Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier revealed Friday he was fined $25,000 for his hit on Cleveland Browns quarterback DeShone Kizer on Sunday.Shazier told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler he plans to appeal the sanction.Kizer was sliding on the play - effectively ceding position - and Shazier delivered a hit on the quarterback as he was going to the ground, drawing a 15-yard penalty.Shazier finished the game with seven tackles.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sam Bradford required an MRI on his twice surgically repaired knee Tuesday after experiencing swelling, pain, and discomfort. The test came back negative, sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.While the Minnesota Vikings are concerned about the injury, they're "cautiously optimistic" about their starting quarterback's status for Week 2, added Mortensen.Head coach Mike Zimmer confirmed Bradford's status Friday, saying he anticipates he'll play against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Bradford has been listed as limited for the past two days of practice.The former No. 1 overall pick has twice torn his left ACL.Bradford lit up the New Orleans Saints on Monday night, throwing for 346 yards with three touchdowns in a 29-19 win.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For reasons only known to those within the Indianapolis Colts' facilities, the team rallied around Scott Tolzien as the presumptive starter while Andrew Luck's status became the biggest mystery of the NFL offseason following shoulder surgery.Despite the presence of Stephen Morris - who impressed during the preseason - and Colin Kaepernick being available on the open market, the Colts decided to replace Luck with a journeyman quarterback who'd thrown just two career touchdowns to seven interceptions and didn't possess an NFL-level skill set.It was destined to fail, and fail it did, as the Colts were humiliated by the Los Angeles Rams 46-9 in Week 1, with Tolzien throwing two pick-6s and failing to lead Indy to a single touchdown.Now, the Colts - desperate to keep the fan base from throwing in the towel for the season - will turn to Jacoby Brissett, a second-year quarterback whom Indy traded for a mere two weeks ago.That's how desperate the situation has gotten for the team, and especially for head coach Chuck Pagano, who looks like a dead man walking.But Pagano shouldn't shoulder all the blame for the Colts' ineptitude regarding the quarterback position this offseason.New general manager Chris Ballard made astute moves in the offseason, overhauling the defense and bringing in the likes of Jabaal Sheard and John Simon as placeholders while the team rebuilds the unit. However, with it now obvious that Luck was never going to be ready for the start of the season, Ballard deserves criticism for failing to properly prepare for his franchise player's absence.It was always clear that Tolzien had neither the arm strength or football IQ to run the Colts' demanding offensive scheme during training camp, but Ballard failed to realize this until it was too late, first missing on the superiority of Morris and then only bringing in Brissett a week before the start of the regular season.The GM called the trade for Brissett a long-term move when it was made, according to WHTR.com's Bob Kravitz, so the switch to him this early on in his Colts career is a clear admission the team botched its plan for life without Luck.Indy deserves some credit for its quick pivot away from Tolzien, but this isn't a carefully considered plan, it's a panicked switch to a young quarterback who's far from ready to start.Yes, the Colts had no choice, and Brissett did produce a spark when he replaced Tolzien in the fourth quarter, but he'll only be able to run a small portion of the playbook, and is facing a talented Arizona Cardinals defense.It was ugly for the Colts in Week 1; somehow, they might not have hit rock bottom yet - and it's a Luck-less hell of their own making.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Week 1 has come and gone and if you are reading this article it means one of two things:1) You made it through the opening round of your survivor pool and are looking for a team to select for Week 2.

