The San Francisco 49ers are looking to trade NaVorro Bowman, and multiple teams are interested in acquiring the four-time All-Pro linebacker, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Bowman - who is coming off a torn Achilles which ended his 2016 season - saw his playing time cut in Week 5."I don't like it. Nobody likes coming out of the game, but I'm a team player," Bowman said after Sunday's overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.With rookie Reuben Foster impressing and Ray-Ray Armstrong in the midst of a strong season, Bowman is expendable - especially after an 0-5 start that should have the 49ers focused almost entirely on building for the future.Any team that is interested in Bowman will have to consider his lengthy injury history. Along with the recent Achilles issue, Bowman sustained a devastating knee injury in the NFC title game in January 2014, tearing his ACL and MCL.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator/assistant coach Steve Wilks says linebacker Luke Kuechly "is perfectly fine," according to the Charlotte Observer's Joe Person.Wilks insists Kuechly was feeling a lot better Friday, less than 24 hours after suffering a concussion against the Philadelphia Eagles. It was the 26-year-old's third concussion in three years.Head coach Ron Rivera addressed the situation earlier Friday, and said he's going to wait until Kuechly is no longer in the protocol before saying any more, according to Person.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys are done.Aaron Rodgers' epic last-minute comeback in Week 5 to steal victory away from the Cowboys was the body blow that sent Dallas reeling, and the reinstatement of Ezekiel Elliott's six-game suspension is the haymaker that will send them to the mat for good - even if takes a few more weeks for Jerry Jones' club to realize it's falling, dazed, and lifeless.Yes, the Cowboys are more than just their star running back. Dak Prescott has been playing sensation football over the past three games following a slow start to his sophomore campaign and Demarcus Lawrence has emerged as a successor to DeMarcus Ware after years of searching for a new elite pass-rusher.However, Lawrence is part of a defense that's given up 35 points in back-to-back games, both of which the Cowboys had a great shot of winning. It remains to be seen how Prescott handles the weight of the entire offensive workload as defenses focus solely on stopping him and the passing game.Some may point to Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden and argue they're capable of solid production in Elliott's absence. But even if the Cowboys' vaunted offensive line was playing up to its usual standard, there's a reason why Morris has just eight carries in four games and McFadden has zero: neither is dynamic enough to warrant taking touches away from Elliott, and can't be expected to be difference-makers now.So, Dallas sits at 2-3, gazing up in confusion at the 5-1 Philadelphia Eagles, trapped in a spiraling national anthem controversy which has been fueled, of course, by Jones' ego, and with a brutal six-game slate upcoming without their star player.Cowboys' next six gamesRecordRun defense rankat San Franciso 49ers0-519that Washington Redskins2-210thvs. Kansas City Chiefs5-020that Atlanta Falcons3-111thvs. Philadelphia Eagles5-12ndvs. Los Angeles Chargers1-432ndThe 49ers may be winless, but they aren't your average 0-5 team. San Francisco has lost its last four games by a combined 11 points, and its last two defeats came in overtime. A signature win isn't far off for the 49ers.After San Francisco, the Cowboys have four games that they likely wouldn't have been favored in even with Elliott available.The Redskins played the Chiefs - the best team in football - close in Week 5; Kansas City's versatile and explosive offense should tear apart the Cowboys' secondary; the Falcons are a far cry from their 2016 form but are always strong at home; and the Eagles looked like the best team in the NFC in Thursday's win over the Carolina Panthers.Simply put, the Cowboys will be lucky to be 5-6 when Elliott returns from his ban.And in a conference that looks set to demand at least 10 wins for its wild-card spots - 13 of the NFC's 16 teams enter Week 6 with at least two wins and eight with at least three - it will be a hole even Elliott won't be able to dig Dallas out of.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Atlanta Falcons linebacker Vic Beasley - the NFL's sack leader in 2016 - will return for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins after missing the last month due to a hamstring injury, the team announced Friday.Beasley was able to practice all week, but he stopped short of declaring himself fully fit."I feel good, man," Beasley said, according to ESPN's Vaughn McClure. "I feel like this is an injury, something I can play through. I wouldn't say things are going to be 100 percent because, during the season, everybody is pretty much banged up with some type of injury. I feel good enough to do what I've normally been doing."Beasley was hurt in Week 2's win over the Green Bay Packers, and his return should boost a Falcons pass-rush that has remained effective in his absence.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski says he will play Sunday versus the New York Jets, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Gronkowski missed the Week 6 Thursday Night game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to a thigh injury.Tight end Dwayne Allen made up the bulk of Gronkowski's playing time last week, but he failed to receive a single target.Gronkowski had caught 20 of 31 targets for 318 yards and two touchdowns through the first four weeks of the season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Everything was going great for the survivor pool picks last week until the New York Giants lost four receivers against the Los Angeles Chargers.Losing Odell Beckham Jr. is tough enough, but adding Brandon Marshall, Sterling Shepard, and Dwayne Harris was too much to overcome as the Chargers got the road win.The Indianapolis Colts made it more dramatic than they had to but emerged victorious to bring the picks record to 8-2 on the season. If you've made it this far, it's likely you've already selected the top teams in your pool so a deeper examination is needed for Week 6.Here's who to look at.Two teams to pickNew Orleans SaintsThe New Orleans Saints come in off a bye week following a win in London over the Miami Dolphins. After a difficult start to the season, the club is riding a two-game win streak with the Detroit Lions coming to town. Matthew Stafford will play for the NFC North outfit but is certainly banged