Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles underwent right wrist surgery Friday for a condition dating back to December 2016 which required him to be on the injury report throughout the 2017 season, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.It's unknown if the surgery will impact Bortles' ability to participate in early offseason activities.Bortles helped guide the Jaguars to the AFC title game, but still faces an offseason of uncertainty.The Jaguars picked up his fifth-year option, meaning he's guaranteed $19 million for next season if he remains on the roster by mid-March.Jacksonville will have until then to decide whether to roll with Bortles for another year or look for an upgrade under center.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Darren Sproles is likely to return for the 2018 season after breaking his arm and tearing his ACL in September.Sproles, who is finishing his 13th campaign, doesn't want the injury to be his final moment in the NFL."I want to go out on my terms," Sproles said to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Sproles was named to the Pro Bowl from 2014-16 and has established himself as one of the best all-purpose backs in the league.Ahead of the Super Bowl, all Sproles can do is sit back and watch while he contemplates his professional future.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tennessee Titans will hire Dean Pees as defensive coordinator, sources told Jason Wolf of The Tennessean.The 68-year-old served as the Baltimore Ravens' defensive coordinator from 2012-17, and previously operated as their linebackers coach but retired Jan. 1.Tennessee is undergoing a major reshuffle of its coaching staff, dismissing Mike Mularkey after the team was defeated by the New England Patriots in the divisional round.Mike Vrabel was hired as head coach Jan 20.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears certain that the New England Patriots' Tom Brady-Josh McDaniels partnership will be coming to an end Sunday, and the star quarterback provided his offensive coordinator with a vote of confidence Monday at Super Bowl Opening Night.McDaniels is widely expected to become the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts following Super Bowl LII.Although McDaniels can't formally speak about the Colts job, Brady alluded to the end of their tenure while endorsing him as a strong candidate Monday."He's a great coach," Brady said via NFL.com's Chris Wesseling. "He should get a lot of opportunities because when you're a great coach, that's what you get. Any team would want him to be the leader of the organization."McDaniels and Brady are trying to win their sixth Super Bowl together. The veteran coach began his career with the Patriots as a personnel assistant in 2001, was promoted to quarterbacks coach in 2004, and served as offensive coordinator from 2006-2008, before becoming the head coach of the Denver Broncos (2009-10). After a brief stint with the St. Louis Rams, McDaniels returned to the Patriots as offensive coordinator in 2012."If this is our last game together, we're going to try to make the best of it," Brady said. "So we need to create another special memory but that's going to take a win. That's going to be tough to come by."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is showing the quality of mercy ahead of Super Bowl LII.Alex Reimer, a radio host for WEEI, referred to Brady's daughter as "an annoying little pissant" while discussing her scene in a documentary titled "Tom vs. Time" - a project chronicling the latter stages of the quarterback's career.Related: Brady cuts radio spot short due to host's comments about his daughterBrady cut his interview short with the station Monday while defending his daughter, saying no child deserves such treatment.During Super Bowl Opening Night, Brady said he hopes Reimer remains employed. Reimer has been suspended by WEEI."I would certainly hope the guy is not fired. I would hate for that to happen," Brady said Monday via Steve Buckley of the Boston Herald.It remains to be seen whether WEEI acts upon Brady's suggestion.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler is expected to play in Super Bowl LII after being hospitalized with flu-like symptoms Sunday, according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald.Butler won't participate in Super Bowl Opening Night due to the illness.The 27-year-old recorded 60 tackles, a sack, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions in 16 games this season.Butler is best known for his game-sealing interception in Super Bowl XLIX, picking off Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson to preserve a 28-24 victory for the Patriots.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After the Change the Mascot campaign helped convince the Cleveland Indians to remove their "Chief Wahoo" logo from uniforms starting in 2019, the group has turned its attention to the Washington Redskins.In a statement obtained by ESPN on Monday, campaign leader and Oneida Nation representative Ray Halbritter asked Redskins owner Dan Snyder to change the "hurtful" team nickname, which he said doubles as a "dictionary-defined racial slur." The statement reads:

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the league's fans are actually on the same page about something - the catch rule needs fixing.Again in 2017, the question of "what is a catch?" was a major topic of discussion - particularly in the Pittsburgh Steelers-New England Patriots intense Week 14 meeting - and the matter didn't go unnoticed by the commissioner.Related: Tomlin wants catch rule to be revisited in offseason"I'm not just somewhat concerned. I am concerned," Goodell told FOX Sports' Colin Cowherd on Monday about the lack of clarity with the rule. "We just had five Hall of Fame receivers and several coaches come in just two weeks ago to focus on the catch, no-catch rule - how we bring clarity. And this is where the balance comes in ..."You want there to be clarity from an officiating standpoint, a coaching and player standpoint - they know what it is or isn't. And so they draft the rule, the Competition Committee looks at it, they bring it to the membership, and they want that clarity. I think here you might have clarity in a large element of it, but then it's not the rule that people really want."Goodell said the recent meeting involving coaches and Hall of Famers was very productive and that he hopes the Competition Committee can use what was learned to improve the rule at further meetings in February and March.He also mentioned that one of the Hall of Fame receivers told him, "Fans want catches."