The Jacksonville Jaguars are one of the NFL's surprising 2-1 teams, especially after flirting with benching Blake Bortles during the preseason before ultimately handing him back the starting job.Bortles looked solid in Week 1, came back down to earth in Week 2, and then put up one of the best performances of his career Sunday in a blowout win against the Baltimore Ravens in London.Marcedes Lewis caught three of Bortles' four touchdown passes versus the Ravens, and the tight end said Wednesday the Jaguars understand that the quarterback remains their most vital component to success."The biggest thing with Blake is probably psychological. I think mentally, him understanding that we're only going as far as he takes us. If you're fortunate enough to play in this league a long time, you're going to have some bad games, but it's how you bounce back from it," Lewis said on "PFT Live," according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.While Bortles' inconsistency continues to be an issue, there's been a marked improvement in his play since his job security was threatened in the preseason.With the struggling New York Jets upcoming in Week 4, Bortles will have another good opportunity to prove he's the man in Jacksonville.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's NFL Editors, including Jack Browne, Michael McClymont, Mitch Sanderson, and Arun Srinivasan.1. Kansas City Chiefs (3-0)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan1st1st1st1stPrevious Rank: 2ndAs one of two teams with a 3-0 record and the only one with a win over the defending champs, there's not much argument against the Chiefs being at the top of this list. - Sanderson2. Atlanta Falcons (3-0)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan2nd2nd3rd2ndPrevious Rank: 1stTwo near losses aren't enough to keep the Falcons - the other unbeaten team along with Kansas City - out of the top two. - McClymont3. New England Patriots (2-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan3rd3rd2nd3rdPrevious Rank: 3rdTom Brady has been flawless since New England's shocking Week 1 loss. And he's needed to be. The Patriots' defense requires a serious infusion of Belichick magic, and fast. - Browne4. Green Bay Packers (2-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan4th4th4th4thPrevious Rank: 6thThe Packers emerged with an ugly win over the Bengals, but the real good news is that Aaron Rodgers has yet to reach his incomparable heights this season. Look for Rodgers to scorch the Bears on Thursday evening. - Srinivasan5. Tennessee Titans (2-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan9th6th5th8thPrevious Rank: 12thThe Titans ran all over the Seahawks, and with a win in Week 4, can put some separation between themselves and the Texans in the race for the South division title. - McClymont6. Denver Broncos (2-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan8th7th7th7thPrevious Rank: 7thIt's time to pump the brakes on Denver's offensive resurgence after the team underestimated the Bills over the weekend. The Broncos will need to maintain their focus to meet their potential. - Sanderson7. Detroit Lions (2-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan9th5th6th10thPrevious Rank: 10thThe Lions are no longer the cardiac kids from last season, and are proving to be one of the NFL's toughest outs with the Vikings looming ahead. - Srinivasan8. Oakland Raiders (2-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan6th9th9th6thPrevious Rank: 5thAfter overcoming some sloppy play in the first two weeks, the Raiders' inability to get everyone on the same page thus far in 2017 was on full display Sunday night. - Sanderson9. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan10th8th10th5thPrevious Rank: 4thIt probably bodes well for the Steelers to have gotten their worst conceivable showing out of the way early in the season. - Srinivasan10. Dallas Cowboys (2-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan7th11th8th9thPrevious Rank: 8thSeriously, when did Demarcus Lawrence morph into Lawrence Taylor? The Cowboys finally have the answer to their pass-rush woes. - Browne11. Minnesota Vikings (2-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan11th10th13th13thPrevious Rank: 18thDalvin Cook and Stefon Diggs have shattered the notion of a boring offense in Minnesota, while Xavier Rhodes may have become the NFL's premier shutdown corner. Don't sleep on the resurgent Vikings. - Srinivasan12. Seattle Seahawks (1-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan12th12th12th12thPrevious Rank: 9thIf Russell Wilson is throwing for four TDs and 373 yards, the Seahawks should be cruising. But the problems along the offensive line and throughout the defense are becoming overbearing. - Sanderson13. Philadelphia Eagles (2-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan 17th13th11th11thPrevious Rank: 17thLikely killing the hated Giants season with a 61-yard field goal? Rookie kicker Jake Elliott will never have to buy a drink for himself in Philly ever again. - Browne14. Washington Redskins (2-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan14th14th14th14thPrevious Rank: 20thWho saw that coming? After two weeks of disconnected play, everything came together for Washington in a blowout win over the highly touted Raiders. - Browne15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan13th15th15th15thPrevious Rank: 11thAlright, everybody off Tampa Bay's bandwagon! The Buccaneers can't be taken seriously until they can solve the case of the backup quarterback. Case Keenum is 3-0 against them since 2015. - McClymont16. Houston Texans (1-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan16th16th19th19thPrevious Rank: 19thTheir rookie QB almost orchestrated an all-time upset over the Patriots. Unfortunately, the top defense of year ago was sliced and diced by Tom Brady for five TDs. - McClymont17. Baltimore Ravens (2-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan20th18th17th18thPrevious Rank: 13thWas the Ravens' embarrassing loss to the Jaguars a one-off, or was it predictive of their entire season? With the Steelers ahead, Baltimore can ill afford to put up another lackadaisical effort. - Srinivasan18. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan22nd24th16th16thPrevious Rank: 23rdThe Jags appear to be getting more and more comfortable in London. They could also be the most perplexing 3-1 team with a win over the Jets on Sunday. - McClymont19. Carolina Panthers (2-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan19th19th23rd17thPrevious Rank: 14thThe magical 2015 season feels like a mirage these days. Cam Newton doesn't look like himself, and now the Panthers have a date with the Patriots and their No. 1-rated offense. - McClymont20. Los Angeles Rams (2-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan15th21st22nd21stPrevious Rank: 24thThe Rams' fun-filled game-of-the-year candidate may have been a sign of what's to come from L.A.'s offense, but the upcoming schedule (Cowboys, Seahawks) may not provide much success. - Sanderson21. Buffalo Bills (2-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan21st20th20th20thPrevious Rank: 26thRaise your hand if you thought Tyrod Taylor and Co., coming off a three-point outing in Week 2, would take it to the Broncos' dominant defense ... anyone? - Browne22. New Orleans Saints (1-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan18th23rd21st23rdPrevious Rank: 25thThe Saints have a pulse. Drew Brees was nearly perfect through the air and the defense kept Cam Newton in check. They can get their season back on track with a successful trip to London against Miami. - McClymont23. Miami Dolphins (1-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan25th17th26th24thPrevious Rank: 16thAdam Gase said the Dolphins' offense