FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) Give 'em a hand: Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are heading back to the Super Bowl.Brady shook off a hand injury and threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Danny Amendola with 2:48 remaining, rallying the Patriots to a 24-20 comeback victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC championship Sunday.Brady, wearing a black bandage on his right hand after hurting it during practice earlier in the week, showed no signs of being hampered.And, with the game - and possibly the season - on the line, the Patriots star came up big again.''I've had a lot worse,'' Brady said. ''I didn't know that on Wednesday. It was a crazy injury. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday was a little scary. Then I started getting some confidence and today we did just enough to win.''Brady finished 26 of 38 for 290 yards and two touchdowns for the Patriots (15-3), who'll play the winner of Sunday night's game between Minnesota and Philadelphia in Minneapolis on Feb. 4.It's the eighth Super Bowl appearance for Brady and coach Bill Belichick, who have won five times - including last year's 34-28 overtime rally against the Atlanta Falcons.The Jaguars (12-7) led 20-10 early in the fourth quarter, but couldn't hold against the defending champions.Jacksonville - looking to reach the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history - had one more shot, but Blake Bortles' throw on fourth-and-15 to Dede Westbrook was knocked away by Stephon Gilmore.The Patriots then ran out the clock, with Dion Lewis' 18-yard scamper with 90 seconds remaining sealing the victory. And they did it mostly without tight end Rob Gronkowski, who left the game late in the first half and didn't return.Brady's hand was the most-scrutinized body part in Boston since the quarterback's right ankle before the 2008 Super Bowl, and Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling's right ankle tendon - the bloody sock - in the 2004 playoffs.Brady was listed as questionable after he hurt his right hand during practice earlier in the week. He was limited Wednesday, sat out Thursday and was limited again Friday because of the injury.That caused some panic among the Patriots faithful.Turns out, it was nothing to fret about.Brady came out for warmups without a glove on his hand, and he came out throwing. He completed his first six passes - including a 20-yarder to Amendola on fourth-and-1 from the Jaguars 30 - for 57 yards to march the Patriots down the field. The drive stalled when Brady was sacked by Dante Fowler Jr., and New England settled for Stephen Gostkowski's 31-yard field goal.A wide-open Marcedes Lewis gave the Jaguars a 7-3 lead 45 seconds into the second quarter with a 4-yard touchdown catch from Bortles, who was 5 for 5 for 66 yards on an impressive and efficient seven-play, 76-yard drive.Leonard Fournette gave Jacksonville a 14-3 lead midway through the second quarter with a 4-yard TD run, hushing the crowd at Gillette Stadium.The Jaguars made some big mistakes that hurt them just before halftime. Bortles completed a 12-yard pass to Lewis on third-and-7 from the Patriots 44, but Jacksonville was called for delay of game - after New England called a timeout.That wiped out a first down, and Bortles was sacked by Adam Butler on the next play to force a punt.With just over two minutes left before halftime, New England's offense took over and the fans chanted ''Bra-dy! Bra-dy!''And their quarterback delivered - with some help from the Jaguars on two long penalties.On first-and-10 from the Patriots 40, Brady threw a long pass for Gronkowski, who was injured when he got popped by Barry Church just as the ball was arriving. Church was called for unnecessary roughness, putting the ball at Jacksonville's 45.A.J. Bouye was called for pass interference on the next play on an incomplete throw for Brandin Cooks. The 32-yard penalty put the ball at the Jaguars 13. After a 12-yard catch by Cooks, James White ran it in from the 1 to make it 14-10 with 55 seconds left.Josh Lambo gave Jacksonville a 17-10 lead 4:37 into the third quarter with a 54-yard field goal. He added a 43-yarder 8 seconds into the fourth quarter to make it a 10-point game.But Brady & Co. were just getting started.---More AP NFL: https://pro32.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-NFLCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots ruled star tight end Rob Gronkowski out for the remainder of the AFC Championship Game due to a head injury.Gronkowski took a hit to the head from Jacksonville Jaguars safety Barry Church near the end of the first half Sunday. He was evaluated by an independent neurologist during halftime and did not return for the second half.

The NFL announced the finalists for the 2018 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award at half-time of the AFC Championship Game on Sunday - Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, Baltimore Ravens tight end Benjamin Watson, and Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen.The winner of the award, which recognizes a player for excellence on and off the field, will be announced at NFL Honors on Saturday, Feb. 3.The three were chosen from a pool of 32 players, one nominated by each NFL team. The winner will receive $250,000 to be donated to the charity of their choice, while the runners-up will be granted $100,000 for their respective charities.Watt already took home Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year for his humanitarian efforts after helping to raise over $37 million for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts in the Houston area.

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was taken to the locker room near the end of the first half of Sunday's AFC Championship Game after receiving a hard hit from Jacksonville Jaguars safety Barry Church. The star is questionable to return.While reaching to haul in a deep pass, Gronkowski was leveled by Church, who appeared to make contact with his helmet. The safety was flagged for unnecessary roughness.

