As NFL owners and players open a dialogue about working together to reduce racial and social inequality, Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett says one thing needs to happen before discussions can truly move forward: A team needs to sign Colin Kaepernick.Kaepernick has remained unemployed while a host of quarterbacks with inferior career stats have gotten roster spots instead. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback opted out of his contract on March 3 when it became apparent that the franchise wouldn't retain him."I think the first step to even being able to even have a conversation is making sure that Colin Kaepernick gets an opportunity to play in the NFL," Bennett said Wednesday to ESPN's Brady Henderson. "I think before we even negotiate anything about whether we sit, whether we stand (during the national anthem), it should be a negotiation about opening up the doors for Colin Kaepernick and giving him an opportunity again, because I feel like through everything, that's been lost."All of us are having an opportunity to be able to speak to our employers, but to think about the guy who started everything not to be able to have a voice at this moment, it just doesn't seem very right to me."Commissioner Roger Goodell met with a group of owners and players for nearly four hours Tuesday to discuss anthem protests. An NFL statement said the conversation "focused on how we can work together to promote positive social change and address inequality in our communities."Kaepernick was the first player to kneel during the national anthem, and a handful of others followed in his footsteps. The quarterback filed a grievance Sunday alleging NFL owners colluded to keep him out of the league.Related: Kaepernick's lawyer releases statement on grievance filed against NFL"If you look at the quarterbacks playing in the NFL right now, out of the backups, I can't name one better than him," Bennett said.Bennett didn't attend the league meeting because the Seahawks practiced the same day. However, he said he'd heard that there wasn't significant discussion about Kaepernick."I don't think we can work alongside of them until we address that issue," Bennett said. "I think the issue with Kaepernick is the start to a conversation. If they want us to be open to what they want, the dialogue, then that's something that needs to be on the table right there."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan believes there's a hidden agenda behind President Donald Trump's perceived war against the NFL.Khan believes that Trump, who once unsuccessfully tried to purchase the Buffalo Bills, feels jilted by the league and is trying to attack it to avenge a personal vendetta."This is a very personal issue with him," Khan told Jarrett Bell of USA TODAY Sports."He's been elected president, where maybe a great goal he had in life to own an NFL team is not very likely," Khan added. "So to make it tougher, or to hurt the league, it's very calculated."Khan also blasted Trump for his domestic and foreign policies that he believes discriminate against Muslims and Jews - an issue that reaches well beyond the realm of football."Let's get real," Khan said. "The attacks on Muslims, the attacks on minorities, the attacks on Jews. I think the NFL doesn’t even come close to that on the level of being offensive. Here, it’s about money, or messing with - trying to soil a league or a brand that he’s jealous of."Khan donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund but it appears he may harbor some regret about that decision.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Hundley is unfazed by the gigantic shoes he needs to fill.Hundley is now the Packers' starting quarterback after Aaron Rodgers broke is collarbone during Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings.Thrust into the starter's role, Hundley said he's been waiting for this moment forever."I've been doing this my whole life," Hundley said via ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "Aaron's a Hall of Famer, and I want to be a Hall of Famer one day. I will lead this team. We're all going to have fun, we're all going to go out there and play football. It's still football at the end of the day, and our goals are still in front of us."Packers head coach Mike McCarthy readily admitted that his expectations are lower with Hundley in, however."He clearly won't carry the responsibility into the game that Aaron Rodgers carries into it; I think that's obvious," McCarthy said. "I'd be an idiot if I asked him to do that. But also, I think that's really for (all) the other young guys who are playing. We don't ask all our younger players to do all the things that our veteran players do because they don't have the experience."It's now on Hundley to keep the Packers afloat while Rodgers remains sidelined.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell's punching bag routine was one of a kind.Bell scored a 3-yard touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during Sunday's 19-13 win and proceeded to pantomime a boxing routine, using the goal post as a punching bag.The star running back was penalized 15 yards for the celebration."I guess I wasn't fully aware of that. Now I am," Bell said via ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "So I just won't use the goal post next time. ..."That was just kind of a spur of the moment right there. I did plan something (else), but I had forgotten once I scored. But I had seen the goal post and I had been doing a lot of boxing, so I just kind of boxed the goal post. That's the first thing that came in my head."We'll have to wait see what Bell unfurls Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If Cam Newton is having a great game, you're likely going to hear about it from the source himself.Newton was voted the biggest trash-talker among quarterbacks in a player survey issued by ESPN's NFL Nation. The 2015 MVP received 26 percent of the vote, Philip Rivers finished second at 24 percent, and Aaron Rodgers ranked third at 17 percent.The poll was less kind to others. Eli Manning was chosen as the NFL's most overrated signal-caller, garnering 14 percent of the vote, while Andrew Luck (11 percent) and Joe Flacco (10 percent) finished second and third, respectively.Jay Cutler may have gotten the worst of it, ranking as the least desirable quarterback teammate. Cutler received 42 percent of votes, while Newton and Rivers followed at 6 percent each.NFL players might have forecast Deshaun Watson's breakout. The Texans standout was voted as the rookie pass-thrower who will have the most success in the NFL, earning 61 percent of the vote. Mitch Trubisky finished second at 18 percent.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Redskins running back Chris Thompson is making sure his family stays far away from Lincoln Financial Field.Thompson described Eagles supporters as "some of the meanest fans I've ever experienced" during an appearance on ESPN 980 on Wednesday, and revealed that he told his family not to attend Monday's game in Philadelphia."I heard that's the one stadium you keep your family from going to. My family will be here this week, and they were like 'I want to come to the Philly game.' I said absolutely not, you're gonna have to wait until Dallas comes around. Because my step dad, he's a big guy. And if he starts fighting, it'll be real bad out there," Thompson said, according to Dan Steinberg of The Washington Post. "I was told that right away my rookie year: Keep your family away."Former Redskins linebacker Terence Garvin made similar comments about the atmosphere in Philadelphia last season."It's a hostile stadium here," he said. "I think that makes the game better, though. You feel it."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is embroiled in an ongoing legal battle regarding his six-game suspension - which has since been temporarily vacated - and defended himself against the domestic abuse allegations levied against him."When you get accused of something of that magnitude, you kind of get labeled as an abuser, and that's not me," Elliott said to ESPN's Todd Archer. "That's not how I want to be seen. That's not what I want to represent to my family. So I mean it's just important for me to fight."Elliott was issued a six-game suspension by the NFL for a violation of the personal conduct policy, which was vacated by a federal judge on Sept. 8. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reinstated Elliott's suspension on Oct. 12, but Elliott was granted a temporary restraining order from the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on Tuesday, reinstating him for the next two games.The Cowboys star is expected to reappear in court on Oct. 30 in front of Judge Katherine Fallia of the Southern District of New York, as she was on vacation when Elliott's temporary injunction was granted."It's been so many ups and downs, lefts and rights, that you don't really know what's coming up next," Elliott said. "You just got to take it day by day and be ready for whatever is going to be needed."Elliott will be ready to go Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks will place defensive end Cliff Avril on injured reserve with a neck injury, head coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday on SiriusXM NFL Radio."Cliff Avril will go on IR," Carroll said. "He's seeing a bunch of doctors, seriously looking at a big decision."Avril is contemplating retirement, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The 31-year-old played in four games this season before suffering the injury.Avril was coming off arguably the best season of his career, in which he recorded 39 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and five forced fumbles in 16 games.The veteran defensive end helped the Seahawks capture their lone Super Bowl in franchise history during the 2013 season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oakland Raiders linebacker NaVorro Bowman is expected to make his debut with his new team Thursday against the Kansas City Chiefs, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.Bowman, a four-time All-Pro, signed a one-year contract reportedly worth $3 million with the Raiders on Monday after the 49ers released him.The 29-year-old was apparently dismayed by his decreasing playing time and asked the 49ers for a trade, which didn't come to fruition. Bowman recorded 38 tackles and a pass deflection in five games with the 49ers this year.Bowman is expected to fortify the middle of the Raiders' defense, and his veteran presence is sorely needed at the team's weakest spot.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck will not practice this week and received a cortisone shot, general manager Chris Ballard announced Wednesday.The Colts haven't set a timeline for Luck's return.Luck is still recovering from shoulder surgery, which he underwent in January. The Colts initially believed he'd be back in time for the start of the season, then placed him on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list when it became evident that he wouldn't be ready to go.Jacoby Brissett is expected to remain the starter with Luck sidelined.The absence of their star quarterback has had a profound effect on the Colts, who are mired in the basement of the AFC South.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The ankle injury that prematurely ended New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham's 2017 season shouldn't affect what he was hoping will be a massive payday, according to Giants co-owner John Mara."I don't think it (the injury) will have any effect because I think he's going to make a full recovery," Mara said at the NFL's Fall League Meeting on Wednesday, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com.Beckham is already locked in for 2018 at a base salary of $8.5 million, and the Giants will be able to use the franchise tag in subsequent seasons to prevent their star from reaching unrestricted free agency.Mara has little doubt Beckham will be able to re-establish himself upon his return, and said the receiver doesn't need to be 100 percent recovered to sign a long-term deal."I think our medical people feel pretty strongly that he'll make a full recovery. Knowing him, he will work so hard to get back, he has so much pride," Mara added.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says much progress has been made after a number of meetings centered on the topic of player protests during the national anthem.Goodell addressed the media Wednesday after a second day of league meetings and reiterated that the NFL and its teams won't force players to stand for the national anthem before games. It is, however, encouraged.He said about six players are still involved in the protests, and he hopes to get that number "down to zero," Newsday's Bob Glauber reports.The commissioner added that he hasn't communicated with President Donald Trump, a vocal critic of anthem protests.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.So, here I sit on the eve of my 38th birthday, cold can of Coors Light at the ready as I comb through the NFL betting odds for Week 7.