was "garbage" after a near shutout by the Jets. Sounds about right. - Browne24. Arizona Cardinals (1-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan23rd22nd25th22ndPrevious Rank: 21stThe Cardinals need Carson Palmer to perform like he did to start Monday night's game; unfortunately, he only played that way for about one half. - Sanderson25. New York Giants (0-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan24th29th18th25thPrevious Rank: 15thNo 0-3 team has made the playoffs since the Bills in 1998, and only three have ever done so since the playoffs expanded in 1990. The Giants are talented. They're also done. - Browne26. Chicago Bears (1-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan28th25th27th26thPrevious Rank: 31stGood news: The Bears escaped with one of the most improbable victories of the season versus the Steelers. Bad news: Aaron Rodgers and the Packers loom large at Lambeau, on short rest. - Srinivasan27. Los Angeles Chargers (0-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan27th28th24th28thPrevious Rank: 22ndThe Chargers are two missed field goals from a 2-1 start, but after another 0-3 opening, Philip Rivers' hopes of making this his championship season are essentially gone. - Sanderson28. Indianapolis Colts (1-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan26th27th30th27thPrevious Rank: 30thA win is a win, and the Colts needed one as badly as any team. If only they could get some of their stars back from the injured list. - McClymont29. New York Jets (1-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan30th26th31st30thPrevious Rank: 32ndThe Jets' patchwork roster is actually coming together. Let's not get too carried away, but at least 0-16 is off the table, though that No. 1 overall pick is now harder to obtain. - Browne30. San Francisco 49ers (0-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan29th32nd28th29thPrevious Rank: 28thA big prime-time win would have been a great confidence boost for San Fran, but Niners fans should still take comfort in the resiliency and leadership that Brian Hoyer can provide this season. - Sanderson31. Cincinnati Bengals (0-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan32nd30th29th32ndPrevious Rank: 29thThe Bengals are likely envisioning their post-Andy Dalton future, as a bumper crop of top quarterback prospects awaits in next spring's draft. - Srinivasan32. Cleveland Browns (0-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan31st31st32nd31stPrevious Rank: 27thGrowing pains are to be expected for a young Browns club, but Sunday's loss to the Colts was one of the lone winnable games on their schedule. - SrinivasanCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Donald Trump is continuing to go after NFL players after calling for a rule to be put in place for players to stand during the anthem following the decision by hundreds of them to choose not to do so.Related: Trump says NFL beef isn't distracting him from other issuesTrump tweeted a video of Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt at the 2012 London Olympics, breaking away from a live interview to stand for the American national anthem.

With eleven catches for 114 yards through three games, Dez Bryant's fantasy owners aren't so pleased with the Dallas Cowboys receiver's start to the season - but that's not his concern.After his two-catch performance Monday night, Bryant was happy to "make the most of my opportunities" and felt good about his "whole night" in the Cowboys' win. While he was satisfied with the victory, he was also able to laugh at those pointing to his drop in production as a sign he's slowing down."That's funny to me," Bryant told Jon Machota of Dallas Morning News. "That don't bother me because I know who I am. Just because certain people don't see me get targets this game, it don't mean nothing."I feel like I got great film, I got great tape. That's what I care about. That was my whole focus, coming out and putting great film out, and I think I did that (Monday night)."Bryant was only targeted twice Monday night and did make the most of his chances, dragging a crew of Arizona Cardinals defenders into the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens anthem singer Joey Odoms has decided to resign from his role with the team in wake of the reaction from NFL fans following league-wide protests this weekend.Odoms released a statement via social media explaining his decision, though it is unclear whether he is in support of the protests or against them.

Eli Manning became the latest member of the New York Giants to criticize superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. for taking needless penalties.Beckham also drew the ire of Giants co-owner John Mara for mimicking a dog urinating during a touchdown celebration in the team's Week 3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The act was in direct response to President Donald Trump calling players who protest during the national anthem "son of a bitch."Speaking Tuesday, the quarterback singled out the star receiver while addressing the team's overall indiscipline."Everybody knows what the rules are, you know what you can do,” Manning said on WFAN via USA TODAY. "We got to be smarter in that aspect. Hey, score the touchdown, you want to do a dance or something, do it but don’t do anything that’s gonna hurt our defense or hurt the team."The Giants took 10 penalties during Sunday's game against the Eagles, yet Beckham appears to be drawing the vast majority of criticism.With the Giants off to an unexpected 0-3 start, perhaps Beckham is being unfairly drawn out as the scapegoat.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It didn't take long for the NFL schedule to weed out who the better teams are this season. After only three weeks, just two teams have yet to take a loss - the Kansas City Chiefs and the Atlanta Falcons.This year's race to stay undefeated doesn't appear to be as exciting as the 2010 race between the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts, where both teams reached the 13-0 mark before eventually meeting in the Super Bowl. However, the Chiefs and Falcons have both already started scripting dramatic seasons, and will jockey for positions atop NFL power rankings until someone's undefeated streak ends.Through the first leg of the season, the Chiefs have put together the more impressive wins - particularly their opening-night dismantling of the champion New England Patriots - but its the Falcons who are more loaded with firepower.Last-second defensive stands have gotten the Falcons two of three wins this year, though with an offense headlined by defending MVP Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Devonta Freeman, and a solid O-line, Atlanta has proven to be able to outscore any team. The Chiefs, on the other hand, have displayed a balanced strategy, rotating between relying on a stout, conservative defense and unleashing an aggressive down-field attack.With both teams using their own approach to get in the win column, let's take a look at their next few opponents to help determine who could run into trouble first.Schedule Chiefs FalconsWeek 4RedskinsBillsWeek 5at TexansByeWeek 6SteelersDolphinsWhile both team's Week 4 opponents are also coming off wins, either 3-0 club taking their first defeat on Sunday would be a major upset.Other than an uncharacteristic loss early last season, Kansas City has handled the Texans with ease during Andy Reid's tenure, and with the game in prime time, the Chiefs familiarity with the spotlight will be a leg up on rookie Deshaun Watson.As the Falcons should be able to handle the Dolphins after a week's rest, the Chiefs have their toughest test since New England in Week 6 with the Steelers. An inability to complete deep passes against Pittsburgh in the playoffs