The mysterious hand injury suffered by Tom Brady this week in practice is reportedly a sprained collateral ligament in the New England Patriots quarterback's right thumb, sources told Albert Breer of the MMQB.Despite the injury, which ESPN's Mike Reiss reports included a cut on his hand requiring at least 10 stitches, Brady will get the start in Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 40-year-old threw in practice on Friday with the results indicating he was well enough to play.Whether or not Brady will wear a glove on his throwing hand to protect the injury remains to be seen as the Patriots face the Jaguars' league-leading pass defense.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman made it clear he wants Eli Manning to remain the team's quarterback at a meeting between the two last week, sources told Chris Mortensen of ESPN.While Gettleman did reaffirm his wishes to keep Manning with the club, he did tell the veteran pivot that the organization will still evaluate quarterbacks in the 2018 draft class.Both described the meeting as positive, and Manning voiced his desire to remain in New York while also accepting the team will look for a potential successor in the draft.Gettleman's vision of building up a strong offensive line to help Manning and the running game should certainly appeal to the veteran quarterback, as the Giants ranked 26th in the league in rushing offense last season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals are seeking a second interview with New England Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores for their open head coaching position, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Sources told Schefter that Flores would likely bring on former Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell as his offensive coordinator if he gets the job.Flores has been with the Patriots since 2004, beginning as a scouting assistant. He took over as the linebackers coach last season. The 36-year-old has never worked for another NFL team.Caldwell was the head coach of the Lions from 2014-17 but was fired at the end of the regular season.Former Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians announced his retirement at the conclusion of the regular season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Todd Haley may not be unemployed for very long, as sources told Chris Mortensen of ESPN that the Cleveland Browns are in serious talks with the former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator for the same role.Haley's contract wasn't renewed after the Steelers fell 45-42 to the Jacksonville Jaguars in last weekend's AFC divisional playoffs. The Steelers offense under Haley was second in the league in scoring over the past four seasons.The Browns retained Hue Jackson despite holding a 1-31 record in his two seasons as head coach. He's also been the leader of the offense during that time, but hiring Haley would indicate he's willing to cede control of that unit for next season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears the New York Giants coaching staff under Pat Shumur is beginning to take shape, as sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that former Oakland Raiders coach Jack Del Rio is the leading candidate to become the team's defensive coordinator.The Giants can't make the Shurmur move official until after the Minnesota Vikings are eliminated from the playoffs, but it appears his hire will occur as soon as is allowed. Once he's on board, Del Rio could join the staff shortly thereafter.Del Rio is still collecting $6 million per year for the next three years from the Raiders, so any money from another job will simply be offset against the salary from Oakland.The veteran coach was fired after a 6-10 season with the Raiders and finished his tenure there with a 25-23 record. He served as defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos at previous stops in his career.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen will play in Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles, but it won't be easy.NFL Network's Ian Rapoport was told Thielen suffered an "extremely painful" lower-back injury in the divisional round against the New Orleans Saints, as he sustained a couple of slight fractures in his back as a result of a hit from Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore.He never left last week's game and did not seem to be limited. He finished the game with six receptions for 74 yards on nine targets.Thielen did not participate in Wednesday's practice and was limited in both Thursday's and Friday's sessions.A source with direct knowledge of the situation said Thielen's not at risk of further damage.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just one day after being hired as the Tennessee Titans head coach, Mike Vrabel appears to be on his way to filling the club's offensive coordinator position.Sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN that Ohio State co-offensive coordinator Ryan Day is considering leaving his post to join the Titans and run their offense.One of the reasons the club relieved Mike Mularkey of his duties was the stunted development of quarterback Marcus Mariota this season. Day served as quarterbacks coach for Chip Kelly - Mariota's coach at Oregon - with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.The 24-year-old threw more interceptions than touchdowns in 2017 and had the lowest passer rating of his young career by a significant margin. Despite the Titans winning a game in the playoffs, Mariota taking the next step is key to the team's chances of returning to the postseason.Many questioned the hire of a defensive-minded coach like Vrabel in terms of Mariota's development, but hiring Day would certainly be a step toward easing those concerns.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Pat Shurmur reportedly leaving the Minnesota Vikings following the conclusion of the season to take the New York Giants' head coaching job, the club will have to find a new offensive coordinator.According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, two names considered for the role are former head coaches Mike McCoy and Ben McAdoo.McCoy served as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers from 2013-16 and spent the last season as offensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos. He was fired midseason in the midst of a six-game losing streak.McAdoo was fired from his head coaching position with the Giants after 12 games this year, holding a dismal 2-10 record at the time. He was the offensive coordinator for the club before his promotion to head coach prior to the 2016 campaign.Whoever takes the position will be inheriting the league's 10th-ranked offense from the 2017 season, as the Vikings averaged just under 24 points per game. The main question for the incoming offensive coordinator is at the quarterback position as Case Keenum, Teddy Bridgewater, and Sam Bradford are all set to hit free agency in 2018.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots running back Rex Burkhead will play in Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars despite being listed as questionable with a knee injury, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Burkhead missed the last two games of the regular season and the divisional round.Mike Gillislee (knee) will be inactive, added Schefter, so Burkhead, James White, and Dion Lewis will split the carries in the Patriots' backfield.Burkhead will likely be looking to redeem himself, as the back was apparently the teammate that collided with Tom Brady in practice, injuring the quarterback's throwing hand.Brady is reportedly still set to start despite the injury.