Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald hasn't committed to the 2018 season despite signing a one-year contract extension in November."I'm going to take some time," Fitzgerald said to Darren Urban of azcardinals.com. "Figure it out. I'll let you know, though."Fitzgerald was named to his 11th Pro Bowl on Tuesday and is in the midst of another outstanding season, recording 92 receptions for 982 yards and five touchdowns in 14 games.It's possible Fitzgerald is leaning toward retirement after recalling his first home game in 2004, but he told Urban he wouldn't prepare differently for Sunday against the New York Giants."I'll do what I usually do, say hello to my guys on the other team and go to the locker room. No different," Fitzgerald said.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars fans are coming to Blake Bortles' defense after Houston Texans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney referred to the quarterback as "trash."Fans have started sending trash cans to NRG Stadium as a "gift" for Clowney, with several Twitter users posting photos of their orders.

Duh.The NFL's head of officials, Al Riveron, said Thursday that he's instructed league officials not to use folded note cards when measuring for first down, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.Referee Gene Steratore caused controversy when he did just that during Sunday night's game between the Oakland Raiders and the Dallas Cowboys, using a folded piece of paper to determine if the spot of the ball was enough to give Dallas a first down.

Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is selling the team amid allegations of workplace misconduct, but one of his star players still wants Richardson to go out on top.Luke Kuechly said Thursday that he hopes the Panthers win the Super Bowl this season to give the owner a fitting send-off, according to ESPN's David Newton.Related: Cam Newton doesn't approve of Richardson's decision to sell PanthersRichardson's reportedly accused of sexually harassing women who worked for the team and directing a racial slur toward an African-American scout.The Panthers announced the owner's decision to sell Sunday, and Sean "Diddy" Combs has made it clear he's interested in buying the team, with the help of unemployed quarterback Colin Kaepernick.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his fourth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his updated rankings for Week 16.Standard

Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas jokingly said he would buy the Carolina Panthers if he got one million retweets, and while he's still a long way off, he's already come up with an ownership plan.Thomas laid out his plan Wednesday on "The Rich Eisen Show." In addition to not signing a punter or kicker, Thomas would hire Diddy to perform at halftime and sell brats instead of hot dogs in the stadium if he owned the Panthers.

The Seattle Seahawks have been fined $100,000 for failing to follow the concussion protocol with Russell Wilson during a Week 10 win over the Arizona Cardinals, the NFL and NFL Players Association announced Thursday.The star quarterback took a shot to the chin and was ordered to the sidelines by the referee, but only briefly entered the medical tent before re-entering the game without being evaluated.The Seahawks' coaching and medical staff will also be required to attend remedial training regarding the protocol.

Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch was fined $24,000 by the NFL for his altercation with an official during last week's loss to the Dallas Cowboys, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The incident took place near the end of the game after Derek Carr was ruled to have fumbled the ball through the end zone, resulting in a touchback and possession for the Cowboys. An animated Lynch took off his helmet and screamed at one of the officials.It's been a rocky season for Lynch with the refs, as he was suspended for a game earlier in the year after he made contact with one of them in a contest versus the Kansas City Chiefs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Francisco 49ers have to be pinching themselves.The Jimmy Garoppolo experiment was expected to truly get underway in 2018. San Francisco sent a second-round pick to the New England Patriots at the trade deadline because they clearly thought Garoppolo had the potential to be a long-term starter, but the team attempted to temper expectations early. Head coach Kyle Shanahan even suggested his new quarterback might not get any playing time this season.Instead, Garoppolo was moved into the starting lineup for the last three weeks and has reignited the 49ers in the process, leading them to three straight wins.Garoppolo's stats are good (three touchdowns to two interceptions, 1,026 yards, 8.9 yards per attempt, 68.7 completion percentage), but the young pivot's tape has been even more impressive than his numbers suggest.Garoppolo's first touchdown pass as a 49er - his second attempt after replacing C.J. Beathard late against the Seattle Seahawks - displayed a number of traits that likely had offensive wizard Shanahan salivating.