up after a physical loss to the Carolina Panthers.Cam Newton exposed the Lions' pass defense last week and Drew Brees should be set for a big day at home as the Saints roll to victory.Denver BroncosThe Broncos are a fine team but this pick is all about how inept the Giants are set to be without four receivers due to injury. Most teams would be forced to rely on their rushing attack when faced with such a predicament but New York's ground game is among the worst in the league. It won't be a surprise if the Giants fail to score at all in this contest.The Giants do have a stout defense but they will be on the field way too much in Denver's mile-high air and will eventually crack in the second half. Broncos win this one going away.Team to avoidWashington RedskinsAt first glace the winless San Francisco 49ers look like terribly mismatched against the Washington Redskins on Sunday night, but a closer look says this could be a very tight contest. The 49ers have lost each of their last four games by three points or less, a true sign that the team does not quit on new head coach Kyle Shanahan. Washington will likely pick up the win here, but in what should be a close game, it's best to stay away.Record: 8-2

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs has been ruled out for Sunday's game versus the Green Bay Packers, according to head coach Mike Zimmer.Quarterback Sam Bradford is also ruled out due to a knee injury.Diggs didn't practice all week after suffering a groin injury in the Vikings' Week 5 Monday Night game against the Chicago Bears.Bradford was benched in his return to the field for the first time since the season opener.He had completed just five of 11 pass attempts for 36 yards and no touchdowns.Zimmer said after the game that Bradford aggravated his knee injury.Backup Case Keenum replaced Bradford last week and will make his fourth start of the season on Sunday. He went 17-for-21 for 140 yards and a touchdown last week.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has voiced his thoughts on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling to uphold the six-game suspension handed to running back Ezekiel Elliott.Unsurprisingly, he's not a fan of the decision."I'm very familiar with all of the facts and the details of this case. Very familiar," Jones said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, according to Todd Archer of ESPN, "Zeke did not get treated fairly here."The suspension will begin following the Cowboys' Week 6 bye, with Elliott's return not allowed prior to Nov. 30, barring possible further appeals."We are currently exploring all of our legal options and will make a decision as to what is the best course of action in the next few days,'' Elliott's attorney Frank Salzano said.Jones acknowledges that while NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has the power to suspend players, he's not at all in agreement with the process that led to the ban of his marquee player."The question was ultimately going to be does he have to follow in practice a fair way, and Zeke and his team and the Cowboys do not think that it was done in a fair way. We are trying to get that looked at, and we got a setback (Thursday)."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers, so backup Case Keenum will start, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Bradford wasn't on the practice field for the part of Friday's session open to media due to a knee injury, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Bradford was benched after a brief and unproductive return against the Chicago Bears, completing five of 11 pass attempts for just 36 yards and no touchdowns.Head coach Mike Zimmer later confirmed Bradford aggravated the knee injury which had previously sidelined him since the season opener.Keenum, who started the Vikings' previous three games, went 17-for-21 for 140 yards through the air against Chicago, throwing for a touchdown and also rushing for 22 yards.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Every week, theScore's football editors will take a deep dive into the rating changes from the Madden 18 video game, looking at the most notable risers and fallers based on the previous week's action.RisersCarson Wentz, QB, Eagles81 overall ➔ 84 overallFour touchdowns, 304 passing yards, and a 70 percent completion percentage. Wentz torched the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5, and his career day earned him one of the week's most significant leaps. If this is any indication, he'll be in for another bump following his Week 6 performance against the Carolina Panthers.DeForest Buckner, DT, 49ers87 overall ➔ 89 overallBuckner's stats might not be eye-popping, but the second-year defensive tackle has made a gargantuan leap in his performance, consistently wreaking havoc against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5. The former first-rounder is becoming one of Madden's underrated gems on defense.A.J. Bouye, CB, Jaguars85 overall ➔ 87 overallJalen Ramsey may be the Jaguars' star playmaker in the secondary, but free-agent addition Bouye has been just as impressive over the first five weeks of the season. With Bouye's latest bump, it may not be wise to try and throw on the Jaguars (who thought that sentence would ever be seriously written?).Ed Dickson, TE, Panthers70 overall ➔ 73 overallDickson came out of nowhere to rack up 175 yards on five catches in Week 5. Due to the lack of consistent receiving options on the Panthers, the 30-year-old tight end should get enough looks to bump up his rating further and become a viable Madden weapon.Leonard Fournette, RB, Jaguars82 overall ➔ 84 overallFournette is dragging a Blake Bortles-led offense to shocking success. For that, the rookie more than deserves his latest bump. His epic 90-yard touchdown run probably didn't hurt, either.FallersBen Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers88 overall ➔ 86 overallBig Ben has not been himself all season long, and he hit a new low in Week 5 by throwing five interceptions and averaging 5.7 yards per pass. The veteran quarterback should count himself lucky that he only dropped by two points.Tyron Smith, LT, Cowboys87 overall ➔ 85 overallArguably the top left tackle in football over the past few seasons, Smith has been making uncharacteristic errors of late, likely caused by lingering back issues. Nevertheless, Smith continues to fall after starting the season rated 94 overall.Amari Cooper, WR, Raiders86 overall ➔ 85 overallDuring the Raiders' three-game losing streak, Cooper has caught just four passes for 23 yards and no touchdowns. The cause of his regression is a mystery, and Madden players might be best served to look to Michael Crabtree (rated 86) until Cooper rebounds.Sam Bradford, QB, Vikings84 overall ➔ 82 overallBradford clearly wasn't healthy enough to perform up to his usual standards in his Week 5 return, prompting him to be benched in favor of Case Keenum at halftime. After an elite performance in Week 1, Bradford looked set for a career year, but will again leave real and virtual football fans wondering "what if?"Stephon Gilmore, CB, Patriots84 overall ➔ 82 overallGilmore rebounded nicely against Mike Evans following a poor performance in Week 4, but the highly-priced free agent couldn't avoid a two-point drop. The cornerback will need to prove he can play at a top level every week to boost his rating back up.