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This season's AFC Championship Game between the Jaguars and the Patriots isn't quite David versus Goliath; that framing does a disservice to a Jacksonville squad that's as talented - especially on defense - as any team in the league and has more than earned its place.But the Jaguars are still rightfully the underdogs against a Patriots juggernaut that's appeared in this game for an NFL-record seven years in a row.Related: Save your jokes - the Jaguars are a legit threat to Patriots' throneThis might not be the best New England team we've seen over that stretch, but they're still, well, the Patriots - supremely coached and a lock to engineer a great game plan, with more than enough X-factors on offense to make any defense's life hell.The Jaguars need to play a near-perfect game if they're to advance to Super Bowl LII. Here's a blueprint for what they must achieve.Don't assign 1 defender to Gronkowski all gameStopping Rob Gronkowski is impossible; you can only hope to limit his impact.Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone put it best Wednesday when he jokingly discussed his team's approach to countering the tight end."Hope they do not throw him the football," Marrone said, according to Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com. "Hope he drops it. There is no secret formula. I'd like to watch a game where someone has been able to do it. He is going to make his plays and you hope those plays don't end up killing you."But Jacksonville isn't without options - far from it. Safeties Barry Church and Tashaun Gipson and linebackers Telvin Smith and Myles Jack could all be tasked with stopping the pass-catcher. Even star cornerback Jalen Ramsey wants in on the action.A Ramsey-Gronkowski slugfest would be must-see TV, but it's likely too bold a move for the Jaguars, since it would require a dramatic alteration to their scheme. However, Jacksonville should mix in Ramsey with the other defenders.By switching the man on Gronkowski, and therefore subtly adjusting the challenge he and Tom Brady face from drive to drive or play to play, the Jaguars could disrupt the timing between the two future Hall of Famers and force the veteran pivot to look elsewhere in critical moments.Rely even more on Bortles' legsBlake Bortles will never be mistaken for Michael Vick, but the fourth-year quarterback's scrambling ability was an underrated part of his game until he rushed for more yards (88) than he threw (87) against the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round. This followed a regular season in which he ran for 322 yards and two touchdowns.Bortles used his legs to good effect against the Pittsburgh Steelers, too. He extended drives with well-timed scrambles, finishing with 35 yards on five carries.It's a weapon the Jaguars must continue to deploy, though the Patriots are likely expecting it and will play with more discipline than Buffalo or Pittsburgh.Jacksonville should throw in some designed QB runs, as well some read-option looks, to keep the Patriots guessing. This will also allow Bortles to gain confidence without forcing him into too many throws.Use run game to control clock, help sustain 4-man rushRunning the ball to control the clock and limit the Patriots' offensive drives is easier said than done. It's a game plan many teams have attempted to execute against New England, and most have failed spectacularly.But the Jaguars have the elite tools to succeed where others have faltered. Jacksonville owns the No. 1 rushing attack, topping just over 140 yards per game in the regular season. Their success on the ground has continued in the playoffs, as an even heavier dose of Leonard Fournette has pushed that number to over 150 yards per game.And New England's run defense is vulnerable. The Patriots were 20th in yards allowed per game, but, more importantly, they gave up 4.7 yards per carry (tied for 31st) and allowed opponents to run for a first down 25.1 percent of the time (29th).The Jaguars' defense is more than capable of standing toe to toe with Brady and Co., but the unit's scheme hinges on getting pressure with a four-man rush. If the offense can't sustain drives, Jacksonville's defense will inevitably either get too tired to be effective with just four rushers, or will be forced to sacrifice coverage players to create more pressure, moving away from what makes the unit so good.Riding Fournette (and Bortles) is the best way for the Jaguars to both put points on the board and give their defense the best shot at limiting Brady.Hit on big plays using play actionTo beat the Patriots, you need to put up points - and a lot of them.The Jaguars stunned the NFL world when they not only beat the Steelers, but dropped 45 points on them. That kind of offensive output was rarely seen from the Jaguars this season despite their success.Usually, the Jaguars' scoring is limited by their methodical, ground-based attack. But the upside of being a run-first team is that it opens up the play-action portion of the playbook. In the wild-card win over the Bills, Jacksonville used play action to perfection on multiple occasions, manipulating the linebackers into crashing down too close to the line of scrimmage and creating holes to exploit downfield.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will start Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars despite suffering a right hand injury in practice this week, sources told ESPN's Dianna Russini.It remains to be seen how much the injury affects Brady's ability to grip and throw the football.The 40-year-old reportedly sustained the injury in a collision with running back Rex Burkhead. The veteran pivot apparently required stitches in his hand for a cut that was "gushing blood."Brady was able to practice Wednesday and Friday (though not Thursday), and was seen wearing a glove on his injured throwing hand.

The Houston Texans will move Romeo Crennel back to the role of defensive coordinator following the departure of Mike Vrabel to the Tennessee Titans, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Crennel was the Texans' DC from 2014-16. He was moved to assistant head coach to accommodate the promotion of Vrabel last offseason.The Texans finished first in total defense under the 70-year-old's guidance in 2016. Crennel also helped star defensive end J.J. Watt earn back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2014 and 2015.