(Warning: Story contains coarse language)NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith will meet with Michael Bennett on Thursday, after the Seattle Seahawks defensive end was detained by police officers on Las Vegas on Aug. 26.Video emerged from the incident where Bennett alleged that police used excessive force on him. Bennett released his own statement Wednesday, alleging that officers threatened to "blow (his) fucking head off."Smith's statement reads as follows:

The Cleveland Browns fear an ankle injury suffered during practice Wednesday could sideline defensive end Myles Garrett for weeks, a source told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.Garrett is expected to undergo an MRI on the ankle. Head coach Hue Jackson told reporters he'll await word from team doctors on the severety of the rookie's injury before thinking about his availability for Week 1, and potentially beyond."We will see. I don't want to make medical decisions. I am not very good at them so we will see where we are as we move through the week," Jackson said.The 21-year-old battled through a foot injury during the summer but had since recovered.Garrett was selected first overall in the 2017 NFL Draft and is expected to be the cornerstone of the Browns' rebuilding efforts.The former Texas A&M standout stated on draft night that it was goal to "chop down" Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, the Browns' Week 1 opponent.Jackson said he supported Garrett declaring his ambitions."Absolutely, I do. Now you have to back it up," Jackson said. "You can say that, but I think he understands that his teammates are with him in that. In order to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, we do have to get Ben down. That is just the truth. That is not something that is out of the ordinary. I think he was expressing what is true. In order to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, you have to slow Ben down. That is the only way to slow him down is by getting him on the ground."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the New York Giants' season opener versus the Dallas Cowboys a mere four days away, Odell Beckham Jr. remains hopeful he'll be ready to go despite an ankle injury."I wouldn't count it out yet," Beckham said Wednesday regarding playing in Week 1, according to NFL Network's Judy Battista.Beckham didn't officially take part in practice Wednesday, but he was seen moving around and jogging with his teammates during warmup.

Carolina Panthers star quarterback Cam Newton's abilities won't be restricted to start the year after he underwent offseason surgery, according to his coach."There are no limitations in what we can or can't do," Ron Rivera said Wednesday to ESPN.com's David Newton when asked about his starting QB's status for Week 1.Newton underwent surgery in March to repair a partially torn rotator cuff, but it appears the former MVP is fully healthy heading into the season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL has hired 21 full-time officials for the 2017 season, the league announced Wednesday."In an effort to improve consistency, efficiency, and accuracy, the full-time game officials will work throughout the calendar year on game preparation and game administration, analyzing current game trends, communicating with the officiating roster, and assisting to ensure that there is a qualified pipeline of future officials through scouting efforts," the league said in a statement.The NFL announced it planned to hire 21-24 full-time officials in August. The decision followed increasing criticism of the league's insistence on employing only part-time refs, who often need to find additional jobs."We believe that we will learn a great deal over the course of this initial year working with the full-time game officials," said the NFL's senior vice president of officiating Alberto Riveron. "Our collective goal is to make a positive impact on NFL officiating overall."Here are the 21 full-time officials and their positions:Name PositionBrad AllenRefereeWalt AndersonRefereeJerome BogerRefereePete MorelliRefereeBarry AndersonUmpireDan FerrellUmpireBill SchusterUmpireDerick BowersDown JudgeEd CampDown JudgeRusty BaynesLine JudgeJulian MappLine JudgeMark PerlmanLine JudgeMark SteinkerchnerLine JudgeTom HillField JudgeSteve ZimmerField JudgeBoris CheekSide JudgeJonah MonroeSide JudgeSteve FreemanBack JudgeScott HelversonBack JudgeTerrence MilesBack JudgeGreg SteedBack JudgeCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageThe Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed an incident involving two of its officers and Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett is under investigation.In a statement released on Twitter, the police department asked the public to "reserve judgment" on the matter.

Detroit Lions safety Glover Quin claimed Wednesday that Larry Fitzgerald has told opposing defensive backs to hit him high instead of low, offering to pay any fines the NFL imposes if they do, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press."In 2014, I think, up there, in Arizona, and he ran a 7 route, a corner route, and I drove on it, hit him on third down, and he dropped the ball and he went out the game," Quin said. "He had like an MCL injury and he's big on like don't hit him low, like hit him high. He'll tell you on the field like, 'Hey bro, I'll pay your fine for you. Don't hit me in the legs.' He'd rather you hit him up high. Don't take his legs because obviously, you need your legs to run."In recent years, the NFL has attempted to force defenders to avoid big hits to the head and neck area as long-term health concerns regarding concussions continue to grow.However, it's not been a popular move among defenders, who often claim it forces them to take low shots on offensive players that can cause knee injuries."He'll say it all the time," Quin said. "You can ask anybody. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only DB. You ask anybody he'll tell you like, 'Hey man, don't take my knees out like that.' I'm not saying like you're trying to make a tackle, but he's saying if you got that shot where he's coming across."You have these guys that had their knee in the ground and get caught when they get hit and tear their knees up. He's like, 'I would rather you hit me up here than hit me down here.' Now, as a DB, you're going to take the lower hit because this hit right here is going to give you a fine. But he'll tell you like, 'Hey, I'll pay your fine for you.'"It appears the Arizona Cardinals wide receiver wants to lessen the risk of a leg injury, though the league might take issue with one of its most respected players openly telling his opponents to hit him high.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

(Warning: Story contains coarse language)Despite never having played for the same team, Michael and Martellus Bennett are one of the closest sibling duos in the NFL, if not the sporting world.Michael posted a statement on social media Wednesday morning, saying he was subjected to police brutality following the Mayweather-McGregor fight in Las Vegas. Martellus described getting a phone call from Michael the evening of the incident in an emotional Instagram post of his own, adding that he's grateful it ultimately allowed the Seattle Seahawks defensive end to contribute to the dialogue about police violence.Martellus wrote:

With the start of the 2017 season days away, theScore's NFL staff has assembled to predict which team will remain standing as the confetti falls at U.S. Bank Stadium on Feb. 4.AFC Championship GameEDITORPREDICTIONAmatoPatriots def. ChiefsBelbeckSteelers def. TexansBrownePatriots def. TitansChippinPatriots def. RaidersMcClymontSteelers def. RaidersMcLarenPatriots def. RaidersPeregoRaiders def. PatriotsSandersonPatriots def. TitansSrinivasanPatriots def. SteelersNFC Championship GameEDITORPREDICTIONAmatoSeahawks def. FalconsBelbeckPackers def. SeahawksBrowneSeahawks def. FalconsChippinSeahawks def. PackersMcClymontGiants def. SeahawksMcLarenFalcons def. PackersPeregoPackers def. CowboysSandersonPackers def. GiantsSrinivasanSeahawks def. GiantsSuper Bowl LIIEDITORPREDICTIONAmatoPatriots def. SeahawksBelbeckPackers def. SteelersBrowneSeahawks def. PatriotsChippinSeahawks def. PatriotsMcClymontSteelers def. GiantsMcLarenFalcons def. PatriotsPeregoRaiders def. PackersSandersonPackers def. PatriotsSrinivasanSeahawks def. PatriotsMichael Amato: Patriots 31, Seahawks 20In a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX, the Patriots don't make it nearly as nail-biting. It's hard to imagine there's a team in the AFC this year - or the league, for that matter - that can out-coach Belichick and get the best of Brady.Dane Belbeck: Packers 34, Steelers 27A repeat of Super Bowl XLV sees Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers take down the Pittsburgh Steelers yet again. The talented trio of Ben Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell, and Antonio Brown get the AFC North club to the big game, but Rodgers' MVP-winning season culminates with a masterful performance in the Super Bowl, cementing his legacy as one of the best to play the game.Jack Browne: Seahawks 24, Patriots 21Who doesn't want to see these teams go at it again? Off the back of an MVP-type campaign, Russell Wilson is the puzzle that Bill Belichick can't figure out. Tom Brady rallies New England, but this time around, it's not enough, as the Legion of Boom gets the best of the future Hall of Famer in the final few minutes. Is it Jimmy G's time now?Alex Chippin: Seahawks 24, Patriots 20Brady and Belichick again find a way to navigate the AFC, before meeting a Seahawks club out for revenge from three years back. Julian Edelman's absence in the middle of the field allows Seattle's retooled defense to execute the formula the Giants twice made famous - get to Brady without blitzing - and Pete Carroll makes sure his team runs the ball this time.Michael McClymont: Steelers 23, Giants 17Fellow 2004 draftees Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning meet on the big stage for the first time. The Steelers enjoy a full season from their Killer Bs and avoid the Patriots on their way through the AFC playoffs. The Giants hide their offensive deficiencies long enough to reach the title game but fall short of a third Super Bowl triumph under Manning.Esten McLaren: Falcons 28, Patriots 3The Atlanta defense is much improved on last year, with a healthy Desmond Trufant, the drafting of Takk McKinley, and an extra year of development for several other key young defenders compensating for any regression on offense. Combine this with Julian Edelman's injury, and the Patriots will be held to just a field goal as the rematch ends in a rout.Dylan Perego: Raiders 30, Packers 24The Oakland Raiders have built a team that's among the league's elite, and 2017 will be their time to knock off the New England Patriots' empire. Aaron Rodgers will once again take his team deep, but the Packers' defense won't be able to stop the upstart Raiders.Mitch Sanderson: Packers 31, Patriots 27The NFL's best quarterbacks make a rare appearance on the same field in one of the most enjoyable Super Bowls to watch for anyone who likes completed passes, and, for the second time in a row, Aaron Rodgers outduels Tom Brady. As the Patriots' injuries mount through the season, New England still conquers the AFC, but the chemistry Rodgers develops with Davante Adams and Martellus Bennett, on top of his longtime targets, will be too potent for Bill Belichick to stop.Arun Srinivasan: Seahawks 31, Patriots 30In a dramatic arc that would make Shakespeare proud, the Seahawks exact revenge against an 18-0 Patriots team, ending what would've been the greatest season of all time. Russell Wilson is more cautious at the goal line and the vaunted Legion of Boom cements itself as the greatest defense of its generation.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story/video contains coarse languageA video capturing part of Michael Bennett's incident with Las Vegas police on Aug. 26 has been obtained by TMZ Sports.The video shows one officer handcuffing Bennett while another officer covers them from a balcony above, appearing to hold a handgun.Bennett can be heard yelling during the video, "I wasn't doing nothing man! ... I was here with my friends! They told us to get out, everybody ran!"Related - Bennett: Las Vegas police threatened to 'blow my head off'In a statement Wednesday describing the incident on Twitter, the Seattle Seahawks defensive end detailed how officers racially profiled him after it sounded like shots were fired near his hotel. He alleged officers used excessive force and threatened to "blow (his) fucking head off."Bennett is considering a civil rights lawsuit.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite being mentioned in trade rumors this offseason, it appears Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy remains very much in the team's plans this year."Whatever it takes to win the game, that's what we're going to do," Bills coach Sean McDermott told ESPN's Mike Rodak on Wednesday when asked about McCoy's workload expectancy this season. "If it means he's got to play every snap, that's what we'll do, if he's feeling good."After the Bills traded receiver Sammy Watkins and cornerback Ronald Darby earlier in the offseason, it appeared the team could be undergoing a full-blown rebuild, but keeping McCoy in the fold dispelled that notion.McCoy was one of the league's elite backs last season, totaling 1,267 yards on the ground to go with 13 touchdowns, and also catching 50 passes for 356 yards and one touchdown through the air.The team will need him to continue that level of production if it hopes to have success moving forward without key contributors from the past few seasons. It appears management and the coaching staff recognize this, and are planning to put McCoy to full use."We'll just see, we'll see what he can handle," McDermott said. "Like any player we're going to put him in a position to be successful."The Bills cut backup running back Jonathan Williams in a surprise move last week, so it doesn't seem unrealistic for McCoy to rarely leave the field this season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco said Wednesday he's "ready to go" for