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin returned from a three-game suspension to rush for 74 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries in his 2017 season debut against the New England Patriots.It was his first regular season game since Dec. 18, 2016, after last season was cut short by injury.With his first game behind him, he feels even better heading into the Week 6 contest against the Arizona Cardinals.“I feel like I can handle anything coach asks me to do,’’ Martin said, according to Roy Cummings of Florida Football Insiders. “I’m prepared to do everything.’’Martin's 13 carries and one reception last week came despite playing just 26 total snaps, while Charles Sims led the backfield with 32 and Jacquizz Rodgers played 13, according to Football Outsiders.For Martin, the productive outing was an important first step toward a full return.“I was surprised at how quick some of the stuff came back to me,’’ Martin said. “I was surprised at how quickly the reads came and how the twitch was and how good (my) cuts were. It was a good feeling to have.’’With Sims and Rodgers splitting the work through the first three weeks of the season, the Buccaneers rank 30th in total team rushing yards, averaging just 86 yards per game through four weeks.While it's been just one game, handing the reigns back to Martin on a full-time basis seems like the best way for the Buccaneers to climb the ranks.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse language and ideo contains graphic contentA violent altercation between two fans at Thursday night's Carolina Panthers-Philadelphia Eagles game was caught on camera.In the video, a man wearing a Panthers jersey can be seen punching an older man in the face multiple times, causing him to bleed. The Instagram user who uploaded the video said the aggressor and his girlfriend had been standing during the game, and when the older man complained, he fired off several insults before sucker-punching him.

Memorabilia from O.J. Simpson's first post-prison autograph session has hit the collectors market.Steiner Sports is selling two replica Buffalo Bills helmets signed by the former running back - one for $399.99 and the other, which includes a "HOF '85" inscription, for $449.99.TMZ Sports reported earlier this month that Simpson held a secret autograph session in a private Las Vegas hotel room just days after he was released from prison. A Steiner representative told TMZ that it didn't hold the signing, but rather purchased the autographed items from a third party."Collectors collect and O.J. Simpson is a part of sports history for his accomplishments on the field," Steiner CEO Brandon Steiner said. "He’s a Heisman Trophy winner, 10,000-plus yard rusher, and Hall of Famer. We are just trying to answer the demand of our customers looking to complete their collections."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants' injury-hit wide receiver corps suffered another blow Friday, as Sterling Shepard was ruled out of Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos due to an ankle injury.The Giants have already lost Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall for the season, meaning Eli Manning will have to face the Broncos' dominant secondary without his top three targets.Roger Lewis and rookie tight end Evan Engram should see the majority of the Giants' targets in Shepard's absence.New York's injury woes don't end there. Defensive end Olivier Vernon (ankle), linebacker Jonathan Casillas (neck), and running back Paul Perkins (ribs) were all ruled out, too.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan is helping to lead a resistance against President Trump's recent 'demands' that all NFL players stand for the national anthem.Khan was one of the first owners to link arms with his team on the sideline following Trump's initial cry for NFL players to respect the anthem."I had heard from a lot of the players what their feelings were, how offended they were (by Trump's comments) and what they were going to do and my concern was that they don't do anything to hurt themselves," Khan said, according to Zoe Galland of Chicago Business. "We wanted to do something as a team, because a team divided against itself cannot stand."NFL owners will meet in New York to discuss the ongoing controversy next week - one which Khan says Trump has largely manufactured."A lot of the stuff like football (that) Trump does is highly calculated—he looks for issues that you can touch and it will blow people up," said Khan."You have to give (him) credit, people are confused on the First Amendment versus patriotism, that if you exercise your First Amendment you're not a patriot, which is crazy ... People are confused on it, (Trump) knew he could hit on it and take advantage. I think what we're seeing is the great divider overcoming the great uniter."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart confirmed Friday that team owners won't have a formal rule proposal regarding player protests during the national anthem to vote on at the league meeting Tuesday, but added that the issue will be discussed, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe."We don't have a proposal that changes our policy, we don't have a proposal that mandates anything," said Lockhart, according to Albert Breer of MMQB.com.ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that the NFL and team owners will consider a rule change to make it mandatory for players to stand during "The Star-Spangled Banner," but Lockhart insisted this was inaccurate."You're speculating," said Lockhart, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. "Those reporting it as fact are reporting it incorrectly."Lockhart added there's been "unprecedented dialogue" between the league and the NFL Players Association regarding how to handle the anthem, according to Breer."Everyone is frustrated that we're not talking about the underlying issues that the players put on the table," said Lockhart.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Each week during the NFL season, theScore's Dane Belbeck will handicap every matchup and offer up a three-pack of picks.Week 5 record: 9-5