As the 2017 regular season winds down, it is a great time to single out a few players that were very pleasant surprises this year. While that list could be extremely long, we narrowed it down to just five. Here they are in alphabetical order. Rookies have been excluded from the conversation.QB Blake Bortles, Jacksonville JaguarsCan Bortles lead Jacksonville to a Super Bowl title? Maybe not. Has he solidified his place as the Jaguars' long-term franchise quarterback? Maybe not. But has Bortles been a pleasant surprise this year? Big time!Most of us knew the Jaguars' defense would be improved this year, and they'd rely on that side of the ball and Leonard Fournette to stay in games. Those predictions came true, and with Bortles stepping up in a big way, Jacksonville launched itself into contention for a first-round bye.Bortles is using his weapons very well - the organization has done a great job of finding and developing wide receivers, especially after losing Allen Robinson for the season - but, more importantly, he's not making the mind-boggling mistakes he's been guilty of in years past. He's a solid (maybe even reliable?) starting quarterback, something he's rarely been called.Bortles is making enough difficult throws each game, but has also thrown just eight interceptions this season - only three of them in the last eight games. Jacksonville, which is very well-represented in this article, has outscored opponents by 119 points over those eight games.RB Kenyan Drake, Miami DolphinsMany scratched their heads when Miami shipped Jay Ajayi to the Eagles. The Dolphins didn't exclusively make that trade to create room for Drake, but it sure looks like they knew they had to get the 23-year-old on the field regularly. And wow, has Drake responded.Coming out of college, many considered the supremely fast running back to be just a satellite player at the position - and that's how he was used in an Alabama backfield littered with NFL talent. But in 2017, Drake has shown that he brings much more than great straight-line speed to the table.He is an excellent and threatening receiver who can detach from the formation, and he's done well running between the tackles as well as on the perimeter. Drake is averaging 149 yards from scrimmage over his past three games. Miami has found its running back.DE Yannick Ngakoue, Jacksonville JaguarsNgakoue was very effective coming off the edge as a rookie last year. He played 706 snaps and finished the season with eight sacks. But he took a big step forward in 2017. He's on pace to play more snaps this season, but it won't be a drastic increase, and he already has 11 sacks.Expect double-digit sacks to be a regular occurrence for Ngakoue, who was snubbed from the Pro Bowl this year. What really sticks out is his flexibility and burst. Ngakoue closes on his prey extremely well and has developed a knack for jarring the ball loose upon his arrival.Having a tremendous group of players around him helps his cause, including offseason additions Calais Campbell and A.J. Bouye. But on tape, Ngakoue clearly stands on his own as a difference-maker.LB Telvin Smith, Jacksonville JaguarsAnother Jaguars defender makes the list - and like Ngakoue, Smith benefits from a great supporting cast, including an exceptional pass rush and the best set of cornerbacks in football.Smith is uncannily fast. Though he's still developing as a coverage player, he could eventually become a shutdown defender thanks to that speed and great athletic ability. But what's flat-out rare about Smith is his pursuit. He covers a ton of ground and shows great competitiveness to get to the football.Watching Smith on tape shows he plays the game at a different speed than just about anyone on the field. He keeps getting better. Jacksonville knows it, and recently locked him up to a long-term contract.WR Adam Thielen, Minnesota VikingsNo list of pleasant NFL surprises can exclude Thielen - talk about exceeding expectations!Thielen's unlikely path to the NFL already made him a great story, and last year, he established himself as an important member of Minnesota's passing attack. In 2017, not only did Thielen surpass Stefon Diggs as the Vikings' best wide receiver, he's now one of the best wideouts in the league. He's on pace for 95 receptions and close to 1,400 yards.Thielen has underrated speed and athletic ability, as well as supremely reliable hands and route-running skills. He's a huge reason that Minnesota sits 11-3 with a good chance of becoming the first team in history to play at home in the Super Bowl. In fact, Thielen probably deserves to be the Vikings' 2017 MVP. No one saw that coming.Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns and spent 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast." Find him on Twitter @WilliamsonNFL.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams has been ruled out of Saturday's game against the Minnesota Vikings due to a concussion, head coach Mike McCarthy announced Thursday.Adams suffered the injury on a helmet-to-helmet hit from Thomas Davis in Week 15. The Carolina Panthers linebacker was suspended one game.The Packers will try to play spoiler against Minnesota, with their own playoff chances over and Aaron Rodgers shut down for the rest of the campaign.Despite Rodgers missing eight games, Adams has taken another big step in his development, catching 74 passes for 885 yards and 10 touchdowns.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patriots superfan Mark Wahlberg raised some eyebrows when he was caught leaving Super Bowl LI before New England's epic comeback, and now we know why.Wahlberg, who was watching the game in a luxury suite at NRG Stadium, initially blamed his early exit on 8-year-old son Brendan feeling ill. But in an interview with Stephen Rodrick of Men's Health, Wahlberg revealed that wasn't entirely true."He was spitting out F-bombs and going crazy. It was bad," Wahlberg said. "He was lying down on the carpet. He was very upset."When asked if Brendan learned a valuable lesson from the experience, Wahlberg laughed. "Heck no. He's a vicious sore loser. He wants the ball. He hates when his brother gets it. When he doesn't get the ball, he goes crazy. He throws rocks."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Football is family business.Second-generation players can be found on rosters around the league, and families like the Mannings have become synonymous with the NFL.However, not everyone can be Peyton or even Eli and surpass their fathers on the field. Here are three players who've each struggled to match their parent's achievements in the NFL:Chris Long - Howie LongHowie has two sons in the NFL - Chris and Kyle - but the former gets compared to his father more often due to playing the same position.And while Chris has enjoyed a solid career, the pass-rusher hasn't truly lived up to expectations since being taken second overall in 2008. That's partly because he was stuck on the lowly Rams in St. Louis for eight seasons, but regardless, he never hit the heights Howie did during his 13-year NFL career, all spent with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders.Howie made eight Pro Bowls, was named a first-team All-Pro three times, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.Chris has at least matched his father in Super Bowl hardware, finally winning the big game in 2016 with the New England Patriots. Howie's Raiders took home the Lombardi Trophy in January 1984.Jake Matthews - Bruce Matthews(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Living up to his legendary father was always going to be difficult for Atlanta Falcons left tackle Jake Matthews.Bruce's NFL career spanned nearly two decades (all with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Tennessee Titans franchise), and was filled with unbelievable achievements. His 14 Pro Bowls are tied with Tony Gonzalez, Peyton Manning, and Merlin Olsen for the most in NFL history, he never missed a game due to injury, and his incredible versatility was highlighted by starting at every offensive line position.Meanwhile, Jake's time in the league is just getting started. He was taken sixth overall by Atlanta in 2014 and initially struggled to adjust to the NFL level. He's improved considerably since then, but hasn't yet made a Pro Bowl and saw his team lose the Super Bowl last year.Matt Slater - Jackie SlaterLike Bruce Matthews, Jackie Slater somehow spent 20 years in the NFL and played exclusively for one franchise - a feat as rare as it is amazing.Jackie was part of one of the best offensive lines in league history for the Rams from 1976-95, making seven Pro Bowls and being named a first-team All-Pro three times. He also had his No. 78 jersey retired and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.His son, Matt, isn't a household name, but die-hard fans know him thanks to Bill Belichick's affinity for the career special teamer, who's played all 10 of his NFL seasons with New England. The 32-year-old has actually made just as many Pro Bowls as his father and has won two Super Bowls, but he's never made an impact as a receiver, owning just one career catch.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants will interview ESPN's Louis Riddick for their general manager vacancy, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post reports.Riddick previously served as the director of player personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2010-13.The 48-year-old also played in the NFL from 1991-98 for five different teams.New York announced that it interviewed former Carolina Panthers GM Dave Gettleman on Wednesday.The Giants fired GM Jerry Reese and head coach Ben McAdoo on Dec. 4.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Isaac Bruce is eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and, predictably, he believes he should be donning a gold jacket next summer.Bruce made a strong case for his entry into Canton on Wednesday and is one of the semifinalists from the 2018 class."I'm not sure if I'm like the other (Hall of Fame-eligible receivers this year). I don't know what the criteria is or if it's just based solely on numbers, or if other aspects of the game impact what you did as your body of work is concerned. But when you look from a numbers standpoint, when I retired, I was the second person ever to hit 15,000 yards receiving. If you remove (Jerry Rice), I (was) the No. 1 wide receiver in the history of the league as far as receiving is concerned," Bruce said to Lakisha Jackson of NFL.comBruce currently ranks fifth all time with 15,208 receiving yards, 13th all time with 1,024 receptions, and 12th all time with 91 receiving touchdowns. There is little historical precedent to keep someone out of the Hall with Bruce's credentials. And amid a loaded semifinalist class, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him take the stage in 2018.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