the season opener Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals after battling a back injury throughout training camp."It's not ideal but I feel good now and I'm ready to go," Flacco said, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said Flacco had no setbacks following his return to practice Saturday, declaring the pivot "ready to roll."It initially appeared Flacco was in danger of missing the start of the year when he suffered the disc injury at the start of camp.He's made a quick recovery, though it remains to be seen how much rust he'll have to work off after missing all four preseason games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots' notoriously complicated playbook has been the undoing of many talented NFL players over the years.Apparently, that won't the case for recently acquired third-year wide receiver Phillip Dorsett, though."It's been a transition and I love it already," Dorsett told Ryan Hannable of WEEI. "It's going to be a definite transition learning the playbook and everything, but like I said before, I'm the person for it."Dorsett is expected to be used sparingly in Thursday's season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, after being acquired from the Indianapolis Colts less than a week ago, but the wideout says he's ready for any opportunity he's given."Whatever they’re going to ask me to do, I’m willing to do. If they ask me to do it, I’m willing to do it," Dorsett said.In two years with the Colts, Dorsett appeared in a total of 26 games, hauling in 51 of 99 targets for 753 yards and three touchdowns.Dorsett is working as hard as he can to demonstrate he can be everything the team needs him to be."They throw a lot at you first, but I’m just in it. You have to be in it. ... I just go back to the hotel and study as much as I can until I get tired. And then, I try to study more. At the end of the day, I think it’ll be worth it."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colin Kaepernick came out in support of Michael Bennett after the Seattle Seahawks defensive end said Wednesday that Las Vegas police officers used excessive force while detaining him near his hotel on Aug. 26.Related - Bennett: Las Vegas police threatened to 'blow my head off'"This violation that happened against my Brother Michael Bennett is disgusting and unjust," Kaepernick tweeted. "I stand with Michael and I stand with the people."Bennett has been a vocal supporter of Kaepernick following his 2016 national anthem protest.The pass-rusher is planning to continue what Kaepernick started. He sat for the anthem during the preseason and said he plans to do so throughout the rest of the campaign in protest of racial inequality and police brutality."He had to sacrifice. He spoke up and dealt with a lot of things that were going on - from death threats, people not wanting him in the stadium, people hating him," Bennett said on Aug. 16 regarding Kaepernick, according to ESPN. "I think a lot of players were scared of that. Then, on top of that, players feeling like he was being blackballed, people were eventually scared."But now, just because he's out of the league, we didn't want to lose that message, pushing for liberty and equality for everybody. We just wanted to keep that message alive."In his detailing of the incident with police on Twitter, Bennett said it was an example of why he intends to sit for the anthem.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.In Week 6 of the 2011 NFL campaign, Drew Brees and a New Orleans Saints squad that would finish the year with a 13-3 record traveled to Tampa Bay as 6-point road favorites for an NFC South divisional showdown with a Tampa Bay Buccaneers club that would conclude the season at a woefully underwhelming 4-12.

(Warning: Story contains coarse language)Michael Bennett says Las Vegas police used excessive force while detaining him near his hotel following the Aug. 26 fight between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather after it sounded like shots were fired.In an emotional statement describing the incident on Twitter, the Seattle Seahawks defensive end said officers racially profiled him, and placed a gun near his head and threatened to "blow (his) fucking head off" before ultimately releasing him.Bennett is considering legal action, and said the way he was treated is an example of why he's planning to sit for the national anthem throughout the 2017 season in protest of racial inequality and police brutality.Related - Kaepernick: I stand with Bennett after 'disgusting' incident with police"The system failed me. I can only imagine what Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, and Charleena Lyles felt," Bennett wrote.Here's his statement in full:

After a joint investigation into a potential concussion suffered by New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in 2016, the NFL and NFLPA claim there's no evidence of any deviation by the team from the league's concussion protocol.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor is expected to start Week 1 against the New York Jets after being officially cleared from the NFL's concussion protocol, the team announced Wednesday.Taylor was elected as a team captain for Sunday's game.According to Joe Buscaglia of WKBW, head coach Sean McDermott's rallying cry for Taylor was: "Go out and do your job."Taylor suffered his head injury early in the Bills' third preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens after going just 1-for-3 through the air for a single yard.He played just one of the Bills' two games against the Jets last season, going 18-for-30 for 297 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, while rushing twice for a total of 25 yards in a 37-31 loss at home in Week 2.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Week 1 game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins, scheduled to be played in Miami, has been postponed until Week 11 due to Hurricane Irma's potential impact, the NFL announced Wednesday.Both the Buccaneers and Dolphins were scheduled for a bye in Week 11.The game will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday, Nov. 19.The league determined Tuesday that the game would not be played in Miami this week with the ongoing state of emergency in South Florida, and was also looking into playing the game at a neutral site in Week 1. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia were under consideration, sources told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.The Dolphins will maintain their seven home games, as they'll act as hosts to the New Orleans Saints for their Week 4 game in England's Wembley Stadium.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. New England PatriotsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan1st1st1st1stPreseason Rank: 1stThe Patriots lost Julian Edelman for the season, then added Phillip Dorsett via trade. 