last year foiled the Chiefs chances, but with Alex Smith's new-found deep ball, its unlikely Arrowhead Stadium will host the team's first loss.If the Chiefs can survive the first six weeks, the Falcons run into the team that's haunted their nightmares since last February.Schedule Chiefs FalconsWeek 7at Raidersat PatriotsWeek 8Broncosat JetsWeek 9at Cowboysat PanthersThis will be the toughest stretch for Kansas City, but the Falcons' trip to New England in late October will be the biggest determining factor to who falls first - assuming no upsets through six weeks (which, given how this year has panned out, is a dangerous assumption).Despite the Patriots showing cracks in the armor, allowing a league-high 461 yards per game, the mental game stemming from the 25-point collapse at Super Bowl LI will play as large of a factor as any game this season.If the Falcons do avenge their Super Bowl defeat, the Chiefs will have to stay on their game to make it to their Week 10 bye unscathed. Though the Chiefs have controlled the Raiders and the Broncos recently, both teams are very competitive. Facing the Cowboys as the fourth straight power-running team, the health of the Chiefs' front seven is crucial to hanging on.By the time Week 9 rolls around, if either is still undefeated, it will be both a blessing and a curse. Both teams have to go through plenty of stiff competition, meaning that an unblemished record will have put large targets on their backs.The Chiefs seem to have the tougher overall schedule, which is to be expected playing in the best division in football, but the Falcons' matchup in New England could easily spoil the party for Atlanta, and the final eight weeks favor Kansas City's chances.Schedule Chiefs FalconsWeek 10ByeCowboysWeek 11at Giantsat SeahawksWeek 12BillsBuccaneersWeek 13at JetsVikingsWeek 14RaidersSaintsWeek 15Chargersat BuccaneersWeek 16Dolphinsat SaintsWeek 17at BroncosPanthersHaving fought to a 29-28 scoreline in Atlanta last season with the Chiefs winning, it is rather fitting that these two teams are close together at the top of the NFL. But one team will have to fall first.Who will it be?Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his fourth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his early rankings for Week 4.Updated rankings (including PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.Standard

The NFL will continue to investigate Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry for his alleged role in a domestic-violence incident, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports.Related: Dolphins' Landry releases statement after no charges filed in domestic violence caseIt was announced Tuesday that the Florida state attorney declined to file charges against Landry.Landry's ex-girlfriend, with whom he has a child, said the wide receiver never caused her any physical harm.It's possible Landry could still receive a suspension under the NFL's personal conduct policy.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

DirecTV, an American broadcast satellite service, is offering refunds to users who want to cancel their NFL Sunday Ticket package over recent protests during the national anthem, a source told ESPN's Darren Rovell.A spokesperson from the service's owner AT&T declined to confirm the new policy change, nor did they say the company would be sharing any statistics about canceled subscriptions. In order to receive the refund and have the service canceled, uses must inform the company that their reasoning is due to anthem protests.Approximately 180 players did not stand for the anthem during Week 3 following Donald Trump's comments about players who don't stand and calls for them to be fired. Three teams chose not to take the field for the anthem, while the majority of teams took part in some sort of demonstration that included linking arms during the song. Some fans in the stadiums across the league could be heard booing during demonstrations.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants wide receiver Brandon Marshall vehemently denied the allegation that he spat in a fan's face during Sunday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.An unnamed Eagles fan alleged that Marshall spat in his face during warmups. Marshall and the fan verbally jousted, after which Marshall walked away. But after the fan continued to pester him, he came back for a second round of retaliatory comments, then left again. During the second incident, the Eagles fan alleged Marshall spat on him.Marshall appeared incensed by the line of questioning Tuesday."No, absolutely not," Marshall said. "I think that if anybody does that - a fan, or a player - should be suspended, should probably pay a fine, and you should have a public apology prepared and they need to read through it on camera. So, absolutely not. But that's the world we live in. I'm sure because there was a lot of cameras around, he had his camera, all of his buddies had their cameras out. There should be video evidence of anything on his face or on his body. So, I'm not worrying about that."Marshall added that he's no longer worrying about the fan in question."If I spit in the guy’s face, I told you guys what should happen and I feel the same way if a fan does the same thing. So, we can move on to the next question."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Las Vegas Raiders is still a foreign concept.The Raiders, who have been approved to move to Las Vegas, could stay in Oakland through the 2020 season. It was previously reported that the Raiders would remain in Oakland until 2018 and would move to Las Vegas for the 2019 season, contingent upon the completion of a new stadium."For sure we are talking about a one-year extension and there's a real likelihood we could be talking about two years," Oakland Alameda Coliseum Authority executive director Scott McKibben said via Jon Becker of the Bay Area News Group.The Raiders' contract with the authority is scheduled to expire after the 2018 season, while the team pays $3.5 million in rent, according to Kimberly Veklerov of the San Francisco Chronicle.Las Vegas executives aren't worried about the latest development, however.“I’m sure they’re just trying to be cautious because it’s such a tight timeline” to build a $1.9 billion, 65,000-seat domed football stadium in Las Vegas, Clark County Commission chairman Steve Sisolak said Monday to Richard N. Velotta of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers wants to make sure that demonstrations during the national anthem are not just limited to the teams on the field.After the vast majority of the Green Bay Packers partook in a team-wide protest by linking arms during the national anthem on Sunday, Rodgers said he was happy to see the display of unity from his team, while also being wary of how it was perceived by others."Outside the building, I think the message has been diluted a little bit and it's been kind of taken away from what we were trying to do: show a united front, guys linking up together," Rodgers told the media on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Jason Wilde. "It's never been about the military or our men and women in uniform. Like I said after the game, we love and support them, and each of us I'm sure has done charity events for them.""This is about equality. This is about unity and love and growing together as a society and starting a conversation around something that may be a little bit uncomfortable for people."Related: Rodgers, Brady post images with teammates citing 'unity' and 'love'With the Packers set to be in the national spotlight when they host the Chicago Bears on Thursday Night Football, Rodgers said the team will continue to show unity by linking arms - and asked fans to do the same."We've got to come together and talk about these things and grow as a community, as a connected group of individuals in our society, and we're going to continue to show love and unity," Rodgers said. "This week we're going to ask the fans to join in as well and come together and show that we can be connected and we can grow together."