DeShone Kizer had the unenviable task of trying to lead the Cleveland Browns out of the AFC North basement, and failing to do so has taken a toll on him if his teammates are to be believed.Kizer - selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame - won the starting job out of training camp, was benched briefly, and eventually regained the role.The Browns are 0-14 and many believe his rookie season in Cleveland has affected him negatively on a mental level."He's a young kid and he's still learning and he has all the ability," Browns running back Duke Johnson said via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com "I mean, his confidence is probably shot, but that’s where his teammates and his family, his friends come in. They keep him up."Browns head coach Hue Jackson tried to paint a more optimistic picture but admitted that Kizer has been adversely affected by the 2017 season."Any quarterback who's been under the duress that he has, that's a struggle, but DeShone is still a very confident person and a confident player,'' Jackson said. "That being said, are there some scars there? You better know there are. I don't think any quarterback that goes through what he's been through that doesn't have them, but there have been many other players before him that have been in some similar situations and they find a way to come back out of them and have great careers.''The Browns will likely secure the first overall pick in next year's draft where they could finally land their elusive franchise quarterback. In the interim, Kizer will have to figure out what went wrong as the Browns slump toward the finish line.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson is accepting responsibility for his actions after being benched Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.Wilkerson was inactive due to an unspecified disciplinary issue and it's possible he'll also be held out Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers.It appears the 28-year-old is moving on ahead of this weekend's contest."It's all about respect, and I let the team down," Wilkerson said to ESPN's Rich Cimini. "I respect what coach did. We're moving forward, getting ready for the next opponent."Wilkerson hinted that his relationship with head coach Todd Bowles may have frayed but he holds no animosity toward him."I still respect coach," Wilkerson said. "I guess you have to ask him how he feels about our relationship, but I have the utmost respect for him."Bowles appeared noncommital about Wilkerson's status, but the veteran defensive lineman may be reinserted into the lineup."He works hard," Bowles said. "He made a mistake. We've moved on. He corrected it and we'll go from there."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein was placed on season-ending injured reserve with a back injury, the team confirmed Wednesday.Zuerlein was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time Tuesday. The Rams will reportedly sign Sam Ficken as his replacement, per Adam Schefter from ESPN.During an upstart season for the Rams, Zuerlein converted 38 of 40 field goals, with a long of 56 yards.The Rams sit at 10-4 and hold a two-game lead over the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West.Nicknamed "Legatron," Zuerlein is known for being able to convert long-distance field goals and the Rams will sorely miss him while trying to contend for a Super Bowl.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton apologized for his behavior during a Dec. 7 game against the Atlanta Falcons.Payton lost his composure during the contest, running onto the field aggressively toward an official, and subsequently made a choking gesture directed at Falcons running back Devonta Freeman.After being afforded time to reflect, Payton apologized for his actions."Listen, the mistake I made that night was letting my emotions get the best of me," Payton said via Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune. "It's the same thing that we talk about with our players all of the time. It wasn't good, and I felt like as that game went on, it even affected me in calling plays."I've got to (be) better that way. It was frustrating from some of the officiating, but you learn even when you've been in this thing as long as I have. It's something that you regret and you look back on - 'What are you doing?' So, I think that's the thing that bugged me for the better part of the week."The Saints lost 20-17 to the Falcons in that game but rebounded to defeat the New York Jets on Sunday. New Orleans is now tied for the NFC South lead at 10-4 with the Carolina Panthers.New Orleans and Atlanta are still vying for playoff spots and the rivalry could reach white-hot proportions if both clubs square off in the postseason.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner expressed contrition Wednesday for his postgame conflict with teammate Earl Thomas after Sunday's 42-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams."Emotions get high and things of that nature, so everybody has emotions,” Wagner told the media Wednesday, via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. "You can’t always act on them. I am man enough to admit that I handled the situation wrong, and I will do better moving forward. We live, and we learn."The incident began after Wagner played through a hamstring injury during the blowout defeat to the Rams and was clearly hindered - something Thomas called attention to afterward when he commended his teammate for trying but said Wagner shouldn't have played at all and "the backups would have done just as good."Upon hearing that, Wagner told Thomas to "keep my name out yo mouth" while imploring him to "stop being jealous of other people's success" in a tweet that was deleted shortly after.For his part, Thomas said Wednesday he and Wagner haven't spoken directly about the situation, but that they're moving on:

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott practiced Wednesday for the first time since serving his six-game suspension but cut the interview portion short after being asked to share details of his absence."I'm not really going to talk about it," Elliott told reporters. "It's behind me. I'm just trying to start a new page, a new chapter. I'm going to thank this Cowboys organization for being behind me. Thank my family, my team, and my friends for just supporting me through that time and especially the Cowboys fans who have stuck by me through this tough time and haven't lost faith in me ..."But I'm not talking about it anymore. This is going to be the last time you hear me speak about it, so please don't even ask me about it," Elliott said.Related - Report: Full-length documentary made of Elliott during 6-game suspensionAfter admitting he's excited to be back with his teammates, a reporter asked Elliott if he would talk about what he did during his six games away from the team - a question to which he replied: "No."Reporters persisted, however, leading Elliott to reiterate that his focus was on Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks. One question later, the second-year back abruptly ended the interview, telling the media he was done.Elliott's suspension stemmed from accusations of multiple incidents of domestic assault involving his now ex-girlfriend. The 22-year-old is expected to start for the Cowboys on Sunday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin and linebacker Robert Quinn surprised a family transitioning from homelessness with a fully furnished, four-bedroom apartment on Tuesday.Working with United Way and LA Family Housing, Austin and Quinn bought new beds, a sofa, televisions, a dining room set, and more for Shwonna Cox and her six children, according to Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. The family had been staying in interim housing, but was forced to move twice over the past few weeks due to wildfires in the area.