Joe Thomas can differentiate good pass-rushers from great ones better than most, and the longtime Cleveland Browns left tackle believes rookie Myles Garrett is in a class of his own."Since I've been watching the NFL in the '90s, I've never seen a player that plays like he does," Thomas said Thursday, according to Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot. "The things he can do, and you saw it, he hardly played at all, he was playing on one leg and he had two sacks against a team that didn't really hang onto the ball and throw down the field all that often."They were kind of dinking and dunking and running the ball. To be able to get sacks like he did is pretty impressive, but it's not a big surprise for us on the offensive line because we've seen his ability week in and week out."While Garrett's NFL debut in Week 5 couldn't help the Browns avoid their fifth straight loss, he showcased his otherworldly talents by recording a sack in his very first snap. He added another in the second quarter."It's great having him on my team,'' said Thomas. "Certainly I'd hate to have to block him. It was disappointing losing him early in the season because we saw what he was doing in practice and what he was doing in the preseason."Garrett continued to be limited by the high ankle sprain that sidelined him for the first four games of the season, playing just 19 snaps, but said he felt closer to 100 percent during the week."If I have a good week of practices and it feels good, then I can get more snaps, play a little bit more in the fourth quarter and bring more to the table," Garrett said.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SSSQ is a weekly look at the under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting, and the potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut. For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 6 Rankings.StartBlake Bortles, QB, Jaguarsvs. RamsThe incredible play of the Jaguars' defense has led to diminished fantasy outputs from Bortles - he has yet to pass for over 250 yards in a game this season and only once threw multiple touchdowns. This could change with Jacksonville facing the league's second-highest scoring offense in the Rams, forcing Bortles to take a few more risks to keep pace.Fearless prediction: 286 yards passing, 34 yards rushing, 3 TDsOther QBs to start

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was his own toughest critic following Thursday's 28-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.Newton threw three interceptions and was nowhere near his best form as the Panthers dropped to 4-2 on the year. The 2015 NFL MVP finished 28-of-52 for 239 yards and a touchdown, rushing for 71 yards and another score on 11 carries."Turning the ball over, giving them layups for scores. In order to win a game like that, you have to protect the football better - and I'm talking to myself," Newton said via Max Henson of the Panthers' official website.Newton threw an interception during the Panthers' penultimate drive, intending to find Kelvin Benjamin with an opportunity to take a fourth-quarter lead, and took responsibility for the turnover."We weren't on the same page and it showed."Newton, who spoke solemnly during the post-game press conference, did try to find a silver lining after Thursday's contest."I don't want to sound depressing, but I'm kind of coming off like that. We're in a good position."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly was placed in the concussion protocol and did not return to Thursday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles.Kuechly left the game after slamming into the arm of Eagles guard Brandon Brooks and ran to the locker room shortly thereafter. This marks the third concussion in as many years for Kuechly, who missed nine games over the past two seasons as a result."The only thing I can tell you is that he's in the protocol," Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said post-game. "I don't know anything other than that."The 26-year-old has been named to the Pro Bowl in four consecutive seasons, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2013. It would be a significant loss for the Panthers' defense if Keuchly misses any extended time, as he and Thomas Davis have been the team's anchor on that side of the ball over the past five seasons.Kuechly has emerged as arguably the NFL's most well-rounded linebacker, excelling in coverage and run support, while showing a cerebral ability to diagnose plays at the line of scrimmage that is second to none.Prior to leaving the game, Kuechly recorded four tackles and a quarterback hit.David Mayo will likely be inserted into the starting lineup in Kuechly's absence.The Panthers lost 28-23 to the Eagles.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams signed linebacker Alec Ogletree to a four-year extension Wednesday.Terms weren't disclosed, but the extension is worth $42 million, with $30 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It's the second-most guaranteed money for an inside linebacker, trailing only Carolina Panthers star Luke Kuechly."Alec has evolved into a true leader of our football team and we are excited to sign him to this extension,” Rams general manager Les Snead said in a press release. "His teammates voted him as a captain in back-to-back seasons for a reason - and it’s not only because of his production, but his character and resiliency. We look forward to Alec helping our team emerge as a consistent winner for years to come."Ogletree was named a second-team All-Pro in 2016 and is one of the leaders of the Rams' front seven alongside standout defensive tackle Aaron Donald.The 26-year-old is off to an excellent start to the 2017 season, recording 35 tackles, two sacks, and two pass deflections in five games.Under an upstart regime led by head coach Sean McVay, the Rams are making sure their key components remain under contract for the foreseeable future.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly was taken to the locker room during the second quarter of Thursday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles to be evaluated for a concussion.Kuechly walked off the field under his own power, then jogged to the locker room shortly thereafter. He suffered the injury after crashing violently into the arm of Eagles guard Brandon Brooks.The 26-year-old has been named to the Pro Bowl in four consecutive seasons, and if he's out for any time whatsoever, it'd be a devastating loss for the Panthers' defense.Kuechly recorded four tackles and a quarterback hit prior to leaving the game.Kuechly has missed nine games over the past two seasons due to concussions, ruled out of six contests in 2016, while skipping three games in 2015.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFLPA released a statement Wednesday after the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the preliminary injunction that blocked Ezekiel Elliott's six-game suspension, resulting in his sanction being reinstated by the NFL.Related: Appeals court rules against Elliott; 6-game suspension reinstatedThe Dallas Cowboys are currently on their bye week, but Elliott's suspension will be enforced effective immediately.The statement reads as follows:

Jay Cutler may not have the support of many Miami Dolphins fans, but that doesn't mean Jarvis Landry isn't in his cornerThe Dolphins' second-leading receiver vented some frustration to reporters Thursday regarding the way Cutler has been treated by the Dolphins faithful in recent weeks. Landry defended his quarterback's ability to lead the offense and took the opportunity to call the behavior of a portion of the team's fan base "embarrassing," according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk."Jay is our quarterback, and we stand by him," Landry said. "We don't buy into the fans - 'Who do you want to play quarterback?' I believe it's disrespectful. A man who comes out here and works his butt off, for people to not understand what's going on, or not to have even touched the field before … They don't understand the situation. They just want to be on Twitter or start a damned chant. It's embarrassing as a player to have fans like that. It's embarrassing."The decision to go with Cutler over Matt Moore in the wake of Ryan Tannehill's season-ending injury was met with instant criticism, and the 34-year-old has done little to silence his critics, finding the endzone just three times so far this season while averaging just 156.5 passing yards through four games.The Dolphins currently sit 2-2 on the year, so Cutler will need to string a few wins together if he hopes to turn the tide on fans' treatment of him as a starter.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Roger Goodell's biggest supporter is reportedly lurking in the shadows on Twitter.Goodell often comes under scrutiny for his handling of various league issues as NFL commissioner, and his wife, Jane, admitted that she has come to her husband's defense using a secret Twitter account.The Wall Street Journal was the first to report the story and Jane Goodell didn't deny the veracity of her online persona."It was a REALLY silly thing to do and done out of frustration-and love. As a former media member, I'm always bothered when the coverage doesn't provide a complete and accurate picture of a story. I'm also a wife and a mom. I have always passionately defended the hard-working guy I love - and I always will. I just may not use Twitter to do so in the future," Goodell wrote to the Journal.Goodell presented her arguments under the handle "@forargument" with the moniker "Jones Smith" a potential portmanteau of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith.She responded to a Sept. 26 tweet from Pro Football Talk, where the outlet opined that it was the commissioner's responsibility to solve any conflict regarding protests during the national anthem."Please do better reporting. He is already doing this. You are behind," she wrote from the @forargument account.The account has since been deleted."Sounds like what she did is what every spouse in America would want to do," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Markus Wheaton could miss 4-6 weeks with a tear in his groin, sources told Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times.Wheaton signed a two-year contract with the Bears in March.The 26-year-old spent the first four seasons of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and is two years removed from a 44-catch, 709-yard season.Chicago's wide receivers have been ravaged by injuries this year, with Cameron Meredith and Kevin White both out for the year.Kendall Wright and Josh Bellamy remain atop the Bears' depth chart.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The saga involving the NFL and Ezekiel Elliott had another chapter added Thursday, as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the preliminary injunction in the running back's case, resulting in his six-game suspension being reinstated, according to NFL.com.The Dallas Cowboys are on their bye week, but the league wasted no time in releasing a statement announcing Elliott's suspension will be immediately enforced, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Matt Ryan is expected to have his favorite target on the field Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.Atlanta Falcons receiver Julio Jones was limited in practice for the past two days after suffering a hip flexor injury against the Buffalo Bills in Week 4, but insists he's fine following a bye week."I feel great,'' Jones said Thursday, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN. "We just have a plan here. I've been doing it the whole year. So, limited means really nothing. I'll be ready to go.''It's been somewhat of a slow start to the season by Jones' standards, but the four-time Pro Bowler isn't concerned he hasn't found the end zone yet."I don't know why people are worried about Julio Jones,'' he said. "I'm not worried about it. I could care less about a touchdown. We're 3-1 right now. Right now, it's 0-0 for this quarter (of the season) for us. Whatever defenses give us, we're going to take. If that's me going out there and not scoring and we're still winning games, that's fine with me.''Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is monitoring air quality conditions around Oakland Alameda Coliseum in advance of the Raiders' Week 6 game versus the Los Angeles Chargers, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The concern is a result of the Northern California wildfires which have led to a total of 24 deaths as of Thursday afternoon. Countless others have been ordered to evacuate their homes.The Raiders shifted the times of Thursday's practice session due to worsening air quality, according to Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.An Air Quality Index value of 156 or higher is considered unhealthy, with Thursday's reading registering at 180.As of Thursday, Sunday's game remains scheduled to be held in Oakland.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Rishard Matthews tweeted Thursday that he'll "be done playing football" if the NFL forces players to stand for the national anthem.

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 6.The final rankings will be released Sunday morning.Standard

Chicago Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan returned to practice a better man following his one-game suspension for a hit to the head of Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams in Week 4.Trevathan twice reached out to Adams, according to Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times, and acknowledged he'll have to be more careful in the future."I told him I hope he’s good," Trevathan said. "Hope you know I wasn’t trying to harm him. I was just trying to make a play."He added: "I just gotta be more careful with situations like that. But I can’t let that slow me down. I’ve been playing this game for a long time. I’ll be more careful with the rules that are in place. But I’m just trying to make a play and hustling to the ball."Trevathan said he accepts the league's decision to suspend him one game, but maintains there was no ill intent on the devastating play."I feel that one game was cool," Trevathan said. "I mean, you know, I’m not satisfied, but I can’t determine what goes on. Ain’t nothing I can say right now can change the fact they made (the decision), and I’ve got to respect it."Adams cleared the league's concussion protocol in time for his best performance of the season in the Packers' Week 5 win over the Dallas Cowboys, catching seven passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns.Trevathan said he's glad to see Adams come back strong and asserted there are no hard feelings between the two."He was real cool," Trevathan said. "He plays football. He plays it hard, and he plays it good. Obviously, he played last week. He did good. He handled it well. We were good."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.There’s nothing wrong with being a contrarian, besides the fact that most people can’t stand your guts. But their barbs are quickly dulled when you consider that zigging when everyone else zags has produced 70 percent ATS winners this NFL season.

The NFL has become one of the United States' most divisive brands in the wake of President Donald Trump's attacks on the league regarding player protests during the national anthem, according to a poll conducted by The New York Times.Prior to Trump's calls three weeks ago for the NFL to fire any player who protests, Republicans and Democrats held similar views about the league, with around 60 percent viewing it favorably and 20 percent unfavorably.However, since then, Trump voters are significantly more likely to say they see the NFL in a negative light. More than 60 percent now view it unfavorably, while the opinions of Hillary Clinton voters haven't substantially changed.The NFL is now the seventh-most polarizing brand in the country, behind the likes of Trump hotels, CNN, and Fox News, in terms of net favorability between Trump and Clinton voters.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Amari Cooper's production has taken a drastic hit this season, but the Oakland Raiders wideout isn't getting frustrated."I’m just being me, man," Cooper said, according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN. "I like to play well so, hopefully, in this next game, I’ll have a few catches and kind of get back on (track)."Cooper has been plagued by drops through five weeks, recording only four catches over the last three games.The third-year receiver has reached the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons - posting more than 1,000 yards receiving in both campaigns - so his struggles are puzzling to say the least."It’s one of them things," Raiders quarterback Derek Carr said. "He’s ran some really good routes, to be honest. He’s ran some good routes. He’s obviously put some on the ground that he’s wanted back. I’ve missed him a couple of times. I think everyone on our team is a little frustrated at something ... I think if we can go out there and cut it loose and just trust what we have and what God gave us, I think we’ll be better going forward."Despite things not going well, Cooper doesn't plan to make any drastic changes to his game."That’s how I look at it," he said. "Just keep being me, just keep doing me, stay true to who I am and the ball will find me."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo informed cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie that he will be suspended indefinitely in a meeting Thursday, the team confirmed following a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Under the collective bargaining agreement, the Giants can sideline the veteran for a maximum of four weeks, added Rapoport.Rodgers-Cromartie returned to the team facility Thursday following an argument with McAdoo last week over his playing time.The veteran threw his helmet after being taken off the field in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers due to an injury, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN. After being informed he would be inactive for Week 6, Cromartie left the team, leading to his suspension.Rodgers-Cromartie stands to lose $410,588 each week he is suspended, according to Raanan.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns and spent 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast." Find him on Twitter @WilliamsonNFL.Six teams have played four games thus far, and the rest of the NFL franchises have five games under their belts. While that's a somewhat small sample size and many things will obviously change, it is enough to go on when identifying which players are really shining thus far. Below are my way-too-early picks for the major NFL awards.Most Valuable Player: Alex SmithSmith is leading the NFL’s best team right now. His yards per attempt are also the best in football - something few ever thought would be the case. As usual, Smith isn’t turning the ball over, but he's making more big plays than we're accustomed to seeing from the 13-year veteran.Smith has been highly accurate to all levels of the field while performing very well under pressure. Andy Reid’s scheming and the emergence of Kareem Hunt have been instrumental in the success of Kansas City’s attack - a very difficult offense to play against - but Smith is the one making it all go.Offensive Player of the Year: Aaron RodgersThe MVP and Offensive Player of the Year are basically the same award, but let's stray from that principle a little to spread the wealth. No one is playing better football right now than Rodgers, and with all due respect to Smith and the Chiefs, Green Bay’s record is only one game worse. As usual, Rodgers is lethal in all phases of quarterbacking, as Dallas found out Sunday.Rodgers' 13-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio tells a lot about this special player. Again, as usual, Rodgers’ highs are very high and occur with great regularity. Meanwhile, his lows are few and far between. Rodgers has also done all this despite suspect pass protection, with the Packers' offensive tackles missing significant time through five games.Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron DonaldJ.J. Watt won’t be in contention for an award that he used to own. Last season’s winner, Khalil Mack, has picked up where he left off in 2016, and many of the usual names have started the season very strong on this side of the ball. However, none have been as tough to play against as Donald.Even though Donald didn’t play the first game of the season, he is performing at least as well as at any point of his amazing, somewhat underappreciated career. He is an utter wrecking machine that destroys offenses up the middle, and he's lived on the other side of the line of scrimmage in 2017.Go back and watch what Donald did to the Seahawks on Sunday. It was yet another amazing showing from the NFL’s best defensive player.Offensive Rookie of the Year: Kareem HuntDeshaun Watson and Leonard Fournette are coming on strong, but Hunt deserves this award despite slightly slowing down in the past two games - at least, compared to the amazingly high standards he set to begin his career. Much of Hunt’s production is now coming late in games, and he probably won’t be able to sustain the volume of very long runs he put up at the start of the season.He's an every-down back that is quite useful in the passing game, although his blocking still needs improvement. But Hunt does his best work when handed the football. He has power and balance, and finishes runs with intensity and consistency. Having Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and now Hunt at Reid and Smith’s disposal has completed Kansas City’s lethal offense.Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jamal AdamsThis one's a tough pick.Though he's only played 19 snaps in 2017, Myles Garrett still has a shot at winning this award; he had two sacks in his debut Sunday. Cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and Marshon Lattimore have been terrific on defenses that struggled in 2016. But Adams is the pick here - and it shouldn’t be long before this do-it-all safety ranks among the best players at his position.The Jets have a blitz-happy defense, and Adams goes after quarterbacks well and often in this scheme, something Todd Bowles must love about his first-round pick. He's a highly capable run-stuffer, can align near the line of scrimmage or far off the ball, and has excellent man and zone coverage skills.Fellow rookie safety Marcus Maye has also played well, but Adams is a star in the making and a building block for New York.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)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.Longtime Las Vegas oddsmaker Peter Korner sizes up this week’s NFL schedule and picks out some of the lines making him go “hmmm...” in Week 6.

Adrian Peterson looked to the heavens for a fresh start, and his request was answered Tuesday in the form of a trade to the running back-needy Arizona Cardinals."It was like, 'Thank you, Jesus,'" Peterson said of his reaction to seeing the breaking news on TV, according to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss. "He answers prayers."The move came after a hugely disappointing first month with the New Orleans Saints in which the veteran back rushed for just 81 yards in four games.While Peterson is happy to be out of New Orleans after signing with them in free agency, he insisted he didn't push for the trade."I'll be lying to you to say that I didn't want a change of scenery after four weeks of seeing how things played out," Peterson said. "So, yeah, it was something that I was praying about - 'Hey, God, I need you to answer this prayer for me. Are you listening to me?' But in the midst of that, I was still tuned in and locked in."I had a great day of practice Monday, great day of practice. It was hot, too. It was outside. It was a good day. It was rough, but I was still locked in and taking care of my business, and the prayer was answered."Free from the Saints' logjam at running back, Peterson will be the featured back in Arizona - at least until David Johnson returns, which head coach Bruce Arians said Wednesday could happen by Thanksgiving.Arians said Peterson was able to do "everything" at practice Wednesday, adding the former NFL MVP will be "ready to go" for Sunday's matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Receivers always want the ball.So it's understandable Sammy Watkins would be displeased about his role with the Los Angeles Rams' offense as of late, as the 24-year-old has only totaled one catch over his past two games."As a player, of course you're going to be frustrated," Watkins told Rich Hammond of the Los Angeles Daily News. "I don't know a player, a wide receiver, that's not frustrated throughout the game if you're not getting the ball. Each week, it could change. They had certain coverage that kind of took me out of the game, and that's part of the game."Watkins broke out against the San Francisco 49ers three weeks ago with a pair of touchdowns and more than 100 yards receiving, but since then he's been virtually non-existent in the offense. Last Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks he was held without a catch for the first time in his career."Definitely want to try to get him more involved," Rams quarterback Jared Goff said. "But by no means are we, or am I, going to change the approach, play in and play out. I'll go through the reads and hopefully he gets more touches."To Watkins' credit, he hasn't let his frustration become a distraction to the team and isn't concerned about his numbers this season impacting his next contract. He's happy to be with a Rams squad that appears to be on the rise."I think I've got enough money," Watkins said. "I just want to have fun and ball. I want to be a part of this team. It's a great team. I know where they're about to be at (in terms of success). I just want to be a part of it and make plays and score touchdowns."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler is often accused of having an air of extreme nonchalance. He's certainly not too concerned over what many are calling a disappointing start for the Dolphins."At the end of the day, we're 2-2," Cutler said, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. "We're still in a good position. We have to feel good about that. There's a lot of noise that would lead to believe otherwise. But we are 2-2. Offensively, if we can't get together, it can go the other way pretty quickly. There's a lot of football left to figure things out."The Dolphins are averaging a league-worst 10.3 points per game, more than five points clear of the next-worst Cleveland Browns. The passing attack is averaging a league-worst 156.5 yards per game; the rushing attack ranks 31st in average yardage.Cutler's completing 62.6 percent of his passes, which is a higher rate than his career average, but he's averaging just 5.39 yards per attempt, easily the worst of his career.Head coach Adam Gase was quick to defend the quarterback he coaxed out of retirement."The one thing that people don’t understand with the quarterback is that he’s at the mercy of 10 other guys," Gase said. "For the most part, (Cutler) has been doing his job. He's been delivering the ball to the right guy; but at the end of the day, we've got to catch the ball, we've got to make sure that we protect him, and we've got to be able to run the ball to make sure our play-action game is actually going to work. But until we clean a lot of things up, it's going to be hard to even evaluate where he's at."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Robert Kraft is still interested in purchasing a Premier League club, but is deterred by the lack of a salary cap in the English game.The owner of the NFL's New England Patriots and Major League Soccer's New England Revolution held a meeting with former Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry in 2005 over buying the club, but the Merseyside outfit eventually fell into the hands of fellow American businessmen Tom Hicks and George Gillett.Former Liverpool chairman Sir Martin Broughton also claimed that Kraft was offered the club before Hicks and Gillett sold to the Fenway Sports Group in 2010, but at that time Kraft "wasn't interested."Related: Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Bill Gates turned down chance to buy Liverpool"I like to win at whatever I do," Kraft told BBC Sport. "But without a salary cap I'm concerned that we might be at a disadvantage."He added: "We helped found MLS in America. Our league here is starting to really develop, and with our soccer team we've gone to the championship game five times in 21 years."I'm just concerned in the Premier League that we might not, with all the different ways of operating, we're not as familiar with all of them."Kraft maintains he's "still intrigued" in England's top flight, but the lack of an even playing field means a rich owner could spend a disproportional amount to clubs elsewhere in the 20-team division, making it difficult for the more frugal teams to compete.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Suspended cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie returned to the New York Giants' facility Thursday after leaving the team over a dispute with head coach Ben McAdoo, Dan Duggan of NJ Advance Media reports.The cornerback was in the locker room with his teammates ahead of the day's practice session.Rodgers-Cromartie and McAdoo are reportedly set to meet Thursday to discuss the length of his ban.The 31-year-old confirmed he had an argument with McAdoo over his playing time in Week 5, but claims he was suspended before he walked out.While Rodgers-Cromartie admitted he handled the situation poorly, he said McAdoo's explanation was "BS."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thursday Night Football may have begun with some duds this season, but the schedule has blessed viewers with solid games in recent weeks.That trend looks set to continue with a matchup of 4-1 teams, as the Philadelphia Eagles square off with the Carolina Panthers in Week 6.Here's what side of the point spread to toss your cash on before kickoff.The wager: Philadelphia Eagles at Carolina Panthers (-3)The Eagles roll into Carolina on a three-game winning streak after absolutely hammering the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday night. Carson Wentz's struggles to end last season appear to be long gone, as the second-year quarterback has looked strong in 2017. And while the offense gets the accolades, the Eagles' defense has also been very sound, ranking second league-wide against the run.Meanwhile, after a stunning 34-13 home loss to the New Orleans Saints, the Panthers have completely turned things around with wins at the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions. The offense, which looked anemic through the opening three weeks, has rebounded to post 60 points over the last two games combined, and Cam Newton is pushing the ball downfield with great success. The star quarterback is completing 63 percent of his passes that travel 15-plus yards, and has found an emerging star in receiver Devin Funchess.Look for the the Eagles' 29th-ranked pass defense to struggle with the Panthers' multi-pronged attack, and for Newton to make enough plays to cover the three points. Panthers 27, Eagles 20Thursday picks record: 4-1Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Michelle Foerster, the wife of former Miami Dolphins offensive line coach Chris Foerster, released a statement on behalf of her family Wednesday.A video of Chris Foerster was released Sunday in which he snorts an unspecified white substance. He resigned as the Dolphins' offensive line coach Monday.Below is Michelle Foerster's statement, per ESPN's James Walker:

If Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is trying to look out for his players, he's going about it in an unorthodox way.Jones sounded off following Sunday's loss to the Green Bay Packers, stating that any actions "disrespectful" to the American flag would result in his players being banned from further games.Related: Cowboys held team meeting over Jerry Jones' anthem stanceThe Cowboys owner drew the ire of players and fans alike, but he was reportedly being disingenuous. A source told ESPN's Todd Archer that Jones told players and coaches in a meeting Wednesday he was trying to deflect attention from the team by playing the villain.He also reportedly ensured that players understood the financial implications of anthem protests relating to TV ratings and sponsors.The comments don't appear to have been well received. Ezekiel Elliott reportedly declined interviews after the meeting and Orlando Scandrick told ESPN "no comment" several times.Jones' conservative stance has been blasted by fans and labor unions alike, with one group filing a complaint against him to the National Labor Relations Board.It appears Jones - who donated $1 million to Donald Trump's presidential campaign and was praised by the president for his stance - and his players will continue to be at odds amid one of the most polarized political eras in U.S. history.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians revealed Wednesday that star running back David Johnson could return by Thanksgiving at the "earliest," according to Alex Marvez of SiriusXM NFL Radio.Johnson injured his left wrist during a Week 1 loss to the Detroit Lions and underwent surgery. He was initially slated for a two-to-three-month recovery.If his progress follows Arians' timeline, he'll be back for a Week 12 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.Johnson told reporters he received his cast Wednesday and didn't know when he'd be able to play again.Johnson emerged as one of the defining stars of the 2016 season, earning first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors, and his absence has been profoundly felt by the Cardinals' offense.Arizona traded for Adrian Peterson on Tuesday and subsequently released Chris Johnson.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is singing a new tune after expressing self-doubt following one of the worst performances of his career in a 30-9 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.Roethlisberger said, "maybe I don't have it anymore" after throwing five interceptions Sunday.It appears Roethlisberger's pity party has ended and he chafed at the suggestion that his best years are behind him."They can question me. I don't question myself," Roethlisberger said via ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "No offense to any of you guys, but it doesn't matter to me how you guys question me."Roethlisberger continued his offensive against reporters, citing his decorated resume."Two Super Bowls, 100-some years, 300-some, I don't even know my own stats," Roethlisberger said. "I've been playing this game longer than you've probably been covering it."Although there's been a narrative crafted around Roethlisberger's rapid decline, the Steelers have a share of the AFC North lead at 3-2. Now, Roethlisberger is presented with a chance to make his skeptics eat their words, squaring off against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs on the road Sunday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.