An NFL spokesman said Friday that an unknown number of unnamed players have been suspended due to positive tests for human growth hormone, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen.The league started testing for HGH in 2014, but no player has knowingly been banned due to its use.HGH use made headlines in 2015 when an Al Jazeera report claimed Peyton Manning, among other high-profile players such as Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers, used the performance-enhancing drug - though all were cleared by an NFL investigation.That same year, former NFL quarterback Brady Quinn estimated that 40 to 50 percent of current players used HGH.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is asking a federal appeals court to move quickly on its request to overrule a judge's injunction that blocked a six-game suspension for star Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott.The league filed an emergency motion with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans on Friday, even though a federal judge in Texas hasn't ruled on a request to put the injunction on hold while an appeal is pursued.The request asks the court to rule on the NFL's motion to suspend U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant's injunction as early as Tuesday, the start of the practice week before the Cowboys' third game against Arizona. Elliott played in the season opener and will be eligible Sunday at Denver under Mazzant's injunction.The 22-year-old Elliott was suspended by Commissioner Roger Goodell in August after the league concluded following a yearlong investigation that he had several physical confrontations last summer in Ohio with his girlfriend at the time. The NFL players' union sued on Elliott's behalf in federal court.---More AP NFL: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oakland Raiders and left tackle Donald Penn have agreed to a two-year, $21-million extension, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Entering the season in the final year of his contract, Penn held out during training camp. He reportedly hoped to be paid like a top-10 left tackle. He'll come in just shy of that mark in terms of average salary.Trent Williams leads the position at $13.6 million per season and Andrew Whitworth ranks 10th at $11.25 million.Penn plays a pivotal role on an offensive line that also includes much-heralded guards Kelechi Osemele and Gabe Jackson, and center Rodney Hudson. Hudson signed a five-year, $44.5-million deal in 2015, Osemele earned a five-year, $58.5-million contract last offseason, and Jackson signed a five-year, $55-million extension in June.The offensive line takes up more than a quarter of the team's cap dollars.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One Cleveland team can't buy a win, while another just won't lose.The NFL's Browns flirted with a winless season last year, while MLB's Indians are currently riding a record 22-game winning streak.Browns head coach Hue Jackson would gladly trade places with his baseball brethren. In fact, he'd settle for just a portion of their success."I will take half of that right now," Jackson said of the Indians' 22-game string, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer."They've done an outstanding job and my hat is off to them."Through 17 games in charge of the Browns, Jackson has a record of 1-16. The team is off to an 0-1 start in the 2017 season and will face a division rival in the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2.Jackson can only hope some of the success the Indians and the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers have enjoyed of late will rub off on the NFL franchise before long."The city is rockin' now, there is no question," Jackson said. "We have had the Cavs, we have the Indians. Come on, Browns. Let's go."- With h/t to NFL.comCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A.J. Green normally lets his play do the talking, but with the Cincinnati Bengals' offense looking lifeless over the first two games, the wide receiver was forced to speak up.The six-time Pro Bowler didn't hold back when asked about the Bengals failing to score a touchdown so far this year following Thursday's 13-9 loss to the Houston Texans."We are playing like s--t right now," Green said, according to Cincinnati.com's Paul Dehner Jr. "We got to find a way to get our playmakers the ball. That's it. It's a superstar-driven league. You are not going to win without them."Green's night was highlighted by a 50-yard grab in triple coverage late in the first quarter, but he was a nonfactor after halftime, catching two of his four targets for three yards."Being one of the leaders of the offense, I feel like - no disrespect to nobody else - that ball should be mine somewhere somehow," he said of the team's final drive. "That's my mentality. In those situations, I want the ball. As the leader of the offense, you should be like that. I wanted that ball."While Green is frustrated with his lack of targets, he said he won't force the Bengals to look his way more often."That's not me, personally," he said. "My body of work speaks for itself, I don't feel like I have to go beg for the ball."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colin Kaepernick may not have an NFL contract, but he's still winning awards.The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback earned NFLPA Community MVP honors for Week 1 for his charity work, according to a release. Kaepernick donated $100,000 to charities on the first day of the NFL campaign, spreading out $25,000 to four causes.Kaepernick donated to an after school program called DREAM, Coalition for the Homeless, The Gathering for Justice's War on Children, and United We Dream, a program which focuses on helping immigrant youth.The 29-year-old then followed that up with a Back to School Backpack Giveaway a few days later for the Lower Eastside Girls Club of New York.The NFL Community MVP award is given out each week during the regular season to a player who gives back to his community.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Indianapolis Colts are planning to start Jacoby Brissett instead of Scott Tolzien Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Tolzien started Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams, but threw two pick-6s before giving way to Brissett in the fourth quarter. Brissett led the Colts on their only touchdown drive of the game, showing off his arm strength and aggressiveness with a 50-yard pass to Donte Moncrief to set up the score.Indy traded for Brissett from the New England Patriots on Sept. 2 in exchange for wide receiver Phillip Dorsett, so it's highly unlikely he'll be able to run the Colts' entire playbook."I've been impressed in the short amount of time that he's been here. It would be a very challenging situation," offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski said Thursday, according to ESPN's Mike Wells. But he's the type of guy - smart, very poised and I like some of the things I've seen on the field just from his physical tools as well."Andrew Luck has already been ruled out for Week 2 and has yet to resume practicing following offseason shoulder surgery, so Brissett could be the Colts' starter for the foreseeable future.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jadeveon Clowney's freakish physical talents were on display Thursday night, when the Houston Texans outside linebacker scooped up a John Ross fumble and sprinted toward the Cincinnati Bengals' end zone.Despite an impressive run down the sideline, Clowney was eventually taken down by Andy Dalton, robbing him of the chance to score his first career touchdown."I didn't see him," Clowney said, according to the Houston Chronicle's Aaron Wilson. "I was kind of upset. I should have scored."