The New York Giants interviewed former Carolina Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman for their front-office vacancy Wednesday, the team announced.Gettleman, who spent four seasons in charge of the Panthers, is reportedly the favorite to land the job following the dismissal of general manager Jerry Reese at the start of December.The 66-year-old led Carolina to three consecutive NFC South titles and compiled a 40-23-1 record. Carolina had an NFL-best 15-1 record in 2015 and went to Super Bowl 50.The Panthers fired Gettleman in July.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Blake Bortles fired back at Jadeveon Clowney on Wednesday, after the Texans linebacker referred to the Jaguars quarterback as "trash" following Sunday's matchup despite Jacksonville's dominant 45-7 win over Houston."I could care less," Bortles told Ryan O'Halloran of the Florida Times. "If how we're playing and how I'm playing, if that's trash, then I'm fine with being trash."The 10-4 Jaguars have won seven of their past eight games and have completely owned the Texans this season, outscoring them 74-14 combined in Weeks 1 and 15.As for Bortles, the fourth-year quarterback has been one of the best at his position in recent games, with seven touchdowns and no interceptions across the last three weeks. And while the Jaguars have leaned heavily on the run all season, Bortles has still performed to a career-high 89.7 QB rating to date.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is selling his team in the wake of workplace misconduct violations, but the face of the franchise isn't on board with the move.Cam Newton said Wednesday he "didn't approve" of Richardson's decision to sell after 24 years at the helm, according to Bill Voth of the Panthers' official site.The quarterback said he was part of a meeting with the Panthers' higher-ups and captains who were told by Richardson of the decision to sell before Sunday's official announcement, according to Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer."I left dejected," added Newton.Richardson is reportedly accused of sexual harassment against female employees and using a racial slur toward an African-American employee.One of the main questions surrounding Richardson's decision to sell the team is whether the Panthers will remain in Carolina. Newton said he wants the Panthers to stay, adding he's heard that will be the case, according to Person.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone confirmed Wednesday that running back Leonard Fournette will likely return for Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers after missing Week 15 with a quad injury, according to Matt Barrows of The Sacremento Bee.Fournette's injury was reportedly expected to sideline him for just one game.The rookie has battled various injuries this season, but is still close to eclipsing the 1,000-yard rushing mark. With one eye on the playoffs, the Jaguars will likely limit his workload and continue to give more snaps to Chris Ivory and T.J. Yeldon.Copyright © 2017 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.Put “smiling through your teeth” and “bullshit excitement” up there with holiday traditions such as baking cookies and watching A Christmas Carol (pick your favorite version. Hint: Scrooged is the correct answer).

The New York Jets are reportedly interested in a reunion this offseason with Seahawks defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson, whom they traded to Seattle just prior to the start of the season, according to Manish Mehta of the NY Daily News.And on the other side, Richardson would welcome a return to New York, added Mehta.Richardson is set to become an unrestricted free agent unless the Seahawks opt to use the franchise tag to retain him. Seattle sent a second-round pick and wide receiver Jermaine Kearse to New York in exchange for the Missouri product.The Jets are likely interested in bolstering the defensive line because of Muhammad Wilkerson's uncertain future. The defensive lineman was left at home for Week 15 after he was late for a team meeting Friday - the latest in a long line of off-field issues.Richardson has been solid since his move to the Seahawks, but has failed to stuff the stat sheet, recording 37 total tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In what's become an annual tradition, Cam Newton traveled across Charlotte on Tuesday to give away thousands of dollars to those in need and spread some holiday cheer.This year's "Santa Cam's Surprise Sleigh" event saw the Carolina Panthers quarterback donate $15,750 to a local middle school, $25,000 to the Second Harvest Food Bank, 200 fleece blankets to homebound seniors, $25,000 to a school-based mobile pantry program, and $500 Food Lion gift cards to 25 families.

Dak Prescott experienced some awkwardness while doing a good deed.The Dallas Cowboys quarterback teamed up with Albertsons and Tom Thumb supermarkets to surprise one lucky fan with free groceries for the holidays. But when he showed up to the winner's house, he was greeted by a woman wearing a Green Bay Packers shirt.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