The Miami Dolphins were displaced by a hurricane, had a player go AWOL, signed their starting quarterback right out of the broadcast booth, and had a position coach resign after a video surfaced of him doing drugs at the team facility.Then they beat the defending NFC champions by overcoming a 17-point deficit.It's been anything but a regular season in Miami, and the Dolphins are embracing it. They've adopted a new catchphrase that's emblazoned on T-shirts:"We R Not Normal."

Teddy Bridgewater cleared a tall hurdle this week, being cleared to practice for the first time since suffering a major knee injury in 2016. It could still be a while before he's back leading the Minnesota Vikings, however.Head coach Mike Zimmer tried to temper enthusiasm about Bridgewater's return to the practice field."I get it, the fans and the media are excited about Teddy being back, but he's still got a ways to go," Zimmer said Wednesday.Bridgewater has done plenty of drills on his own, but has yet to be tested in full-contact scenarios."Eventually, we need to work him into some uncontrolled environments," Zimmer added.With Week 1 starter Sam Bradford working his way back from a knee injury of his own, backup Case Keenum stands to play in Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Redskins first-round pick defensive end Jonathan Allen has been ruled out for the remainder of his rookie season, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Allen suffered a Lisfranc sprain in a Week 6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.Selected 17th overall in the 2017 draft, Allen had racked up 10 combined tackles with one sack through his first five career games.He was originally expected to miss three to four weeks.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL draft is on the move again, and this time it's heading south to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.The Dallas Cowboys will host the 2018 NFL Draft, the league announced Wednesday.The three-day draft will be held from April 26 to 28 at AT&T Stadium, a 100,000-seat facility built in 2009. It will be the first draft held inside a team's stadium.The draft was held in New York City for more than 50 years before it moved to Chicago in 2015 and 2016. The event moved to Philadelphia, outdoors on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, in April.The draft had an economic impact of nearly $95 million in Philadelphia, leading multiple cities to bid to host the event."Philadelphia raised the bar by taking the draft to another level, and this new opportunity in Dallas will enable us to continue the event's evolution and grow it even further," commissioner Roger Goodell said.Minnesota, Houston, Kansas City, Green Bay, Denver, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, and Canton, Ohio all expressed interest in hosting future drafts.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns announced Wednesday that rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer will take back his role as the starting quarterback for Week 7 against the Tennessee Titans.Kizer was replaced by Kevin Hogan midway through Cleveland's Week 5 game against the New York Jets, and Hogan was subsequently handed the start for Week 6 against the Houston Texans - a 33-17 loss.In one start and three relief appearances, Hogan has gone 46-for-75 passing, recording 517 passing yards, four touchdowns, and five interceptions, while adding 71 rushing yards on 10 attempts.Kizer is 81-for-159 passing this season, racking up 851 yards, three touchdowns, and a whopping nine interceptions through five starts but just one completed game.Head coach Hue Jackson believes Kizer learned from watching Hogan, who threw three interceptions and completed just 54.1 percent of his pass attempts in Week 6."I think when you see some of the things that have happened to you in games and you can see it happening with somebody else that hurts your football team, you understand ... the turnovers are putting the team at risk," Jackson said Monday."When there is a chance, an opportunity to score points, and here comes a turnover coming the other way, when sometimes the accuracy - you miss a ball, you throw it a little high or a little low, or whatever all those things are - that it stops drives, and it doesn't give your offensive football team the best opportunity to have success."Kizer hasn't played a game to completion since the season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, when he recorded his best QB rating of the year.At 0-6 and tied with the San Francisco 49ers at the bottom of the NFL standings, the Browns will hope their second-round selection from the 2017 draft can earn them their first win.Hogan has been demoted to third-string quarterback with sophomore Cody Kessler bumped up to Kizer's backup, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

AFCPittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell had his best game of the season to lead a bounce-back victory over the formerly undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. Bell rushed for 179 yards and a touchdown on a hefty 32 carries and ties Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis as Steelers' running backs with three Player of the Week awards.In the Houston Texans' first game without defensive stars J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus, cornerback Johnathan Joseph stepped up to help shut down the Cleveland Browns. His first two interceptions of the season included a touchdown return.Already with a Player of the Month award on his mantle this season, Tennessee Titans kicker Ryan Succop added a Player of the Week title, joining Rob Bironas as the only kickers in team history to claim both awards in the same season. Succop went a perfect 5-for-5 on MNF against the Indianapolis Colts.NFCRecently acquired by the Arizona Cardinals following a failed free agent move to the New Orleans Saints, Adrian Peterson excelled with the workload entrusted upon him by his new team. Peterson's 134 rushing yards and two touchdowns powered the Cardinals to a win and won him his eighth career Offensive Player of the Week award - a number topped by just three retired running backs.Defensive end Cameron Jordan is leading the impressive turnaround of the New Orleans Saints' defense. He recorded his first multi-sack game of the season against Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions, also scoring his first-career pick-6.Los Angeles Rams wide receiver/kick returner Pharoh Cooper scored a touchdown on the opening kickoff against the Jacksonville Jaguars, which was enough to earn him his first NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chris Long of the Philadelphia Eagles donated his first six 2017 game checks to fund scholarships in his hometown of Charlottesville, Va. Now, he's giving his final 10 checks of the season to organizations that promote equal education.Long signed a two-year, $4.5-million deal with the Eagles this offseason that will pay him a $1-million base salary for the season.The veteran defensive end will also launch a campaign and partner with four education-based organizations in the three NFL cities he has played in: St. Louis, New England, and Philadelphia."In my 10th year, I want to celebrate the awesome opportunity I've had to play football by giving back to the communities that have given me that gift," Long said in a statement. "Educational opportunity and equity are the best gateway to a better tomorrow for everyone in America."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL wrapped up a day full of meetings Tuesday without adding a measure that players would have to stand for the national anthem.Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league did not ask players to stop protesting during the anthem, something the President of the United States had demanded.Donald Trump was predictably disappointed.