New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola and Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof put their skills to the test to determine who's the ultimate footballer.As part of Whistle Sports' "Game Recognize Game" series, the pair squared off in football darts, trivia, and a catching machine challenge before swapping jerseys and wishing each other luck.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos defensive end Jared Crick will undergo back surgery that could lead to a stint on injured reserve, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.The injury kept Crick out of the first game of the season on Sunday.He signed a two-year, $4-million contract last offseason and started 15 of 16 games for the Broncos in 2016, recording 53 total tackles and three sacks.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 2 rankings.StartCarson Palmer, QB, Cardinalsat ColtsA hideous start for Palmer saw him throw three interceptions to just one touchdown against the Detroit Lions. David Johnson's injury drastically takes away from the upside of the Cardinals' offense as a whole, but Palmer will need to throw all game long for the Cardinals to move the chains. He'll take advantage of a Colts' defense recently lit up by Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff.Fearless prediction: 363 yards passing, 4 TDsOther QBs to start

A day after Tom Savage's agent, Neil Schwartz, called out the Houston Texans for benching his client in Week 1, the quarterback attempted to clear the air."I spoke to everybody on this team about it," Savage said Thursday after Houston's win over Cincinnati - in which he didn't play - according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN."I spoke to all the leaders, I spoke to coach, I spoke to Deshaun (Watson), (assistant coach) Pat (O'Hara), all those guys. I mean, it just is what it is. (Neil Schwartz) defended me. And the most important thing is I have this team's back. I will go to war with Bill (O'Brien) and this organization any day of the week."Savage added that he knew Schwartz was going to defend him over the benching, but didn't know the exact nature of his agent's comments in advance."They told me they were going to defend me, and I said OK," Savage said. "I didn't really go through what they were going to say or anything like that. It was just one of those deals. I felt the need to talk to the team about it, because by any means, I do not want to be a distraction to this team. That's not my goal. I will be here, I will support this team."In an interview, Schwartz had said the benching made no sense and defended his client's play in Week 1. Houston opted to pull Savage against the Jacksonville Jaguars after he'd managed only 62 yards passing and had lost a pair of fumbles. The Texans then gave Watson, a rookie, the start Thursday against the Cincinnati Bengals."Listen, we just won," Savage said. "The headline should be about (Watson), not about this bullcrap."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Being on the waiting list for Green Bay Packers season tickets requires a lot of patience.On Thursday, Packers fan Dave Gibson shared a letter he received informing him that he's moved from 50,101th to 49,541th place on the team's season-ticket waiting list.

For the first time since 1939, a team started the first two games of the season at home without scoring a touchdown. The Cincinnati Bengals have no one but themselves to thank for that accomplishment.Facing a Houston Texans side with a depleted offensive line and a rookie quarterback making his first-ever pro start, the Bengals looked like one of the worst teams in the NFL. They couldn't block, couldn't catch, couldn't throw, couldn't tackle, couldn't get in the end zone, and couldn't get out of their own way.The Bengals have done things their own way under owner Mike Brown for years - easily forgiving off-field transgressions, inexplicably re-signing their head coach despite a lack of progress, going off their own draft board, ignoring positions of weakness, and showing huge amounts of faith in players who don't seem to deserve it.The player-coach marriage between Andy Dalton and Marvin Lewis has highlighted the Bengals' ineptitude. Every time either one is called upon to lead the team in a crucial contest, they choke. Lewis is in his 15th season with the team, having made the postseason seven times but achieving no playoff wins. In similar fashion, Dalton has been to three Pro Bowls in his career, all as an alternate, but has essentially been the benchmark for average quarterback play in his seven seasons.When Dalton has enjoyed success, it's been more to do with the team around him than his own skills, but management hasn't stuck with what's worked.After five straight playoff seasons between 2011-15 behind a solid offensive line, Cincinnati slowly let its blockers walk out the door in favor of recent draft selections. The losses of left tackle Andrew Whitworth and guard Kevin Zeitler in the 2017 offseason decimated the offense, as running backs now have no holes to run through and Dalton has no time to pass. Brown has notoriously been against shelling out big bucks for guards, which was working out alright until the team's scouting staff hit a wall in 2014.Of the Bengals' 24 draft picks between 2014-16, no player has made a Pro Bowl, nor could any be called a successful starter, though several have been forced into first-string duty out of necessity. Meanwhile, the Bengals have made a series of questionable decisions regarding who they've kept around and who they've let go.Adam Jones and Vontaze Burfict are examples of players who've continued to spark on-field, off-field, and locker-room conflicts, but still received contract extensions anyway. And with two capable running backs on the roster already, the Bengals still drafted Joe Mixon this past spring, who infamously punched a woman in the face during