AFCRob Gronkowski was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week after almost single-handily destroying the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15. The New England Patriots tight end was the star of the show in the pivotal clash, catching nine passes for 168 yards. Gronkowksi was targeted four times on the Patriots' final scoring drive and successfully caught the 2-pointer to extend their lead.Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters took home AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. The playmaker sealed the Chiefs' vital win over the Los Angeles Chargers by intercepting Philip Rivers in the last two minutes. Peters picked off Rivers earlier in the game, too, and also forced a fumble.Ravens punter Sam Koch dropped four of his five punts inside the Cleveland Browns' 20-yard line - one of which helped set up a key defensive score in Baltimore's victory - to earn the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award.NFCTodd Gurley's four-touchdown destruction of the Seattle Seahawks earned him the NFC Offensive Player of the Week award for Week 15. The Rams' star running back had three scores on the ground and one through the air as Los Angeles produced a statement win in Seattle. Gurley finished with 152 yards on 21 carries and added 28 yards on three catches.Lions cornerback Darius Slay lived up to his "Big Play" nickname against the Chicago Bears, picking off Mitch Trubisky twice and recording three pass defenses in a huge win for Detroit to earn NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.San Francisco 49ers kicker Robbie Gould recorded his third straight game without a miss (with four or more attempts) in a win over the Tennessee Titans. Gould hit all six of his field-goal tries, including a 50-yarder, to win the fifth weekly award of his career and his second this year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2017 NFL season is entering its home stretch and the playoff picture, for the most part, is becoming clear.There are exceptions, however, and the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, and Tennessee Titans are involved in one of the most complex scenarios in recent memory, all holding identical 8-6 records entering Week 16.Here's a breakdown of the complexities of each team's tiebreaker, what lies ahead, and what could complicate its playoff bid.Baltimore Ravens Remaining schedule: Colts (Dec. 23), Bengals (Dec. 31)Common opponents tiebreaker: The Ravens have yet to play four common opponents yet, so this tiebreaking method has yet to be enacted in most playoff standings. All three teams will play the Dolphins, Colts, Bengals, and Raiders by season's end. Baltimore is 3-0 against these teams, Buffalo is 3-1, and Tennessee is 3-2 while completing its games against common opponents.The Ravens will lose the tiebreaker to the Bills if both teams finish 9-7 based on strength of victory. However, if the Bills lose to the Dolphins and finish with an identical record with the Ravens, Baltimore wins the tiebreaker on common games.Other complexities/details: Simply, if the Ravens win out, they will get into the playoffs as the AFC's No. 5 seed, regardless of how the Bills and Titans perform.If the Ravens beat the Colts but lose to the Bengals, they'd need the Titans to lose both games, with the Bills not directly impacting their positioning.Buffalo Bills Remaining schedule: @Patriots (Dec. 24), @Dolphins (Dec. 31)Common opponents tiebreaker: As mentioned above, the Bills are 3-1 against common opponents with the Ravens, while the Ravens are 3-0. The Colts play Baltimore on Dec. 23 and the Bengals on Dec. 31 while Buffalo plays the Dolphins on Dec. 31, which will complete their common opponents tiebreaker schedule.Other complexities/details: Buffalo is almost certainly guaranteed a playoff spot if it wins both of its final two games. If the Bills win out, they can only miss the playoffs if Jacksonville loses its final pair of contests and the Bills, Ravens, Titans, and Jaguars all finish at 10-6.If the Ravens lose both of their games, they'd need the Bills to also lose both of their contests, along with a Titans win in one of their two games to have a chance, with the Chargers still in the mix.Tennessee TitansRemaining schedule: Rams (Dec. 24), Jaguars (Dec. 31)Common opponents tiebreaker: Baltimore (3-0, two games remaining) and Buffalo (3-1, one game remaining) currently have superior records against common opponents than Tennessee (3-2, no games remaining). The Titans would be wishing for Bills and Ravens losses regardless, giving all three teams an identical common opponents record, meaning another tiebreak method would have to be used.Other complexities/details: The Titans will hold the tiebreaker over the Bills if they beat the Jaguars, based on conference wins. However, Tennessee will lose the tiebreaker with a loss against the Jaguars. Winning or losing against the Rams will only matter if its record is identical to Buffalo's.If the Jaguars lose their final two games and the Titans win their last pair, the latter will capture the AFC South.If all three teams finish 10-6, the Ravens get in as the No. 5 seed and the Bills get in the No. 6 seed while the Titans would miss the playoffs, unless the Jaguars lose their final two games, in which case the Bills would be eliminated.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's NFL Editors, including Jack Browne, Michael McClymont, Esten McLaren, and Arun Srinivasan.1. New England PatriotsBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan1st1st1st1stPrevious Rank: 1stJust in case you forgot during his one-week suspension, Rob Gronkowski reminded the NFL world why he's one of the most unstoppable players the league has ever seen in the win over Pittsburgh. - Browne2. Los Angeles RamsBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan2nd4th3rd2ndPrevious Rank: 4thThe Rams dismantled the reigning NFC West champions to strengthen their hold on the 2017 title, proving their worth to the rest of the NFC in the process. - McLaren3. Pittsburgh SteelersBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan3rd2nd5th4thPrevious Rank: 2ndOnly a team with as much firepower as the Steelers could withstand the loss of Antonio Brown, even temporarily. The Steelers ought to be just fine moving forward. - Srinivasan4. Minnesota VikingsBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan4th3rd4th3rdPrevious Rank: 3rdTeddy Bridgewater returned to action but it appears that it's Case Keenum's team for the duration of the season. The Vikings have the best possible problem on their hands. - Srinivasan5. Jacksonville JaguarsBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan5th5th2nd5thPrevious Rank: 5thThe Jaguars are playoff bound for the first time in a decade, and with Blake Bortles' newfound confidence, they'll be a tough out for any team in the AFC. - McClymont6. New Orleans SaintsBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan6th8th7th6thPrevious Rank: 6thTheir only notable wins have come against the Panthers. The Saints could put any lingering doubt about their playoff legitimacy aside with a win in a revenge game against the Falcons. - McClymont7. Carolina PanthersBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan7th7th6th8thPrevious Rank: 7thSurely Cam Newton was motivated by all the attention Aaron Rodgers garnered in his return game. Cam even took to trolling his opponents mid-play. The Panthers could be scary come playoff time. - McClymont8. Philadelphia EaglesBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan8th6th9th9thPrevious Rank: 11thNick Foles reassured Eagles nation that the offense is far from doomed without Carson Wentz, but what the hell was that performance from the defense against the lowly Giants? - Browne9. Atlanta FalconsBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan9th9th10th7thPrevious Rank: 8thThey may not look like the juggernaut of 2016, but the prospect of playing them in the playoffs will be a frightening one for any NFC opponent. - McClymont10. Kansas City ChiefsBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan10th11th8th10thPrevious Rank: 13thThe Chiefs used a healthy dose of Kareem Hunt for a second consecutive week and looked like an unstoppable offense once again, beating their only competition in the AFC West. - McLaren11. Baltimore RavensBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan11th10th13th11thPrevious Rank: 12thWith dates against the Colts and Bengals to close out the season, the Ravens still have a great shot of sneaking into the AFC playoffs, unless disaster strikes. - Srinivasan12. Dallas CowboysBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan12th12th12th12thPrevious Rank: 14thEzekiel Elliott had 390 rushing yards in the three games prior to his suspension. The 8-6 Cowboys will need even more from their star back upon his return if they're to sneak into the postseason. - Browne13. Los Angeles ChargersBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan 13th16th11th15thPrevious Rank: 10thThe Chargers looked nothing like the team that had won four consecutive games in losing a pivotal matchup in the battle for the division. They're now looking up at a wild-card spot and in need of some help. - McLaren14. Detroit LionsBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan14th14th14th13thPrevious Rank: 15thThe Lions will need to win out to keep their slim hope of making the playoffs alive, and even then it may not be enough.15. Seattle SeahawksBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan15th13th17th14thPrevious Rank: 9thThe Seahawks are still alive, but the run defense that just allowed Todd Gurley to rack up 152 rushing yards and three touchdowns (plus a fourth through the air) will welcome Ezekiel Elliott back from suspension in a must-win game for both teams. - McLaren16. Buffalo BillsBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan16th15th15th17thPrevious Rank: 18thBuffalo could break its 17-year playoff drought if they win out and get some help. But does anyone want to bet on the Bills coming through in crunch time? - Browne17. Tennessee TitansBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan17th17th16th16thPrevious Rank: 16thThe Titans have chosen the absolute worst time to go in the tank. They're clinging to a wild-card spot and will need a victory against the Rams and/or Jaguars to maintain it. - McClymont18. Green Bay PackersBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan18th18th18th18thPrevious Rank: 17thAaron Rodgers returned but it wasn't enough to save the Packers, who will be watching the playoffs from home for the first time since 2008. - Srinivasan19. Oakland RaidersBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan19th19th19th19thPrevious Rank: 19thThe Raiders fumbled away their last legitimate shot at a playoff spot. It could be tough watching this team when they have nothing to play for. - McLaren20. Washington RedskinsBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan20th20th21st21stPrevious Rank: 21stJay Gruden has done a solid job in Washington, but missing the playoffs three times in four seasons means his seat will be hot in 2018. - Browne21. Miami DolphinsBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan21st23rd20th22ndPrevious Rank: 20thPositives are few and far between for this lackluster Dolphins team, but Kenyan Drake looking like a legitimate stud of late is a decent silver lining. - Browne22. Arizona CardinalsBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan24th22nd25th20thPrevious Rank: 22ndWith Adrian Peterson done for the year, Kerwynn Williams banged up with a quad injury, and Blaine Gabbert removed from the starting job, get ready for an offense led by Drew Stanton and Elijhaa Penny. Yikes. - McLaren23. New York JetsBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan22nd21st26th23rdPrevious Rank: 23rdSo, Bryce Petty really isn't the answer for the Jets under center. New York will be a favorite to make a big-time move in the draft to snag a quarterback. - Browne24. San Francisco 49ersBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan23rd25th22nd25thPrevious Rank: 28thJimmy Garoppolo has looked the part of a franchise quarterback thus far, but he'll face his first true test in the vaunted Jaguars' defense in Week 16. That'll surely temper expectations for 2018. - McLaren25. Denver BroncosBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan27th24th23rd26thPrevious Rank: 29thBrock Osweiler played the hero in the Thursday night matchup with the Colts. The Broncos will go as far as he'll take them these last two weeks (if Paxton Lynch can't get healthy), so expect some regression. - McLaren26. Tampa Bay BuccaneersBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan25th27th24th28thPrevious Rank: 27thAt least Jameis Winston looks healthy now. - McClymont27. Houston TexansBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan28th26th31st24thPrevious Rank: 24thBill O'Brien vowed that he'll never quit as coach of the Texans. Not quite sure why he would with Deshaun Watson, J.J. Watt, and basically half the roster set to return next year from serious injury. - McClymont​28. Chicago BearsBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan26th29th27th29thPrevious Rank: 25thJohn Fox and Ryan Pace should begin updating their resumes as another ugly season reaches its end. - Srinivasan29. Cincinnati BengalsBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan29th28th29th27thPrevious Rank: 26thIs Marvin Lewis staying or going? It's remarkable he's lasted this long with the Bengals in any event. - Srinivasan30. New York GiantsBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan30th30th28th31stPrevious Rank: 31stWhere has that version of the Giants' offense been all year?! - Browne31. Indianapolis ColtsBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan31st31st30th30thPrevious Rank: 30thDissected by Brock Osweiler. It doesn't get much more embarrassing than that. - McClymont32. Cleveland BrownsBrowneMcClymontMcLarenSrinivasan32nd32nd32nd32ndPrevious Rank: 32ndThis season may not be a totally lost cause after all, with the Browns possessing a real chance of getting the No. 1 and 2 picks in next spring's draft.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints have enjoyed a career year from running back Mark Ingram, who's racked up 1,045 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 204 carries, with an additional 375 yards coming through the air on a career-high 51 receptions.The first-round pick in 2011 has partnered with 2017 third-round pick, Alvin Kamara to accomplish something that hasn't been done in the NFL since 1975.