- with h/t to NFL.comCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has undergone a change in identity.USC president Max Nikias announced Monday that the famous building will now be known as the United Airlines Memorial Coliseum following a new naming rights agreement, according to Joey Kaufman of The Orange County Register.The $69-million deal - the largest naming rights agreement in college sports history - is a significant part of the $270-million plan to upgrade the stadium ahead of the 2028 Olympics."Upgrading and renovating the L.A. Memorial Coliseum has been long overdue. It's needed, it’s needed badly, and we are doing it now," Nikias said in an interview. "And it will be something, after the renovations are completed ... that all Angelinos should be very proud of."The Coliseum hosts both the USC and the NFL's Rams franchise, which is set to relocate to a new $2-billion stadium in Inglewood by the 2020 season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram isn't worried about heading into his contract year following a career-best season."I feel like my career is ascending," Ingram said, according to Nick Underhill of The Advocate. "I feel like my best ball is ahead of me."Ingram will turn 29 years old near the end of the 2018 season, meaning he'd turn 30 in the first year of a potential new deal. He suggests that lower usage in his first few seasons - he didn't top 200 carries until his fourth year in the league - has helped preserve his body and kept him on track for sustained high-level performance.Ingram set career highs with 230 carries, 1,124 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns, and 416 receiving yards while splitting backfield work with rookie Alvin Kamara.Kamara's inexpensive rookie deal and the Saints' other roster needs could deter the team from giving Ingram the considerable raise he'll be due on his current four-year, $16-million contract. Though Ingram wishes to stay in New Orleans, he knows other factors are at play."It’s a business at the end of the day. Peyton Manning got cut. You can't expect anything. They let one of the best ever go," he said. "I hope for the best and I hope to be here."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Super Bowl Opening Night - which replaced media day last season - offers the first interactions players and coaches have with the media upon arrival in Minnesota ahead of Super Bowl LII.While the New England Patriots will be present for a second consecutive year to stoically provide the most banal responses, many members of the Philadelphia Eagles will have their first opportunity in the big-game spotlight.Quarterbacks Tom Brady and Nick Foles are sure to be focal points as they'll field questions relating to their vastly different routes to the big game, but here's a look at six players most likely to provide some entertaining comments:Alshon Jeffery, WR, EaglesJeffery made himself into a story not just with his excellent play, but with a bold prediction while still a member of the Chicago Bears immediately after the conclusion of the 2016 season, saying "we are going to win the Super Bowl next year."Jeffery addressed that prediction amid the Eagles hot start to this season, saying it still applied because he never specified a team.Making the playoffs for the first time in his six-year NFL career following Jeffery's free-agent relocation, bettors may want to monitor his interview sessions for any fresh predictions.Lane Johnson, OT, EaglesJohnson became the Eagles' vocal leader following the injury to quarterback Carson Wentz, as he's fully embraced the team's underdog role throughout the postseason.After serving a 10-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy in 2016, Johnson returned better than ever in 2017, starting 15 regular-season games to earn both Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro honors for the first time in his career.Now one of the NFL's most well-known offensive linemen, he'll be quickly recognized by a swarm of reporters with or without his dog mask.LeGarrette Blount, RB, EaglesAfter carrying the Patriots through Brady's four-game Deflategate suspension last season and helping them win Super Bowl LI, Blount was allowed to leave as a free agent, eventually settling on a one-year, $1.25-million contract with the Eagles. Hardly a just reward after leading the league in rushing touchdowns.Blount claims he's in "straight enemy mode" as he prepares to take on his old team in the big game, and while he'll be trying to avoid giving the Patriots any bulletin board material, he may have a difficult time hiding the hard feelings.He's just one piece of the Eagles' wildly effective backfield, but Blount's scored a touchdown in each playoff game.Chris Long, DE, EaglesLike Blount, Long will be attempting to stick it to the team that spurned him after winning a Super Bowl last year.Like Johnson, Long enters Super Bowl LII as someone to root for and listen to.Long donated his entire 2017 salary to educational organizations and has been one of the more prominent players involved in widespread social activism.Now with the advantage of the Super Bowl's grand stage, he'll have a large audience in front of him to make a meaningful statement.Stephon Gilmore, CB, Patriots; Ronald Darby, CB, EaglesGilmore and Darby missed out on the Buffalo Bills' long overdue - but brief - playoff appearance after their offseason departures.The two can take solace in facing each other Sunday. While the Patriots and Eagles will have their media availabilities at separate times Monday, Gilmore and Darby are sure to face plenty of questions about their relationship and shared tenure in the Bills' secondary.There's also the phenomenal play Gilmore made to wrap up the Patriots' berth in Super Bowl LII, swatting away a Blake Bortles pass to force a turnover on the Jacksonville Jaguars' last drive of the game.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If Chris Long is able to win a second Super Bowl in as many seasons, he'll continue with his stance to skip the team trip to the White House.The defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles spoke on Barstool Sports' "Pardon My Take" on Monday and revealed his intentions to pass on the championship team's annual trip to the White House if the Eagles prevail on Sunday."No, I'm not going to the White House. Are you kidding me?" Long said, according to Chris Chavez of Sports Illustrated.Long skipped the team trip last year when he was a member of the Super Bowl LI winning New England Patriots.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Think what you will about the Pro Bowl, but participants are calling 2018's installment - a 24-23 comeback victory for the AFC - a success."I think it was because there were so many great fans out there and guys wanted to put on a good show and really get this Pro Bowl up to the standard that we wanted it to be at," said Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN.Participating in the 11th Pro Bowl of his career, Witten caught two passes on four targets for 16 yards.While no one wants to get hurt or cause an injury to a fellow player in what's merely an exhibition game put on for fans, New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan said it can be difficult to change the mentality players are so accustomed to when taking the field."At the end of the day, it's hard to play this game at any sort of a lower tempo than what you're used to," Jordan said. "Honestly, it's hard not to go hard, especially when you're going against some of the best players in our league. You almost want to go (full speed). It takes so much to not go full speed, so I don't even try to fight it."Others appeared to share that same mentality. Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker would go on to win Offensive MVP, but it was the NFC's defense that set the competitive tone, with Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith's early pick-6, and another two interceptions from Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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