college.A.J. Green used to have a small stable of supporting receivers to help pull coverage away from him, but the team elected to let Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu leave via free agency. The Bengals attempted to replace them with three receivers drafted over the last two years, but ended their postseason streak in the first year without those two veterans and are off to a terrible start in Year 2.Missing a balanced passing game, above-average quarterback play, and a decent offensive line, it's no wonder the Bengals haven't scored a touchdown through two weeks, and there should be plenty of worry moving forward.Even if Brown finally decides to move on from Lewis or Dalton, there's no guarantee anything will get better. From a coaching perspective, it could be tough to attract a good candidate when the owner has become synonymous with making rash, personally-influenced decisions. Replacing Lewis and his staff after 16 seasons would take a solid deal of time to recover from.Cincinnati's remaining schedule includes the likes of the Buffalo Bills, the Chicago Bears, and the Cleveland Browns twice, so there's a solid chance the team won't have a record bad enough to get a top-three pick to grab a quarterback that can replace Dalton.The Bengals are off to the worst start they've seen under Lewis, and there doesn't seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the first start of his pro career, rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson made the game-breaking play necessary to lead the Houston Texans to victory.In the dying moments of the first half, with the score tied 3-3, the player the Texans traded up to take with the 12th pick of this year's draft showcased his first-round status. Watson slashed through the entire Bengals' defense on a dazzling 49-yard touchdown run that proved to be the winning score.The play uplifted the Texans' sideline and had Watson's teammates gushing about the rookie after the 13-9 victory."He's a leader. He was everything we expected. He's the guy we drafted," star receiver DeAndre Hopkins said."It was insane," defensive end Christian Covington said of the run. "That's why he is who he is. The whole sideline went crazy. That was a game-sealing touchdown right there."Watson has produced the team's only two touchdowns of the season. He found Hopkins for a 4-yard score in a 29-7 blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1, but brought the Texans' record to 1-1 with his first career rushing score."I was just trying to make a play. I broke away and found a hole," Watson said."Our receivers and everyone down field did a good job of blocking for me and gave me a chance to find the end zone."The Texans will have nine days before their next contest, against the defending-champion New England Patriots.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans topped the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night, but the victory came at a cost for J.J. Watt.Watt noted following the contest that his finger was "pretty messed up" after re-injuring it against the Bengals."It was really great until the last three plays and then I was literally adjusting it and feeling it as I was running around and trying to chase that guy on the last play," Watt said, according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN. "I'm honestly kind of scared to take my glove off. I honestly don't know what it looks like."The Texans pass-rusher hurt the finger in Week 1 but shrugged it off, saying "it's still attached."Houston will hope Watt's ailment doesn't slow him down for a crucial showdown with the New England Patriots next Sunday.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.New England Patriots at New Orleans Saints (+6.5)The New England Patriots getting blown out at home by the Kansas City Chiefs was certainly the most shocking result of Week 1, and it doesn't get easier for the defending Super Bowl champions this Sunday. A trip to the Superdome to face the New Orleans Saints awaits, and the NFC South club needs a win after a Monday loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Alex Smith picked the Patriots apart last week, and that definitely bodes well for Drew Brees. While the extended time off should help New England, it's tough to see them winning by a touchdown in New Orleans. Patriots 28, Saints 27Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs (-5.5)If the Kansas City Chiefs were able to slow Tom Brady and the Patriots last week, they should have little problem with Carson Wentz and the Eagles on Sunday afternoon. The loss of star safety Eric Berry to an Achilles injury is certainly noteworthy, but the Chiefs' offense should be able to overcome that in their home opener. That may sound weird given that Alex Smith is the quarterback, but the club showed in Week 1 that it's a new day in Kansas City for that unit. Chiefs 24, Eagles 13Washington Redskins at Los Angeles Rams (-2.5)The Los Angeles Rams hammered the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1, while the Washington Redskins struggled in a home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. A west coast trip is probably the last thing Washington wants at this point, especially to face its former offensive coordinator Sean McVay, who is now the Rams' frontman. Jared Goff looked incredible against the Colts, while Kirk Cousins appeared to miss McVay's leadership greatly in Week 1. Look for that to continue on Sunday as the Rams get to 2-0 on the year. Rams 27, Redskins 20Remaining matchupsCleveland Browns (+8) at Baltimore RavensThis might sound weird, but a Cleveland Browns quarterback looked somewhat competent in Week 1. DeShone Kizer didn't get the win in his debut, but he definitely gave the fan base hope going forward at the position. The Baltimore Ravens feasted on the Cincinnati Bengals with four interceptions, but should struggle to move the ball against the Browns defense. Ravens 21, Browns 17Buffalo Bills (+7.5) at Carolina PanthersNobody knows the Carolina Panthers better than new Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott. That familiarity will keep this one close and help the AFC East club cover the spread. Panthers 20, Bills 14Arizona Cardinals at Indianapolis Colts (+7)The Indianapolis Colts were undoubtedly the worst team in the league in Week 1, but without David Johnson, the Arizona Cardinals shouldn't be a 7-point favorite on the road over anybody. This one has the potential to be very ugly, so take the points. Cardinals 17, Colts 14Tennessee Titans (-1.5) at Jacksonville JaguarsThose thinking of picking the Tennessee Titans on the road in Jacksonville should probably be aware of the following stat:

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones feels that some members of his team did their job Thursday night, but alluded that others - specifically the offensive players - cost the team a win.Following the Bengals' 13-9 loss to the Houston Texans, Jones did not hold back while speaking to reporters about the performance of his teammates after being held out of the end zone for a second straight week."If you win field position and defense, you should win the (bleeping) game," Jones told reporters, according to Jeremy Rauch of FOX 19.Jones was not the only one disappointed by the performance, as cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick blatantly lamented, "We suck," while another Bengal claimed, "We just lost to the worst team in the league." A different player responded: "Don't say that. They beat us."At 0-2, the Bengals season already looks to be close to over.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andy Dalton will remain the starting quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals, head coach Marvin Lewis confirmed following Thursday's 13-9 loss to the Houston Texans.Dalton went 20-of-35 for 224 yards as the Bengals slumped to an 0-2 record."I don't think he's taken a step back," Lewis said of Dalton during his post-game press conference.After getting blanked by the Baltimore Ravens in the opener, the Bengals' nine points through two games is the most futile stretch to start a season since the 2009 St. Louis Rams stumbled out of the the gate.Although Lewis confirmed Dalton's status, he wasn't happy about the rest of the offense's performance."We're hurting ourselves with execution," Lewis remarked.The Bengals will travel to Lambeau Field to play the Green Bay Packers in Week 3.In the event the Bengals elect to move on from Dalton, AJ McCarron would be the likely starter.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears linebacker Jerrell Freeman admitted he played with a torn pectoral throughout Sunday's loss to the Atlanta Falcons.Freeman was placed on injured reserve and will require surgery to repair the damage. The veteran linebacker also suffered a concussion.After being placed on IR, Freeman took to Instagram on Thursday to post a thank-you message to fans and well-wishers.

Von Miller is looking to have a little extra fun with the help of his endorsements this season.With the help of Old Spice deodorant, the Denver Broncos' star pass rusher sent a little welcome package to some of his opponents to ensure they don't stink too much whenever he tackles them.

The Detroit Lions have banned a fan who posted a racist social media photo of two African-American fans sitting out the national anthem before the team's Week 1 game against the Arizona Cardinals, the team confirmed to ESPN's Michael Rothstein.The fan posted the photo with a caption reading "Ignorant n-----s" on SnapChat, which then made rounds on other social media sites. The Lions took the fan's tickets and issued a statement Thursday.

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski doesn't seem particularly concerned by the tactics employed by defensive backs throughout the NFL in Week 1, despite his own limited output.Gronkowski was held to two catches for 33 yards as the Patriots lost 42-27 to the Kansas City Chiefs in the season opener.Although the Chiefs employed bump-and-run coverage downfield, leading some to believe that they got away with numerous pass interference and holding penalties, Gronkowski has no issue with it."If I was one of those DBs, and you've seen film over the last few years, I would definitely be doing that if I was a DB - 100 percent," Gronkowski said to ESPN's Mike Reiss. "You don't really see it called ever, so I've just got to play with it. Play how the game is called. If I was a DB, I'd do that too."Gronkowski also noted that he's not worried about incurring penalties while playing."I feel like whenever I think about that - 'I can't be physical because of the referee, I might get a penalty' - I actually feel myself off my game. So I feel like I should just play my game and just (don't) worry about what the refs call, and be physical," he said. "I don't like thinking, 'I can't be physical on this play.' You just don't feel right. I'm just going to stick to my game and just do what I got to do, and do it better."