The 2018 Pro Bowl rosters were released Tuesday, and while injuries, Super Bowl contention, and just general unwillingness mean the rosters are far from final, the first drafts include several surprises for more casual fans of the game.Here's how three players became names to know in 2017.A.J. Bouye, CB, JaguarsBouye can get a little lost when discussing the NFL's best defense. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey and defensive end Calais Campbell have hogged the spotlight - rightfully so - but Bouye ranks as Pro Football Focus' No. 5 cornerback on the season, just three spots below his more revered teammate.Bouye's the reason the Jaguars' pass defense ranks seventh by Football Outsiders' DVOA against opposing No. 2 receivers, limiting the position to 5.7 targets and 34.2 yards per game.There's no reason to believe he wouldn't be capable of shutting down the opponent's No. 1 option if the incrementally superior Ramsey wasn't lined up on the other side of the field.Micah Hyde, SS, BillsHyde has vastly improved with age and after an offseason move to the Bills. Drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 2013 fifth round, Hyde was often the weak spot of the Packers' secondary in his first couple NFL seasons.After showing improvement in 2016, he signed a five-year, $30.5-million contract with the Bills, and has become PFF's ninth-ranked safety, No. 2 from the AFC.Through 14 games, he boasts career bests of 69 combined tackles and five interceptions.Budda Baker, ST, CardinalsBaker, a 2017 second-round draft pick, has racked up 59 combined tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, and one recovery in 14 games. He ranks as PFF's No. 16 safety on the season, despite playing just 41.5 percent of defensive snaps.Baker only transitioned into the defensive unit mid-way through the season. His rise to glory, and Pro Bowl selection, are due to him playing 64.6 percent of the Cardinals special teams' snaps.The hard-hitting rookie could force some offensive players to think twice about playing the extra game.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pro Bowl is often a contentious event for players, especially those who believe they should've been named to the NFL's All-Star game.Related: Brady, Gurley headline 2018 Pro Bowl rostersWhile many players were happy for their colleagues, other players took to Twitter to voice outrage on their own behalf, or to lobby for teammates.Related: 6 biggest snubs from the 2018 Pro BowlBelow is a list of players who were bemused, outraged, or in disbelief over their omissions:

The NFL released the 2018 Pro Bowl rosters Tuesday, and while there were many deserving selections, a few players ought to be outraged over their omissions.This year proved to be tougher than usual with many close calls, but below are six players who were certainly snubbed from the league's All-Star Game.Alex Smith, QB, Chiefs Smith became synonymous with rote, conservative decision-making throughout his career, but this year he broke out of his shell and was in the MVP race for the first half of the season. The veteran quarterback ranks sixth in passing yards, fifth in touchdown passes, first in passer rating, and third in completion percentage, proving he's no longer a game-manager. Narratives are often difficult to change for players well into their careers, but Smith ought to be appalled that he wasn't named to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive year.Kevin Byard, S, Titans Byard is a relative unknown in league circles but he's become one of the NFL's brightest defensive stars during his first two seasons and is tied for second in the league with six interceptions. The 24-year-old has quickly become the anchor of the Titans' secondary and has been a menace to throw against with 14 pass deflections. Ranked as the fourth-best safety by Pro Football Focus, it's only a matter of time before Byard is in consideration for the Pro Bowl on an annual basis.Tre'Davious White, CB, Bills White has been sensational for the Bills during his rookie season, allowing the defense to operate without missing a beat after Stephon Gilmore signed with the Patriots last offseason. Selected 27th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, White is often assigned to the opponent's best receiver and has done remarkably well against the NFL's premier talent - with the exception of A.J. Green. With 18 pass deflections, four interceptions, and ranking third on Pro Football Focus' list, White is sure to become a household name.Marvin Jones, WR, Lions Jones is one of the league's most electrifying receivers and few players, if any, pose as much intrigue when the ball is in the air. Perpetually underrated, Jones posted 54 receptions for 970 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 18 yards per catch - second only to Jacksonville's Keelan Cole. Jones' ability to separate downfield and win one-on-one battles makes him a matchup nightmare, and it's a shame that he won't be able to showcase his skills in Orlando.Jason Kelce, C, Eagles Carson Wentz's emergence as a legitimate MVP candidate before tearing his ACL was one of the stories of the season and received full credit. Kelce, like most offensive linemen, wasn't given enough due for helping Wentz become the franchise quarterback that he was expected to be. An outstanding run-blocker, Kelce improved his pre-snap reads and made Wentz's life in the pocket much easier. Graded as the top center in the league by Pro Football Focus, Kelce ought to be fuming over his omission.Harrison Smith, S, Vikings Smith was named to the Pro Bowl in consecutive years and it's puzzling why he was left off the list, despite submitting another standout season. Playing in all 14 games, Smith recorded 64 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and three interceptions while anchoring a ferocious Vikings defense that played a major role in clinching in the NFC North. Smith ranks as Pro Football Focus' top safety and aces the eye test but has somehow left the electorate unimpressed.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL released the rosters for the 2018 Pro Bowl on Tuesday night.For the second consecutive year, the NFL will use a conference-based format for the league's annual all-star game.The game will be played on Jan. 28 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.AFC QuarterbacksTom Brady, Patriots

