own territory. If you don’t, the ball immediately goes to the other team and they are already in scoring range.This not only would make regular plays more exciting, it would also allow teams to trim their roster by up to 10 players, as many NFL backups only play on kickoff, kickoff return, punt, and punt return plays. Fewer players means more money for the players on the roster, more in the investors’ pockets, and less overall risk for the owners.I’m going to pat myself on the back, because I think this idea would be an actual "game-changer" and I see only positives with this alteration.Also, since 2001, the advancement of the video camera has come a long way. So they should put cameras everywhere, then create a website/app that allows fans to watch whatever view they want, live. Americans like things customized, but current networks give them no choice.It’s nice the NFL is using more angles such as the overhead camera (possibly the best XFL idea which the NFL stole), but at the end of the day, everyone has their personal favorite angle from which to watch a game. Maybe I want to watch the game from any of the six officials’ cameras, which are placed on top of their hats like a Go-Pro. Maybe we can somehow attach them to a player’s helmet without exposing them to injuries.One of the best feelings in the world, and scariest, is walking up to the line as an NFL quarterback. I could only imagine how much fans would love having a similar feeling. Basically, just put cameras everywhere possible and let the fans choose how to watch the game. This type of technology is being used on apps such as Periscope. It would be smart for the XFL to invest in these types of alternative technologies to improve the viewing experience.Finally, I love football and I know it’s a very serious sport, but some announcers make me want to mute my TV. The intensity and incredible violence make it a more serious broadcast, but there are also many ways to make it more fun.This doesn’t mean the league needs to become classless, such as certain aspects of the WWE, but there is room for the game to lighten up. As an example, the NFL changed its rules on touchdown celebrations this season. Players followed protocol to celebrate in any way they wanted, as long as it was in good taste and sportsmanship, and the results have been a highlight of the 2017 season.One way to get fans to watch is to hire announcers that aren’t just football experts, but also are a joy to listen to. Bill Walton knows his basketball, but his analysis of college basketball and the Pac 12 is like no other announcer in the sport. Is there a way to allow an alternative audio broadcast of the game that doesn’t follow the traditional rules?Could you have former players from both teams in the booth, possibly with a comedian, go back and forth in a much more relaxed atmosphere? Football fans have also gotten used to listening to podcasts, such as Pardon My Take, that are an alternative to the very serious sports show. Even if the main broadcast is clean and traditional, I’d like to think there is a way to listen to alternative announcers and still follow FCC regulations.These are my initial recommendations. With the advancement of technology since 2001, I think the XFL should again be at the forefront of how we consume and enjoy our football. There are unexplored ways of doing this, yet the NFL is slow in adapting and nurturing these nontraditional methods.We shall see what McMahon and his team come up with as we inch closer to January 2020. For those who simply can’t and never will get enough football, and for former college players who haven’t yet made it to the NFL, having a spring league fills a lot of gaps in America’s favorite sport. Even if it fails, it will have some sort of effect on the NFL.Sage Rosenfels is a former 12-year NFL quarterback who writes and contributes to radio and podcasts about the NFL and college football. Find him on Twitter @SageRosenfels18.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday he does not anticipate Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder changing the team's controversial nickname.The question was raised on ESPN's "Golic and Wingo Show" after the Cleveland Indians announced they'll no longer use the Chief Wahoo logo on their uniforms beginning in 2019. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and the team determined the logo is "no longer appropriate."Snyder has been adamant in his refusal to change the Redskins name, despite public outcry from those who believe it's disparaging to Native Americans."I don't see him changing that perspective," Goodell said."Dan Snyder has really worked in the Native American community to understand better their perspective and I think it's reflected mostly in a Washington Post poll that came out in the last year that said over nine out of 10 Native Americans do not take that in a negative fashion, the Redskins' logo or the Redskins' name, and they support it."Many broadcasters have taken to referring to the Redskins as simply "Washington," but Snyder has said in the past he will never change the team name.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hall of Fame wide receiver and Cowboys legend Michael Irvin disagrees with rumors suggesting fellow receiver Dez Bryant could be a potential cap casualty in Dallas this offseason."You don't find No. 1 receivers hanging off trees like leaves," Irvin said, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. "So what are you gonna do, let Dez go? Who you got to replace him? You think they can just find No. 1 receivers? Every team would have 'em. They'd litter 'em. They would litter 'em. You don't find them this easily. The Cowboys would be stupid - stupid - to let this boy go right now."Bryant has two more seasons at an annual base salary of $12.5 million remaining on his contract, though the Cowboys have an out after next season that would leave them with just $4 million in dead cap.Bryant hasn't had a 1,000-yard campaign since 2014, racking up just 838 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games this season.Irvin believes the dip in production should be expected with quarterback Dak Prescott throwing the ball."Now he has a new quarterback who we have just given the old-man tag to. It's like Dak has been around forever already playing football when it's just his second year," Irvin said. "He just finished his second year. And Dez has to bring Dak along.Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley are the only other Cowboys receivers slated to earn more than $1 million next season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL plans to do away with its process of accepting bids to host a Super Bowl.The next available Super Bowl is No. 57 in 2023, and the league intends to choose one optimal site and enter into negotiations with that city, Daniel Kaplan of the Sports Business Journal reports.In the past, the league has allowed cities to bid on the Big Game, but the NFL would prefer to have more control on where the Super Bowl is held."The process is really focused on identifying the really optimal destination for the Super Bowl, as opposed to a process where you may have multiple cities spending significant time and energy around a bid process," NFL senior vice president of events Peter O'Reilly said.Miami and New Orleans have hosted the most Super Bowls, and fellow warm-weather locales Los Angeles, Tampa, and San Diego often get the spectacle. The league has also sprinkled in stops at newly constructed stadiums."This makes it less subject to the whims of a vote," former events organizer Frank Supovitz said of the change. "When you have a number of different choices that are available to the ownership to vote on you don't have control obviously where it is going to go. It gives the NFL some ability to strategize where it goes from year to year."After Super Bowl LII this Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis; opened in 2016, the game will head to the recently opened Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta next year, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami in 2020, back to Tampa for 2021, and then to the under-construction Los Angeles Stadium in 2022.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady's place among the greats is unquestioned. By orchestrating an epic 25-point comeback to win last year's Super Bowl in overtime, Brady solidified his standing as the greatest quarterback in NFL history.He's further cementing his legend with his exploits in 2017.At 40 years old, the New England Patriots quarterback put on another MVP-worthy campaign and is on the brink of winning his sixth Super Bowl. It would be a record for most rings as a player.His level of success is astonishing and what he's doing in the third act of his career may be unrivaled.Compared to the greats in other sports, it appears Brady has had the most sustained greatness. He's certainly enjoying his twilight more than some other GOATs.Just take a look at the numbers.Brady vs. Michael JordanBrady is preparing to make his eighth career Super Bowl appearance in his 18th season. Michael Jordan, generally regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, finished his illustrious career toiling with the Washington Wizards.He retired for three years and took a front-office role with the Wizards, but returned to the court in 2001 and averaged more than 20 points per game for two more seasons in D.C.Jordan didn't play into his 40s like Brady has. He last played at 39 during the 2002-03 season. Here's how Brady's latest season compared to Jordan's last:BradyJordan13-3 (T1)Team Record37-45 (20th)4577 (1st)Pass Yards/Points1640 (18th)66.3 (5th)Comp. Pct./FG Pct..445 (158th*)32 (3rd)TDs/3 pt. Pct.291 (197th*)8 (T4)INTs/TOs173 (381st*)16Games8218th seasonExperience15th seasonLikelyMVPNoSuper Bowl participantTitles0* denotes ranking against all playersLate in his career, Touchdown Tom remains a leader in most offensive categories. On the basketball court, Jordan was by no means a poor player in his final seasons, but he couldn't reclaim the level of greatness that dominated the NBA in the early years of his career. His presence also did not rub off on the young Wizards.Brady vs. Wayne GretzkyThe Golden Boy and the Great One.Gretzky's greatness spanned two decades. He was named the NHL's Most Valuable Player a league-high nine times and continued collecting Hart Trophy votes into his penultimate season.In his last year, playing with the New York Rangers at the age of 38, Gretzky collected the Lady Byng sportsmanship award, but his play on the ice took a dip.BradyGretzky13-3 (T1)Team Record33-38-11 (18th)4577 (1st)Pass Yards/Points62 (33rd)66.3 (5th)Comp Pct./PPG0.8832 (3rd)TDs/Goals9 (T226)8 (T4)INTs/Plus-Minus-23 (T799*)16Games7018th seasonExperience21st seasonLikelyMVPNoSuper Bowl participantTitles0* denotes ranking against all playersWhile younger than Brady at the time of his retirement, Gretzky had three extra seasons on his ledger. In his last season, he scored fewer than 10 goals for only the second time in his career and averaged less than a point per game for the first time.It's almost blasphemous to say, but Gretzky's play tailed off at the very end, whereas Brady appears to be sustaining his prime.Brady vs. Roger FedererWhen it comes to greats, Federer may be the athlete that best rivals Brady. At the 36 years old and playing a physically demanding sport, Federer captured his 20th career Grand Slam singles title last weekend.His Australian Open win comes on the heels of a 2017 campaign in which the Swiss Maestro took home seven titles, including a victory at Wimbledon. He is currently the second-ranked player in the world.Here's how Federer's 2017 stacked up with Brady's:BradyFederer13-3 (T1)Record52-54577 (1st)Pass Yards/Games Won684 (8th)66.3 (5th)Comp. Pct./Serve Rating300.5 (3rd)32 (3rd)TDs/Aces550 (10th)8 (T4)INTs/Deciding Sets Won Pct.78.6 (2nd)16Games/Matches5718th seasonExperience21st seasonLikelyMVP/Ranking2ndSuper Bowl participantTitles7 (2 majors)Both competitors have the public questioning whether they're saving their best for last. Neither has anything left to prove, and no stone left to turn, but they continue on with machine-like efficiency.In a comparison of legends, Brady and Federer appear to be the late greats. With a victory at Super Bowl LII on Sunday, Brady could ascend to the greatest of all.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just like his predecessor, Chris Christie, New Jersey governor Phil Murphy isn't a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles.Murphy grew up in Needham, Mass., and as a result, will be cheering on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII."Let there be no doubt: I have grown up and I remain today a Patriots fan," Murphy told Steve Politi and Brent Johnson of NJ Advance Media.However, he did admit he has a "soft spot" for the Eagles because of his admiration for Dick Vermeil, who served as the team's head coach from 1976 to 1982."I think this is a very close game. If anything I feel like the Eagles have more momentum than the Pats do because they dismembered the Vikings - which I didn't see coming," Murphy said. "The Patriots were fortunate to get away with a win against the Jaguars. I think it should be a very tight, good Super Bowl."Christie - a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan and occasional guest in Jerry Jones' owners box - was notorious for his hatred of all things Eagles, once referring to their supporters as "generally angry, awful people."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The football world became accustomed to two things from the New Orleans Saints in recent years: a high-flying offense that puts up a ton of points, and a defense that often appears uninterested, allowing an astonishing amount of yardage and points.In the 2017 season, things changed in a big way for the NFC South club. Sure, the offense remained strong with Drew Brees supported by a dominant rushing attack, but the defense is no longer a laughingstock.A great deal of that change can be attributed to the decision to draft Marshon Lattimore with the 11th pick last year.The rookie cornerback out of Ohio State has been a revelation in his opening season, transforming a defense that was downright awful against the pass to one that ranks among the league's top 10.Lattimore's impact on that pass defense can be best appreciated by looking at opponents' passing stats against New Orleans over the last few years.SeasonCompletion percentageYards per gamePasser rating201759.422579201664.927498.1201568.4284116.2Lattimore led all rookies with five interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. He also led rookie defensive players with 18 passes broken up, and showed his willingness to contribute in run defense with 52 tackles. He essentially locked down his side of the field, and didn't allow a single touchdown to be scored in his coverage over the entire season.Nobody doubted Lattimore's talent coming into the NFL, but even his teammates were surprised by just how productive he was right away."I don't think anybody expected it to be this good," Rafael Bush told the Associated Press. "It changes the dynamic of the defense. We don't have to roll the coverages toward him and give him help."Lattimore won Rookie of the Month twice this season, and was the fifth-highest rated cornerback in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. It's not just his teammates that are noticing his impact - some of the league's best at the position heaped praise on him too."To be a rookie, to be the first year, and have the high confidence, it's amazing," Minnesota Vikings star Xavier Rhodes told Nick Underhill of The Advocate. "He's going to be one of the best."To win any award in the NFL, a player needs a shining moment, and Lattimore's came against the division rival Atlanta Falcons in Week 16. The 6-foot, 195-pounder made a miraculous interception, pinning the ball against his backside as he laid on the ground.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is stepping up his attempts to get back on the field for the start of the 2018 season.Luck has reportedly headed for the Los Angeles area, where he'll work with throwing mechanics and strength coaches Tom House and Adam Dedeaux, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.A source told Rapoport that Luck is "very close" to throwing, indicating that he will not require another shoulder surgery (barring an unforeseen setback).While on injured reserve this season, Luck spent time in Europe, working on balancing his muscles.Related - Report: Luck in Europe seeking treatment on injured shoulderHe originally underwent surgery last January to repair a torn labrum. He was expected to be ready for the start of the 2017 season, but he never saw the field, and was quickly shut down following a comeback attempt partway through the season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tennessee Titans have poached Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur for the same role in Nashville, the team announced.Tennessee rounds out its new coaching staff with the hire. LaFleur joins new head coach Mike Vrabel and defensive coordinator Dean Pees on the reconstructed staff.In a corresponding move, the Rams have promoted offensive line coach Aaron Kromer to run game coordinator and tight ends coach Shane Waldron to pass game coordinator.Tennessee fired head coach Mike Mularkey after its playoff exit in the divisional round and brought in both Vrabel and LaFleur in for interviews. The Titans ultimately handed the job to the former, but also tabbed the latter for a role on their staff.The 38-year-old was the Atlanta Falcons' quarterbacks coach in 2015 and 2016 and spent last year in L.A., revamping the Rams' offense. In one season, the unit jumped from last in the NFL to 10th.The Titans' offensive philosophy was characterized as passe and in need of an infusion of creativity."Matt brings an energy and an offensive diversity to our team," Vrabel said of his new hire. "He is going to develop an offense that puts our players in position to have success. Matt has worked with some great offensive minds, helped game plan on those staffs and I am looking forward to seeing him take that next step as a play-caller."The Rams enjoyed just the one season with LaFleur and now begin their transition to a system with two coordinators at the helm."I'm excited for Matt LaFleur and his family as he transitions to the Titans as offensive coordinator," Rams head coach Sean McVay said. "We're grateful for his contribution to the Rams and our NFC West Championship season last year."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles are considered the underdog by the majority of people - including oddsmakers - for Super Bowl LII against the New England Patriots.Don't tell that to Tom Brady, however.Brady, who's looking to win his sixth Super Bowl title and his third in four years, dismissed that notion entirely on Monday."You're 13-3. You can't be an underdog when you're the No. 1 seed in the NFC," Brady said, via Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk.It's a fair point raised by Brady, as the Eagles have steamrolled their competition this season and sport an identical record to the Patriots ahead of Sunday's showdown.But with the Patriots still in the midst of one of football's greatest dynastic runs, it's not hard to see why they're widely positioned as the favorite.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Super Bowl Opening Night provided an opportunity for both teams to show the lighter side of their personalities, and to that end, Monday's frivolity presented a wide range of interviews.As expected, some were illuminating, some were to be expected, and some were cringeworthy.Here, we break down the best and worst of Super Bowl Opening Night:Best 1, 2, 3, 4, I declare a thumb war