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tennessee Titans have hired Houston Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel as their new head coach, the team announced Saturday."Mike has a commanding presence and a deep knowledge for how he will attack this head coaching opportunity," said Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk. "Throughout his football career, he has played for, been mentored by, and coached with successful teams and organizations. He knows what it takes to reach that level of sustained success – he has seen it first-hand. We have a chance to build on the solid foundation that we established over the past couple of years, and I believe Mike is the right person to continue that progress."Vrabel, 42, takes over a Titans team that made it to the divisional round of the playoffs under the guidance of Mike Mularkey. Mularkey appeared to have saved his job after a wild-card win over the Kansas City Chiefs, with the Titans saying he would be the coach moving forward.However, Tennessee opted to part ways with Mularkey after being blown out by the New England Patriots, and has now put its future into the hands of a man with just one season as an NFL coordinator on his resume.The Texans finished 20th in total defense in 2017 and dead last in points allowed, though Vrabel was forced to contend with injuries to key contributors J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus.The former linebacker spent 14 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Patriots, and Chiefs, winning three Super Bowls with New England. Vrabel and Titans general manager Jon Robinson have a relationship dating back from their time at the Pats, where Robinson was a front-office executive.Vrabel was promoted to defensive coordinator in Houston this past offseason after spending the previous three seasons as linebackers coach. Before that, he served as defensive line and linebackers coach at Ohio State.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the NFL inches toward the offseason, the Washington Redskins are preparing for the difficult choice of whether to lay the franchise tag on quarterback Kirk Cousins for the third straight season.Tagging Cousins for each of the past two campaigns has cost the club almost $44 million, and a third year would come at almost $35 million.With that in mind, former Redskins general manager Scott McCloughan - who made the previous decisions to use the franchise tag on Cousins - joined 104.3 The Fan in Denver this week and weighed in on the upcoming decision."He's a good player, is he special? I don't see special," McCloughan said. "He's talented. Talented is good at quarterback in the NFL. He's won games, I know his record overall is not over .500, I know he's not won a playoff game. He's competitive and works his tail off."While he doesn't think Cousins - who's led Washington to a 24-23-1 record over the past three seasons - is necessarily special, McCloughan does think the former Michigan State star can win with the right roster construction."You just need to have some talent around him because you don't want him to be throwing the ball 35-40 times to win a game," McCloughan said. "You want to have a running game, good defense, good (special) teams, and let him do what he does"Since taking over as the starter in Washington, Cousins is fourth in the league in passing yards and third in completion percentage. Should he become a free agent, he'd likely be high on the list for any team needing an upgrade at quarterback.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles battle this weekend for a trip to the Super Bowl, but for a pair of brothers, the matchup also puts family bragging rights up for grabs.Mychal Kendricks, linebacker for the Eagles, and his younger brother Eric, linebacker for the Vikings, are quite close and speak often throughout the season. That has changed this week, however, as the duo haven't spoken in the build-up to the game and don't plan to."None of that has gone down this week," Mychal told Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia. "I don't see it happening before the game or after the game on Saturday night. This is the biggest game of our lives to this date and nothing else matters."Eric led the Vikings in tackles this season with 113 while Mychal ranked second on the Eagles with 77. Both players are key members of the defensive schemes each team will deploy to shut down their opponent.So, will Mychal go easy on his brother afterward should the Eagles emerge victorious?"Dude, I don't know if he'll ever hear the end of this," Kendricks said. "Unless we come back to the same situation, which is obviously possible. It happened once, it can happen again. But, dude, whoever loses, it's going to be messed up."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After days of speculation surrounding Tom Brady's mysterious hand injury, we may finally have an idea of who else was involved in the incident.Despite Brady and New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick remaining mum, it was reported Saturday morning that the injury was suffered in a collision during practice with teammate and running back Rex Burkhead, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network."Brady's hand, it's a concern. He's got a cut on the hand, it happened the other day in practice when he collided with a teammate ... it was Rex Burkhead," Garafolo said.Related: Belichick characteristically mum on Brady's hand injuryInitial reports Friday indicated Brady suffered the injury after hitting his thumb on a teammate's helmet. The impact reportedly caused a cut that was "gushing blood," and Brady "was in a lot of pain," and that he subsequently received stitches, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Brady fielded questions during a press conference Friday, but insisted he would not talk about his hand. In regards to questions surrounding whether he believes he will play Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Brady's resounding answer was "we'll see."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Championship Sunday is full of stars on both sides of the ball, from Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski to Jalen Ramsey and Harrison Smith.As usual, these players will likely have the final say in how the conference games play out. However, whether because of certain matchups or scheme advantages, less significant players could still have a huge impact on the results.Here's one such player for each of the four conference championship teams who could be key to deciding the participants of Super Bowl LII.Patriots - WR Brandin CooksThe Patriots acquired Cooks from the New Orleans Saints this offseason, likely hoping he would cement himself as the other main receiving option alongside Gronkowski. And while Cooks' numbers in the regular season were in line with his production over the last few years, he was somewhat of the forgotten man toward the end of the campaign. The wideout failed to break 100 yards in the final six games of the regular season and had just 32 yards in the divisional round.Well, it's about time the Patriots received some real return for their investment, though it will be tough against the Jacksonville Jaguars' vaunted secondary. Cooks will need to get the better of either Ramsey or A.J. Bouye, who present different but almost equally daunting challenges.The Patriots could win this game based almost entirely on a dink-and-dunk game plan, with a heavy dose of Gronkowski over the middle of the field. But, New England will have to test the Jaguars' dominant cornerback duo at some point, and Cooks is far and away the Patriots' most physically gifted receiver. A play or two downfield from him could make all the difference for New England.Jaguars - LB Myles JackJack's rare athleticism was on full display in the Jaguars' divisional-round win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, as the linebacker made a spectacular, toe-tapping interception early in the game.