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his fourth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his early rankings for Week 16.Updated rankings (including PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.Standard

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green admitted that while he isn't letting head coach Marvin Lewis' potential departure affect him, the same can't be said for his teammates."It doesn't matter to me, that's just the person I am," Green told ESPN's Katherine Terrell on Tuesday. "I'm pretty sure it matters to some other guys, having that come out before the game and not having him address that, which is his decision, but I know some guys probably didn't take it as well, him not addressing it before the game ..."We all have social media, we all know what's going on. I'm pretty sure some guys felt some kind of way about the situation, but at the end of the day we're professionals and we have to play this game of football that we get paid for," Green said.A report Sunday said Lewis, whose contract expires at the end of the season, will move on to explore other opportunities, but the longtime coach vehemently denied such claims, saying he hasn't made a decision.The Bengals will finish with back-to-back losing seasons for only the second time in Lewis' 15-year tenure, which includes a 0-7 postseason record.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey is happy to stick with Hue Jackson moving forward, despite the club's lack of success during the head coach's tenure.The Browns are two games away from potentially going 0-16, with Jackson posting a cumulative 1-29 record since being appointed as head coach.Dorsey, who was hired as the team's general manager on Dec. 7, endorsed Jackson on Tuesday and is looking forward to furthering their rapport."Hue and I have a really good relationship," Dorsey said on 92.3 The Fan, per ESPN's Pat McManamon. "First off, I think ownership has said that Hue would be back. With that, I'm excited to work with with him here. I've been really impressed with how Hue messages to the player. I've always thought that head coaches should be leaders of men, and when I watch (Jackson) talk to the team and how hard guys play for him, that's exciting."Then we've sat down in the past - I'm not sure how long I've been here - but we've had great conversations, and part of those conversations has been about how to build that strategic plan for the 2018 season as well."Dorsey also drew some backlash for noting last week that the previous regime didn't assemble a talented roster, and attempted to clarify his remarks Tuesday."Listen, you guys are professional wordsmiths," Dorsey said. "I am not a professional wordsmith. I'm a football guy. My intent was to say we don't have enough good football players. There's some good football players on this team."Are there some good young football players on this team? You bet there are. And you know what, we're going to get some more football players, and we're going to get some Ws, too."Dorsey will be inextricably linked to the Browns' head coach in 2018, whether it's Jackson or otherwise, but the vote of confidence bodes well amid an embarrassing season to date.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis had his two-game suspension for a blindside hit on Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams reduced to a single game, the league announced Tuesday.It marks the first time in Davis' 12-year career he'll serve a suspension.The reduction is big news for the Panthers, though, as Davis is eligible to return in Week 17 for a significant divisional game against the Atlanta Falcons.Davis' helmet-to-helmet hit forced Adams to leave the game with a concussion. Afterward, Adams voiced his displeasure on social media, leading to an apology from Davis.Adams missed Tuesday's practice and his status for Saturday against the Minnesota Vikings is unclear, though it would be surprising to see him suit up with the Packers eliminated from the postseason.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans have added offensive guard David Quessenberry to the active roster ahead of their Week 16 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to ESPN's Field Yates.Drafted by the Texans in the sixth round of the 2013 draft, Quessenberry is yet to play an NFL game, after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in June 2014.Quessenberry returned to practice this past May, after being declared cancer-free in April. After spending his entire career to date on injured reserve or the non-football illness list, Quessenberry was released and then re-signed to the Texans' practice squad ahead of the 2017 season. The 27-year-old seems in line to play his first game this weekend, with the Texans sporting a 4-10 record and out of the playoff picture.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady has been afforded plenty of leeway during his decorated career with the New England Patriots, but it seems Bill Belichick is putting his foot down in one regard.Belichick reportedly banned Alex Guerrero - Brady's friend and business partner - from entering the locker room, Bob Hohler of the Boston Globe revealed.Brady and Guerrero built a therapy center, named TB12 Center, in 2013 but Belichick was adamant he fully trusted the Patriots' medical staff. Belichick, however, allowed Patriots players to train at the TB12 Center with Guerrero and, in turn, the center invoiced the Patriots for their services.Guerrero was also allowed to travel with the Patriots and stay on the sidelines, while holding an office close to the Patriots' locker room.However, Belichick recently revoked all of Guerrero's privileges without explanation.Brady deferred about commenting whether Belichick's decision strained their working relationship."I don’t have any comment on that other than to say Alex, it’s been well-documented, has been a huge part of what I do and I’m so fortunate to have him not only as a friend, but with everything that we’ve been able to do together," Brady said Monday on WEEI.Brady is a leading candidate to win NFL MVP this season while the Patriots occupy the AFC's top seed. If there's any discord between Brady and Belichick, it'll likely be revealed after the season ends.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A day after the Green Bay Packers' Davante Adams took to social media to call out Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis for headhunting, the wide receiver took umbrage with another player decided to join the conversation.Washington Redskins linebacker Zach Brown responded to Adams' comments on Twitter, saying he will always headhunt and suggested Adams step away from the game.

The Dallas Cowboys have had a streaky year, to say the least.After beginning the season 2-1, they lost two in a row, won the next three, then lost three in a row. And after defeating the Oakland Raiders on Sunday Night, the Cowboys are now on a three-game winning streak. Now, there were some strange occurrences in Dallas' latest win including the referees using a folded piece of paper to determine a first down and Derek Carr fumbling the ball out of the end zone, but nonetheless, the Cowboys are back on the winning track.And in case you hadn't heard, Dallas will get Ezekiel Elliott back in the fold for its final two games (versus Seattle and at Philadelphia) to finish the regular season.What is Dallas' outlook going forward? And how would the Cowboys stack up with the rest of the NFC contenders if they were to reach the postseason?Over this latest three-game winning streak, the Cowboys have outscored their collective opponents by 47 points despite only beating the Raiders by three. Dallas is clicking well on both sides of the ball and should be a very difficult team overall to play against going forward. They might just be hitting their stride at the right time in a very competitive conference, but a conference that is also very up for grabs without a clear favorite to get to the Super Bowl.Let's start with the defense. It's no accident that this unit plays far better when Sean Lee is healthy. In fact, it's night and day when he's on the field versus when he is sidelined (which has happened a lot) over the past several seasons.But this defense is more than just Lee. In fact, after losing several starters in their defensive backfield, the Cowboys attacked that area of need in the draft. Those young cover men are starting to really shine and have clearly progressed as the season has gone on.An improved pass-rush from a year ago helps dramatically. Dallas was without David Irving on Sunday, but he should return soon to help give the Cowboys a versatile and often-dominant force up front to pair with Demarcus Lawrence - a player who shouldn't be too far off the defensive MVP candidates.Dallas' pass defense overall has been poor this year, but with Lawrence and Irving rushing the passer and the improvement in the secondary, they might be turning the corner.It also needs to be noted that even though Dan Bailey has been injured and hasn't been his usual elite self this year, the Cowboys have been excellent overall on special teams. Such things cannot be overlooked.But as expected, Dallas is even better on the offensive side of the ball than on defense by a wide margin. That's the way the Cowboys are built with a wealth of resources invested on offense. Their great offensive line lost two starters and isn't where it was a year ago, but it still has flashes of dominance and might have the best center, guard, and tackle in football. However, it should be noted that Tyron Smith injured his ankle against the Raiders and didn't return.Alfred Morris has done fine in Elliott's stead, but Dallas getting back its featured runner (presumably with fresh legs) could be the boost the Cowboys need to possibly become the premier team in the NFC. This might be the best rushing attack in the NFL thus far, even with Elliott's missed time.Five teams have more rushing attempts than Dallas, but just two average more yards per game. This is true even though the Cowboys only have 13 runs over 20 yards, ranking in the middle of the pack league-wide. Elliott should bring more explosiveness.Dak Prescott took a lot of heat during the most recent losing streak, but he has played very well of late and has a very good command of this offense for a second-year player. It stands out how well Prescott is handling pressure of late and the blitz as a whole. Dallas has incorporated designed quarterback runs which have worked really well and put a lot of stress on every defense it's faced. Keeping that up will make Elliott even more threatening.The receiving corps here is not ideal, however, and Prescott didn't get enough help from this crew against the Raiders. This really stands out in the deep passing game, an area in which Prescott has excelled this year. Dez Bryant is still Dez Bryant, but he doesn't get great separation or run away from anyone.The remaining pass-catchers are now pedestrian at best and lack big-play ability. That should be an area to prioritize this offseason, but in the meantime, Dallas is strong on this side of the ball and well equipped to wear teams down if its defense can remain stable and continue to improve.As for the remaining schedule, Todd Gurley ran all over the Seahawks on Sunday. Elliott could do the same. Philadelphia barely got past the New York Giants, but the Eagles did manhandle Dallas in their first meeting. Of course, that was with Carson Wentz behind center. It is also conceivable that Philadelphia could rest players in Week 17.On Monday night, Atlanta played a tight game in Tampa, but escaped with a win and controls its destiny. The Falcons have two very difficult games to finish the season in New Orleans and then hosting the Panthers in Week 17. Atlanta also has been a very inconsistent team this year.Like the Cowboys, Seattle and Detroit also have eight wins, so there is no room for error, but Dallas is playing better than those two teams right now and get to play the Seahawks. The Cowboys still have a shot to get into the postseason - and if they do, watch out.Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns and spent 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast." Find him on Twitter @WilliamsonNFL.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is enduring a nightmare year and head coach Chuck Pagano empathized with his star player amid a lost season.Luck faced several setbacks in his attempt to recover from offseason shoulder surgery and was placed on season-ending injured reserve on Nov. 2 without playing a game.The quarterback left for Europe to undergo further treatment on his right shoulder and upon his imminent return stateside, Pagano once again expressed his sympathy."He's been through hell," Pagano said Tuesday to Stephen Holder of The Indianapolis Star. "Everybody has. And none more than him. And nobody wants to be back on the field more than Andrew. This is an unfortunate set of circumstances for everybody. But it’s life, and life happens. And he’s a warrior. And he’s done so much for this organization the last five years. He’s battled through injuries, he’s played injured, he’s played hurt. It’s unfortunate."Luck signed a six-year extension worth $140 million in June 2016 and is the face of the franchise but it's a daunting time for the Colts with his health in jeopardy."I hate it for him because nobody’s sacrificed as much as he has for this organization over the last five years," Pagano said. "He's a great teammate and he's a great pro and he’s a great player. I can't say enough about the kid and how bad we all feel for him, especially myself."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers placed quarterback Aaron Rodgers on injured reserve Tuesday.Rodgers returned to action Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, his first game since breaking his collarbone in Week 6. The Packers lost 31-24 while Rodgers went 26-for-45 for 290 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions.Green Bay was officially eliminated from playoff contention when the Atlanta Falcons defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.Rodgers finished the season completing 64.7 percent of his passes for 1,675 yards, 16 touchdowns, and six interceptions.Brett Hundley will likely finish the season as the team's starting quarterback.In a corresponding move, the Packers signed quarterback Joe Callahan.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the football world continues to debate the catch rule that played a huge part in the Pittsburgh Steelers' eventual 27-24 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, head coach Mike Tomlin said he expects the discussion to carry on in the offseason."I think that we all can acknowledge that all of this needs to be revisited," Tomlin told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "It's not just this play. As a member of the committee, I acknowledge we have our work cut out for us this offseason regarding a number of those things."After an incredible 69-yard reception courtesy of wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster set the Steelers up deep in New England territory, a 10-yard touchdown catch from tight end Jesse James was overturned after officials deemed James didn't maintain possession of the ball after hitting the ground.Related - Roethlisberger: Coaches overruled my call to spike on final playThere have been conflicting statements from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the coaching staff over Pittsburgh's decision not to spike the ball on third down and opt for a game-tying field goal. Tomlin took responsibility for the call, saying his plan all along was to go for the win.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sean "Diddy" Combs is set to meet with potential investors as he seeks to form a potential ownership group to purchase the Carolina Panthers from owner Jerry Richardson, sources close to Combs told Yahoo's Charles Robinson.Additionally, Colin Kaepernick - who tweeted Monday he wanted in on Diddy's bid for the Panthers - has also reached out to potential investors. Sources close to the free-agent quarterback said he and Diddy have a "shared vision" for the ownership group, added Robinson.Related: Diddy says he wants to purchase PanthersThe two reportedly had a lengthy phone conversation about the pivot's role in the ownership group."The interest is real and it's moving forward," the source said of Combs and Kaepernick working together. "They want to make this a reality. It's serious."Kaepernick is currently suing the NFL for collusion. He has been out of the league since opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in March.The Panthers were put up for sale after allegations were leveled at Richardson for workplace misconduct.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.