Super Bowl Opening Night - more commonly known as Media Day - is the rare event where players will speak candidly on any topic.Before Sunday's big game between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles, players from both teams kick back and relax, fielding questions from reporters spanning the globe.In this relaxed environment, players tend to give some of their best material before focusing solely on the Super Bowl.Below are some of the best moments in Media Day history.'I'm just 'bout that action, boss'Marshawn Lynch is famously reticent to speak to the media but ironically, he's the greatest star in Media Day history.Prior to Super Bowl XLVIII between the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos, Lynch participated in a now-legendary interview with NFL Network's Deion Sanders that has come to define his personality.Sanders tried to get Lynch to speak on record about the biggest game of his career, but the star running back wasn't having it."I'm just 'bout that action, boss" Lynch famously replied to Sanders, coining a phrase that has transcended sports itself.Lynch proved to be right as the Seahawks routed the Broncos 43-8.'I'm just here so I won't get fined'In truth, this post could exclusively be about Lynch. Although it seems counter-intuitive, Lynch's refusal to give a meaningful quote has only inspired reporters to seek further insight from him, and elevated the national profile of Media Day itself.On the verge of Super Bowl XLIX, Lynch had grown tired of his ceaseless interview requests and was fined several times for not speaking to the media. Noting his required availability for Media Day, Lynch told reporters repeatedly "I'm just here so I won't get fined," before leaving the podium just under five minutes into his press conference.Lynch's Seahawks lost to the New England Patriots in excruciating fashion and the running back lampooned the team's decision not to give him the ball at the 1-yard line with seconds to go in the game.Burress predicts Giants' upset win over PatriotsIt would be crazy to bet against an undefeated Patriots team in a year where Tom Brady threw 50 touchdown passes, right?That's what everyone was thinking when Giants receiver Plaxico Burress forecasted a 23-17 victory for his team, catching the attention of Brady and his teammates."Are predictions guarantees," he asked. "This is the biggest Sunday of your life - it's OK to want to win, think big and dream. We're going to take this thing back to New York City," Burress said.Numerous Patriots players, including Mike Vrabel and Richard Seymour were outraged by Burress' remarks. Brady was amused by the prediction, not even remotely entertaining the possibility of a loss."We're only going to score 17 points?" Brady said. "OK. Is Plax playing defense? I wish he had said 45-42 and gave us a little credit for scoring more points."The Giants proceeded to stun the Patriots 17-14 in one of the greatest upsets in football history.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre may be in some hot water, as the 48-year-old is reportedly being sued by a management firm due to the failed launch of Sqor Sports, a social media startup, according to Daniel Goldblatt and Ryan Naumann of The Blast, citing court documents.Sqor Sports was reportedly intended to assist in athletes monetizing themselves through social media. Favre first joined the company as a member of its board of directors before becoming a co-owner.Callais Capital Management (CCM), the firm suing Favre, claims it was convinced by "negligent and fraudulent misrepresentations" that led to its $16-million investment in the company to "fund immediate international growth and allow the company to secure up to 10 major Sports Enterprises over the next six months."According to CCM, Sqor claimed athletes such as Conor McGregor, Rob Gronkowski, Odell Beckham Jr., and Allen Iverson were using the network. CCM also alleges Sqor told them that it was working toward getting sports teams such as the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers as well as NFL players to join the platform.CCM claims Sqor "materially misrepresented" that it had over 325 million fans, and that its social reach was over 350 million, adding that its user growth metrics exceeded both Twitter and LinkedIn.Sqor's website is no longer operational, and the lawsuit demands the firms $16.75-million investment be returned along with consequential damages.During his tenure, Favre allegedly received benefits such as equity, athlete payments, and private jet costs, among others, according to the report.Favre has yet to comment on the lawsuit.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Super Bowl media day got off to a rough start Monday morning.Though not an official part of Super Bowl Opening Night, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady cut his weekly spot on WEEI radio's "Kirk and Callahan Show" short due to a comment station host Alex Reimer made Thursday about Brady's daughter.While discussing Brady's daughter's scene in the "Tom vs. Time" documentary, Reimer referred to her as "an annoying little pissant," WEEI's Rob Bradford confirmed.Brady made only a brief comment on Monday's show."I've tried to come on this show for many years and showed you guys a lot of respect. I've always tried and come on and do a good job for you guys. It's very disappointing when you hear that, certainly. My daughter, or any child, certainly doesn't deserve that," Brady said."I really don't have much to say about it this morning."The station suspended Reimer as of Friday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Those hoping for Rob Gronkowski's official return will have to wait a little longer, as the star tight end for the New England Patriots is not expected to participate in Super Bowl Opening Night, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, citing a source.The superstar's status for Super Bowl LII remains in question after he was on the receiving end of a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jacksonville Jaguars safety Barry Church in the Patriots' AFC title win just over a week ago.Gronkowski remains in concussion protocol. However, he did make an appearance at practice Saturday and was seen running routes and catching passes, so only time will tell if the 28-year-old will be healthy enough to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the biggest game of the year.