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's NFL Editors, including Jack Browne, Michael McClymont, Mitch Sanderson, and Arun Srinivasan.1. Kansas City Chiefs (5-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan1st1st1st1stPrevious Rank: 1stDid anyone really think the Chiefs would go undefeated? They remain the NFL's best team until further notice. - Srinivasan2. Philadelphia Eagles (5-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan2nd2nd2nd2ndPrevious Rank: 7thThe Eagles' schedule has been light so far, but they get full marks for being one of very few solid teams that haven't shot themselves in the foot yet. - Sanderson3. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan4th3rd3rd4thPrevious Rank: 11thThe Steelers continue to play up or down to their competition. As long as they have a performance like Sunday's in them, they'll remain title contenders. - McClymont4. New England Patriots (4-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan3rd7th4th3rdPrevious Rank: 6thOnly the Patriots could have Josh McCown be the sixth straight quarterback to rattle off 300 passing yards against them without getting written off as a terrible team. - Sanderson5. Los Angeles Rams (4-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan5th5th5th7thPrevious Rank: 10thTodd Gurley's first-quarter surge was no fluke and the third-year pro should definitely warrant consideration for Comeback Player of the Year. - Srinivasan6. Seattle Seahawks (3-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan6th4th8th5thPrevious Rank: 9thThe Seahawks come off their bye week focused on getting their second Super Bowl in franchise history, with their core in the latter stage of its peak. Can they overcome their abysmal offensive line? - Srinivasan7. Carolina Panthers (4-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan7th6th9th6thPrevious Rank: 5thThe Panthers remain in pole position in the NFC South, but unless they can lessen Cam Newton's workload and get the run game going, their ceiling is capped. - Browne8. Atlanta Falcons (3-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan8th9th7th8thPrevious Rank: 3rdAtlanta just had to blow a 17-point lead the week before a Super Bowl rematch with the Patriots. - Browne9. Denver Broncos (3-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan10th8th6th9thPrevious Rank: 4thOrleans Darkwa was the running back to finally crack the Broncos' second-ranked rushing defense. Whether that spells further trouble remains to be seen. - Srinivasan10. Houston Texans (3-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan9th10th12th10thPrevious Rank: 19thIf Deshaun Watson can take it to the Legion of Boom, there will be no stopping his hype train - and for good reason. - Browne11. Minnesota Vikings (4-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan11th11th11th11thPrevious Rank: 15thThe division is there for the taking. With Aaron Rodgers out and Matthew Stafford hobbled, the Vikings must overcome their own injuries and capitalize. - McClymont12. Detroit Lions (3-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan13th12th17th12thPrevious Rank: 8thEvery time we want to believe in the Detroit Lions, they give us reasons not to. - McClymont13. New Orleans Saints (3-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan 12th14th15th14thPrevious Rank: 20thSeriously: Is the Saints' defense good now? Just like in their 2009 Super Bowl run, New Orleans' oft-criticized unit is relying on creating turnovers. Drew Brees is praying this isn't a mirage. - Browne14. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan15th17th13th14thPrevious Rank: 12thThe Jaguars sit at a respectable 3-3, but how much longer can they accept Blake Bortles' inability to perform even the simplest quarterbacking tasks? - Browne15. Green Bay Packers (4-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan14th14th16th16thPrevious Rank: 2ndPour one out for the Packers. We're about to see just how inferior the talent around Aaron Rodgers is, and it's going to get ugly. - McClymont16. Buffalo Bills (3-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan16th13th20th13thPrevious Rank: 14thWill Buffalo come out of its bye with a 3-2 record feeling confident, or is it time to return to earth? - Sanderson17. Dallas Cowboys (2-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan18th19th10th18thPrevious Rank: 16thElliott has fought off his suspension for another week, but sooner or later we're going to have to see if Prescott can lead the offense without his backfield buddy. - Sanderson18. Washington Redskins (3-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan17th18th15th17thPrevious Rank: 18thBarely beating the 49ers isn't an accomplishment to hang your hat on, but a win is a win when most of the NFC is imploding to some extent. - Sanderson19. Tennessee Titans (3-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan19th16th19th19thPrevious Rank: 22ndThe Titans stayed in contention for the division by beating the Colts for the first time in years. Marcus Mariota deserves serious props for basically playing on one leg. - Browne20. Arizona Cardinals (3-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan20th21st21st20thPrevious Rank: 25thAs long as ageless wonder Larry Fitzgerald plays like he's 24 instead of 34, the Cardinals have a fighting chance. - Srinivasan21. Miami Dolphins (3-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan22nd22nd18th21stPrevious Rank: 23rdForget their ugly start to the season for a minute - the Dolphins deserve a round of applause for beating the Falcons with a 17-point comeback and giving us all a good laugh. - Sanderson22. New York Jets (3-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan21st20th26th23rdPrevious Rank: 24thTypically, a loss could be viewed as a good thing for the Jets, since they can't keep winning and get a top pick, but a win over the Patriots would have been sweeter than any kind of long-term strategy. - Sanderson23. Baltimore Ravens (3-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan25th23rd24th22ndPrevious Rank: 13thThe Ravens' offense is at a Pop Warner level. Just about all their points came via special teams in an embarrassing loss to the Bears. - McClymont24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan24th24th25th25thPrevious Rank: 17thTheir matchup with the Cardinals was winnable, but as usual, the Bucs didn't play anywhere close to their talent level. Their season is teetering on the brink. - Browne25. Los Angeles Chargers (2-4)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan23rd27th23rd27thPrevious Rank: 28thThe Chargers finally won a game on a last-second field goal, but it may have been too little, too late. - Srinivasan26. Oakland Raiders (2-4)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan26th28th22nd28thPrevious Rank: 21stEven with Derek Carr back in action, this is a shell of the team that many pegged as Super Bowl contenders. - Srinivasan27. Chicago Bears (2-4)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan27th26th27th25thPrevious Rank: 29thThat's the recipe for success. Hand the ball to Jordan Howard 36 times as Mitchell Trubisky continues to develop. - McClymont28. Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan28th25th29th26thPrevious Rank: 26thWhile you weren't watching, the Bengals put themselves in position to reach .500. They have favorable matchups with the Colts and Jaguars after a date with the Steelers. - McClymont29. New York Giants (1-5)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan29th29th28th29thPrevious Rank: 30thThe Giants were clearly motivated by everyone counting them out before the game started, but how long will it take until they fall back into a rut without any offensive stars? - Sanderson30. Indianapolis Colts (2-4)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan30th30th30th30thPrevious Rank: 27thThe Colts keep showing promise in the first half of games, only to fall apart due to poor coaching and a lack of discipline. It's finally time to show Chuck Pagano the door. - Browne31. San Francisco 49ers (0-6)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan31st31st31st31stPrevious Rank: 31stThe 49ers are the only team in league history to lose five straight games by three or fewer points. In many ways, this is the ideal result for a team in a long-term rebuild. - Srinivasan32. Cleveland Browns (0-6)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan32nd32nd32nd32ndPrevious Rank: 32ndTwenty-two games under Hue Jackson, and the Browns' only win came last year against the Chargers. Week 13 can't get here soon enough. - McClymontCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman has made many of the defining plays of his career against Colin Kaepernick, but this time he's on offense and railing against those in the NFL who've seemingly blackballed the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback.Sherman said the NFL made its point in not signing Kaepernick, preferring a host of quarterbacks with inferior career statistics. Kaepernick has been unemployed since opting out of his contract with the 49ers on March 3."People are vehemently saying 'No!' Just say, no," Sherman said via Gregg Bell of The News Tribune. "It's not like he's a bad player. It's not like we are talking about a guy who's never won a football game, who's never taken his team to a Super Bowl. There's quarterbacks out there (in the NFL) that's never taken their team to the playoffs, never had a winning record, that have jobs, that are starters in this league."Sherman continued to seethe, with particular ire aimed at those drawing upon Kaepernick's collegiate scouting report as a reason not to sign him."Then you hear these coaches and scouts that are like, 'Well, you know, we didn't like him coming out of college.' People didn't like Tom Brady coming out of college; he went in the sixth round. Like, these people aren't know-it-alls, you know what I mean? They don't know everything. These scouts don't know everything. Aaron Rodgers fell to (24th overall). How many people would turn around and regret that decision?"People should be losing their jobs, because they are idiots. You've heard every excuse in the book for why (Kaepernick) doesn't have a job, but you can see what it is. They've agreed not to give him a job."Sherman also raged against the idea that football players are innately privileged and therefore shouldn't advocate for equality. As the season continues, Sherman's impassioned plea for Kaepernick may continue to get ignored by legions of general managers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL ratings continue to drop, Nielsen figures revealed Tuesday.Viewership has dropped 7.5 percent compared to the first six weeks of the 2016 campaign, according to ESPN's Darren Rovell, and 18.7 percent compared to the beginning of the 2015 season.Last season, the league attributed unusually low viewership to coverage of the presidential election, while others blamed the declining quality of games.Political contention has certainly been a theme this season after President Donald Trump implored owners to fire players who protest during the national anthem. Many players stepped up their protests against racial inequality and police brutality in response, leading some viewers to disavow the league.Credit Suisse lowered its ratings of FOX and CBS stock last week due to declining NFL viewership.The audience for Monday Night Football, however, has increased 6 percent compared to this point last year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers linebackers Reuben Foster and Ray-Ray Armstrong escaped an armed robbery attempt, successfully running away from their would-be assailants on Monday morning.Foster and Armstrong were at a San Francisco club following Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins. The San Francisco Police Department reported that two men wearing white hoodies and carrying guns jumped out of a car and pointed the weapons at Foster, Armstrong, and their security guard.After escaping from the gunmen, Foster and Armstrong called police from the Westin St. Francis Hotel. The gunmen have yet to be apprehended.The 49ers released a statement, as obtained by David Lombardi of the The Athletic San Francisco.

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 7.Updated rankings (including PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.Standard

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was granted a temporary restraining order from the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, vacating his six-game suspension.As a result, Elliott is eligible to play Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.Prior to the Southern District of New York's ruling, Judge Amos L. Mazzant of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas dismissed the NFLPA's case on behalf of Elliott citing a lack of jurisdiction, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports.

Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller is near the top of his game, and he credits changing his diet for his sustained success.Miller tore his ACL during the 2013 season and missed his team's appearance in Super Bowl XLVIII as a result. The Broncos superstar told The Ringer's Joe House that the injury motivated him to alter his approach."My eureka moment was when I got into the National Football League, my first three years I was eating just like I was in college," Miller said. "And I was like, 'Hey, I’m still getting the same kind of success. If I’m playing great on the football field, if I’m still playing on a high level, then why change anything?' And I had an injury. I had torn my ACL, and whenever you have an injury like that you just sit back and all you can do is think. So I was reprogramming my whole entire life. ... And I was like, for me to get ahead and for me to take my game to the next level, I need to get a chef."Though Miller initially only had his chef work three days a week, once he noticed he was feeling a lot better, he decided to hire a chef full-time."And my body started to change, I started to think (more clearly)," Miller said. "And, boom, here we are today."Miller chose Los Angeles as his favorite food city in the NFL, giving a particular shoutout to Erewhon, a natural foods company based out of the city."I like L.A. I like Erewhon in L.A. Erewhon is like a farmer’s market, and everything that you cook there is healthy. ... You can only be as good as your choices and the environment you’re in, and L.A. has the environment for everybody when it comes to nutritious food," Miller said.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tuesday is a great day in the career of Jed York. In fact, it's one of the best.NFL commissioner Roger Goodell met with a group of 11 owners and 13 players Tuesday in search of a "common ground" regarding peaceful protests, a group that included the San Francisco 49ers owner. York called the day "one of the proudest" he's had as an NFL owner, and credited former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick for sparking the discussion for change, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network."(Kaep's) message has been lost. ... (the) more you sit with players and hear what they're fighting for, it's hard to disagree with them," York said following the meeting, according to Rapoport."If we don't care about the causes that make them tick, then what are we about?" York added, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.Goodell confirmed during Tuesday's meeting that the league did not put forth any request for players to stand during the national anthem."We did not ask for that. No. We spent today talking about the issues that our players have been trying to bring attention to, about issues in our communities to make our communities better," Goodell told Sal Paolantonio of ESPN.Related: NFL, NFLPA promise to meet again after 4-hour anthem discussionBoth the NFL and NFLPA released a joint statement Tuesday following a near four-hour meeting, stating that the group "had a productive meeting focused on how we can work together to promote positive change and address inequality in our communities."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke about the events that transpired during league meetings Tuesday, noting that the NFL did not ask for a rule that would require players to stand for the national anthem."We did not ask for that. No. We spent today talking about the issues that our players have been trying to bring attention to, about issues in our communities to make our communities better. I think we all agree there's nothing more important than getting back into our communities and trying to make our communities better. That was the entire focus today," Goodell said when asked by ESPN's Sal Paolantonio.Players, owners, and members of the league's administration will meet again in two weeks.During a September rally held in Alabama, U.S. President Donald Trump asked NFL owners to fire players who continued to protest during the national anthem. Trump's remarks amplified protests across the league, with numerous owners joining their players in an ostensible sign of solidarity.It appears for the time being that players will continue to protest during the anthem without further repercussions from the league, despite Trump's insistence to the contrary.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints tight end Coby Fleener has a new job outside of football.Fleener has joined the athlete advisory board of SyncThink, a neuro-technology company with a product that tracks players' eye movements in order to identify concussion symptoms."I am excited to work with SyncThink because I know firsthand the challenges they are facing and working to solve," Fleener said, according to ESPN's Stephania Bell.Fleener's alma mater, Stanford, began using SyncThink products as part of its concussion protocol in 2015.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was confronted by protestors in a hotel lobby in New York City on Tuesday while making his way to an NFL owners meeting.Jones stopped briefly to listen to the protestors, but didn't say anything.Related: Norman, Jenkins among 13 players attending NFL anthem meetingFollowing Dallas' Week 5 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Jones stated that any Cowboys player who is "disrespectful to the (American) flag" will not be allowed to play. The team reportedly held a meeting afterwards to discuss Jones' comments and air out their frustrations.

Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins told Bob Glauber of Newsday that Colin Kaepernick was invited to a meeting between several players and owners regarding the national anthem Tuesday, but the free-agent quarterback's lawyer asserts he wasn't asked to attend by the NFL or team executives.A statement from lawyer Mark Geragos notes players wanted Kaepernick to attend, and he is open to future participation in league discussions.

Alex Smith didn't mince words when talking about the late hit he received Sunday from Mike Mitchell.The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback was hit low by Mitchell well after he threw a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and obviously wasn't pleased about it."I felt like it was extremely late,'' Smith said, according to Adam Teicher of ESPN. "I felt there was nothing done there to avoid contact. It was really low from the backside. I thought it was about as flagrant as it gets when it comes to a low hit on the quarterback.''The Pittsburgh Steelers safety received a 15-yard penalty for roughing the passer, but denied he was a dirty player Monday."The video shows what it shows. I wasn't trying to take Alex Smith's knees out," Mitchell said. "I went up to him and told him that ... It's just one of those things you don't want to see in the football game."Mitchell has received a pair of fines in the past for hits, but hasn't been disciplined for this one."I don't think this is a first offense, either,'' Smith said. "I think when you start looking at ... repeat offenders, I think when they get shots at quarterbacks, they're going to take them.''Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's been much debate about whether the hit that broke Aaron Rodgers' collarbone was legal, but Ben Roethlisberger isn't siding with his fellow quarterback.The Pittsburgh Steelers pivot said Tuesday that although he felt bad for Rodgers, he didn't feel the hit was dirty."Watching it, I didn't think it was dirty," Roethlisberger said on 93.7 "The Fan," according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. "I've seen dirtier. I feel I've been hit dirtier and no penalty has been called. I got hit in Jacksonville out of the pocket and the ref said, 'Hey, you're not afforded the same (rules) out of the pocket.' I said, 'OK, fine.' I just kept going."Rodgers was hit by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr while rolling to his right and driven to the ground, leading to Packers head coach Mike McCarthy calling the hit "totally unnecessary."

Jaguars president Mark Lamping apologized to a Jacksonville official for players kneeling during the national anthem against the Baltimore Ravens last month in London, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.Lamping sent a letter to Bill Spann, the city's director of military affairs and veterans, on Oct. 6."It bears repeating that we were remiss in not fully comprehending the effect of the national anthem demonstration occurring on foreign soil has had on the men and women who have or continue to serve our country," Lamping wrote. "Similarly, we today can better appreciate how standing for God Save The Queen may have been viewed negatively by our armed forces here in Jacksonville and beyond. As covered during our conversation on Thursday, this was an oversight and certainly not intended to send a message that would disparage you, our flag or our nation. The notion never entered the minds of our players or anyone affiliated with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but today we can understand how the events in London on September 24 could have been viewed or misinterpreted. We owe you an apology and hope you will accept it."Lamping, owner Shad Khan, and executive vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin also met with Spann to discuss the issue.Spann passed the letter on to Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, who attended the Sept. 24 game in London. Curry stated two days later that it was "stupid" for players to kneel.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There was a special meaning behind the unique sack dance New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul busted out during Sunday's victory over the Denver Broncos.Last Friday, Pierre-Paul met a 7-year-old boy named Hayden through a visit facilitated by the Garden of Dreams Foundation. Hayden lost his toe due to his battle with cancer.