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry released a statement Tuesday after the Florida state attorney decided not to file charges against him for a domestic violence allegation.Landry released the following statement via ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning has emerged as a possible candidate to run for a Senate seat in Tennessee, Republican Rep. Scott DesJarlais told Joe Perticone of the Business Insider.DesJarlais said Manning could be eyeing Sen. Lamar Alexander's seat if he retires in 2020.Manning's name also came up during speculation about who could replace Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, who's planning to retire at the end of his current term, though DesLarlais said the former quarterback "may be looking more at" Alexander's seat.Manning played his college ball at the University of Tennessee and is believed to be very well liked in the state.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A fan is demanding the Baltimore Ravens remove the statue of Ray Lewis from outside M&T Bank Stadium after the former linebacker joined Baltimore players in taking a knee during the national anthem Sunday.As of Tuesday afternoon, over 19,000 people have signed a petition on Change.org calling for the removal of the monument."I want the Ray Lewis statue at Ravens Stadium removed because of his refusal to stand during the National Anthem," the petition, which is addressed to Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, reads. "That song honors our country and our veterans who fought for it. To kneel during it is disrespectful, regardless of what you are protesting."I will not stand for that kind of disrespect towards our country, especially from a legend such as Ray Lewis. You stand for the National Anthem as a solute to those who can't stand because they fought for this land."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins linebacker Lawrence Timmons was reinstated by the team Tuesday after going AWOL prior to a Week 2 contest against the Los Angeles Chargers, the team announced.Timmons will play Week 4 against the New Orleans Saints.Timmons failed to return to the team hotel before curfew the night before the game, and was found at Los Angeles International Airport. The Dolphins reportedly filed a missing persons report after Timmons was found absent.The veteran met with team doctors after the incident but was held out of Sunday's game against the New York Jets.Dolphins head coach Adam Gase previously said Timmons could be forgiven if the right steps were taken.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

President Donald Trump continued on the offensive against the NFL on Tuesday, asking owners to implement a rule that would ban kneeling during the national anthem.Although Trump made a point of calling out the NFL and those who protest the national anthem for the past few days, he insists the league wasn't stealing his attention from other key issues this weekend."I wasn't preoccupied with the NFL," Trump said Tuesday during his press conference at the White House. "I was ashamed at what was taking place. I don't think you can disrespect our country, our flag, our national anthem.""I have plenty of time on my hands. All I do is work. It doesn’t take me long to put out a wrong."Trump also went on another patented Twitter rant earlier Tuesday morning.

The Dallas Cowboys linked arms prior to Monday's game against the Arizona Cardinals in an ostensible protest against police brutality and racial inequality, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones believes it could happen for the rest of the year.At a rally Friday, Trump asked NFL owners to fire players who continued to protest during the national anthem, drawing league-wide and national derision.The Cowboys elected to link arms and Jones said it may not be a one-off from his team."It wouldn't surprise me if it's a template going forward," Jones said via 105.3 The Fan.Numerous teams refused to take the field prior to the anthem, with several players and executives blasting Trump for his comments.Jones donated $1 million to Trump's presidential campaign.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After almost making the move a few weeks ago, the Saskatchewan Roughriders have officially signed former NFL running back Trent Richardson to the club's roster.The Riders placed the former No. 3 overall pick on their negotiation list July 28, and appeared to have a deal in place for the former Alabama star near the end of August.Richardson was supposed to travel to Regina to sign the contract, but opted against it at the last minute, choosing to look for another NFL job instead. He's apparently had a change of heart and will be joining the Riders as soon as possible.Richardson rushed for 1,679 yards and 21 touchdowns in his final season with the Crimson Tide in 2011, and was taken by the Cleveland Browns in the 2012 NFL Draft. After he piled up 950 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns in his rookie season, Richardson's stock plummeted, and he was eventually traded to the Indianapolis Colts.He spent his final full season in the NFL with the Colts, and finished with only 519 yards and three touchdowns.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gerald McCoy extended a unique invitation to his haters on Monday.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle and his team drew plenty of scrutiny online following a 34-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, but McCoy would rather meet his critics in person."There's a bunch of people out there that say a lot of terrible things that I know they wouldn't say to our face," McCoy said, via ESPN.com. "These social media tough guys, I would love to meet them. Just being honest. I probably wouldn't have said this last year, but I'm saying it now: I would love to meet you. I work at One Buccaneer Place if you would like to talk to me. I'm not going to give you my home address, but I'll meet you up here anytime you want to talk about it."McCoy said he was confused why people would extend their criticism outside the lens of football and venture into personal attacks."I get so frustrated with it. It's not a threat to anybody. (But) the disrespect has to stop," he said. "If you're frustrated, that's fine, but disrespecting us, then you're crossing the line. It's no longer football. Now you're disrespecting us as men. If we disrespected them as a man, they wouldn't like it."You calling out my name over a football game? A football game? You serious? It's one game. One. We have 14 more! One game, and you're going to disrespect us like that?"Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