16-0 is still on the table. - McClymont2. Pittsburgh SteelersBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan2nd2nd2nd2ndPreseason Rank: 2ndThe Steelers upgraded in all the right areas this offseason after finishing strong in 2016. The AFC North rivalries will still carry some interest, but Pittsburgh could come away with a rare division sweep. - Sanderson3. Atlanta FalconsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan5th3rd4th4thPreseason Rank: 4thIf the Falcons can re-establish themselves as the open-air fireworks show that dazzled the NFL last year, they'll be among the league's most captivating teams, in search of an elusive Super Bowl victory. - Srinivasan4. Seattle SeahawksBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan3rd6th5th3rdPreseason Rank: 7thRussell Wilson has looked red-hot during the preseason, and, more importantly, fully healthy. And adding Sheldon Richardson? Just unfair. - Browne5. Green Bay PackersBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan4th7th3rd6thPreseason Rank: 6thThe weapons are loaded and Aaron Rodgers is ready to fire. The Packers have their sights set on a Super Bowl return after a solid offseason. - Sanderson6. Oakland RaidersBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan7th4th6th5thPreseason Rank: 5thOakland won't surprise anyone this season. They have been firmly stamped as a Super Bowl contender, so can their young roster and defense live up to the challenge? - Browne7. New York GiantsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan6th5th7th8thPreseason Rank: 7thThe preseason was a disappointment. The running game and O-line worries persist, and Odell Beckham Jr. isn't 100 percent. - McClymont8. Dallas CowboysBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan8th8th9th7thPreseason Rank: 3rdIt's time to find out if Dak Prescott is great, or just very good, with his running mate's six-game suspension upheld. - Browne9. Kansas City ChiefsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan9th10th8th9thPreseason Rank: 9thAlex Smith is still the starter, regardless of how much fun it would be to see gunslinging rookie Patrick Mahomes. Another rookie, Kareem Hunt, will be the real key to KC's season. - Browne10. Arizona CardinalsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan12th9th10th11thPreseason Rank: 11thCan Arizona's aging roster come together one final time to get Larry Fitzgerald a ring before he walks off into the sunset? - Browne11. Denver BroncosBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan11th15th12th10thPreseason Rank: 10thGoing into another season with Trevor Siemian as the starter will excite few, but Broncos nation will surely enjoy seeing Brock Osweiler sit forlornly on the bench as the backup once again after their unceremonious breakup 18 months ago. - Browne12. Tennessee TitansBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan13th11th11th13thPreseason Rank: 13thLike his draft mate Jameis Winston, it's on Marcus Mariota to take another step onto the path to superstardom by winning an anemic AFC South. - Srinivasan13. Tampa Bay BuccaneersBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan 10th14th13th12thPreseason Rank: 12thEntering his third season, it's time for Jameis Winston to take the next step in his development by propelling the Buccaneers to the NFC South title. A prodigious talent, Winston can no longer hide behind his star potential. - Srinivasan14. Houston TexansBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan14th12th16th14thPreseason Rank: 14thA healthy J.J. Watt in tandem with Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus makes the Texans arguably the toughest out in the AFC South. - Srinivasan15. Carolina PanthersBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan16th17th14th15thPreseason Rank: 15thWhich Panthers team will show up this fall? The one that went 15-1 en route to Super Bowl 50 with Cam Newton dabbing his way into our hearts, or last year's tire fire? - Srinivasan16. Detroit LionsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan17th16th17th17thPreseason Rank: 16thDetroit had high hopes following its O-line reclamation project, but an injury to left tackle Taylor Decker has seemed to put a damper on expectations. - Sanderson17. Baltimore RavensBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan15th18th20th16thPreseason Rank: 17thIt's been injury after injury for the Ravens so far. While their defense should be as stout as usual, medical issues along the offensive line and in the backfield will put heavy pressure on the team to allow less than two touchdowns a game. - Sanderson18. New Orleans SaintsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan19th20th18th19thPreseason Rank: 20thAs always, the Saints will go as far as Drew Brees takes them. Whether they can capitalize in a division with no clear-cut favorite remains as compelling a storyline as ever. - Srinivasan19. Miami DolphinsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan25th13th21st18thPreseason Rank: 19thJay Cutler just might be exactly what the Dolphins needed all along. - McClymont20. Philadelphia EaglesBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan20th24th15th20thPreseason Rank: 22ndThe Eagles' offense quietly put up 77 points this preseason while division foes soaked up all the headlines. - McClymont21. Los Angeles ChargersBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan18th22nd19th22ndPreseason Rank: 23rdInjuries and bad luck almost always seem to doom the Chargers' playoff chances. Will a change of scenery break the curse? - Browne22. Indianapolis ColtsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan21st23rd22nd23rdPreseason Rank: 18thThe days of the Colts being prohibitive favorites in the AFC South are over, with Andrew Luck's painstakingly slow recovery from shoulder surgery looming large over the franchise's fortunes. - Srinivasan23. Minnesota VikingsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan23rd19th24th24thPreseason Rank: 24thThe offensive line was the Achilles' heel in Minnesota a year ago, and while the faces have changed up front, the talent level hasn't. - Sanderson24. Washington RedskinsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan22nd25th23rd21stPreseason Rank: 21stNone of their rushers could average 4 yards per carry in the preseason. It may be all on Kirk Cousins' arm again. - McClymont25. Cincinnati BengalsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan24th21st25th25hPreseason Rank: 26thA lot will be on Andy Dalton's shoulders with a downgraded offensive line and an improved set of weapons in a crucial contract year, but any time the Red Rocket has the pressure put on him, he generally disappoints. - Sanderson26. Jacksonville JaguarsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan27th26th27th26thPreseason Rank: 27thLeonard Fournette's pro debut has been waited upon since he starred as a New Orleans high school prodigy. Can he rescue the Jaguars on the sheer volume of carries alone? - Srinivasan27. Buffalo BillsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan28th27th26th28thPreseason Rank: 25thThe Bills are already circling the wagons for 2018, but they're not even the best in their division at tanking. - McClymont28. Cleveland BrownsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan26th30th29th27thPreseason Rank: 29thCleveland deserves some kudos for the improvements it's