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When Adrian Peterson used to suit up in Minnesota, he expected to play the majority of offensive snaps and get about 20-to-30 touches - but his latest trip to Minneapolis was much different.Having to split backfield duties with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara, Peterson took the field for just nine plays and took only six carries for 18 yards. The 32-year-old says the role was not what he was hoping for when he signed with the New Orleans Saints, but it is something he will need to learn to live with."I didn't sign up for nine snaps, though. But unfortunately that's the way the game played out," Peterson said Thursday, according to ESPN's Mike Triplett. "In my mind, personally, I knew it was gonna take some adjusting. You know, me and Mark played in the last preseason game, and (Kamara) didn't even play that game."So with all three of us being out there, I knew it would take a game or so to kind of get adjusted. So we'll see how things (go) this week."Peterson still has faith that he can be successful in a spell back role rather than his typical position, pointing out that he broke off a 9-yard rush to begin the game Monday night.His lack of touches appeared to cause Peterson to get in a verbal confrontation with head coach Sean Payton on Monday night, but the veteran running back laughed off the reaction and clarified that the cameras made things look worse than reality."Of course, with the heat of the game, me being back in Minnesota and things like that, just catching that look - that intense look on my face, like I had …" Peterson said as he tried to re-create the look that was preserved on so many screen captures. "I actually got some laughs out of some of the memes that were made. And I still am to this day, it's funny."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch was fined $12,000 for an obscene hand gesture during Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Lynch stuck both his middle fingers up during the game, an action that was caught on the television broadcast.The running back made his return to football last weekend after spending a year away from the game. Lynch rushed for 76 yards on 18 carries, adding one reception for 16 yards.Lynch and the Raiders face off against the New York Jets in Week 2.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ezekiel Elliott's battle against his suspension for a domestic violence case is far from over, and the NFL is hoping the six-game ban could be reinstated as early as Week 3.The NFL has attempted to accelerate the process of its injunction filed against Elliott's temporary restraining order by deciding to take the case to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals if U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant does not make a decision by Thursday.If Judge Mazzant does not make a ruling by Thursday, the league expects to hear from the appeals court next week on their motion to block Elliott's temporary restraining order, sources told ESPN's Dan Graziano.If the ruling comes back in favor of the NFL, Elliott's suspension would take effect beginning Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals.The court could also rule in favor of Elliott but allow the NFL to expedite its appeal, which could result in the suspension being upheld later in the season or possibly at the beginning of 2018. Another option would be for the court to deny the NFL's request of injunction and for an expedited appeal, meaning Elliott would likely play the rest of the season while the NFL prepared for another appeal process throughout next offseason.If the appeals court does rule in favor of the NFL, Elliott and the NFLPA would be expected to fight the ruling on the grounds that the decision was an unfair discipline process by the league.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jay Cutler's return to the NFL after a brief retirement made headlines, but not everyone is impressed by the 34-year-old's ability.Cutler joined the Miami Dolphins in August and will start for the team's opener against the Los Angeles Chargers.However, Chargers defensive end Melvin Ingram anticipates a field day against Cutler."None. We don't see him as a problem for us," Ingram said via Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times, when asked if Cutler poses a problem.Ingram, who dominated during the Chargers' Week 1 loss to the Denver Broncos, will need to be accounted for by a Dolphins squad looking to get their first win after their opening game was cancelled due to the effects of Hurricane Irma.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.Week 2 of the NFL regular season kicks off tonight, featuring two teams who in Week 1 scored less than Beavis and Butt-Head. Covers checks in on the action with Aaron Kessler, sportsbook supervisor at the Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas, and Scott Kaminsky, sports director for offshore book TheGreek.com.

With no game to play in Week 1 because of Hurricane Irma, the Miami Dolphins used some extra time to help out a fellow South Florida team cope with the extraordinary weather.Miami's Central High School football team was essentially stranded in Las Vegas after a 24-20 win Friday night, with their travel plans ruined due to the hurricane and without enough money to re-plan. Dolphins players, who were practicing in California, heard of Central's struggles and decided to pay for all lodging and transportation costs for the 69-person team."I'm ecstatic because anytime you see an organization like the Dolphins think about and take care of a high school team like ourselves, that's amazing," said Central coach Roland Smith, according to Miami Herald's Armando Salguero.Due to an inability to book the entire party onto one flight, some members of the team will be put up in Las Vegas until Friday, flying out in smaller groups until everyone has returned to South Florida."We don't have a budget like the Dolphins," Smith said. "We don't have a budget like a college. We don’t have a national budget to stay extra days after a game and stuff like that."Receivers Kenny Stills and Jarvis Landry, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, safety Reshad Jones, and linebacker Lawrence Timmons are among those contributing to help the Central High Rockets, who knocked off three-time defending national champion Bishop Gorman. Despite being one of the top-ranked teams in the country, Central does not have the resources that some of their competition does."We don’t have big booster clubs like other schools have that can take care of things like this," Smith said. "But when you have an organization the kids look up to and they step forward, it's an awesome thing."