At least one member of the Tennessee Titans will be kneeling during the national anthem for the foreseeable future.Receiver Rishard Matthews said Tuesday on "NFL Live" that he will take a knee during the anthem until "the president apologizes," ESPN's Adam Schefter.U.S. President Donald Trump drew the ire of NFL players when he said Friday that NFL owners should "get that son of a bitch off the field right now" if any player takes a knee during the anthem.More than 200 players responded Sunday by taking a knee or sitting on the bench.The Titans were not among those players. They - and their opponents, the Seattle Seahawks - elected to remain in the locker room for the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner," but, at least for the Titans, it appears they'll be on the field and making statements going forward.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageIt’s almost impossible for NFL ownership and players to agree on anything - but this weekend showed they are united against someone who is doing his best to divide this country and the league.The back and forth between NFL ownership, its players, and the President of the United States was at the forefront of Sunday’s NFL games. The president, who believes he can have players "fired" for peacefully protesting (an ethics violation), had some of his power taken away by the NFL.The first part of Donald Trump’s rally speech in Alabama - when he told owners to fire players for kneeling during the national anthem while calling the players a “son of a bitch” - intensified an already hot topic.When Colin Kaepernick sat, and then knelt, during the 2016 preseason, it started a national conversation about patriotism, freedom of speech, social inequality, and frequently wandered into a myriad of other social issues. Now that Trump has united the players and most owners, what can this solidarity do to help address the issues the players are kneeling for in the first place? That is the next step in this conversation.My hope is that, after this sign of owner and player unity, those in power will start to listen to the concerns of those who are protesting. The president has pushed to have these protests silenced. If the owners are truly united with the players on their ability to speak freely, I suggest the owners listen.There are 32 NFL teams and 31 owners (the Green Bay Packers are owned by its shareholders). Each of these 31 owners is a billionaire, some through other businesses and some through owning their NFL franchise. Either way, their power and influence is enormous.They have the capability to affect change in this country, whether through financial donations to political parties or candidates, or through causes they want to promote such as the military, breast cancer, or domestic violence awareness.If the owners are going to stand locked arm-in-arm with their players, who sacrifice their bodies and brains for the owners’ financial gain and entertainment, they need to be the first to sit down with them and listen to their reasons for protest.NFL players and owners have a huge platform to promote whatever they choose as important. Since 2009, when the league started having players on the field for the national anthem, the NFL has promoted the military much more than in the past. The owners have also received millions of dollars from the defense department and National Guard for these promotions.With such a huge audience, the league can influence others. In this situation, the league is profiting while helping the military push its agenda of recruiting soldiers. Whether you agree or disagree with this influence is a personal opinion, and the league has a right to do as they please. Either way, it is true.Former POW and current Arizona senator John McCain stated: “Fans should have the confidence that their hometown heroes are being honored because of their honorable military service, not as a marketing ploy.” McCain stated this as part of a joint oversight report released titled “Tackling Paid Patriotism.” The NFL chooses its causes strategically, and can have a huge influence on the conversation their players are attempting to create.I asked former NFL quarterback Jake Plummer - who was a friend and teammate of Pat Tillman - what Tillman would have thought of Sunday’s protests. Tillman, a former NFL player who was killed by friendly fire while serving in Afghanistan, has been regularly used as a propaganda piece to support military’s agenda since his death.“Pat would have loved Kaepernick," Plummer said. "He would have been interested in talking to him about being born mixed race, adopted by two white parents, and the struggles that go along with that. I also don’t think he would have liked how he was and is used to promote the military. He was all about freedom of speech. He was a genuine and caring person.”The NFL and the military have developed a relationship which is beneficial to both parties. It’s at least time we acknowledge it.Also, what many don’t realize is that a college or NFL locker room is made of people who come from all walks of life. There are different races, religions, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, and opinions that are all over the map. The amazing thing is that, despite these differences, the players and coaches come together to dedicate themselves to one goal.Even though a few marquee players - Drew Brees among them - disagree with the method of protest, NFL players are a close-knit group of men who stand up for each other. When Trump attacked the players who are protesting, he also attacked those who weren’t. Since Trump has never been on a football team, nor would NFL owners ever allow him to purchase a team, this is something he unsurprisingly wouldn’t understand.I believe broadcaster and NFL Hall of Famer Howie Long had one of the most important statements of the weekend:“In a league that is comprised of 70 percent African-American players, if you’re a white player in an NFL locker room, that puts you in a position to try to better understand the struggles, and, subsequently as we have seen, show your support for the teammates in your own way. Understanding starts with a dialogue, and the most important part of dialogue is to listen.”This story is a national conversation because of three different platforms.Some players have decided to use theirs to spotlight issues regarding inequality and police brutality. The president, who doesn’t agree with their concerns or their method of protest, uses his platform to push his agenda. Lastly, the owners now hold the most important cards in this game before the game. If they stand in solidarity with their players, they need to listen to their concerns. This is how change happens.The NFL owners can sway this conversation in either direction. They can stifle the voices of their players because they either disagree with their opinions or don’t want to hurt their bottom line, or they can work with their players to help our country better understand their perceived inequalities. We shall see if the owners are only making a symbolic gesture or not.The owners can step up and unite our country, or they can let the president’s words divide us. This is their individual choice.***On a not-completely-unrelated side note, Trump said something else that rang tone deaf in that Alabama rally speech. Trump bemoaned the fact the NFL is trying to make the game safer for its players by penalizing hard hits to the head, or hits on defenseless players with the crown of a player’s helmet.Plummer reacted strongly to Trump wanting more vicious hits.“It’s obvious Donald Trump never played football.” said Plummer. “It’s offensive that Trump doesn’t understand how bad many former players have it right now. As humans, we must evolve. The NFL must evolve, too, if it wants to survive, and the rules that are in place are an attempt to save the game."He is focused on hits not being fierce enough instead of nuclear bombs and health care.”While these rules aren’t perfect, and occasionally players get penalized for legal hits, the NFL knows it has a serious long-term problem regarding brain injuries and CTE. Though these rules are put in place to protect players from head injuries, they don’t seem to quench Trump’s thirst for more violence.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sports Illustrated tackled the past week's show of unity across the sporting world with its latest cover.

Each week during the pro football season, Covers Expert Art Aronson of AAA Sports looks at the NFL odds and tells you which spread to bet now, which one to bet later, and which total to watch as the week plays out.