undergone since last season, but when the bar starts at 1-15, it doesn't need to come up very high to be considered a success. - Sanderson29. San Francisco 49ersBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan29th28th30th29thPreseason Rank: 28thIf Kyle Shanahan can get the offense rolling, it could be a fun season for San Francisco, though likely with few wins. If not, it will be a long year for 49er nation. - Browne30. Los Angeles RamsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan31st29th28th30thPreseason Rank: 30thThe Rams have made strong moves to help Jared Goff progress, but it will all be for naught if they allow Aaron Donald, their best player, to continue his contract holdout. - Browne31. Chicago BearsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan30th31st31st31stPreseason Rank: 31stThe future with Mitch Trubisky looks bright, but the present is dark and full of terrors with Mike Glennon. - Sanderson32. New York JetsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan32nd32nd32nd32ndPreseason Rank: 32ndPoor, poor Matt Forte. - McClymontCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ray Lewis offered some unusual intel about the Baltimore Ravens' decision to pass on signing Colin Kaepernick, blaming the quarterback's girlfriend, Nessa Diab.On Showtime's "Inside The NFL" on Tuesday, Lewis discussed his communication with Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti during the team's talks with Kaepernick.Lewis said the Ravens were on track to sign Kaepernick - adding that he'd been fighting for the quarterback behind the scenes - before Diab posted a "racist gesture," which was supposedly the tweet below. The tweet featured a photo from "Django Unchained" that showed a loyal slave hugging a white slave owner, comparing it to a photo of Lewis hugging Bisciotti.

The Seattle Seahawks attempted to subtly unveil a new alternate logo Tuesday evening, switching the profile pictures on their social media accounts to a head-on look at their typical trademark.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced a colossal decision: Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston?Two years ago, the Bucs owned the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, and vowed never to put themselves in that position again. First, though, they needed to make a franchise-altering choice between polar opposites: a mild-mannered, soft-spoken, dual-threat quarterback and a pro-style passer with a checkered past.General manager Jason Licht promised he left no stone unturned in researching the latter and confidently selected Winston first overall. In the two seasons since, Winston has not disappointed.He finished 2016 as the first quarterback to ever begin a career by throwing for more than 4,000 yards in his first two seasons. He set team passing records and broke franchise marks that have stood for years. He's the team's record-holder for most passing yards and touchdowns in a single season. And he had the Buccaneers in playoff contention into the final week of last year.Yet, for all he's done on the field, what's really important to both the Buccaneers and their fan base is the fact Winston has stayed out of trouble off it. After a two-year college career stained by off-field antics and controversy, he's making positive headlines in the NFL.Winston is one of a select group of young pros expected to make the leap into superstardom this upcoming season, and that coincides with the camera time he got on the reality training-camp series "Hard Knocks." The show began with the 23-year-old bringing a camera crew to his hometown of Bessemer, Ala., a city of just 27,000 residents.Aside from giving viewers a glimpse of his background, the five-episode series also showcased Winston's leadership skills, outgoing personality, and enthusiasm. Those are among the characteristics that made Winston the obvious choice for the Bucs in the 2015 NFL Draft."He's the best leader I think I've ever been around - in anything," Licht told front-office execs from the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning in one episode."If you've got a guy like Jameis, he's the reason we got DeSean Jackson, because DeSean turned down more money to come here because he wanted to play with him."The list of former Buccaneers who never wanted to play for Tampa Bay is a long one, headlined by Steve Young and Bo Jackson. So imagine the franchise's good fortune when, despite their league-worst record of 2-14, the top draft prospect actually wanted to be selected by the Bucs.The team was confident in his physical abilities. But would he stay out of trouble?During his time at Florida State, Winston was accused of sexual assault (though he was never charged and the case was settled in 2016); issued a citation for shoplifting crab legs; and disciplined for yelling an obscene phrase on campus. A franchise hoping to reinvigorate its fan base could ill afford such negative press following its marquee player.In his two seasons in the pros, Winston's only slipup came this February when he told a group of school children that men are supposed to be strong but "ladies, they're supposed to be silent, polite, gentle."He called the statement "poor word choice" and has not shied away from visiting with students since. The player and team quickly moved past the matter and toward a season in which the Buccaneers are expected to end their nine-year playoff drought.If they do so, it will be because Winston led them there. All-Pro defensive tackle and five-time Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy has ceded control of the team to the ascendant quarterback. He's confident the youngster is capable of taking the reins."(I'm) passing the torch," McCoy said ahead of last season. "Ronde (Barber) gave me the torch. I didn't ask him for it. He passed it to me. So, here you go, Jameis. Go take us to the Super Bowl."(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott's six-game suspension has been upheld by arbitrator Harold Henderson following last week's appeal hearing, the team announced Tuesday.Elliott also had a hearing on his motion to file a temporary restraining order against the suspension Tuesday evening. The judge said a ruling will be made on the motion by Friday at 5:00 p.m. CT, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.In court Tuesday, the NFL noted that - because Elliott's appeal ruling came after 4 p.m. Tuesday - he is eligible to play Sunday against the New York Giants, but whether he delays his suspension or begins it this week is undecided.While the prevailing thought is Elliott will play Week 1, he likely won't announce when he'll start his suspension until after the restraining order has been ruled upon. If the temporary restraining order is not approved and Elliott elects to begin his suspension immediately, he'll be eligible to return in Week 8 against the Washington Redskins. He could also play Sunday against the Giants and begin his ban the following week.Elliott's attorneys released a statement following Henderson's ruling, expressing their disappointment and stating Elliott is "looking forward to having his day in federal court."

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 @WilliamsonNFLFor the entire offseason, we've speculated about which teams will have the best and worst offenses in the NFL. The preseason gave us further indicators, but coaches rarely game-plan for their opponents in those games, and stars around the league played even more sparingly than usual this year. But now Week 1 is here, and below are three offenses to watch closely during the opening set of games. That isn't to say these three offenses will put up the most points this week, but they are ones to really keep your eye on.Bengals (vs. Ravens)The Ravens struggled rushing the passer last year, but they should be improved in that area and vastly improved in their secondary. Baltimore also happens to be one of the most difficult defenses in the league to run against. So why is this matchup so interesting from a Bengals point of view? It's because Cincinnati’s offense is one of the most intriguing regardless of opponent. It's now utterly loaded with skill-position talent and A.J. Green is coming off his best season as a pro. But the Bengals also might have the worst offensive line in the NFL. Right away - against what should be one of the league's best defenses - we should see if Cincinnati’s "All Skill/No Blocking" strategy can work.Steelers (at Browns)Cleveland's defense should also be greatly improved in 2017. The Browns' front seven could actually be quite good, and Myles Garrett might burst onto the scene on Sunday and eat Alejandro Villanueva for lunch. But when is the last time you actually saw Pittsburgh's offense with all four of its "Killer B's"? With one of the league’s very best offensive lines and with Ben Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, and Martavis Bryant on the field together, this will be a super-fun offense to watch. With all four players healthy, Pittsburgh can attack its opponent in so many ways. Plus, only one defense in the league allowed more rushing yards per game last year than Cleveland, while Bell averaged 157 yards over his dozen games of action - all of which were without Bryant.Titans (vs. Raiders)Marcus Mariota is progressing very well and is clearly on the path to becoming one of the NFL's top quarterbacks. His weapons look to be much improved from a year ago as well. But Oakland has a frightening offense and the Titans should do everything possible to keep Derek Carr and company off the field when the Raiders visit Tennessee this weekend. Khalil Mack is a superstar and the rest of the defensive line should be okay, but Oakland might be the weakest defense in the entire league at linebacker. The Titans were excellent running the ball last year and their offensive line was a very pleasant surprise. However, that line hasn’t played to that level in the preseason. It will be very interesting to see if Tennessee can control this game at home on the ground. If not, is Mariota ready to win a shootout through the air against Carr? Stay tuned.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets have signed free-agent receiver Jeremy Kerley to a one-year contract, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Kerley was released by the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday after one season, but previously played for the Jets from 2011 to 2015.The 28-year-old had his best season with the Jets in 2012, catching 56 passes for 827 yards with two touchdowns. He was the 49ers' leading receiver in 2016 with a career-high 67 receptions for 667 yards and three touchdowns.Kerley will likely be a starting receiver for the Jets alongside the newly-acquired Jermaine Kearse.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL announced Tuesday that Sunday's Week 1 game between the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers won't be played in Miami as scheduled due to Hurricane Irma.

The Arizona Cardinals have agreed to terms on a contract with free-agent guard Alex Boone, the player's agents announced Tuesday.The contract is a one-year deal, a source told Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.Boone was released by the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, one season into his four-year contract. The 30-year-old started 14 games for the Vikings in 2016, and had previously been a regular starter for the San Francisco 49ers from 2012-15.The veteran interior lineman will likely compete with 2016 fourth-round pick Evan Boehm for the Cardinals' starting right guard spot. Boone will be reunited with fellow former 49ers blocker Mike Iupati, who is the Cardinals' starting left guard.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor has cleared the NFL's concussion protocol and is on track to start the season opener Sunday versus the New York Jets, a source told ESPN's Field Yates.The Bills, however, placed No. 2 quarterback T.J. Yates on injured reserve with a concussion, meaning rookie Nathan Peterman will likely back up Taylor for the foreseeable future.Taylor returned to practice Monday, signaling that he was close to being cleared.The veteran pivot will oversee an offense that will rely heavily on him and star running back LeSean McCoy following the trade of wide receiver Sammy Watkins.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This year's crop of NFL rookies includes several bad joke tellers.In a video from Whistle Sports, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Josh Malone, Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton, San Francisco 49ers defensive end Solomon Thomas, Arizona Cardinals linebacker Haason Reddick, and other first-year players go head to head in a joke contest to see who will break first.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cam Newton came to Colin Kaepernick's defense in a strong way Tuesday, saying the unemployed quarterback is "absolutely" better than some current starters in the league and deserves a roster spot."I really think it's not fair. I think it's unfair," said Newton, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "But not to take any storm or glory away from this game, we're trying to find every way to the beat the 49ers come Sunday. But in my opinion, do I think Kaepernick is better than some of these starting quarterbacks in this league? Absolutely. Should he be on a roster? In my opinion, absolutely. There's no question about it. Is he good enough to be on a roster? Is he good enough to be a starting quarterback? Absolutely. But our main focus right now is to try and beat the 49ers on Sunday."Newton isn't the first big-name quarterback to speak out in support of Kaepernick as the start of the season looms and he remains without a team.Aaron Rodgers said last week that he believes Kaepernick's national anthem protests during the 2016 campaign is keeping him from being signed."I think he should be on a roster right now. I think because of his protests, he's not," said Rodgers.Despite saying he wouldn't continue his protests, Kaepernick has received little attention from teams. He visited with the Seattle Seahawks in May, but the team opted to sign journeyman Austin Davis instead.Kaepernick's continued unemployment has led some to suggest he's being blackballed by the league.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints aren't giving much indication as to who will be their starting running back in the regular season.Since signing Adrian Peterson in the offseason, the team split responsibilities between the former league MVP and last year's starter, Mark Ingram.Peterson and Ingram were listed as co-starting running backs on the team's unofficial depth chart ahead of its season opener against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night.