The New England Patriots have been unusually generous and lavish with their praise for their AFC Championship Game opponents, the Jacksonville Jaguars - but Jalen Ramsey is having none of it.“I've seen a couple of things about it," the star cornerback said Friday, according to Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com. "I know for a minute they were trying to gas me up. They were trying to gas us up a little bit. You can't really gas somebody up who is already gassed. I mean, that is what I do. That didn't really matter to me."While the Patriots, in characteristic fashion, have avoided providing any soundbites ahead of Sunday's game, the outspoken Ramsey hasn't shied away from announcing his confidence to the world. The second-year defensive back guaranteed the Jaguars would win the Super Bowl after last week's divisional-round victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.But to win the big one, the underdog Jaguars will first have to find a way to get past the Patriots - and that means stopping star tight end Rob Gronkowski.The Jaguars' defensive coordinator Todd Wash said Thursday that Ramsey won't be deployed against the future Hall of Famer, but the corner hinted that might not be the case."He hasn't played a corner like me before," said Ramsey, according to Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bruce Arians, who recently stepped down as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, is interested in becoming a color commentator on Monday Night Football.Arians referred to the gig, vacated a couple of weeks ago by Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden, as "the dream job" during a conversation with ESPN's Josh Weinfuss.The 65-year-old noted he's already interviewed with FOX and NFL Network, and has an interview upcoming with CBS. He said he's open to a role in either the studio or the booth.Arians was known during his coaching career for expressing colorful opinions and was a two-time NFL coach of the year. He posted a 58-33-1 record with the Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL has determined the Oakland Raiders complied with the Rooney Rule in the hiring process of head coach Jon Gruden after an investigation, the league announced Friday.Oakland will not face discipline for the hiring.The Fritz Pollard Alliance, an advocacy group that helps monitor the league's diversity when hiring coaches and front-office members, requested the NFL inquire into whether the Raiders agreed to hire Gruden before interviewing minority candidates.Oakland interviewed minority candidates in tight ends coach Bobby Johnson and USC offensive coordinator Tee Martin before announcing Gruden's hiring. However, owner Mark Davis admitted in a press conference that he was confident Gruden would be hired when the two met at a Raiders game on Christmas Day.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In his first time addressing the media this week, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady wouldn't say for sure if he will be ready to play Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.Brady, who reportedly suffered a minor hand injury in practice Wednesday, wore gloves at his press conference, refused to talk about the ailment, and only answered "we'll see" when asked if he will play Sunday, according to Kimberly Jones of NFL Network.He was officially listed as questionable.Head coach Bill Belichick used similar tactics in his media availability Friday, characteristically keeping tight lips concerning his quarterback's health.Brady was limited in Wednesday's practice before missing Thursday's session altogether, though he returned to the training field Friday, again on a limited basis. He has regularly been limited and absent from practices throughout the 2017 season with Achilles and shoulder injuries, but did not miss a single game.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story/video contains coarse languageRobby Anderson appears to be in some hot water with the law.The New York Jets wide receiver is facing a total of nine charges following his arrest in South Florida on Friday, including resisting an officer, harming a public servant or family, fleeing police, reckless driving, and speeding, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN, citing police records.The Jets subsequently issued a statement after learning of the news, acknowledging the situation involving Anderson.

The Minnesota Vikings aren't the only NFL team with a 99-year-old superfan.After the Vikings surprised Millie Wall with tickets to their divisional-round game, Josh Potter tweeted a photo of his grandpa, 99-year-old Philadelphia Eagles fan Philip Basser, who, like Wall, is hoping to see his team win a Super Bowl before his 100th birthday.

Stop me if you've heard this before, but Bill Belichick offered virtually no insight into Tom Brady's hand injury at Friday's press conference.The notoriously surly New England Patriots head coach was his usual self when questioned by reporters about the star quarterback's hand injury that kept him out of Thursday's practice in preparation for Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.Here's some of the most classic Belichick answers from his media availability.Q - Do you have an update on Tom Brady's status for Sunday?Belichick - "Yeah, we gave out the injury report yesterday. We'll update it today."Q - When Brian Hoyer steps in at practice as he did yesterday, how does that affect the team's preparation for the execution that you're looking for on game day?Belichick - "Brian did a great job for us, works hard, practices hard. Does a good job."Q - Now that Brady is dealing with this injury, do you have any regrets about trading Jimmy Garoppolo?Belichick - "We're getting ready for Jacksonville."Q - Does it look like Brady's playing status might be a game-time decision?Belichick - "Today's Friday."Due to the news of Brady's injury, the betting line has dropped from Patriots -9 to -7.5, but it's likely the pivot's status will be unclear until game time.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Lamar Jackson is undoubtedly one of the most prolific quarterbacks in recent college football memory, but there are plenty who doubt he can take that to the next level.As the former Louisville pivot prepares for April's draft, analysts have questioned his pro prospects, with ESPN's Bill Polian even suggesting Jackson should be a receiver in the NFL due to his incredible speed and running ability.Jackson, who threw for 69 touchdowns and ran for 50 scores in his Louisville career, is getting tired of people claiming a positional change would be best for him."It is annoying because quarterback is all I played all my life," Jackson told Andrea Adelson of ESPN. "People look at my legs and they see I can make big plays, but they don't really see my arm, and I make big plays with my arm. I scored more touchdowns with my arm than my legs so ... "While he is certainly one of the most electrifying athletes in the draft, Jackson showed great progress as a passer throughout his final collegiate season. He completed 59 percent of his passes for 3,660 yards and 27 touchdowns, all better numbers than ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper's top-ranked quarterback Josh Allen.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A Pittsburgh Steelers fan was behind the wheel of the vehicle that rear-ended Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette on Tuesday.The fan also happened to be at Heinz Field with her family two days earlier when the Jaguars put an end to the Steelers' season."Actually they had pictures from the game," Fournette said, according to ESPN's Michael DiRocco. "I think her in-laws didn't know who I was until everybody started taking pictures with me and then they were like, 'We were at the game going against y'all. It was cold.' Things like that."There were no injuries in the crash, but Fournette did lose the bumper on his 2017 Mercedes Maybach. One of the first responders asked him to sign it.