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson sustaining a season-ending injury in practice following a dazzling Week 8 performance against the Seattle Seahawks, the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award (OROY) opened up to the rest of the field.This year's rookie class was then dominated by the running-back position, despite solid campaigns from receivers such as JuJu Smith-Schuster and Cooper Kupp. Jacksonville Jaguars No. 4 pick Leonard Fournette powered the league's best rushing attack and helped get the upstart Jags all the way to the AFC Championship Game. Limited to just 13 games due to a nagging injury and a one-game suspension for a violation of team rules, he's likely to fall short on merit in the eyes of voters.The true competition is between Kareem Hunt of the Kansas City Chiefs and Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints. Here, theScore's Esten McLaren and Dylan Perego debate who is the most worthy candidate.EM: Given the starting job out of preseason following Spencer Ware's season-ending injury, Hunt went on to lead the league with 1,327 rushing yards, adding another 455 yards through the air on 325 total touches. He lost just one fumble while scoring 11 combined touchdowns. His 4.9 yards per carry tied him for the most among players with at least 200 attempts. As the league's top conventional running back, while also showing versatility in the passing game, he's most worthy of being named the top offensive rookie.DP: Despite the limitations of sharing touches with Mark Ingram and, for a time, Adrian Peterson, Kamara punished defenses for 728 rushing yards while adding another 826 receiving yards, resulting in 13 combined touchdowns. Kamara's production didn't end there, as he even returned a kickoff for a touchdown. His 6.1 yards per carry (120 attempts) and 10.2 yards per catch (81 receptions) prove he is a lethal contributor in multiple areas, and that his overall production more than warrants him being named OROY.EM: Kamara's stats and production as a dual threat are impressive, but he was largely a luxury for the Saints, who received Pro Bowl-worthy seasons from Ingram and No. 1 wide receiver Michael Thomas. Hunt was relied on much more heavily by the Chiefs, playing 64.9 percent of offensive snaps to Kamara's 44.7 percent. His immense value to the team was demonstrated during a seven-game stretch in which he failed to top 20 carries in all but one game, with that being the lone game won by the Chiefs during the stretch.DP: The Saints also suffered from a lack of usage for Kamara, as he exceeded five carries just once and five receptions just twice in the Saints' five regular-season losses. Despite those limitations, Kamara was able to make history by setting the all-time NFL record for average offensive yards per touch with 7.7 (min. 200 touches), and did so amazingly by not being the prime option out of his team's backfield. That level of accomplishment is special given the amount of opportunity, and, luxury or not, it demands recognition.EM: Kamara's record-setting efficiency deserves plenty of credit, but I'll stand by Hunt as meaning more to his team. The rookie running back should be credited with at least aiding Alex Smith's career year under center, allowing the 33-year-old quarterback to set career highs in passing yards, touchdowns, and passer rating, while averaging a career-best 8.00 yards per attempt. Add in the fact that Hunt's production came with only five snaps played and one carry in Week 17 while resting for the playoffs, and he's the best choice for this year's honor.DP: There will always be those who view yearly totals as the best indicator of award worthiness, but from my point of view, Kamara proved himself to be the more dangerous and valuable player. Not only did he make the absolute most of his opportunities at an elite pace, but his presence deflected attention away from others like Ingram and Thomas and allowed the Saints to be a much more feared and successful team. Both have the potential to be franchise running backs, but as far as 2018 is concerned, it's Kamara who deserves the hardware.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bill Belichick stands among the greatest coaches in sports history, and has left an indelible mark on football as arguably the best to ever man the sidelines."The Hoodie" is looking to win his record sixth Super Bowl as a head coach - and his eighth overall - when his New England Patriots square off against the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday.After all these years, it's hard to imagine a world where Belichick never enjoyed unparalleled success with the Patriots, but with a few bad breaks along the way, things would have been different.Here are three scenarios that would have altered the course of Belichick's career.Bills make 47-yard FG to defeat Giants in Super Bowl XXVBelichick rose through the ranks with the New York Giants, joining the franchise in 1979 as a special teams coach and defensive assistant before eventually taking over as defensive coordinator in 1985. Working in tandem with head coach Bill Parcells, Belichick began to show his prowess as a tactician, leading a Giants defense featuring Lawrence Taylor to victory in Super Bowl XXI against the Denver Broncos.By 1990, Belichick was one of the most highly sought-after assistants in the game, and his final act with the Giants was his most memorable. Belichick employed an unorthodox strategy against the heavily favored Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV, instructing his players to let Thurman Thomas rush for over 100 yards while using five and six defensive backs to limit the Bills' passing game. The scheme paid off, but it also took a measure of good fortune for the Giants to emerge victorious, as Bills kicker Scott Norwood famously missed the potential game-winning field-goal attempt from 47 yards out - a moment canonized as "Wide Right."Belichick was hired as head coach of the Cleveland Browns the following season, in large part due to his work against Buffalo. It's possible he would've remained with the Giants or become a head coach later in his career if Norwood had connected. Instead, Belichick moved to Ohio and his defensive game plan from Super Bowl XXV now resides in the Hall of Fame.Art Modell keeps his word, retains Belichick after moving to BaltimoreBill Belichick, head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. Sounds weird, right? It almost became a reality in 1996.Former Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell infamously moved his franchise to Baltimore that year and promised that Belichick - who'd coached the team for five years - would keep his job.Modell didn't stick to his word, however, believing he could find an upgrade."We've had some success with Bill, including an 11-5 playoff team in 1994. However, I believe to get to the next level, a change at head coach is necessary," Modell wrote in a statement upon firing Belichick in February 1996.Belichick moved on quickly, teaming up with Parcells once again by joining the Patriots as an assistant head coach and defensive backs coach for one season in 1996. Who knows how the course of history would have gone for each franchise had Modell kept his word in Baltimore.Belichick doesn't ditch Jets for PatriotsIt doesn't seem likely that New York Jets fans will ever forgive Belichick - and few could blame them.Belichick worked under Parcells again when the latter became head coach of the Jets in 1997, and was universally viewed as the successor to the throne. So, when Parcells stepped down after the 1999 season, it was expected to be a smooth transition. Instead, chaos ensued.Parcells had arranged with management for Belichick to take over as head coach, but his protege stayed in the position for just one day. Belichick's introductory press conference - which has seemingly been scrubbed from the internet - turned into the shock of a lifetime for the assembled media.Prior to taking the podium, Belichick infamously scribbled "I resign as HC of the NYJ" on a single piece of paper, and then explained his decision to a befuddled press corps. Shortly thereafter, he was hired as head coach of the Patriots, who ultimately gave New York a first-round pick as compensation.Imagine the Jets - not the Patriots - as this millennium's football dynasty. It's a scenario that could've happened if Belichick had stuck around. However, with his sixth Super Bowl as a head coach in reach, it's hard to argue with the decision.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker and Denver Broncos edge rusher Von Miller were named the offensive and defensive MVPs of the 2018 Pro Bowl, respectively.Walker notched just four receptions for 29 yards, but registered two touchdowns - including the game-winner late in the fourth quarter - and was the only pass-catcher from the AFC to find the end zone.Miller came up with a strip sack of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff to seal the AFC's 24-23 comeback victory, as the conference won for the second year in a row.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota governor Mark Dayton had to pay for his Super Bowl LII ticket just like everyone else.Dayton's office told reporters Wednesday that he paid $6,000 through an internet broker for the ticket, though it's unclear where he'll be sitting."It was fair market value, although it's gone up (since)," Dayton said of the price, according to Dave Orrick of the Pioneer Press.Dayton purchased the ticket before the NFC Championship Game and said he's disappointed the hometown Vikings won't be playing.When asked whether he'll be cheering for the Philadelphia Eagles or New England Patriots, Dayton shook his head and mumbled something before adding, "I'll be there."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is known for having an abundance of colorful personalities, and many of those were on display prior to the beginning of the 2018 Pro Bowl.A number of players showed their flashy side by modeling their custom cleats for all to see, including Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, whose design was thrilling to say the least.

Sylvester Stallone won't be happy about this.New England Patriots fans decided to give Philadelphia's iconic Rocky Balboa statue a makeover ahead of Super Bowl LII, dressing it up in a Tom Brady jersey.

He's one of the New England Patriots' most famous fans, but Mark Wahlberg wouldn't be crushed to see the team lose Super Bowl LII.The actor, who portrayed former Eagle Vince Papale in the 2006 movie "Invincible," revealed he was just as happy to see Philadelphia advance to the game during an appearance on "Not Just Sports," a podcast hosted by NFL Network's Rich Eisen and his wife, Suzy Shuster."How excited I am that the Eagles are in the Super Bowl, having played Vince Papale, played an Eagle, having become an honorary Philadelphian, welcomed by the Philadelphia fans as one of their own. I really take pride in that," Wahlberg said. "I've made five movies in Philadelphia and I predicted the Eagles would make it to the Super Bowl. It's my Patriots and the Eagles and I couldn't be happier. I'm very excited. It's win-win."Related: Mark Wahlberg left Super Bowl LI early because son kept dropping F-bombsWahlberg is currently shooting a movie in Colombia, however, he said he hopes to convince director Peter Berg to give him some time off so he can attend the Super Bowl with his family.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots linebacker James Harrison, who'll be a free agent once the Super Bowl has concluded, plans on playing in 2018, and possibly 2019, but will be thinking about his son thereafter."I maybe want to play a year at 40, maybe 41," Harrison said, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.Set to turn 40 on May 4, Harrison says his inevitable retirement won't necessarily be a result of age or diminished play."At some point in time, I'm going to have to stop (playing)," Harrison said. "I told my son he could play contact football when I stop, so I'm going to have to give it up in the near future, so he can start getting adjusted to playing. I don't want him to wait too long."His son, James III, is 10 years old, and Harrison doesn't want him to be at the disadvantage of playing against kids with more experience.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will head into Super Bowl LII without the limitations he faced in the AFC Championship game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.Brady had an appointment earlier this week to remove the 12 stitches on his throwing hand, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Brady played that game - where he carved up the NFL's best pass defense for 290 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdown passes - not only with stitches, but reportedly a collateral ligament sprain in his right thumb, following a botched handoff attempt to running back Rex Burkhead in a practice that week.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Video/tweet contains coarse language

Some people in Minneapolis are making things very difficult for the Philadelphia Eagles and their fans in the lead-up to Super Bowl LII.Eagles safety Chris Maragos tweeted Friday that he's been turned down by three restaurants in Minneapolis while trying to make reservations for himself and his teammates.

Say what you will about Josh Allen as an NFL prospect, or the merits of judging players at a glorified exhibition game - he showed Saturday at the Senior Bowl why he's a real candidate to go first overall in April's draft.The Wyoming alum got off to a slow start - in truth, so did fellow North squad quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Tanner Lee - but he was golden in the third quarter before giving way to Lee in the fourth.Allen scored his team's first touchdown with a pinpoint throw to the back of the end zone, hitting Central Michigan's Tyler Conklin after faking an end-around handoff. He was prone to staring down receivers in college, but on this play took one step up in the pocket before firing the ball 16 yards, displaying some exquisite touch, for the score:

One of the galleries inside Philadelphia's Museum of the American Revolution has undergone a name change ahead of Super Bowl LII.The museum announced Thursday that its Patriots Gallery will be known as Eagles Gallery through Super Bowl Sunday."Philadelphia first became the home of the underdog in the American Revolution when it took on the mighty British empire to fight for independence," museum president and CEO Michael Quinn said, according to Julia Hatmaker of Penn Live. "We all know how that fight turned out."Any visitors wearing Eagles gear will receive a $2 discount off the price of admission. Quinn added that the museum will also extend the offer to Patriots supporters "out of sympathy towards those deluded fans who are doomed to return home in humiliation and defeat."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pro Bowl doesn't quite hold the prestige it once did.Fan apathy and Pro Bowlers dropping out, thus forcing less-worthy players to be selected, have certainly taken the shine off the event, but earning a Pro-Bowl berth is still something every NFLer hopes to achieve.Players such as Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen took their games to another level in 2017 and broke into the All-Star ranks for the first time. So, which players are primed for similar leaps next year and could make their first Pro Bowl appearances? Here are three candidates.Nelson Agholor, WR, Eagles2017 stats: 62 catches, 768 receiving yards, 8 TDs, 12.4 YPCAgholor's first two NFL seasons were a major disappointment. The Philadelphia Eagles' young receiver was plagued by drops and inconsistent play, and he was closer to being cut than emerging as a star prior to the 2017 season.But it all finally clicked this year for Agholor, who excelled under Doug Pederson's guidance and developed a strong chemistry with Carson Wentz. The pass-catcher did most of his damage from the slot, but also displayed impressive versatility, consistently producing big plays on screens and more exotic play calls, like the modified jet sweep against the Atlanta Falcons in the divisional round:

"Hefty Lefty" could be headed to the XFL.Following Thursday's announcement by WWE CEO Vince McMahon that he plans to resurrect the league in 2020, former NFL quarterback Jared Lorenzen let it be known that he wants in. He has the perfect nickname in mind, too.

New England Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski was present at practice Saturday for the first time since the AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.Gronkowski missed the second half of last week's game after suffering a concussion on a hit from Jaguars safety Barry Church. He was seen Saturday running drills and catching passes in helmet and pads.Despite being at practice, the 28-year-old is still in the concussion protocol, according to Reiss.Related - Report: Jaguars' Church fined $24K for hit that concussed GronkowskiGronkowski's presence Saturday represents an important step toward his potential return to the starting lineup for Super Bowl LII. The Patriots will look to capture their sixth Super Bowl victory - and third in the last four seasons - when they take on the Philadelphia Eagles.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After a frustrating 2017 season, it appears Eli Manning has a positive outlook toward 2018 with the New York Giants.The veteran is encouraged by the hiring of head coach Pat Shurmur and seems interested in playing his 15th NFL season in New York, per John Healy of New York Daily News. At his new coach's introduction Friday, Manning spoke with plenty of optimism."(I'm) just excited to see how he calls games, how he looks at defenses, how he wants to pick them apart, and just seeing his insight to that and learn from it," Manning said. "So we can see things the same way, have great communication, and figure out how to score some points.”Related: Giants' Shurmur backs Eli Manning in introductory press conference The two-time Super Bowl champion is coming off his worst statistical season, throwing just 19 touchdowns to 13 interceptions. In one of the season's more bizarre stories, he was benched in favor of Geno Smith for a Week 13 tilt with Oakland - ending his 210-game regular-season start streak - but reclaimed his starting spot the very next week.Manning does have one connection to his new coach, as his son, Kyle Shurmur, is a quarterback at Vanderbilt and attended the Manning Passing Academy in 2017.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers will interview interim general manager Marty Hurney for the full-time position this week, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Houston Texans vice president of player personnel Jimmy Raye III will also interview for the vacancy, added Schefter, as will Buffalo Bills assistant director of college scouting Lake Dawson, sources told Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Hurney was named the interim GM last July following the surprise dismissal of Dave Gettleman. Hurney previously served as the Panthers GM from 2002-12, appearing in two NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl.Meanwhile, Raye has served one season in his current role with Houston. Before that, Raye worked in the front office of the Indianapolis Colts and the then-San Diego Chargers.Dawson was an NFL receiver for six years before moving into scouting. He spent 2016 with the Cleveland Browns and was part of the Tennessee Titans' front office for nine years prior to last year.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