The NFL and NFLPA released a joint statement Tuesday, promising to continue the conversation between players, owners, and the league commissioner after they met for nearly four hours in New York to discuss protests during the national anthem.A group of 11 owners and 13 players met with commissioner Roger Goodell in order to find "common ground" on the subject of peaceful protests. The meeting began at 10 a.m. ET and almost lasted until 2 p.m."Today, owners and players had a productive meeting focused on how we can work together to promote positive social change and address inequality in our communities," read the statement."NFL executives and owners joined NFLPA executives and player leaders to review and discuss plans to utilize our platform to promote equality and effectuate positive change. We agreed that these are common issues and pledged to meet again to continue this work together."The belief was the league and its owners would try to convince players not to kneel or sit during the anthem."As we said last week, everyone who is part of our NFL community has a tremendous respect for our country, our flag, our anthem and our military," the statement read. "In the best American tradition, we are coming together to find common ground and commit to the hard work required for positive change."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There won't be an undefeated team this NFL season, but there remains a possibility that one or two sides will go winless.At 0-6, both the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers are well on their way to 0-16 campaigns.These two teams had the worst records in the league last season, but successful drafts and positive signs in the preseason led many to believe their rebuilds were on the right track. Yet, with every passing week, optimism thins in both cities.Will these franchises avoid 0-16 seasons? Let's look at their remaining slates:BrownsThe Browns promised they'd be better than the team that took until Week 16 to get its first win last year. That promise has not been kept.Cleveland is through a stretch in which it played the Colts, Bengals, and Jets in consecutive weeks - yet remained winless. Now, prized rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer has been benched in favor of Kevin Hogan, a 2016 fifth-round pick.Here's how the rest of the Browns' schedule breaks down:Week 7: vs. Titans

Reports surfaced Sunday that Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Martavis Bryant has asked for a trade, but that appears to be news to his quarterback.Ben Roethlisberger appeared on 93.7 The Fan on Tuesday morning and shot down any talk of a trade demand."Martavis, I talked to him, he doesn't want to go anywhere," Roethlisberger said.He then offered up a possible explanation for how the rumor began:"Sometimes things come from agents because they want what they think is best for the player and don't realize it ends up hurting the player. I don't know exactly what happened here, but I do know that Martavis, there hasn't been any inklings of unhappiness. It's unnecessary drama."Bryant reportedly asked for a trade, with teammates and coaches well aware of his disappointment with his usage.Roethlisberger called into question the validity of the report."The person that broke this story first was the same person that broke the story that I wanted to be traded, and I know there's zero percent truth to that, so I kind of take some of the stuff he says with a grain of salt, too," Roethlisberger said.It was reported in 2013 that Roethlisberger was unhappy in Pittsburgh and was expected to ask for a trade.Through six games, Bryant has started three and ranks fourth on the team in catches (17) and second in receiving yards (231) to go along with one touchdown reception.- with h/t to the Pittsburgh Post-GazetteCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sage Rosenfels is a former 12-year NFL quarterback who writes, does radio, and podcasts about the NFL and college football. Find him on Twitter @SageRosenfels18.Fourteen months ago, the Minnesota Vikings lost franchise quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to a catastrophic knee injury and replaced him with Sam Bradford. After Bradford played the best game of his career to open 2017, an injury has limited him to just one half of football in the past five weeks.Over the offseason, the Vikings released Adrian Peterson, the franchise's greatest running back, and drafted Dalvin Cook, who quickly became a premier player for the Vikings. He, too, is no longer available after tearing his ACL in Week 4 against the Detroit Lions.Yet, despite all of this, Minnesota leads the NFC North.Of all the moves Minnesota made this offseason, from coaching changes to draft picks to free-agent pickups, no move looks as valuable as the signing of veteran backup quarterback Case Keenum.Keenum has had quite the journey on his way to Minnesota. When I was playing for the Houston Texans roughly 10 years ago, Keenum was just a freshman at the University of Houston. He began stockpiling wins and great stats for the Cougars, and I've been following his career ever since.Keenum was well coached in college by Art Briles and Cliff Kingsbury, two of the best offensive minds in the NCAA. Three times he threw for over 40 touchdowns in a season, and even rushed for 23 career scores at Houston. Yet, every team passed on him in the 2012 NFL draft due his lack of size and arm strength, and the fact he played for a non-Power 5 school.Following his college season, Keenum was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Houston Texans, whose stadium is less than 10 miles from where he played in college. He was a local fan favorite who was getting his shot to make it in the league while playing for Gary Kubiak, who was also raised in Houston.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Keenum played well in the preseason, made the practice squad, and spent the year learning from Kubiak and starter Matt Schaub. In 2013, he made the active roster as the third quarterback, but was chosen over backup T.J. Yates to start when Schaub was injured. He started eight games for Houston that year, winning none.Kubiak was let go and Keenum was released at the end of the 2014 preseason following the signing of Ryan Mallet, who had played for new head coach Bill O'Brien. This started a back and forth between St. Louis and Houston that lasted for two seasons.The St. Louis Rams quickly picked him up, put him on their active roster, and then dropped him to their practice squad for a couple months. Then he was picked up off the Rams' practice squad and re-signed by Houston when its starter, Ryan Fitzpatrick broke his leg. Keenum immediately started, and won, the last two games of the season for the Texans.The next offseason, the Rams wanted Keenum again, so they traded for him to backup newly acquired starter Nick Foles. Over the course of 2015 and 2016, Keenum started 14 games, threw for over 3,000 yards, and earned a respectable quarterback rating in the low 80s.For years, the Rams' offense was one of the worst in the NFL under Jeff Fisher. The obvious improvement of first overall pick Jared Goff under new head coach Sean McVay shows the lack of good offensive coaching by the Rams over the last few seasons.