The Pittsburgh Steelers' final walkthrough before Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars was done mostly without Le'Veon Bell, as Ed Bouchette of the Post-Gazette is reporting the star running back missed all but five minutes of the session last Saturday.That's not the only thing Bell was late for, as Bouchette also reports he arrived much later than the two-hour deadline Mike Tomlin set for players to be in the locker room prior to the game.Despite the Steelers losing, Bell had a strong showing against the Jaguars, rushing for 67 yards and a touchdown while also catching nine balls for 88 yards and a score.Bell made headlines last week when he told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that he's considering sitting out or retiring if he's hit with the franchise tag again for the 2018 season. While that would pay the 25-year-old $14.57 million, he's looking for a long-term contract that will give him more stability. He skipped training camp and the preseason in 2017 but still finished second in the league with 1,946 yards from scrimmage.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A New England Patriots fan has taken to Craigslist to find a solution for Tom Brady's banged-up right hand.An ad seeking an "adult male right thumb for donation" was posted on the site Thursday after it was reported that Brady injured his hand in Wednesday's practice."I am looking for a male specimen between the ages of 18-35 to donate their right thumb to Tom Brady, not only for the purpose of science, but to ensure that Tom is able to secure his 6th Super Bowl Championship," the ad reads.Brady was spotted at practice Thursday wearing gloves on both hands, though he was officially listed as a non-participant.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Each week during the NFL postseason, theScore's Dane Belbeck will handicap every matchup and offer up his picks.Last week's record: 2-2

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.Las Vegas and offshore oddsmakers are taking the news about Tom Brady’s hand injury seriously. And so are sharp bettors. The New England Patriots starting quarterback was unable to practice Wednesday and Thursday because of an injury to his throwing hand.

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Terence Newman, 39, isn't ruling out playing in his 16th season, even if he fulfills his goal of becoming a Super Bowl champion."Let's just say, hypothetically speaking, that I was able to (win a Super Bowl), then why not try to get two?" he said Thursday, according to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. "You can look at it at both sides."Newman will play in his first-ever conference championship game Sunday when the Vikings visit the Philadelphia Eagles, with a trip to his first Super Bowl on the line.Set to turn 40 in early September, he played all 16 regular season games, making 35 combined tackles with one interception. It was his 15th straight season with at least one pick.He played 28 of 68 snaps in the divisional round against the New Orleans Saints.Despite taking on a diminished workload, he's embracing his role as the team's elder statesman, warning his younger teammates not to take playoff success for granted."It's one of those things where it could give you a false sense of hope as a young player if this is what you're in your very first year," Newman said. "But the reality of it is it's hard to continue to do that. The New Englands of the world, they've been in that position quite a bit, but it's not something that happens often."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson will return in 2018 from the wrist injury that ended his 2017 season in Week 1, but he'll be coming back to a very different team.Both head coach Bruce Arians and quarterback Carson Palmer opted for retirement shortly after the conclusion of the regular season.Johnson, however, says he tried to convince Palmer to play a 16th season."I think Carson's done," Johnson said, according to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio. "I've talked to him. I was trying to get him to come back just because he was another person who was very impactful not just on the field but also off the field. I was trying to recruit him to come back but I think his mindset is (to retire) - and I definitely understand where he's coming from."Palmer was limited to just the first seven games of the season, due to a broken arm. He had completed 164 of 267 pass attempts for 1,978 yards and nine touchdowns, throwing seven interceptions along the way.Even with the quarterback and coach positions wildly uncertain, Johnson still feels as though the Cardinals are the team to beat in the NFC West."We're definitely at the top," Johnson said. "It's a tough division but I feel like we're definitely still at the top. Even with all of those injuries, we still finished 8-8. With everyone coming back healthy next year, we're going to be at the top of the division."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Plenty of NFL teams are searching for new head coaches, coordinators, and front-office staff. Follow here for updates on the league's hiring carousel from Jan. 18.Related: Steelers promote Randy Fichtner to offensive coordinatorThe Atlanta Falcons will interview Ken Dorsey and Darrell Bevell for their open quarterbacks coach position, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.We’re three days into wagering on Sunday’s AFC and NFC championship games. Covers checks in on the action and line movement, with insights from Nick Bogdanovich, director of trading for William Hill US in Las Vegas; Scott Cooley, odds consultant for offshore sportsbook Bookmaker.eu; and Peter Childs, risk management supervisor for offshore shop Sportsbook.ag.Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots – Open: -8.5; Move: -9New England is once again a healthy home favorite, and with good reason after its showing in the AFC divisional round. The top-seeded Patriots (14-3 SU, 12-5 ATS) spotted No. 5 Tennessee a touchdown last Saturday night, then ran off 35 consecutive points on the way to a 35-14 victory as a 13.5-point chalk.Third-seeded Jacksonville mustered just a touchdown and a field goal in a 10-3 win over No. 6 Buffalo on wild-card weekend. But the Jaguars (12-6 SU, 10-8 ATS) exploded in the divisional round at Pittsburgh, racing to a 21-0 lead and hanging on for a 45-42 victory as a 7-point underdog.“We opened 8.5, we’re up to 9. We’re a little high on the Patriots,” Bogdanovich said. “But there’s plenty of Jacksonville moneyline. So right now, New England by 1 to 8 points would be good. And obviously, New England will be tied to every teaser – 42 billion teasers to New England.”Bookmaker.eu opened the Patriots -8 early Sunday evening and reached 9 later that night, staying there until Wednesday afternoon. (Visit OddsShark.com for online sportbook reviews).“The majority of the action has been on New England, and at this point, we have 75 percent of the tickets and just under 70 percent of the money on that side,” Cooley said of pointspread betting. “We did generate some Jags money over the last 24 hours after moving to -9.”That prompted a move back to 8.5. Cooley said the under is also seeing steady sharp play, while the public is on the over. Bookmaker.eu opened the total at 47 and is down to 46.Bogdanovich said William Hill US – which operates dozens of shops around Las Vegas among more than 100 throughout Nevada – was also high on the under, taking the total from 47 to 46.5.Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles – Open: -3; Move: -3.5; Move: -3Top-seeded Philadelphia put up the second-most points per game during the season at 28.6 (tied with New England), but that was almost exclusively with Carson Wentz at the helm. Over the last three games behind Nick Foles, the Eagles (14-3 SU, 11-6 ATS) have a total of just 34 points. In last week’s NFC divisional contest, Philly mustered four field goals and one touchdown in a 15-10 win over No. 6 Atlanta as a 2.5-point home pup.No. 2 seed Minnesota pulled off one of the bigger playoff miracles of all time to earn a spot in Sunday’s 6:40 p.m. ET clash. The Vikings (14-3 SU, 11-6 ATS) fielded the league’s No. 1 scoring defense, allowing 15.8 ppg, and that D was doing a number on New Orleans last week as the Vikes took a 17-0 lead. But the Saints roared back and led 24-23 in the final seconds before Stefon Diggs’ incredible catch and run gave Minnesota a 29-24 win laying 5.5 points at home.“Right out of the gate, we saw professional money on Minnesota, which prompted a move to -3.5, but respected action on the Eagles has moved us back to the key number,” Cooley said of activity at Bookmaker.eu. “There’s a pretty healthy balance up to this point, with the handle slightly favoring the Vikings at 53 percent. My gut feeling is that we’ll see more underdog money as we get closer to Sunday, much like we did in the divisional round.”Fellow offshore shop Sportsbook.ag pointed to significant activity on the total from the outset.“Sharp money hammered the Vikings-Eagles under 40. We moved a full point off that action down to 39 and then eventually to 38.5, as not only was sharp money betting under, the public is also supporting the under,” Childs said. “We got as low as 38.5 (under -115) before going back to 38.5 flat, which is our current number. So much depends on the weather, but if the weather is clear, this total will get back to at least 39 or higher.”William Hill opened the total 38.5, dipped to 38, then went back to 38.5 late Wednesday morning. As for the line, Bogdanovich said it’s been steady at Minnesota -3 (-120).“We’ve got quite a bit of money on the Vikings,” he said. “If the early returns are any indication of who we’re gonna need, we’ll be rooting for the Eagles.”Much like the Jags-Pats matchup, Bogdanovich said he expects moneyline wagering to create some liability on the ‘dog.“We’re dead-even to the moneyline right now, but I can’t imagine not being high to the Eagles come game time,” he said. “It’s natural for people to gravitate to that plus money – bet a little to win a lot, or at least a little to win more.”Patrick Everson is a Las Vegas-based senior writer for Covers. Follow him on Twitter: @Covers_Vegas.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Wash said Thursday he isn't planning to deploy his best cornerback, Jalen Ramsey, against the New England Patriots' biggest receiving weapon, tight end Rob Gronkowski, in the AFC Championship."In a basketball game, I think we would. But Jalen is a corner and we're going to run our system," Wash told John Oehser of Jaguars.com."I think the last thing you can do is to go into a game like this and you try and reinvent the wheel. ... Jalen is a good corner and he plays against wide receivers."Safeties and linebackers all over the league have tried to shut down Gronkowksi over the years but those in the former category have proven to be too small while those in the latter category have proven to be too slow.With New England sporting a thin group of wide receivers, many speculated Jacksonville would put the ultra athletic Ramsey on Gronkowski, who led the Pats in receiving yardage and touchdowns during the regular season.Ramsey is listed on the Jaguars' official website at 6-foot-2 and 208 pounds, four inches shorter and 57 pounds lighter than what Gronkowksi is listed at on the Patriots' official website.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith is pleading his case after being fined $10,000 for taunting.Smith returned a fumble for a touchdown during Sunday's win against the Pittsburgh Steelers and pointed at Le'Veon Bell while sprinting down the sideline.Although he will formally appeal the fine, Smith tried to make his case through the media Thursday."I wish I had not pointed," Smith said via ESPN's David Newton. "Give me a camera to talk to the league, too. NFL, please listen: I'm sorry. I got the fine today. I apologize. I take the point back, the taunting. I'm a great player."Smith was named a second-team All-Pro after recording 102 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and three interceptions in 14 games."Y'all make sure y'all put that video up about the fine," Smith said. "Trying to get that appealed."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons will aggressively pursue a new long-term contract this offseason for quarterback Matt Ryan, who's scheduled to enter the final year of his deal in 2018."No real comment, just the fact that it will be a focus this offseason," general manager Thomas Dimitroff said Thursday when asked about the pivot's contract situation, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN. "That's one that, interestingly enough, will help create flexibility in what we're doing forward with a number of moves we may be making. Yes, Matt's focus will be the No. 1 focus."Ryan, who was the league MVP a year ago, saw his numbers come down to around his career average this season. He'll be 33 years old at the beginning of the 2018 campaign. He's thrown for over 4,000 yards in each of the last seven seasons, and tossed for 20 touchdowns with 11 interceptions this year."I think it's not going to be that difficult of a negotiation, quite honestly," said Dimitroff. "I think we're going to be in a good spot with it."Dimitroff added that he believes Ryan has plenty of elite seasons in front of him, comparing the way he takes care of his body off the field to 40-year-old Tom Brady's approach.Ryan's current contract began in 2014. It was a five-year pact that will pay him a base salary of approximately $19 million in 2018, according to Spotrac.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was a non-participant in Thursday's practice due to an injury to his right hand, according to the team's injury report.Brady was reportedly hurt Wednesday in an accidental collision with a teammate.There hasn't been any indication that the injury could jeopardize Brady's status for the AFC championship versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.Related - Jaguars' Marrone downplays Brady injury: 'He could probably throw left-handed'In Brady's absence, backup quarterback Brian Hoyer took the first-team reps.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially promoted Randy Fichtner to offensive coordinator, the team announced Thursday.Fichtner will also remain the team's quarterbacks coach."We have a tremendous roster, and it will be my charge to continue putting our offensive players in position to succeed and score points," Fichtner said in a statement. "We have the nucleus to be successful, and I am thrilled about the chance to lead the offense as we have already started preparing for the 2018 season."Fichtner joined the Steelers as their wide receivers coach, working in that capacity from 2007-09 before becoming quarterbacks coach.The Steelers didn't retain offensive coordinator Todd Haley after his contract expired.