World War II veteran Lawrence Brooks is headed to the Super Bowl thanks to New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Cam Jordan.The Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee presented the 108-year-old Saints fan with Super Bowl tickets via Facetime, according to WGNO.“I just thought I’d say thank you for everything you do, your military service back in your younger days," Jordan said on the call. "I appreciate everything you do."Brooks was born Sept. 12, 1909 and served in the 91st Engineer Battalion stationed in New Guinea and the Philippines.The news comes on the heels of Roger Goodell surprising 99-year-old Minnesota Vikings fan Millie Wall with Super Bowl tickets earlier this month.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The question was asked all week: Will Baker Mayfield play in the Senior Bowl?Just hours before the game, Robert Klemko of The MMQB learned that Mayfield has "made a firm decision to play." He'll become the first Heisman Trophy winner to play in the game in the year he won the award since Carson Palmer in 2001.The most outstanding player in college football opted to attend the showcase game in order to address any questions about his character. The Oklahoma quarterback has done that by meeting with teams and absorbing the Senior Bowl playbook within three days.Mayfield may be limited to just one series, however, ESPN's Mike Triplett reports."I have three years of game film people can watch if they wanna see how I handle games," Mayfield said on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Wednesday. "Main decision coming down here was meeting people ... and showing I can learn an offense in three days."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars safety Barry Church has been punished for his helmet-to-helmet hit on New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski in the AFC Championship Game.Church was fined $24,309 for the illegal blow, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Gronkowski was concussed on the play, which occurred late in the second quarter. He did not return to the game and has yet to practice since. His status for Super Bowl LII remains in doubt.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's a time-honored tradition.The mayors of the two cities represented in the Super Bowl typically engage in a friendly wager and this Super Bowl will be no different.Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney has agreed to a wager from Brockton mayor Bill Carpenter.If the New England Patriots win Super Bowl LII next Sunday, Philadelphia's iconic statue of Rocky Balboa will have to don a Patriots jersey. On the flip side, if the Philadelphia Eagles win the game, the statue of undefeated boxer Rocky Marciano in Brockton will be outfitted in Eagles gear.It's being deemed a Rocky vs. Rocky bet.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears the Ben Roethlisberger retirement saga won't be a year-to-year thing.The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback contemplated calling it quits before the 2017 season, and having completed the campaign, retirement talk was expected to ratchet back up. But Roethlisberger's teammates have gotten word about their pivot's intentions."He told us three (more) years," center Maurkice Pouncey said to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler at the Pro Bowl. "He says he wants to play out his contract, so we'll see."Roethlisberger has just two years left on his contract, but that didn't seem to worry Pouncey."That's even better. Because I've only got two years left on mine," he said.With Roethlisberger at the helm, the Steelers have been on the cusp of greatness the past four seasons, but each year has ended in playoff disappointment.They lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the divisional round of this year's playoffs and appear intent on taking another crack at it in 2018. The team did make one major change, however, replacing outgoing offensive coordinator Todd Haley with quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pro Bowl is serving as an opportunity for reconciliation between rivals this year.Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams and Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis put an end to their feud Friday ahead of the league's annual All-Star Game. Davis delivered a hit on Adams during a Dec. 17 game which rendered him concussed."He came and hollered at me the first day," Adams told ESPN's Michael DiRocco and Jenna Laine. "It happened about a little over a month ago now so we kind of settled it. I'm trying to let bygones be bygones."Obviously you don't forget things like that, but at the same time we're teammates out here and you want to be civil and still have a good time so that's what it's about."Adams accused Davis of head-hunting on Dec. 18, though Davis insisted there was no intent to injure his opponent. Davis received a two-game suspension as a result."He said he understood," Davis said. "He said that he was emotional when it happened. He was mad. But we've talked it out. We're in a good place right now."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.The Super Bowl is the most watched event every year on TV and that means plenty of people who don’t give a damn about football are tuning in, or joining friends for a Big Game gathering. The NFL knows this and so do the sportsbooks and that’s why the pregame and half-time entertainment is important and so are the associated prop bets.People won and lost money last year depending on what color hair Lady Gaga sported during the halftime show and by how many times the TV cameras turned to Gisele Bundchen during the game broadcast.The prop wagers this year range from what will New England Patriots' head coach Bill Belichick be wearing on the sidelines (my money’s on the cut-off hoodie) to how many times will Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth say “Gronk” during the game.Here’s a look at the craziest and most fun prop bets on the board at BetDSI and our feeble attempt at handicapping them.HalftimeJustin Timberlake returns to the Super Bowl halftime show for the first time since the infamous wardrobe malfunction involving Janet Jackson in 2004. JT is out to prove he’s no boob (sorry) by giving a performance your pastor will love as much as your teenage niece.Bettors can take a stab as to what song will open Timberlake’s show:Can’t Stop The Feeling! +150