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston is hoping to serve as inspiration for residents affected by Hurricane Irma, the storm that ravaged several parts of Florida.Sunday's contest between the Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins was postponed due to Irma, but Winston said he wasn't concerned about football during the storm."I really wasn't thinking about myself," Winston said to ESPN's Jenna Laine. "I was thinking about what we were going through, what the people in Florida were going through, and what the people in Houston are going through. Because at the end of the day, everything is bigger than football. Obviously, I wanted to be out on the field playing, but sometimes you have to take that back seat and let things happen."Winston drove back to his hometown of Bessemer, Ala., to avoid the ill-effects of Irma.With the Buccaneers' season ready to get underway, Winston is hoping that he, along with the rest of his team, can serve as a source of inspiration for the citizens of Tampa Bay amid a perilous situation."A lot of people in this city are having some troubling times right now," Winston said. "It's exciting that hopefully this team can be the 'giddy-up' for people affected by the storm."The Buccaneers host the Chicago Bears on Sunday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien has yet to officially name the team's starting quarterback for Thursday night's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.Rookie Deshaun Watson is trying to sway what has been called a 'game-time decision' by dressing to impress.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer didn't try to sugarcoat the effect of losing running back David Johnson for a minimum of eight weeks with a wrist injury.Though head coach Bruce Arians says he won't change the Cardinals' scheme, Palmer acknowledged Johnson's injury will alter the team's offense."It changes drastically," Palmer said, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. "You lose, who I think, is one of the best football players in this league, things are obviously going to change."Johnson's massive workload needs to be distributed among a committee of replacements, Palmer said."I don't know how many catches he had last year but there (are) a whole lot of catches there for somebody else," Palmer said. "He had 2,000 yards of offense so somebody's got to step up. We're not going to run every single exact play that Dave ran, run routes because that was something very specific to Dave that he did really, really well."Palmer believes the Cardinals have the right pieces in place to help work around Johnson's absence."We're not going to sulk. We got right back to work today and Dre (Andre Ellington) stepped in, Kerwynn (Williams) stepped in. Chris Johnson, getting him back is huge for us. Yes, things change when you lose (left tackle) D.J. (Humphries) and you lose David like that. Things change. The offense doesn't change but obviously when you take away the touches and the effect that those two guys have on the game, things change."Without a true replacement for Johnson on the roster, or in the league, Palmer said the Cardinals need to make sure they don't individually try to do too much."We don't need Chris to try to play like David," Palmer said. "We've got to each play within ourselves and play within the system. You can't sit around and sulk. You can't feel like you've got to do anything superhuman."Arians said Wednesday that Williams will receive the start in Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts, while Ellington and the recently signed Johnson will follow.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On the field, Peyton Manning was a no-nonsense competitor, and he's bringing that same vibe to his next role: fantasy football league commissioner.In the latest instalment of "what's Peyton doing in retirement," he's terrorizing the team owners in his fantasy league for a DirecTV commercial."A snake draft doesn't mean we're drafting snakes."Sounds like he's got it down pat.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brandin Cooks' return to New Orleans is one of many revenge-filled matchups scheduled for Week 2.Yet, though the receiver was traded from the Saints to the New England Patriots in the offseason, Cooks insists he holds no ill will toward his former team or former coach Sean Payton."We ended on a great note. I love him. He did me well when I was there. There's no bad blood at all," Cooks said Wednesday, Mike Reiss of ESPN reports."I loved every bit of playing there. They gave me an opportunity, first team coming into the NFL. You have to respect that and respect the owners, (general manager) Mickey (Loomis), Sean for believing in me, and there's a lot of great memories made."Cooks spent three seasons in New Orleans. He had a career-high 84 receptions and nine touchdowns in 2015 and a personal-best 1,173 receiving yards last season. Nonetheless, the Saints traded him after months of speculation for a package of draft picks.The 23-year-old said he's not gearing himself up for a return trip to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in enemy colors."When you start to get hyped up too much, you psyche yourself out," he said.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his fourth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his updated rankings for Week 2.The final rankings will be released Sunday morning.Standard

Following his first career NFL game Monday night, Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook brought his family to a Minneapolis restaurant for a celebratory meal. There was just one problem: The kitchen was closed for the night.Yoom Nguyen, owner of the Lotus Uptown, told Joe Nelson of GoMN that he jokingly said Cook would have to whip up something himself if he wanted to eat there. With some help from Nguyen, he did exactly that, making chicken and shrimp lo mein.