A group of disgruntled Carolina Panthers players will meet with team owner Jerry Richardson on Tuesday to discuss his rules against protesting perceived social injustices during the national anthem, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer reports.Protests took place throughout the NFL on Sunday, with many players kneeling or linking arms during the anthem, but the Panthers were noticeably uninvolved in the demonstrations. Julius Peppers was the only member of the team absent from the field during the pregame ceremony.According to the report, many members of the Panthers fear possible repercussions if they speak out on social issues.After initially planning not to respond to President Donald Trump's remarks calling for NFL owners to fire players who protested during the anthem, Richardson issued a statement Monday."We are proud of the men we have on this football team," he said. "Our players have been active and impactful participants in making our community stronger. From the first time I stepped into an NFL locker room at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore in 1959, I have lived and seen the sport's ability to bring people of all backgrounds together. Politicizing the game is damaging and takes the focus off the greatness of the game itself and those who played it."Richardson is the only current NFL owner who played in the league.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants owner John Mara is "very unhappy" with receiver Odell Beckham's actions during Sunday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.Beckham celebrated his first touchdown of the game by mimicking a dog urinating. He later said it was in response to President Donald Trump referring to anyone who kneels for the anthem as a "son of a b----.""I do not want to get into a discussion about this, but I will say that I am very unhappy with Odell's behavior on Sunday and we intend to deal with it internally," Mara told Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post in an email.Beckham was unapologetic immediately after the game, stating, "When I get into the end zone, I'm going to do what I do to spark the team, and the consequences are going to be what they are."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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.QuarterbackAlex Smith, ChiefsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Redskins60%$7Through three weeks of play, Smith ranks in the top ten in the NFL in passing yards and only Tom Brady has thrown for more touchdowns. If you're an owner still seeking a fill-in until Andrew Luck returns, or perhaps a replacement for disappointing draft pick like Cam Newton, Smith should be your first choice.Tyrod Taylor, BillsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Falcons41%$2Despite losing his top receivers from a year ago, Taylor looks like exactly the same player he's been since arriving in Western New York: an efficient, if unsexy, passer who is capable of fringe QB1 production in any given week but whose upside simply doesn't warrant carrying him on your roster as anything more more than a streaming option.Deshaun Watson, TexansNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Titans14%$1Watson should only be added in deep leagues or keeper/dynasty formats, but it can't be overlooked how cool and collected he was in a tough spot on the road in New England, nearly leading his Texans to a massive upset while throwing for 301 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, and adding eight rushes for 41 yards. Watson appears to be the real deal and could put up borderline QB1 fantasy stats with a string of three straight home games coming up.Running BackWendell Smallwood, EaglesNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Chargers5%$16With news that Darren Sproles suffered a torn ACL in addition to a broken arm in Week 3, Smallwood is in line for a much bigger role in the Eagles' offense. But don't pencil him in as starter, as LeGarrette Blount rehabilitated his reputation in Philly in a hurry Sunday, running strong between the tackles for 67 yards and a touchdown. Smallwood could potentially carve out a bigger role in this timeshare than Blount, but he's unlikely to get valuable goal-line work. Don't blow your FAAB bankroll to add Smallwood.Alvin Kamara, SaintsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Dolphins40%$14Still owned in less than 50 percent of fantasy leagues, Kamara is a player who might be teetering on the verge of a bigger role not only due to his own relatively impressive showing through three weeks, but also Adrian Peterson's complete lack of sizzle. The Saints would be wise to cut bait on Peterson and move ahead with a one-two punch of Mark Ingram and Kamara. Fantasy owners would be wise to add the talented rookie wherever he's available.Jamaal Charles, BroncosNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Raiders33%$8C.J. Anderson out-carried Charles 25 to 9 in Week 2 and seemed to seize a bellcow role in the process, but Charles' nine carries in Week 3 was surprisingly one more than Anderson logged. Left for dead by fantasy drafters this summer, Charles has shown signs of life and it's not out of the question he will continue to split 50-50 with Anderson and perhaps even grab a bigger piece of the pie.D'Onta Foreman, TexansNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Titans17%$7It almost feels inevitable that the rookie Foreman will soon play an even larger role for the Texans than he has through three games. Head coach Bill O'Brien spoke openly about lessening the load on Lamar Miller this season and has backed that talk up by giving Foreman double-digit touches in two straight games. One of these tailbacks is built to be a workhorse and the other a complement. Before the end of the year, this depth chart could be flipped upside down.Duke Johnson, BrownsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Bengals52%$7Looking like a more dynamic weapon than starter Isaiah Crowell this season, Johnson could be in for increased work out of the backfield. Even if he remains below Crowell is the pecking order for carries, the Browns have such a lack of receiving talent that Johnson could approach FLEX value merely from his work out of the slot.Orleans Darkwa, GiantsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Buccaneers7%$2As rumored, Darkwa saw increased usage in the Giants' backfield in Week 3 at the expense of Paul Perkins. The problem is that Darkwa's seven carries amount to a mere 22 yards. This is a backfield to avoid unless you're desperate.Alex Collins, RavensNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Steelers2%$2Terrance West produced a mere 26 yards on six carries after entering Week 3 with a questionable tag due to a calf injury. More importantly, he fumbled. That opened the door for Collins, who rushed nine times for 82 yards. Javorius Allen remains the Ravens tailback to own, and with All-Pro guard Marshal Yanda out for the season it's debatable whether fantasy owners should want any part of this backfield, but Collins is worth a look in deep leagues.Elijah McGuire, JetsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Jaguars0%$1If you're so desperate for running back help you're considering adding a Jet, McGuire is probably the guy you want. Matt Forte and Bilal Powell have shown nothing this season and McGuire at least has youth on his side.Wide ReceiverPaul Richardson, SeahawksNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Colts11%$12Richardson's inclusion at the top of this list has as much to do with extraneous factors as it does his own performance. Yes, Richardson has now scored a touchdown in consecutive games. But just as important to his fantasy value are the signs of life the Seahawks' passing attack showed in Week 3 and the groin injury suffered by Doug Baldwin. It's not a good week for wideouts on the waiver wire, but Richardson is worth a modest bid.Sterling Shepard, GiantsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Buccaneers35%$12Like Seattle's passing attack, the Giants finally got things moving through the air in Week 3. Odell Beckham Jr. exploded back onto the scene with two touchdowns and Brandon Marshall even made some plays. Shepard also reminded fantasy owners what he's capable of with a seven-catch, 133-yard performance, including a 77-yard