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars weren't expected to reach the AFC Championship Game after a 3-13 campaign a year ago.Defensive end Calais Campbell, however, kept the faith. The 10-year vet joined the Jags in the offseason via free agency and helped the franchise achieve its stunning turnaround.He's not satisfied yet, and Campbell said the Jaguars as a whole aren't happy with just being in the conference title game."That's silly to me," Campbell said to John Oehser of Jaguars.com."We have earned the right to be here. We have put a lot of time and effort in so this is an opportunity we feel like we deserve and we have prepared for. I can honestly say I expected to be here."The Jaguars remain heavy underdogs to the New England Patriots, but Campbell isn't afraid of their championship pedigree."They say you have to beat the best to be the best so I can't wait to get out there and try," he said.- With h/t to NFL.comCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A bakery in Jacksonville is expressing its thanks to Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for his role in the Jaguars' success this season.Cinotti's Bakery announced Tuesday on Facebook that it sent a box of seven turnovers to Roethlisberger to represent the seven times he turned the ball over in the Steelers' two losses to the Jaguars.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After Pittsburgh's 45-42 divisional round loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, there have been questions surrounding Mike Tomlin's job security as the Steelers head coach, a title he has held since the 2007 season.Tomlin was 35 years old when he became Pittsburgh’s head man and has won 116 out of a possible 160 regular-season games with a .659 winning percentage. In the postseason, however, Tomlin is now just one game over .500 in 15 games, including two Super Bowl appearances, winning one of the two in 2008.As Tomlin often says: “The standard is the standard” in Pittsburgh. By that, he means nothing less is acceptable than a Super Bowl victory, something Pittsburgh has done six times. Since losing the big game to Green Bay in 2010, the Steelers have won just three playoff games. No loss was more disappointing than the one to the Jaguars.Against Jacksonville, not only were the Steelers out-coached in many areas, but the Jaguars were the more physical and prepared team. This didn’t reflect well on Tomlin.Over his 11-year stint as Pittsburgh’s head coach, there are three areas that have plagued Tomlin. First off, his teams have developed a nasty reputation of playing down to their opponent. This has been especially evident in road contests where the Steelers were favored. That being said, these type of losses have occurred far less over the past few years.Secondly, Tomlin was never a head coach at any level before coming to Pittsburgh and has struggled with game and clock management as a result. Tomlin hasn’t improved enough in this area, and we saw glimpses of his deficiency again on Sunday.Now, this isn’t to say Tomlin is incompetent on game day. But, development as an NFL head coach is essential. Some of his most questionable decisions have come in big moments against the top head coaches in the NFL.That brings us to Tomlin’s final item that has haunted the Steelers' fan base: Tomlin isn’t Bill Belichick. The New England Patriots have had the Steelers' number and have dominated the AFC. The comparison to possibly the greatest that has ever done it is extremely unfair. But, Belichick is whom Tomlin has had to best for AFC supremacy, and it just hasn't transpired.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)This looked like the year in which Pittsburgh and New England were destined to meet again to see which team represented the AFC in the Super Bowl. The Steelers ultimately stumbled and were outplayed by Jacksonville even though an argument can be made for Pittsburgh owning the most talented roster of the three squads. Moreover, it can be said the Steelers have the most talented roster in the entire NFL.So is it fair to put Tomlin on the hot seat? Absolutely not. His greatest crime is that he is a B+ head coach while Belichick is the best in the game by a wide margin. Regardless of his faults, almost every team in the league would kill for a stable B+ head coach that communicates well with his players and handles his organization with class and a dedication to winning.Taking it a step further, shaking up this organization makes little sense right now. The Steelers have a rare dedication and trust in their head coaches, with just three men holding the job since 1969.As it stands today, it doesn’t sound like there will be major changes on the defensive side of the ball, which is Tomlin’s area of expertise. This is a little worrisome for a defense that has blown a lot of coverages and was utterly embarrassed by Jacksonville.There will be a change at offensive coordinator, though, as Randy Fichtner is taking over for Todd Haley. Expect more play action and hurry-up to be incorporated into the offense under Fichtner.But overall, moving up from quarterback coach to offensive coordinator, Fichtner isn’t expected to make sweeping changes. Maybe more importantly, Mike Munchak, possibly the league’s best offensive line coach who was in the running for Arizona's head job, will be staying in place for Pittsburgh.Ben Roethlisberger has said he will return next season to an already potent offense. Rocking the boat with a coaching change isn't a logical move. Tomlin is highly capable and proven - he just isn’t Belichick.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.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars aren't counting on Tom Brady's hand injury to give them a competitive advantage.The New England Patriots quarterback reportedly banged his hand in practice Wednesday and was taken for X-rays.If the Jags are celebrating the possibility of facing the five-time Super Bowl champion in the AFC Championship Game when he's less than 100 percent, they weren't showing it Thursday."I'm sure he could probably throw left-handed if he has a problem with his right hand and throw just as well," Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone said, according to Phillip Heilman of the Florida Times-Union.That's a skill Brady's yet to reveal.He was, however, spotted back at practice Thursday, wearing gloves on both hands.

A Texas grand jury has decided that Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders will not be prosecuted after being accused of sexual assault in Harris County, Texas, according to TMZ Sports, citing court documents.The grand jury concluded on Jan. 9 that it "failed to find a bill of indictment," and would therefore not be moving forward with the case that was classified as a felony 2.It remains unclear when the alleged sexual assault took place.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.No two conference championship opponents have lived on opposites sides of the sports betting counter more than the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars.