Eli Manning has been a staple behind center for the New York Giants for well over a decade, but things could be changing.Giants head coach Ben McAdoo wouldn't rule out giving some young players reps after his team fell to 1-7 thanks to a loss to the Los Angeles Rams, and said "that includes everybody," when asked specifically about the quarterback position.Manning could hardly be blamed for the 51-17 defeat, though McAdoo wanted to see more big plays in the passing game."It’s disappointing," McAdoo said afterwards. "We had chances down the field. We got to make those throws and make those catches. It’s pro football. We got to catch them on all opportunities like that. You don’t get many in the game."It's no secret the Giants are searching for the 36-year-old's successor and could give third-round pick Davis Webb a look in the final eight games. If the Giants don't believe in Webb as a long-term option, they could also select a pivot in what will likely be a high pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles absolutely pummeled the Denver Broncos on Sunday, putting up a performance that ended with the stadium staff running out of fireworks to celebrate touchdownsAfter hanging 51 points on the league's stingiest defense, the Eagles admitted on Twitter that they actually ran out of fireworks due to the outburst.Led by Carson Wentz's four touchdown passes, the Eagles scored eight majors against the Broncos, racing out to a 31-9 halftime lead before adding 20 more points in the second half.The stadium staff might want to stock some extra fireworks for the remainder of the season as the Eagles' remaining home opponents all feature defenses ranked outside the top 10 in the league.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cam Newton might want to brush up on his early 20th century history a little bit.The Carolina Panthers quarterback spoke about losing receiver Kelvin Benjamin in a trade earlier this week, and made a strange comparison when talking about the offense going forward after a 20-14 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston will undergo further X-rays and receive an MRI on his shoulder, a source told Pro Football Talk.Winston was replaced by Ryan Fitzpatrick at halftime in the 30-10 loss to the New Orleans Saints after taking a number of hits in the opening frame. He struggled in his time on the field, throwing for just 67 yards.Winston has battled the lingering shoulder issue for weeks, initially spraining his AC joint in Week 6 against the Arizona Cardinals. He left that contest early on, but returned to the lineup for the last two games prior to Sunday.The 23-year-old has struggled the last two weeks, completing 28 of 51 passes for 277 yards and two interceptions.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green and Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey sounded off following their ejections from Sunday's game.Ramsey shoved Green to the ground, and the Bengals' star wasn't pleased, choking the Jaguars' defensive back, before engaging in a wrestling match.

NFL players have requested a formal mediation session with the league over the protesting of social issues during the national anthem, and Colin Kaepernick will be in attendance should that meeting take place.The league has yet to agree to the mediation session, but sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN that the players have requested it take place during the week of Nov. 13.Informal gatherings between the players and the league have not resulted in any solution being reached, with the players wishing to take the next step with formal mediation.It isn't just social justice and civil rights issues on the players' agenda, as the inability of Kaepernick to secure NFL employment would also be discussed.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Carson Wentz tossed four touchdown passes, Corey Clement had three scores, and the Philadelphia Eagles routed the Denver Broncos 51-23 on Sunday.The Eagles (8-1) dismantled the league's top-ranked defense, racking up 419 yards, to win their seventh straight game and head into a bye week with the best record in the NFL.Brock Osweiler couldn't get the Broncos (3-5) on track in his first start since rejoining the team in September. He threw two interceptions. Denver has lost four in a row and five of six.Wentz was 15 of 27 for 199 yards before giving way to Nick Foles. He has three four-TD performances in the last five weeks.Clement had two TD runs and one TD catch, and newcomer Jay Ajayi ran for 77 yards and one score.Wentz flipped a 32-yard TD pass to Alshon Jeffery to give the Eagles a 7-3 lead after a holding penalty on Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib extended the drive. Talib bit on a faked inside handoff to Ajayi and Jeffery ran past him to make the catch and score.After Osweiler threw a pick right to Patrick Robinson later in the first quarter, Wentz threw a short catch-and-run TD pass to Clement on third-and-10 from the 15.A roughing-the-passer call on Denver's Zach Kerr kept another drive alive for Philadelphia. Wentz connected with Trey Burton on a 27-yard TD pass on the next play, giving the Eagles a 24-6 lead.Ajayi burst through for a 46-yard TD run to put Philadelphia ahead 31-9 in the second quarter. Ajayi, a 2016 Pro Bowl pick with Miami, was acquired in a trade Tuesday. The Broncos hadn't allowed 30 points in a game this season, nor any TD runs.Clement, an undrafted rookie free agent, ran in from the 2 in the third quarter, and Wentz connected with Jeffery on a 6-yard pass to make it 44-9. Clement's 4-yard TD run capped the scoring.The Eagles hadn't scored 50 points since a 54-11 victory over the Bears on Dec. 22, 2013.The last time the Broncos allowed more points, they beat the Cowboys 51-48 on Oct. 6, 2013. But Peyton Manning isn't around anymore.FLASHBACKFor one play, Denver's defense looked like its old self. Von Miller stripped Foles and Brandon Marshall scooped up the fumble and ran it back 19 yards for a TD.GROUND AND POUNDClement had 51 yards rushing, LeGarrette Blount added 38 to go with Ajayi's 77, and the Eagles got 197 on the ground.DROUGHT OVERBroncos receiver Demaryius Thomas caught his first TD pass this season, a 1-yard grab in the fourth quarter. It was the first TD catch for the five-time Pro Bowl receiver since Nov. 13, 2016.STRONG LEGDenver's Brandon McManus kicked field goals of 52, 53 and 24 yards. He was only 10 for 15 coming in and 8 for 17 in his career beyond 50.INJURIESBroncos: WR Emmanuel Sanders started despite being listed as questionable with an ankle injury.Eagles: TE Zach Ertz didn't play because of a hamstring injury sustained in practice.UP NEXTBroncos: Host the New England Patriots (6-2) next Sunday.Eagles: Have a bye before visiting Dallas (4-3) on Nov. 19.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP-RobMaaddiCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans apologized for hitting Marshon Lattimore after the whistle Sunday and called it "unprofessional," according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times. The New Orleans Saints cornerback was exchanging words with Jameis Winston near the sideline when Evans drilled him from behind. Evans wasn't ejected on the play and said afterwards he is hoping to avoid a suspension, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Saints head coach Sean Payton wasn't too pleased that Evans stayed in the contest.

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone confirmed running back Leonard Fournette will play Week 10 against the Los Angeles Chargers.Fournette was rendered inactive for Sunday's win against the Cincinnati Bengals due to a violation of team rules.The rookie standout reportedly missed the team photo during the week, and missed a workout and injury treatment.Fournette has been the focal point of the Jaguars' offense this year, rushing for 596 yards and six touchdowns on 130 carries in six games.Chris Ivory took the majority of carries in Fournette's absence, while T.J. Yeldon was used as the backup.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We may see a different Aaron Rodgers when he eventually returns to the field.The Green Bay Packers pivot said Saturday he could think about changing his style of play after breaking his collarbone earlier this season."Good question," Rodgers said, according to Ryan Wood of USA TODAY Sports. "I haven’t thought about that a whole lot, but what comes to mind right away is no. But I might need to think about that the next eight weeks."Rodgers suffered the latest injury while rolling outside of the pocket - the same way he broke his collarbone back in 2013. The 33-year-old isn't necessarily known as a running quarterback, but often uses his legs to avoid the pass rush and extend plays.Whether or not Rodgers changes his game remains to be seen, but the Packers certainly can't afford to have their franchise quarterback miss any more significant time.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jameis Winston had an unconventional way of motivating his 2-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.The quarterback tried an unorthodox pregame speech ...

The Houston Texans have discussed looking into signing free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the wake of Deshaun Watson's season-ending knee injury, Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reports.Tom Savage started Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts, but the offense failed to score a point during the first half.While Kaepernick is widely considered the best quarterback available on the open market, some have questioned whether Houston would look at signing him considering his collusion grievance against the NFL.Texans owner Bob McNair is among the team owners who've reportedly been deposed in the case.McNair also made headlines recently by comparing player protests during the national anthem to "inmates running the prison." Kaepernick was the first player to protest during the anthem, doing so throughout the 2016 season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers turned to backup Ryan Fitzpatrick for the second half of Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints after Jameis Winston appeared to aggravate an injury to his throwing shoulder earlier in the game.Winston took a hit from Alex Okafor and was driven into the turf on a play in the first half.Winston exited the game after going 7-for-13 for 67 yards and the Bucs trailing 16-3.Fitzpatrick replaced Winston in a Week 6 game against the Arizona Cardinals and went on to go 22-for-32 with three touchdowns and two interceptions.Tampa Bay has declared Winston questionable to return.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri passed Gary Anderson for second place on the NFL's all-time career scoring list by successfully hitting an extra point in the first quarter of Sunday's game against the Houston Texans.With 2,434 career points, Vinatieri now trails only Morten Andersen's 2,544 in league history,The 44-year-old has been in stellar form in his 22nd NFL season, making 15 of 16 field-goal attempts.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch certainly set his sights high in search of finding a new franchise quarterback for his team.When Lynch originally called the New England Patriots about acquiring backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, he was told that the fourth-year player was off-limits, according to FOX Sports' Jay Glazer.Lynch then quickly tried to reset the conversation by inquiring about the availability of Tom Brady instead.Lynch was shot down again, but he seemingly succeeded in redefining "off-limits," eventually acquiring Garoppolo for a 2018 second-round pick in advance of this past Tuesday's trade deadline.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Broadcasting legend Vin Scully isn't a fan of player protests during the national anthem.The former voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers revealed during a speaking engagement Saturday that the protests have turned him off the NFL."I have only one personal thought, really. And I am so disappointed. I used to love during the fall and winter, to watch the NFL on Sunday. ... I have overwhelming respect and admiration for anyone who puts on a uniform and goes to war. So the only thing I can do in my little way is not to preach. I will never watch another NFL game," Scully said, according to Tom Schad of USA TODAY Sports.Scully added that he spent one year in the Navy, "didn't go anywhere, didn't do anything," but maintains strong respect for the military.The 89-year-old Scully didn't offer his opinion on Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell, who in September became the first MLB player to protest during the "Star-Spangled Banner."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz won't play Sunday versus the Denver Broncos, the team announced.Ertz got through a limited practice session Thursday due to a hamstring injury, yet struggled through Sunday morning warmups, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Ertz leads the team in receptions (43), yards (528), and touchdowns (six).Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back Leonard Fournette is inactive Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals after violating a team rule, the team announced."Leonard Fournette is not playing in today’s game due to an infraction of a team rule," head coach Doug Marrone said in a statement. "This has been addressed internally and further details will not be made public."Among the reasons for deactivating Fournette is that he missed the team photo during the week, sources told Field Yates of ESPN. Fournette also missed a workout and an injury treatment, Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reported Sunday on "FOX NFL Sunday."Chris Ivory will get the start, though T.J. Yeldon will likely also see significant snaps.Fournette has been the key cog in the Jaguars' offense in his first NFL season. He's produced a league-leading 99.3 rushing yards per game (minimum 100 carries) and has scored six touchdowns.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gary Kubiak has been out of the NFL since he was forced to retire after the 2016 season due to health concerns, but the ex-Denver Broncos head coach is believed to be open to a 2018 return as an offensive coordinator in the right place, sources told Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.Due to the scarcity of top-tier offensive coordinators, Kubiak would likely be in demand, though he would look to join a contender with a solid quarterback situation, added La Canfora,Kubiak has excelled as OC in the past. He engineered a 12th-ranked offense while with the Baltimore Ravens in 2014 - a unit that has struggled in the three years since his departure.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears tight end Zach Miller is expected to be released from a New Orleans hospital after undergoing surgery to repair a torn artery in his leg last Sunday, Chris Mortensen reported on ESPN's "Sunday Countdown."Miller dislocated his left knee on a play in last Sunday's game against the Saints which resulted in a torn popliteal artery. He was rushed to hospital to undergo emergency vascular surgery.The surgery was necessary in order to save Miller's leg, Mortensen reported earlier in the week.Miller still faces a tough recovery to heal his leg, Mortensen added Sunday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Some of the Cleveland Browns' coaching staff believe executive vice president Sashi Brown - the team's de facto general manager - intentionally "sabotaged" the trade for AJ McCarron and had no intention of completing the agreed-upon move, team and league sources told Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.The Browns reportedly agreed to send a second- and third-round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for the quarterback, but a supposed miscommunication between the teams led to Cleveland failing to send the NFL the required paperwork before Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline.There have been rumblings of a significant disconnect between Cleveland's coaches and front-office staff, and sources told La Canfora that coaches were incensed by members of the front office going home early on Tuesday as other teams worked to complete trades.Head coach Hue Jackson helped develop McCarron while he was the Bengals' offensive coordinator, and it was presumed that he was behind the push to acquire him in Cleveland.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans star Deshaun Watson tore his ACL at practice Thursday during a non-contact play, but there's a possibility he could've first injured the ligament last Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, reports ESPN's Adam Schefter.The team has reviewed video from the game and believe Watson could've first injured his right knee during a fourth-quarter play in which Seahawks defensive end Frank Clark rolled into Watson's leg. The quarterback grabbed at his knee immediately, Schefter reports."I can't be 100 percent sure, but I wouldn't be surprised," a doctor said of the possibility Watson was injured on that play. "Something happened as he grabbed his knee. And if you look at it in slow motion, one mechanism of injury is there."Watson is expected to be sidelined for 8 to 9 months, a source informed Schefter.Should he undergo surgery this month, such a timeline would have Watson back by the end of next summer.Watson suffered a torn ACL in college and returned after just five months. The Texans are hoping for a similar recovery this time around.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Having given up a second-round pick for Jimmy Garoppolo, most assumed the San Francisco 49ers viewed him as their long-term option under center.However, that might not be the case.The 49ers could still use their potential top-2 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft to select a quarterback or a significant portion of their $60 million in cap space to sign a free-agent quarterback such as Kirk Cousins, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.If San Francisco takes either of those routes, they could franchise tag Garoppolo and then attempt to trade him. There would be interest in Garoppolo and the 49ers could get more than the second-rounder they gave up for him, added Schefter.Garoppolo is set to be active in Week 9, but C.J. Beathard will continue as the starter until the newly acquired pivot is ready to take over.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 9.Standard

Ezekiel Elliott's lawyers are trying to settle his suspension case with the NFL and get his six-game ban reduced, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN.However, neither the NFL nor the NFL Players Association intends to settle the case at this time. It's unclear how many games Elliott's lawyers have proposed for a reduced suspension.Elliott is set to play in Week 9 on Sunday after the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted him an administrative stay of his six-game suspension Friday.While his lawyers are apparently attempting to compromise with the NFL, Elliott reiterated Friday that he won't consider accepting the ban as he wants to clear his name of the domestic violence allegations against him.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will also be deposed in free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick's collusion case against the NFL, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing a league source.Along with owner Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and Houston Texans owner Bob McNair, Goodell and at least two league executives will be asked to make available cell phone records and emails relating to Kaepernick.Troy Vincent, executive vice president of football operations, and Arthur McAfee, senior vice president of player engagement, are believed to be the two executives involved. Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen and San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York are also expected to be deposed.Kaepernick filed a grievance in October, alleging team owners have colluded to keep him out of the league.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders is expected to play Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles after missing the past two games due to an ankle injury, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Sanders' return will coincide with Brock Osweiler's first start since returning to the Broncos. The quarterback is taking over for Trevor Siemian after several weeks of offensive struggles.Osweiler and Sanders showed significant chemistry late in the 2015 season. The wide receiver had games of 113, 181, and 99 receiving yards with Osweiler under center.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals backup quarterback AJ McCarron filed a grievance against the team that will determine whether he will be a restricted or unrestricted free agent after this season, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The grievance is over the Bengals placing McCarron on the non-football injury list at the start of training camp in his rookie year in 2014, even though he had passed his post-draft physical.McCarron believes he was healthy enough to come off the NFI list during training camp, allowing the year to count toward free agency. He wasn't added to the active roster until Dec. 9, preventing the season from counting toward free-agent status, as he wasn't considered eligible to play in the minimum of six regular-season games, as mandated in the collective bargaining agreement.A ruling from an arbitrator expected sometime this winter would determine McCarron's status at the end of the league year.Should McCarron be deemed a restricted free agent, the Bengals are likely to place a first-round tender on him, likely limiting the interest of teams willing to sign him.If McCarron is granted the grievance and allowed to enter unrestricted free agency, he'd be in line for a considerable pay day in the free-agent quarterback class. He could also force the Bengals to choose between himself and incumbent starter Andy Dalton, who has concluded the guaranteed money portion of his contract.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Esten McLaren breaks down five of the most important in-game matchups ahead of Week 9.Julio Jones vs. James BradberryJones returns to the site of his 300-yard game in 2016 where he torched Panthers cornerback Bene Benwikere in a Week 4 48-33 Falcons victory. Jones had totaled a modest 188 yards through his first three games of last season but hauled in 12 of an astonishing 15 targets for 300 yards and his third touchdown of the campaign, as he and quarterback Matt Ryan were relentless in an aerial assault on Benwikere.Benwikere was subsequently released by the Panthers and didn't play again in 2016. He has played just five games for the Dallas Cowboys in 2017.Bradberry is likely to be charged with the task of containing Jones in Week 9. The sophomore defender is ranked as Pro Football Focus' 68th cornerback this season, defending five passes without an interception. The Panthers' defense as a whole ranks fifth in average receiving yards allowed at just 201.6.A.J. Green vs. Jalen RamseyThis marquee matchup features PFF's No. 4 wide receiver in Green and No. 3 cornerback in Ramsey.Ramsey is a big reason for the Jaguars' No. 1-ranked pass defense, a unit holding opposing offenses to just 162 passing yards per game with four touchdowns allowed and 10 interceptions.Green has two 100-yard games on the season with a total of four touchdowns, but he has caught just six of 14 targets for 68 yards over his past two games.Shane Ray vs. Halapoulivaati VaitaiRay will play in just his second game of 2017 since being activated from the injured reserve. He had a relatively quiet debut last week against the Kansas City Chiefs, recording just three combined tackles with no sacks. He had totaled 12 sacks through his first two years in the league, primarily playing a part-time role.Vaitai will be making his third start of the season but just his second since replacing the injured Jason Peters on the left side of the Eagles' offensive line. As the weakest member of the five-man unit, he'll represent the Broncos' primary point of attack when trying to disrupt quarterback Carson Wentz.Ray will need to wreak havoc for the Broncos to keep this game close and challenge for the upset.Damien Williams vs. Kenyan DrakeThe Dolphins' coaching staff has said the team will deploy a running back by committee composed of Williams and Drake in order to replace the services of recently-traded Jay Ajayi.The tandem has played a combined 127 offensive snaps to this point of the season, with a slight edge going to Williams as the superior pass catcher of the duo.Fantasy managers will be closely monitoring to see who emerges as the more productive of the two and if either is able to secure a goal-line role.Drew Stanton vs. C.J. BeathardWith Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer injured and Jimmy Garoppolo not yet ready to start for the 49ers following his Monday acquisition, football fans are faced with what is fairly easily the worst quarterback matchup of the season.Stanton's 52.7 career completion percentage through 514 pass attempts is identical to the early-career rate of the rookie Beathard, who has attempted 110 passes through three games.This will be Stanton's first start since leading the Cardinals to a 33-21 win over the 49ers while filling in for an injured Palmer in 2016.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins players and owner Stephen Ross created a yearly fund for advocacy and social justice programs, according to a team statement. The team will also honor groups and organizations in South Florida that are tackling these challenges in the community at home games.The programs being created include: Social Justice Grant Program, Project Change Scholarship, Police Athletic League of North Miami, 5000 Role Models and Miami Dolphins Police and Youth Conference, RISE Leadership Programs, CommUNITY Tailgate, and Unity Day.The goals of the programs range from identifying and funding organizations in need, funding deserving high school students, sponsoring police athletic leagues, and promoting positive interaction between youth and law enforcement.These campaigns go beyond the work of the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality, a program founded by Stephen Ross in 2015.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Injured New Orleans Saints cornerback Delvin Breaux suffered a setback in practice, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Breaux was placed on the injured reserve in early September with a fractured fibula, but he was nearing a return to play and was eligible to be activated at any point.The latest injury comes with a 3-6 week timeline, according to Rapoport, putting his return for the regular season in jeopardy.The Saints will continue to rely on starting cornerbacks Ken Crawley and Marshon Lattimore.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns are giving a raise to injured offensive tackle Joe Thomas, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL, league sources told ESPN's Field Yates.The improved contract features $3 million in new money to be split over the remainder of 2017 and 2018, with a $1.5-million roster bonus paid out this past week. Thomas' base salary for 2018 will now be $10.3 million, a raise of $1.5 million from what he was due to receive.Thomas is expected to take home a total of $13.5 million in 2018 in base salary and bonuses. It will be the highest figure of any offensive lineman.The raise comes with Thomas ruled out for the remainder of the current season due to a triceps injury. He had played 10,363 consecutive snaps prior to the injury, making the Pro Bowl in each of his first 10 seasons in the NFL.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A former NFL player is a primary suspect in the death of his wife.Anthony McClanahan, a former linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, has been detained by police and is a suspect in the murder of Keri "KC" McClanahan, Karen Mizoguchi of People reports.The victim was found at the Park Regency condominium hotel in Park City, Utah with knife wounds to her neck early Thursday morning. Police say they arrived on the scene after someone from the hotel reported a "ruckus" in the room to a patrol sergeant.- With h/t to SI.comCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The first half of the NFL season has been controversial and unpredictable. Luckily, much of the focus should be on football in the second half of the year, considering the slate of games that remains on the schedule.As the playoff picture rounds into form, here are 10 matchups to look forward to:Chiefs at Cowboys, Week 9Heading into the back half of the year, the Chiefs hope to maintain their hold on a share of the best record in the AFC. On Sunday, they'll share the spotlight in a marquee matchup against Dallas.It could be the Cowboys' final game with Ezekiel Elliott before he serves a six-game suspension. It will definitely be Tony Romo's first game back in Dallas as a broadcaster for CBS.Falcons at Seahawks, Monday night, Week 11The Falcons and Seahawks will meet for the first time since their shootout divisional playoff game in January, and they'll do so on Monday night in Week 11.After their postseason battle, the Falcons rolled past the Packers to make the Super Bowl. The Seahawks will surely be out for revenge, while both teams will be looking to secure top positions in the NFC standings.Saints at Rams, Week 12Currently, the Saints and Rams are among the bigger surprises of the 2017 season. Their Week 12 meeting will be one to watch, as the youth of Jared Goff and Sean McVay will contend with the experience of Drew Brees and Sean Payton.Expect plenty of points.Eagles at Seahawks, Sunday night, Week 13As things stand now, the Eagles and Seahawks own two of the best records in the NFC. When they meet in Week 13, the outcome could be pivotal to conference seeding.Carson Wentz may be leading the MVP race after eight weeks. How he performs against the Legion of Boom will determine if he'll be in it for the home stretch.Saints at Falcons, Thursday night, Week 14Thursday Night Football has featured some absolute shootouts this season, and the same will likely be said of the Falcons' divisional battle with the Saints to kick off Week 14.The NFC South foes will likely be jockeying for position atop the division, and they'll probably be doing it with the Saints in their Power Ranger-white Color Rush uniforms and the Falcons in their all-red sets.Raiders at Chiefs, Week 14The first meeting of the year between the Chiefs and Raiders was an all-timer that had about five alternate endings.Marshawn Lynch ran on to the field from the sidelines and shoved an official, Alex Smith and Derek Carr each threw three touchdown passes, and the Raiders used an untimed down to score the game-winning touchdown. Don't miss Part 2.Rams at Seahawks, Week 15Here's another rematch that's appointment viewing. In a battle for NFC West supremacy in Week 5, rookie Cooper Kupp dropped what would have been a game-winning touchdown for the Rams in the dying seconds of the game.The foes remain neck and neck in the division. Their final meeting will likely determine the winner.Patriots at Steelers, Week 15Last year's AFC Championship Game featured the Patriots and Steelers, and that may be the case again this season.The powerhouses appear to be on a collision course, unless the Chiefs or any other AFC representative has anything to say about it. If not, this Week 15 matchup will decide home-field advantage in the conference championship game.Raiders at Eagles, Christmas Day, Week 16This Christmas, NFL fans will be treated to a Monday night doubleheader. The nightcap features a juicy matchup between high-powered offenses in the Raiders and Eagles.The game will be played in Philadelphia, in front of a crowd known to be none too kind to Santa Claus.Jaguars at Titans, Week 17The way things are trending now, the season finale between the Jaguars and Titans could be played for the AFC South title.The Texans are without J.J. Watt and Deshaun Watson for the rest of the season, and the Colts shut Andrew Luck down for the year. The Jags and Titans are tied at the halfway point of the season. Their Week 17 matchup could very well be flexed to Sunday night as the last game before the playoffs.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady provided an update Saturday on how his bye week is going:

The Jacksonville Jaguars are returning to their roots Sunday.The 23-year-old franchise will go back to its first look and don teal as its primary color in Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Some bonds transcend divisional rivalries.Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins came to the defense of Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott on Friday after a judge granted a stay of his six-game suspension that will allow him to play in Week 9.Elliott was never charged, and Jenkins presented an impassioned defense of the Cowboys star."I never want to see anybody going through what Zeke is going through, especially when there are no charges against him," Jenkins said, according to Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I don't understand that."Jenkins also pointed to the unwanted attention that comes with being a high-profile running back."The hard part about being an athlete in the spotlight is that people know and sometimes are looking for a reason to make you look bad," he said. "Whether you see fans out and they purposely agitate you just to try to get you on tape and extort you really. Or they can just say you did something in an attempt to ruin your reputation."Don't get me wrong: domestic violence or any kind of violence or sexual assault needs to be looked into and should be taken seriously. But at the same time, we don't want to create an environment in which somebody can cry wolf and get you suspended for six games."The Eagles and Cowboys play Nov. 19 and Dec. 31. Elliott's status could be in limbo for both games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Josh Rosen didn't play Friday night because of an injury, and he shouldn't step on the field again for UCLA this season.This won't be a popular opinion for Bruins fans, but Rosen has little to gain and everything to lose by continuing to play in 2017. UCLA is 4-5 and has only three games left after Friday's drubbing by Utah, so the biggest reason for him to play is to try to get the Bruins to a bowl game that, it could easily be argued, is irrelevant.Is it really worth Rosen risking serious injury to get UCLA into the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl?There's the matter of Rosen's draft position, though, as he came into the campaign as one of the many pivots vying to be the top quarterback taken in next spring's NFL draft - a position which he seems to now be winning by default.Sam Darnold turned into a turnover machine this season, some are still expressing doubts about whether Lamar Jackson's game will translate to the NFL, and it's clear everyone bought in on Josh Allen far too quickly. Rosen isn't a perfect prospect by any means, but he seems to have the fewest question marks and is at the top of many mock drafts.You won't have to look far to find cases where a player suffered a serious injury late in the season which caused them to plummet down draft boards. Jaylon Smith comes to mind, as the former Notre Dame linebacker could have been a top-10 pick in 2016 if not for a major knee injury in a bowl game. Smith ended up falling into the second round and missed his entire rookie season.That drop cost him a lot of money as well, something Rosen certainly isn't getting to play college football. Whether you believe college players should be paid or not, it doesn't make sense for him to risk millions by playing a few more immaterial collegiate games for free.There will surely be some questions from NFL executives leading up to the draft if Rosen were to call it quits on his UCLA career early, but if last year was any indication, it won't hurt his draft stock. Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey caused a major stir by skipping bowls last year, but were still taken in the top 10.Those decisions could have started a trend, as more players will need to weigh the pros and cons of finishing out a collegiate season with little to play for before the NFL draft. The question for some like Rosen might be: How early is too early to shut it down?A move such as this would no doubt send shock waves through college football and perhaps ruffle plenty of feathers, but the UCLA quarterback can't think about that. He just has to do what's best for Josh Rosen.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals acquired Adrian Peterson on Oct.10 and plan to put the running back to good use now that he's acclimated to the system.Coming out of the bye week, the Cardinals want to make the seven-time Pro Bowler the focal point of the game plan against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday."Feed the beast," Cardinals offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin said of Peterson via the team's official website. "It's like an old stove. The more wood you put in it, the hotter it gets. We’ve just got to make sure we feed him the ball so he can get comfortable."Peterson is evidently ready to go."I'm all about that," Peterson said.Whether the former New Orleans Saint can regain his all-world form remains to be seen, but he'll be given every opportunity to prove he's not done quite yet.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says his organization has zero tolerance for domestic violence as the Ezekiel Elliott suspension saga continues well past the midpoint of the 2017 season.Elliott was granted a stay of his suspension Friday, allowing him to play Week 9 against the Kansas City Chiefs."There is complete zero tolerance by me and by the Cowboys about domestic violence ... (Zeke's) not being treated fairly," Jones said, according to Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News.When Elliott was asked Friday whether he'd consider accepting the six-game suspension at some point as the legal battle drags on, he reiterated that he wouldn't because he's "not an abuser." The running back was never charged with a crime.The Cowboys signed defensive end Greg Hardy in 2015 after he was found guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend months earlier. Hardy appealed the verdict, requesting a jury trial, and prosecutors dismissed the charges after they couldn't locate the woman and she didn't appear in court for the hearing. The NFL launched its own investigation into the case and Hardy received a 10-game suspension, later reduced to four games, for violating the league's personal conduct policy.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Michael Irvin is trying to get back on Steve Smith Sr.'s good side after taking a shot at his plaid pants during an NFL Network segment last week.Smith didn't appear amused by Irvin's joke and threatened to beat him up, making for a tense few seconds of television:

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones did not comment on Colin Kaepernick's collusion grievance against the NFL on Friday.Jones, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and Houston Texans owner Bob McNair were each deposed as part of the case and will need to make their cell phones, and emails relating to Kaepernick, available.Related: Jones, Kraft, McNair among owners deposed in Kaepernick collusion case"I can't talk about it because it's a legal issue," Jones told Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News."I'll certainly do whatever I’m advised to do," Jones added.Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL's owners in October, based on the fact that numerous, arguably inferior, quarterbacks have been signed while he remains without a team. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback hasn't received a formal offer since opting out of his contract in March.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jimmy Garoppolo was traded to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, and though the New England Patriots still have Tom Brady aboard, the 26-year-old will be missed.Garoppolo was sent to the 49ers in exchange for a 2018 second-round pick, providing him with an opportunity to excel on his own while Brady continues to submit another MVP-worthy campaign.Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman raved about Garoppolo and described their playful relationship Friday."They're getting a stud, man," he told ESPN's Mike Reiss. "He was a good little friend of mine. He would come out to L.A. and I would punk him into throwing to me a bunch his first couple of years, and then he got a little too big for it."Edelman lamented the trade but understands it's just a part of pro sports."It's unfortunate; that's the NFL. There's the relationship parts of it and then there's the business aspect of it, and sometimes they don't always meet up. You make relationships in this league, but you see friends come and go all the time. It will be cool to have him in the Bay Area, though, so when I go back, I can punk him into throwing to me."The Patriots and 49ers aren't scheduled to play each other in 2017, but the move is sure to add some intrigue to their next matchup.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Robert Griffin III believes both he and Colin Kaepernick deserve to be playing in the NFL.In a wide-ranging interview with 106.7 The Fan's Grant Paulsen and Danny Rouhier on Monday, the former Washington Redskins quarterback was asked what his reaction would be if he was told back in 2012 that neither of them would be signed to a team today."Oh, I mean, I would tell you that I wouldn't believe that at all," Griffin said. "The way the game is played, and just to see the amount of quarterbacks that have gone down this year, I wouldn't say, 'Yeah. There's no way that myself and Kaep wouldn't be in the league.'"If you just look at it from a pure stat standpoint, we should definitely be in the league. If you look at it from a talent standpoint, we should definitely be in the league."It comes down to the teams, ultimately, and at this time, the teams don't want to sign myself or Kaep, and that's just the way it is," he continued. "It doesn't mean you stop working. It doesn't mean you give up. It means you continue to work and you do everything you possibly can to make sure that when you get your next opportunity, that you go out and ball out."Listen to Griffin's full interview below.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is in no hurry to rush back to action after suffering a broken collarbone.Rodgers was placed on injured reserve after sustaining the injury against the Minnesota Vikings during an Oct. 15 loss. The superstar was driven into the ground by linebacker Anthony Barr."I’m on IR, so it’s at least 8 weeks," Rodgers said to Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "Then at that point it’s, has the bone healed properly or not?""Only reason to come back would be that I’m healed completely. If that doesn’t happen in 8 weeks, there’s not even a conversation."Brett Hundley started in Rodgers' absence, but the Packers lost 26-17 to the New Orleans Saints before entering their bye week.The Packers are at a crossroads, sporting a 4-3 record while the Vikings pull away in the NFC North. In the interim, it doesn't seem likely that Rodgers will be coming to the rescue this winter.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas won't play against the Washington Redskins due to a hamstring injury, the team announced on its injury report. Thomas suffered the injury during last week's win over the Houston Texans while attempting to chase down DeAndre Hopkins. There was some hope Friday that Thomas would be able to suit up, as head coach Pete Carroll said his safety would be a game-time decision, but things clearly changed.It now remains to be seen how long he will be sidelined.

Hall of Fame Miami Dolphins linebacker Nick Buoniconti has announced that he intends to donate his brain to concussion research.A member of the 1972 Dolphins team that went undefeated, the now 76-year-old has suffered from cognitive issues in recent years."This is not easy, it's difficult. I'm not half the man I used to be," Buoniconti said, according to ESPN. "I don't do this for myself. I do it for the thousands of others who will follow me."Buoniconti played for 14 seasons, during which he made six AFL All-Star Games and two Pro Bowls. After his death, his brain will be donated to Boston University's CTE research program.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.