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.In Week 1, we saw some good, some bad, and some ugly. It's important not to overreact to just one set of games. As the season progresses, the true identity of these teams will much better reveal itself.However, the opening week did show us that two contending teams already have reason to re-evaluate their offensive approach. The Atlanta Falcons look different - and not in a good way - without Kyle Shanahan, and the Tennessee Titans are getting away from their strengths.Atlanta FalconsChicago has a much better defense than many realize, especially its front seven. But the Falcons were rather fortunate to escape The Windy City with a victory - and if it weren't for two dropped balls at the end of the game, the Bears might have pulled off the upset.The Falcons had the NFL's best offense a year ago, but now that Steve Sarkisian is running the show instead of Shanahan, there were obvious differences in how Atlanta played on this side of the ball Sunday. Here's the biggest cause for concern: This unit wasn't nearly as aggressive as it was in 2016. They did hit on a big play to Austin Hooper, but that was a fluke due of a coverage bust rather than planned or scripted.Atlanta needs to open it up more. We saw less pre-snap motion with Sarkisian running the show and therefore, fewer advantageous one-on-one matchups for Matt Ryan to exploit. The Falcons were also more predictable on this side of the ball, which no one would have said about them with Shanahan in charge.Not only did the Falcons have fewer tactical advantages than we're used to seeing them enjoy, but their right guard, Wes Schweitzer, was constantly abused in this matchup - and the Falcons don't have much in the way of offensive line depth to challenge him.This is especially worrisome with Green Bay up next. Ryan was already under far too much pressure in Week 1 and the offense overall struggled in the red zone, unlike last year. In Week 2, Mike Daniels could single-handedly wreck the Falcons' plans on offense.It's also alarming that Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman combined for just 20 carries Sunday, gaining a measly 55 yards on those opportunities even though the Bears played a high percentage of snaps with two high safeties.The foundation of this offense is its outside zone run scheme. If Atlanta can establish the run and force the defense out of its two-high-safety look, the Falcons can isolate their big, athletic receivers on the outside in one-on-one matchups and become more aggressive in the passing game. Play action helps in that regard as well.Also, the Falcons didn't get the kind of fullback blocking they had a year ago with Patrick DiMarco, another important component of this scheme, now in Buffalo. Julio Jones had just one catch after halftime. That won't do.Tennessee Titans(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)The Titans mustered just 16 points at home in Week 1 against an Oakland defense with all sorts of question marks, and it's not clear why they didn't put themselves in a better position to succeed.Over the offseason, Tennessee wisely upgraded its receiving corps to help further Marcus Mariota's development. Even last year, though, the Titans were almost operating two separate offenses. Most people realize they had a very successful downhill running game. But Tennessee also utilized a more spread-oriented approach with multiple receivers on the field - somewhat reminiscent of what Mariota executed so well at the college level.The former approach was much more effective, so Tennessee acquired weapons like Corey Davis and Eric Decker to pose a more legitimate passing-game threat. Last week, though, Tennessee needed to feature more of its proven ground attack to bludgeon the Raiders' suspect defense and keep Derek Carr off the field.In a game that was never out of reach, the Titans called 41 passes to just 18 combined carries for DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry, even though Mariota was clearly not at his best in the second half. It was the opposite of the approach they should have taken, as it seemed apparent on paper that Tennessee should make their running game the foundation of their offensive approach against Oakland.Next week the Titans travel to Jacksonville and face a defense that racked up 10 sacks in Week 1. The Titans' offensive line collectively didn't play well in the preseason, and Jack Conklin had all sorts of problems in protection against Khalil Mack last week.The Titans would be best served by doing what they do best and attacking Jacksonville's much-improved defense with their downhill power running game. That should have been their strategy Sunday too.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens placed running back Danny Woodhead on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury Thursday, and promoted fellow rusher Jeremy Langford to the active roster from the practice squad.Woodhead won't require surgery and should be ready to return in eight weeks, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, when he'll be eligible for activation from IR. The 32-year-old has battled injuries in recent years, but will offer Baltimore a solid change-of-pace option out of the backfield once healthy.Langford joins the active roster after a brief stint on the practice squad, where he signed following his release from the Chicago Bears. The third-year pro ran for 737 yards and 10 touchdowns across two campaigns in the Windy City.The Ravens are set to take a 1-0 record into a Sunday affair with the Cleveland Browns.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's a sight New York Giants fans have been waiting for since August: Odell Beckham Jr. at practice.

Though an offseason trade sent Brandin Cooks to the New Orleans Saints' Week 2 opponent, the New England Patriots, they haven't forgotten the things the wide receiver can do on the football field."We can't let Brandin Cooks get a deep ball," safety Kenny Vaccaro said Wednesday, according to Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune. "You can run your curls, you can run whatever your little route tree is besides the home-run ball, but when you put on the tape, Brandin Cooks is running deep a lot. So, that'll definitely be something that we have to stop."Saints quarterback Drew Brees holds no resentment toward his former No. 1 target for wanting to be traded this offseason, but hopes Cooks struggles for at least one week."Obviously, he was a great part of this team for three years, and I wish him the best of success - although I'd rather him not go off in this game," Brees said.Cooks' Week 1 statistics make Brees' wish seem unlikely to come true.He caught just 3-of-7 targeted passes from Tom Brady in the Week 1 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, but finished his Patriots debut with 88 yards. The Patriots, well aware of what Cooks can offer the team, targeted the receiver repeatedly deep downfield, and he ranked second among all receivers on the week in average targeted air yards, according to NFL.com's Next Gen Stats.The Saints, meanwhile, allowed Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford to average 8.9 completed air yards per pass in Week 1, ranking fourth among quarterbacks. Brady ranked first, with 10.3 yards.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.