touchdown late in the game. Shepard remains at best the second fiddle to Beckham in a passing attack that still needs work, but he's worth adding.Allen Hurns, JaguarsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Jets38%$12Hurns must wish the Jaguars could play their entire schedule in London, as he's now scored a touchdown in three straight games across the pond. His numbers will come back down to earth Stateside, but it appears Hurns, and not Marqise Lee, is the best Jaguars receiver to own in the wake of Allen Robinson's season-ending injury.Devin Funchess, PanthersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Patriots20%$3Cam Newton looks like he forgot how to throw, so no Panthers receiver is a particularly valuable fantasy asset at the moment. But if you're fishing for help at wideout, Funchess may be worth adding on the cheap. He was targeted a career-high 10 times in Week 3, an expected outcome after Greg Olsen was lost to injury. The bad news is Funchess caught only four of those targets. Without better efficiency, he's a WR4 at best.Taylor Gabriel, FalconsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Bills20%$1Remember him? Gabriel made some noise with big-play touchdowns last year and got loose for a 40-yard touchdown in Week 3. He's a boom-or-bust play for owners in deep leagues, nothing more.Geronimo Allison, PackersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Bears9%$1Don't be seduced by Allison's 122-yard Week 3, including the highlight-reel play in overtime. Allison remains behind Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams, and Randall Cobb on the depth chart and will see his role reduced once all three receivers are healthy again. It could be a week or two before that happens, however, so perhaps Allison could approach FLEX value in the immediate future.Jermaine Kearse, JetsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Colts47%$1Kearse fell back to earth in Week 3 after scoring two touchdowns in Week 2. He's only worth a look in very deep leagues.Tight EndCharles Clay, BillsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Falcons21%$6Clay has scored a touchdown in two of three games this season and is clearly a favorite target of Tyrod Taylor, who simply doesn't have anyone better to throw to. Clay is a decent bet to score again in Week 4.Jared Cook, RaidersNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Broncos40%$4Cook, not Amari Cooper or Michael Crabtree, was the only Raiders pass-catcher who did anything in Week 3. That won't be the case most weeks, but it's possible Cook will develop enough chemistry with Derek Carr to emerge as a viable options for owners who prefer to stream tight ends.Evan Engram, GiantsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Buccaneers38%$2Engram has been more productive than most fantasy analysts expected, but there are too many mouths to feed in the Giants' meager passing attack for owners to trust the rookie as a starter just yet. He's worth stashing in deep leagues and could emerge as a spot starter or trade bait at some point this season.Benjamin Watson, RavensNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Steelers32%$1Watson scored six touchdowns and was a useful fantasy asset two seasons ago, but that was with Drew Brees as his quarterback. With Joe Flacco throwing him passes now, Watson is nothing more than a streamer.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Franchise legend Jim Kelly expressed his disappointment in Buffalo Bills star LeSean McCoy's actions during the national anthem Sunday, and also let it be known he didn't wish to see any Bills player take a knee.Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes responded in kind Tuesday.A large group of Bills kneeled during the anthem. Hughes wasn't one of them, and not only did he stand for the anthem, he stood up for his teammates who chose to protest."I was very disappointed in (Kelly)," Hughes said, ESPN's Mike Rodak reports. "I was very disappointed in how he approached the whole situation."Our team came together and we united as a front, as an organization on how we were going to approach the national anthem. If Jim was going to do what he did, then he should have came to the team and let us know his feelings."Kelly criticized protesters on Instagram before critiquing McCoy in a radio interview Monday."So for him to carry on in this manner, I'm really confused and I'm really upset, because if this is something how he felt and if this was something that truly was how he felt and was on his heart, he should have came to the team and he should have approached that instead of making this a public matter, and doing that on his social page," Hughes said. "It was not cool, very unacceptable, and if he has things to say about us as a team, come talk to us."Kelly was on the sidelines Sunday and head coach Sean McDermott said the Hall of Fame quarterback will continue to be welcomed at games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Team president Art Rooney II wants to clear up any misconceptions about the Pittsburgh Steelers' intent after they chose not to appear on the field during the national anthem on Sunday.After head coach Mike Tomlin said the team would remain in the locker room, tackle Alejandro Villanueva - an Army veteran - appeared in the tunnel to stand for the anthem while the rest of his team stayed out of sight. Villanueva said on Monday a mix-up led to the disconnect between he and his teammates and he unintentionally made the rest of the roster look bad.Rooney cleared it all up with a statement on Tuesday morning.

The NFL has reached a multi-year deal with Facebook to make league video and content available on the widely popular social network.Game recaps and highlights from all games, including the playoffs and Super Bowl, will now be available on Facebook. Content from its "NFL Films" arm will also be available through the site, either by following the NFL's page or those of any of the league's teams."We have millions of fans on Facebook, and they continue to demonstrate an incredible appetite for NFL content," COO of NFL Media Hans Schroeder said in a release. "We're excited to bring a compelling set of highlights and shows from the NFL and our clubs to our fans on Facebook."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageThe Dallas Cowboys participated in a team-wide show of unity Monday night.Following critical comments from U.S. President Donald Trump, the team responded by linking arms and kneeling on the field - head coach Jason Garrett, owner Jerry Jones, and his entire family included - before the playing of the national anthem. The team then all stood arm-in-arm for "The Star-Spangled Banner.""I've never been prouder of an association with players, with a coaching staff, as I am with this crew," Jones said after the game, according to team reporter David Helman.Standing in the glare of the Monday night spotlight, as the only game of the evening, the Cowboys intended to make a statement but avoid creating controversy by offering a show of protest during the anthem."They were very much aware that that statement, when made or when attempted to be made in and a part of the recognition of our flag can not only lead to criticism, but also controversy," Jones said. "It was real easy for everybody in our organization to see that the message of unity, the message of equality was getting - if you will - pushed aside or diminished by the controversy."Many wanted to see how the Cowboys would respond to Trump's call for team owners to "fire" anyone who kneeled for the anthem and "get that son of a bitch" off the field. Before Monday, no member of the team had made such a gesture and Jones and Garrett had both spoken publicly about their opposition to protests during the anthem."The objectives, as much as anything else, were to somehow, some way demonstrate unity and demonstrate equality - and do so without any way involving the American flag and the national anthem," Garrett said after the game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After Donald Trump shared a tweet using Pat Tillman's service as support for NFL players to stand for the anthem on Monday, the late Army Ranger's widow fired back.Marie Tillman shared a statement with CNN's Brian Stelter on Monday night criticizing Trump in a message she hopes the president will read.

Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald became the eighth-leading receiver in NFL history with a 15-yard touchdown reception against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night.Fitzgerald surpassed former Indianapolis Colts receiver Marvin Harrison's mark of 14,580 yards.The 14th-year pro isn't too far from Steve Smith's seventh all-time mark of 14,731 yards.On the touchdown, Carson Palmer also became just the fourth quarterback ever to throw at least 100 scores for multiple teams, joining Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner, and Fran Tarkenton.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin got good news following an MRI on his groin Monday. Baldwin has been ruled day to day and may not need to miss any games, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The injury was not thought to be serious prior to receiving the MRI results.Baldwin, the Seahawks top receiver, had 10 catches for 105 yards in Sunday's loss to the Tennessee Titans before the injury.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Michael Bennett sent a firm volley into the court of President Donald Trump on Monday, offering to meet with him to work through issues raised as a result of Trump's comments surrounding national anthem protests in the NFL.Bennett joined Anderson Cooper 360 on Monday to discuss various points regarding his social activism, and was not the least bit shy to express his interest in meeting with Trump face-to-face."I would love to sit down with the president and talk about these issues and be able to find a way to fix them, or be able to find a way to have the voice of the people, the people that don't have the voice that they're not listening to," Bennett said."I can't sit here and say that he's not my president, he's not that, because at the end of the day he is the President of the United States and for him to say it's a privilege and we shouldn't speak on what we believe in because we're making money, I mean he was a rich man too, and all of a sudden he's speaking on what he believes in, and he still stood up for what he believes in and he's the President of the United States, so what makes him different from us?"Bennett was also asked about his relationship with Colin Kaepernick, and the Seattle Seahawks defensive end lamented how the same sort of unified support was not shown for Kaepernick."I wish we could have, that unity that we showed for this weekend, I wish we could have showed that unity for him this year when he was out of the league," Bennett said. "I wish we could have brought together as a group of collective people and players to stick up for our brother when he went through something like this."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys joined most of the NFL by showing a display of team unity ahead of Monday night's game against the Arizona Cardinals.The Cowboys, along with owner Jerry Jones and front-office staff, took a knee while linking arms prior to the anthem at midfield and then stood together while singer Jordin Sparks performed the song.

Denver Broncos star pass rusher Von Miller thought faking a handshake with Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor was funny for a second on Sunday - until he received a costly unsportsmanlike penalty that extended Buffalo's drive.However, both of the NFL's most recent heads of officiating agreed it should have been a humorous moment and nothing more.Mike Pereira and Dean Blandino both told Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith that Miller's 15-yard penalty was a bit of a panic move."To me it was an overreaction, unless there was something that was said," Pereira said. "It’s just not a foul.""I have to agree," Blandino added. "If something is said at an opponent, that's one thing. It didn't appear on the video ... I think it's an overreaction."Miller said he regretted tricking Taylor with the handshake fakeout, and that it was meant in good fun.

Alejandro Villanueva did not intend to alienate teammates as the only Pittsburgh Steelers player to stand for the national anthem on Sunday.The left tackle and former Army Ranger came outside the locker room to stand for the anthem before the game in Chicago, thinking his teammates were right behind him."Unfortunately I threw my teammates under the bus, unintentionally," Villanueva told the media on Monday, according to CBS Pittsburgh. "Every single time I see that picture of me standing by myself I feel embarrassed."Related: Villanueva has Steelers' top-selling jersey after standing solo for anthemVillanueva also took the blame for making head coach Mike Tomlin - who decided players would stay in the locker room during the anthem - look like he didn't have control of the team."I made coach Tomlin look bad, and that is my fault, and my fault only," Villanueva said. "For anybody who thinks Coach Tomlin is not as patriotic as you can get in America, I’m offended by that."Related: Roethlisberger regrets Steelers' decision to skip anthemThe Steelers are planning to take the field before next week's game after the mix-up on Sunday.“We as a team tried to figure it out, obviously we butchered it, I’m not gonna pretend I have some kind of righteous voice,” Villanueva added. "Every single one of my teammates is extremely supportive and extremely patriotic. I can honestly say that."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One trip overseas was enough for John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens, for now.After getting dismantled by the Jacksonville Jaguars in a 44-7 rout in London, England, on Sunday, Harbaugh said he'd rather not go back to play in the UK again in the near future."To be honest with you - and maybe I'll get into trouble for saying this - don't plan on going over there anytime soon to play again," Harbaugh said Monday, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "So, somebody else can have that job."Harbaugh said that with the Ravens playing in their first London game - while the Jaguars have taken the field there three straight seasons - the team wasn't as well prepared for the change of scenery as its opponent. If the Ravens do go back, he said he'd change some things logistically."There were some certain things that came up that you look at it and you go, 'That wasn't ideal,'" Harbaugh said. "But we really had no way of knowing that. Some things we have no control over. We have no control where we stay, how far the bus ride is, how long it takes to get to the stadium. What impact it had are things we look at."While the logistics played some part in Harbaugh's dislike for the trip, Joe Flacco's career-low 28 passing yards likely had something to do with it as well.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert is expected to be out multiple weeks with a back injury, though he will not require surgery, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Eifert did not play Sunday in the team's loss to the Green Bay Packers after being a game-time decision with back and knee injuries. The fifth-year tight end has made just four catches for 46 yards this season. Since the 2014 season, Eifert has already missed 25 of 51 games due to injury.For the Bengals, the loss could be devastating, as they have struggled to find offensive consistency through three weeks, losing every contest. By the time Eifert returns, the season could essentially be over.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Some Dallas Cowboys players are planning a protest during the national anthem ahead of Monday night's game against the Arizona Cardinals in response to Donald Trump's recent comments, multiple sources told Clarence E. Hill of the Star Telegram.Hills says that, as of Monday afternoon, nothing had been confirmed in the sense of what the protest will be, and it could be only a few individual players."We have to do something," one player told Hill.Another player said, "It's not going to be business as usual. He crossed a line. Something will be done."Tight end Jason Witten confirmed to NFL Network's Jane Slater that a team meeting was held over protests that was as "passionate as you would expect it to be". Witten says the team will display a show of unity.No Cowboys players have showed signs of protest so far this season, and head coach Jason Garrett said he has no plans to address Trump's comments with the team, nor does he expect players to start demonstrating.Prior to Trump's comments calling for players who kneel during the anthem to be fired, while also insulting those players and their mothers, owner Jerry Jones said in August that he would prefer for players to stand during the anthem.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrew Luck and his injured shoulder won't be ready to play Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, but he could finally be able to practice some time this week, Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano said Monday.The Colts quarterback has yet to practice this season or preseason, though Pagano said Luck is "progressing well, getting stronger," according to team writer Andrew Walker."There might be a chance, he might be able to start some practice this week," Pagano added.Indianapolis has avoided setting out a timeline for Luck's return.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.