The NFL released its most recent injury data compiled and analyzed by IQVIA on Friday, and the number of reported concussions has increased over the 2017 season.The data revealed 281 concussions reported, an increase of 38 from the previous year and the highest total since the league began releasing such data in 2012.The major increase came in practices, with 45 sustained in preseason and 11 during the regular season. These figures are not shocking considering there is more contact during preseason practices, but both totals are the most ever seen by the league.YearPracticeGameTotal201245216261201343186229201450156206201538237275201632211243201756225281"Certainly we're disappointed that the concussion numbers are up," NFL Chief Doctor Allen Sills said during a conference call, as per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. "We take this as a challenge, because we're not going to be satisfied until we drive that number much lower."The report does not necessarily signal an increase in the amount of concussions, but rather an increase in ones that were reported. This could prove the NFL's investment into third-party injury studies as a worthy one.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas hinted at a holdout if he doesn't receive a contract extension during the offseason.Thomas was named to the Pro Bowl for the sixth time and has established himself as arguably the best safety of his generation.The 28-year-old is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2018 season and is owed $8.5 million in base salary for the final year of his contract."I want to finish my career there," Thomas said Thursday to ESPN's Michael DiRocco and Brady Henderson. "I definitely don't see myself going out there not signed. But I'm going to continue to work my butt off and enjoy this process at the Pro Bowl."As far as my future in Seattle, I think if they want me, you know, money talks. We'll get something accomplished. Other than that, I'm just taking it one day at a time."Thomas has spent his entire career with the Seahawks after being selected 14th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. The standout safety helped the Seahawks win their lone Super Bowl title in franchise history in 2013, and is one of the core components of the "Legion of Boom."After a December victory against the Dallas Cowboys, Thomas told Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett "come get me," leading some to believe that he'd sign with his boyhood club when his deal expires.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The intersection between sports and politics has seldom been more apparent to the football community than this season. Whether it was President Donald Trump waging a cultural offensive against the NFL by imploring owners to fire players who protested peacefully during the national anthem, an increasingly concentrated response from the players in return, and a host of individual efforts to rebuild their respective communities upon disaster, the notion of sticking to sports is dead.With the conversation about racial inequality, police brutality, and criminal justice reform interceding into the world of football - an inevitable development amid one of the most politically divisive years in recent American history, a dangerous notion emerged to the forefront.Players ought to stick to sports. They're paid to play football, not voice their political beliefs.The Philadelphia Eagles have proven this concept to be wildly incorrect throughout the year, and - as they seek to win their first Super Bowl in franchise history - it's worth revisiting their efforts, if only to prove that there's more to life than the nuances of a 4-3 defense or a route tree.Chris Long, Malcolm Jenkins, and Torrey Smith in particular have been among the league's most politically and socially active players throughout the season, all of whom playing major roles in leading the Eagles to an NFC-best 13-3 record. For argument's sake, if any of these players happened to have a down year on the field in 2017, perhaps a case could be made about their political activism having been detrimental to the Eagles.Long joined the Eagles from the New England Patriots and submitted one of his best seasons in recent memory, with 28 tackles, five sacks, and four forced fumbles, serving as a key component to the team's loaded defensive front. Jenkins was named to his second Pro Bowl after recording 76 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and two interceptions, while Smith caught 36 passes for 430 yards and two touchdowns, giving the Eagles another solid weapon in the passing game. If political activism interfered with football for the trio, they did a great job of masking this conflict.Upon signing with the Eagles, Long pledged to donate his entire salary to charity and has kept the league accountable from his Twitter account. Long, a native of Charlottesville, Va., has been one of the largest proponents of educational advancement and actively denounced his hometown for the white supremacist riots in August. This would almost appear to be an obvious gesture but in a climate of silence, Long's actions spoke volumes.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz remains optimistic he'll be ready for the start of the 2018 season after suffering a torn ACL in December."I truly believe I’ll be ready for Week 1," he said via Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer.Wentz was a leading MVP candidate before suffering the injury, completing 60.2 percent of his passes for 3,296 yards, 33 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. The second-year quarterback was named to the Pro Bowl and earned second-team All-Pro honors.Nick Foles took over for Wentz as the starting quarterback and submitted a masterful performance against the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game, going 26 of 33 for 352 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in the 38-7 rout, leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl showdown with the New England Patriots.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants co-owner and president John Mara is confident in his ability to re-sign Odell Beckham Jr., but first he wants to see how his star wideout gets along with new head coach Pat Shurmur."We'll get something done at some point. I want Pat to sit down with him and them to have an understanding of how we're going to act going forward. I have a lot of confidence that that's going to work out well. But we'll see," Mara said, according to Tom Rock of Newsday Sports.Beckham has already tweeted out his support of his new head coach.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.National Football Conference vs American Football Conference (+3, 70.5)