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Despite all of this, Keenum endured to become a respected asset that teams needed. He was a valuable backup quarterback who could come into games on short notice, or for long stretches of the season, and give his team a chance to win.Minnesota GM Rick Spielman - who won the "unlucky GM of the year" award in 2016 after Teddy Bridgewater and Adrian Peterson's injuries - signed Keenum to a solid backup quarterback contract. That move is paying huge dividends for the Vikings.The quarterback situation has been foggy at best since Bridgewater went down with his knee injury. Bradford is one of the best pure passers in the league, but lacks the ability to make plays when the offensive line breaks down. His knee issues following the Vikings' Week 1 win versus the Saints gave Keenum the opportunity he's been working toward.Keenum has played extremely well for a backup QB. He is protecting the football, throwing only one interception in 159 passing attempts. His 93.1 passer rating puts him 15th in the NFL - ahead of Russell Wilson, Matthew Stafford, Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan, Cam Newton, Carson Palmer, Joe Flacco, and Marcus Mariota. Every one of these quarterbacks is making at least 10 times what Keenum is earning.The reasons for Keenum's success are multi-faceted.First, the Vikings are the most talented team he has played for in his six NFL seasons. Their defense has a slew of Pro Bowl players at all three levels, who are very well coached. Their offense, despite losing rookie sensation Cook, has depth and consistency at the skill positions. Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs are quickly becoming well-known NFL names.Tight end Kyle Rudolph is a huge target, and a steady security blanket for Keenum. Since Cook's injury, backup running backs Jerick McKinnon and Latavius Murray have been a nice thunder-and-lightning combo that have kept defenses honest.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)The offensive line has been the biggest issue for the Vikings the last few seasons. This offseason, they signed and drafted multiple linemen to completely replace the starters from 2016. They have vastly improved, but their mistakes in pass-blocking have been covered up by Keenum's mobility. This is the biggest difference for the Vikings compared to the previous year.Bradford simply does not have the ability to regularly make off-schedule plays. When the pocket is clean, and receivers are open, Bradford is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. But rarely is the pocket clean, and many times receivers and tight ends need a little extra time to shake away from their defenders. This is why Keenum's value is so important.The Vikings' offense has changed in Bradford's absence. Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur has designed, and called, many more bootleg and play actions with Keenum as their QB. Shurmur has quickly figured out the different skill sets that his new quarterback brings to the table. Let us not forget, Keenum entered the league running Gary Kubiak's offense.This attack weighed heavily on the zone running game, and bootleg/play-action concepts to complement these runs. Keenum is well schooled in the intricacies of the bootleg game. This is paying dividends for Minnesota.Having a mobile quarterback is a huge advantage in today's NFL. Defensive lines have become so explosive and powerful that it's nearly impossible for an offensive line to keep a quarterback clean for 25-to-35 passes thrown from the pocket every game. We are currently seeing many of the game's best quarterbacks buying extra time to find receivers downfield when the play called in the huddle doesn't work as designed.Rodgers, Stafford, Dak Prescott, Derek Carr, Carson Wentz, Deshaun Watson, Wilson, Alex Smith, and Cam Newton are a few of the best quarterbacks in the league at extending passing plays when the pocket breaks down. This not only prevents sacks, fumbles, and negative yardage plays, but it also forces defenders to cover receivers for five-to-seven seconds, which is nearly impossible.Quarterbacks who can escape the pocket to find teammates down the field are incredibly frustrating for defensive coordinators, and they give offenses a chance to succeed, even those with suspect offensive lines.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)How long Keenum lasts as Minnesota's starting QB is a mystery. Even if Bradford were to get healthy in the coming weeks, which doesn't seem to be the case, I believe the Vikings are better suited to win games with Keenum as their play-caller. He adds too many positive elements to this offense that Bradford simply doesn't possess, while not being much worse of a pocket passer.What makes matters more foggy is the recent news that Bridgewater has been given clearance to come off the Vikings' PUP list. He will be practicing with the Vikings this week, but his clearance to play in games is unknown.Keenum is used to being overlooked. He's a great story of perseverance at the hardest position in professional sports. He was unwanted out of college. He has slowly worked his way up from camp arm, to third string, to backup, to fill in until the franchise quarterback is ready. No NFL team has imagined Case Keenum as its franchise quarterback, but right now he's the starter on a team leading the division.This window of opportunity may not last long for Keenum. Again, he is positioned to play until someone else is healthy enough to take his job. But he is now armed with five-plus years of NFL experience, a history of overcoming limited expectations, and an undying belief in himself.Keenum has an opportunity to take the next step in his career as an NFL signal-caller. If he continues to win and keep the Vikings in first place, the decision to replace him with Bradford or Bridgewater gets tougher for Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer.The Vikings are stating their case as a legitimate contender in the NFC with their "just in case" quarterback. Overcoming the odds is nothing new for Keenum and he'll be stating his case to be a franchise quarterback again this Sunday when the Vikings play the Baltimore Ravens. As always, he'll be betting on himself.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent will meet with 11 owners and 13 players at Tuesday's league meeting to discuss a variety of issues, including the peaceful protests held by several players during the national anthem.Also present will be NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith, president Eric Winston, and senior director Don Davis.Among the players attending are Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman, Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins, and retired wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

Each week, Monty Andrews breaks down some of the underlying betting mismatches on the National Football League slate, giving you an inside edge when handicapping the schedule and setting your daily fantasy lineup.

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." Every Tuesday, Williamson will look at four major developments from the previous weekend of action in the NFL.How will the Green Bay Packers fare with Aaron Rodgers on the sidelines for an extended period?

A letter released by NFL Communications and co-signed by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin offers full support for the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2017.

Every Tuesday during the season, theScore's NFL editors run down the recommended waiver wire pickups.Ownership percentages are based on Yahoo! leagues. FAAB bids are set at a $100 budget.QuarterbackTeddy Bridgewater, VikingsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bid?1%$5Bridgewater will return to practice on Wednesday, and the Vikings will then have three weeks to decide on whether to activate him or sit him for the year. With Sam Bradford's knee injury putting his status in serious doubt, Bridgewater could easily surpass Case Keenum to reclaim the starting job once deemed healthy enough. If so, Minnesota's current crop of receivers would be the best he's ever had.Josh McCown, JetsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Dolphins8%$2It's time to start believing in McCown following a 350-yard passing day against the New England Patriots. He's thrown multiple touchdowns in back-to-back games and thrice on the season. He'll face another favorable matchup in Week 7.Trevor Siemian, BroncosNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Chargers42%$2Siemian's two interceptions on Sunday night were partly the result of some bad luck accompanying his 376 passing yards and single touchdown. He's unlikely to attempt 50 passes in a game again this season, but should be much more efficient against the Chargers.Mitch Trubisky, BearsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Panthers8%$1Trubisky sat back and let running back Jordan Howard do most of the work against the Baltimore Ravens, as the rookie finished with just 16 passing attempts on the day. He still threw his second touchdown in two games while taking care of the ball, and he added a bonus of 32 rushing yards. Trubisky doesn't have a whole lot of upside with the Bears' thin receiving corps, but he should be a safe and steady option for desperate fantasy managers.Running BackAlfred Morris, CowboysNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat 49ers54%$25Investing in Morris is a gamble with Ezekiel Elliott's suspension still not officially settled. Still, he must be owned as the projected heir to the Cowboys' backfield. Dallas' next six games represent a rather favorable schedule for fantasy running backs.Darren McFadden, CowboysNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat 49ers51%$22McFadden's expected to represent the lesser half of the tandem that will be used to replace Elliott, but he's just two years removed from a 1,000-yard rushing season as the Cowboys' feature back. He's had much more success in the passing game over his career than Morris, which should keep him in weekly consideration as a FLEX option.Matt Breida, 49ersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Cowboys21%$18Breida's usage declined following a mini-breakout in Week 5, but he still averaged more than 5 yards per attempt on his four carries against the Washington Redskins. With the 49ers moving toward younger players - the team recently released linebacker NaVorro Bowman and named rookie quarterback C.J. Beathard the new starter - rumors are swirling that Carlos Hyde could be on his way out. A starting job is within reach for Breida.C.J. Prosise, SeahawksNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Giants10%$16Prosise is the Seahawks' active leader in snap-count percentage out of the backfield this season, ranking ahead of Eddie Lacy, Thomas Rawls, and J.D. McKissic. He hasn't enjoyed the same success as pre-injury Chris Carson did, but Prosise's excellence in the passing game separates him from the others, as it's been a collective struggle to run behind the Seahawks' dismal offensive line.Alex Collins, RavensNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Vikings31%$15Released from the Seahawks out of training camp, Collins continues to impress and give fantasy managers reason to believe in his production. He received a season-high 15 carries in Week 6, racking up 74 yards as a result. He's also averaging 6.4 yards per attempt on the year, providing stable contributions even without a touchdown or any work in the passing game.Wendell Smallwood, EaglesNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Redskins34%$12Smallwood served as an excellent complement to LeGarrette Blount in Week 4, rushing for 34 yards and adding another 45 in the passing game. It's a role the Eagles haven't been able to fill during his two-game absence, allowing Smallwood to step right back in as the RB2 once he returns from injury.Dion Lewis, PatriotsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Falcons10%$10As his workload has grown, Lewis has scored two touchdowns over the past three weeks, somewhat oddly seeing most of his touches as a rusher. The Patriots' backfield remains a carousel for fantasy purposes, but Lewis' steadily increasing role and history of production are worth snatching up.D'Onta Foreman, TexansNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidBYE15%$8Lamar Miller continues to lead the Texans' backfield, but Foreman was considerably more productive in the Week 6 win over the Cleveland Browns. Quarterback Deshaun Watson is taking care of most of the touchdown scoring with the passing game, but frequent trips to the red zone will eventually favor the running backs.Orleans Darkwa, GiantsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Seahawks9%$6Darkwa's averaging 5.7 yards per carry on the season, and should regularly see close to the 21 carries he was given against the Broncos in Week 6, as the Giants shift toward a more run-heavy offense.Marlon Mack, ColtsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Jaguars47%$5Mack's usage was dialed back considerably in Week 6, putting a pause on expectations that he'll take the lead role from Frank Gore in the coming weeks. He's still one of the top handcuffs in fantasy football and is a must-have in keeper formats.Wide ReceiverJosh Doctson, RedskinsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Eagles6%$15Doctson received just eight targets over his past three games, recording four catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns. It's where those looks are coming that's most important, as he's been regularly featured in or near the red zone.Robert Woods, RamsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Cardinals8%$14Woods has certainly surpassed Sammy Watkins as quarterback Jared Goff's favorite target, receiving a total of 28 targets over the past four weeks. He doesn't have a touchdown on the season, but he's a must-have player in any PPR format.Paul Richardson, SeahawksNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Giants18%$12Richardson has received an adequate 27 targets through five games, and he's in line for more work with the Seahawks likely to shift toward a more pass-friendly offense in the absence of a run game. His two red-zone touchdowns lead the team.Cooper Kupp, RamsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Cardinals43%$10While Woods leads the Rams' receiving corps in target share, Kupp's eight red-zone targets dominate the group. He has five receptions and two touchdowns on those eight looks, providing plenty of weekly upside.Jordan Matthews, BillsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Buccaneers26%$10Matthews is likely a week or two away from returning, but with tight end Charles Clay expected to miss significantly more time, the receiver will come back to a much larger role. Stash Matthews in advance.Nelson Agholor, EaglesNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Redskins54%$10Agholor received a season-high seven targets in Week 6, scoring a touchdown for the second consecutive game. He's up to four scores on the season, but only one of those has come from inside the red zone. He's much improved, but his current level of production is unsustainable.Marvin Jones, LionsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidBYE55%$8With teammate Golden Tate expected to miss a few weeks due to injury, Jones is trending way up. He's coming off a game with a season-high 14 targets, which he used to rack up 96 yards and his third touchdown of the season. He'll lead the Lions' heavily used receiving corps following the Week 7 bye.Marqise Lee, JaguarsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Colts33%$8Lee has gradually surpassed Allen Hurns in productivity, even though his catch rate remains significantly lower at 50 percent for the season. He's yet to find the end zone, but with 14.6 yards per reception, he's a big-play threat in any matchup.Jermaine Kearse, JetsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Dolphins46%$6Kearse has caught each of his past eight targets over two weeks, though he's scored just one touchdown over that span. His 79 receiving yards against the Patriots marked a season high, bolstered by a 44-yard catch. He's a much steadier option than teammate Robby Anderson.Mohamed Sanu, FalconsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Patriots20%$2Likely out a couple more weeks, Sanu is much needed by the Falcons' stalling passing attack. He was on pace for a career high in receptions through the opening three-and-a-half weeks.Tight EndAustin Seferian-Jenkins, JetsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Dolphins62%$15Seferian-Jenkins has received a total of 29 targets through four games, including a season high of 11 in Week 6. He caught eight of those passes for 46 yards, and has touchdowns in consecutive weeks. McCown once made a fantasy star out of Gary Barnidge with Cleveland, and Seferian-Jenkins appears to be following suit as his quarterback's unlikely favorite target.Nick O'Leary, BillsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Buccaneers0%$6O'Leary hauled in five of six targets for 54 yards while replacing Charles Clay in Week 5. There's room for regular production as a big target in the Bills' thin receiving corps, and O'Leary should continue to see regular usage.Tyler KroftNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Steelers10%$3Kroft has received a total of 16 targets over the Bengals' past three games, emerging as a steady option in the wake of Tyler Eifert's season-ending injury. He's a mid-tier option among a very weak fantasy tight end group.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will rejoin the New York Giants this week, the team announced.Rodgers-Cromartie was suspended indefinitely by the team late last week after he got into an argument with head coach Ben McAdoo over his playing time in Week 5. He missed a Week 6 game against the Denver Broncos.The NFL's collective bargaining agreement allowed the Giants to suspend him for up to four weeks, but they've decided to bring him back after just one game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will meet with a group of about 10 to 12 players and a number of team owners at 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday to discuss the handling of the national anthem across the league, ESPN's Dan Graziano reports.The group is not expected to discuss implementing a rule that would make it mandatory for players to stand for the national anthem, however, that matter will be addressed during scheduled owners meetings later in the day.Instead, Goodell and the owners will seek to convince players there's no longer a need to kneel or sit during the national anthem as their protests have met their desired outcome."The best outcome would be to give players a reason not to kneel," a source informed Graziano.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer doesn't believe there was anything wrong with Minnesota linebacker Anthony Barr's hit on Aaron Rodgers, which may have ended the Green Bay Packers quarterback's season.After Packers coach Mike McCarthy called the hit "totally unnecessary," Zimmer countered that, from his point of view, it's just football."We're playing football," Zimmer said Monday, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "It's unfortunate that he got hurt but I think everything was above board."We're not a dirty football team. We'll never be a dirty football team as long as I'm here. We're going to play within the rules and sometimes things happen."Related: Was hit that injured Aaron Rodgers dirty?Barr was not flagged on the hit as the quarterback was outside the pocket and he did not make contact with Rodgers' head.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFLPA has filed a temporary restraining order in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York that would delay Ezekiel Elliott's six-game suspension again, a source told ESPN's Josina Anderson.The ruling on the motion is expected to be determined in court Tuesday.Elliott was granted an injunction that blocked his suspension before the season by a federal judge in Texas, but the federal appeals court in New Orleans lifted that motion last week.The Dallas Cowboys running back is currently prohibited from reporting to the team facility after its Week 6 bye and will not be allowed to play Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. Elliott was suspended six games due to domestic violence allegations that the NFL investigated for over a year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.