Cincinnati Bengals first-rounder John Ross is expected to miss the season opener and potentially Week 2 with a knee sprain, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The Bengals play on a Thursday night in Week 2 against the Houston Texans, so the quick turnaround likely means the wide receiver returns in Week 3.Ross wasn't expected to be a huge factor in the Bengals' offense early in the season as he transitions to the NFL level. The speedster appeared in the team's last two preseason games, catching just one pass for six yards - though he did have two carries for 33 yards.A.J. Green and Brandon LaFell will continue to start in Ross' absence, while Tyler Boyd likely receives an increased role.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arbitrator Harold Henderson has advised the NFLPA and the NFL that he intends to issue his ruling on Ezekiel Elliott's appeal of his six-game suspension by the end of the business day on Tuesday, according to an NFLPA filing obtained by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.The appeal was heard last week in New York, and the early expectation was Henderson would reveal his decision on Monday, giving the league and the Dallas Cowboys enough time to digest the information before the team's regular-season opener on Sunday.Elliott was suspended six games by the NFL for violating its personal conduct policy. The running back has chosen to appeal the ruling and the NFLPA has issued a restraining order to block the suspension.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The rookie won the job.Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick T.J. Watt was listed as a starter for the team's Week 1 contest against the Cleveland Browns. The outside linebacker beat out 15-year veteran James Harrison for the position.

J.J. Watt has started putting his Hurricane Harvey donations to good use, but that doesn't mean his fund is showing any signs of stopping.Related: Watt preparing to donate supplies to Houston flood victimsThe Houston Texans defensive end's fund reached $20 million Tuesday, with over 180,000 people donating.Watt said Sunday he plans on carefully considering how best to use the incredible sum to help those in Houston."We're going to make sure that we get out into those areas that were hit hard. We have four stations set up. Get directly into the city, get directly to the people who need the help, hand out these goods, because the most immediate needs are the ones we're trying to take care of today," Watt said.Watt only needed four days to hit his revised goal of $20 million (he started out with a goal of $200,000) and it's likely the star pass-rusher will continue to push to reach even more incredible donation heights.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent wide receiver Jeremy Kerley is visiting with the New York Jets on Tuesday, a team source told Mansih Mehta of the NY Daily News.Kerley led the San Francisco 49ers in receiving yards and catches last season, but was a surprise release when the team cut its roster down to 53.The pass-catcher spent the first five seasons of his career with the Jets.Despite a trade for Jermaine Kearse, the Jets sorely lack proven receiving options. A reunion with Kerley could go some way to helping journeyman quarterback Josh McCown.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Concerns about Le'Veon Bell's physical fitness appear to be unfounded.After failing to land a long-term deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the star running back chose to skip training camp and the preseason, only to return to the team this weekend to sign his franchise tag.While Bell was away, Steelers staffers, players, and fans were concerned he wouldn't return in football shape.On Tuesday, head coach Mike Tomlin revealed Bell is in "great physical condition," according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.Tomlin also confirmed Bell will play in Sunday's season opener against the Cleveland Browns, telling reporters he will assess how best to utilize his talent.Rookie James Conner will take over for Bell when he needs a breather, Bouchette reports.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marshawn Lynch is notoriously tight-lipped when it comes to interviews, but put him in a massage chair and give him a bottle of champagne, and you'll see a much different side of the Oakland Raiders running back.In the debut episode of DraftKings' new series, "The Assist," comedian Johnno Wilson tricks Lynch into getting a pedicure while chatting with him on a wide range of topics. Highlights include Lynch revealing why he's "kinda happy" the Seattle Seahawks didn't run the ball in Super Bowl XLIX, where he traveled to during his retirement, and what annoys him most about postgame interviews.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NaVorro Bowman wants more respect.The San Francisco 49ers linebacker feels he isn't getting enough of it because injuries cost him all of 2014 and most of 2016."To not be mentioned as one of the best since I entered the league makes me feel a certain way sometimes," Bowman told Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. "… For the respect not to be presented and given, it just doesn’t make sense to me."The 49ers selected fellow linebacker Reuben Foster in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, leaving many to believe Bowman's days with the organization are numbered."They always want fresh and new. They had a group of linebackers come out" Bowman said. "Even Reuben, being on our team. It’s still like, ‘He’s this. He’s that. NaVorro Bowman should be traded.’ Why should I be traded? I’ve done my job every year that I’ve been able to do my job."It's hard to argue with the 29-year-old there. When healthy, he's been a tackling machine for the 49ers, racking up nearly 300 total tackles in his past two full seasons."A healthy Bowman is still the best linebacker in the NFL," he said. “What else has stopped me? A knee and an Achilles. What else? What else can you say about me?"Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite popular belief, there is no deadline for a decision from arbitrator Harold Henderson on Ezekiel Elliott's appeal of his six-game suspension, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.The hearing for the Dallas Cowboys running back's appeal lasted more than three days last week. A decision was expected to come soon thereafter, with the start of the regular season around the corner. With a reported deadline of 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Henderson is under no such direction to make a ruling by that time.The NFLPA also filed a restraining order last week on behalf of Elliott to block the suspension, hoping he'll be granted a temporary injunction that will allow him to play at the open of the season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones continues his reluctance to speak in depth about Ezekiel Elliott's six-game suspension, the running back's appeal, and the ongoing war between the NFL and the NFL Players Association over the case.However, Jones did appear to hint that Elliott is headed for a positive outcome during a Tuesday appearance on 105.3 The Fan."I don't want to make the comment, and I know y'all can imagine with all that we have flying around the courtrooms and the basic hearing rooms," Jones said when asked about Elliott, according to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio. "That would be one I'd pass on this morning."He added, however: "I'll have good news for you as we get into the week."What constitutes "good news" is unclear. The arbitrator of Elliott's appeal, Harold Henderson, is expected to make a ruling by 4 p.m. Tuesday. However, a league source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero that there's no deadline for Henderson to make a decision.The deadline was assumed because, in the past, the NFL has finalized suspensions by then in order to preserve fairness and competitive balance.While the NFL isn't reportedly sticking to the deadline, Elliott's camp believes it applies, a league source told Florio.Again, Jones refused to say if he expects a decision Tuesday, though he admitted there will be answers in the next few days."I don’t know," Jones said. "I can give you reasons. We spent time on this the last few days. Timing, as it turns out, is a pretty critical component here in terms of the ambiguity for lack of a better word. There's a lot of things that impact availability relative to timing both places at the hearing and the court level. And I know - I'm just being redundant with what you guys know - but I really, when you really think hard about it, you don't know timing wise. But a lot clears up over the next 24 to 36 hours."Elliott and the NFPLA are also going to federal court to challenge his suspension, filing for a temporary restraining order. The NFL responded by filing a motion to dismiss the order Monday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sage Rosenfels is a former 12-year NFL quarterback who writes, does radio, and podcasts about the NFL and college football. Find him on Twitter @SageRosenfels18.Every NFL team has weaknesses. Even the team that eventually wins the Super Bowl in Minneapolis this February will have positions on their football team that are worse than some non-playoff teams. The best franchises, the ones who go deep in the playoffs, overcome these weaknesses with talent at the other positions, combined with great teamwork and chemistry.We are on the brink of the 2017 NFL season. Each of the top teams has a weakness that will affect their quarterback - or the concern may be the quarterback themselves. This is my breakdown of the issues affecting the pivots who play for the NFL’s top teams.New England PatriotsI have the defending Super Bowl champions as the No. 1 team headed into this season. The Pats will have little competition in the AFC East to win the division - again. Through free agency, trades, and draft picks, New England has played the offseason game better than the majority of NFL teams.One thing missing from the Patriots last year was a receiver with top-notch speed. Yes, Chris Hogan made a lot of deep plays, averaging almost 18 yards per catch, but he wasn’t a guy who scared the crap out of secondary coaches. Brandin Cooks, who the Patriots acquired via trade, is that type of player.That move became even smarter when Julian Edelman went down during the preseason. Players like Edelman are more important than just statistics, even though his numbers last year were impressive. He ended the season leading the team with 98 catches for 1106 yards.Tom Brady threw the ball in Edelman’s direction 159 times last year. The next targeted wide receiver on the team was Hogan, and he only had 58.In the NFL, its rare to find receivers who never miss audibles or hot routes, know the job of every skill position on offense, get great separation, run precise routes, become running backs after the catch, and have great hands. Players like Edelman help a quarterback sleep well at night.Who will step into Edelman's shoes? The obvious choice would be Danny Amendola. He has a similar skill set, but isn’t as explosive as Edelman. He also gets injured on a regular basis. The Patriots recently acquired Phillip Dorsett, a first rounder in 2015, who had 33 catches last season.The competition in the Patriots' wide receiver room to see who becomes “the guy” should be a good one. There is still plenty of talent at this position, but it’s hard to replace a player like Edelman. More than likely, it will be a group effort, which may result in some growing pains early in the season.Atlanta FalconsThough I believe both the Cowboys and Giants are better all-around football teams than the Falcons, coming within a few plays of winning the Super Bowl earns them my respect and a spot at No. 2 on my list.The biggest concern for the Falcons is their defense. Head coach Dan Quinn uses the same fundamentally sound scheme as the Seattle Seahawks, but he doesn’t yet have the same defensive talent as Seattle.There isn’t much about the defense that reigning MVP Matt Ryan can do, and he'll have a full plate this year, anyway. Ryan is getting another new offensive coordinator after Kyle Shanahan left to be the 49ers' head coach. Quinn hired Steve Sarkisian away from Alabama not long after Shanahan departed.Sarkisian is a respected offensive mind, but he has spent only one season in the NFL as quarterbacks coach for the Raiders in 2004. The NFL game is more advanced than college football; it’s like comparing trigonometry to algebra. I believe the jump from college to NFL is substantial.Even if the Falcons hired a long-time NFL coach, the transition to new coordinators is always a challenge. Add in the fact that Shanahan and Ryan seemed to be on the exact same page, this change may be harder than most.Ryan still has a lot of weapons from last year and will run a similar system. But the play calling and voice behind that system is very much untested.New York GiantsQuietly, the Giants had the fifth-best regular season record in the NFL last year at 11-5. Their defense is one of the league’s best, and they are loaded with talented receivers for Eli Manning to throw the ball to. The big issues here are their offensive line and running game, and which Manning we see this year.The G-Men finished 29th in rushing last year. When Eli won both of his Super Bowls, the Giants had one of the best offensive lines and running games in the NFL. Eli’s game isn’t quite like brother Peyton’s. The older Manning could take over a game, or a season, by throwing the ball the majority of the time.Eli’s success is much more contingent on having a strong running game. He is one of the best play-action quarterbacks in the NFL - but those types of plays don’t work well when it’s third-and-8.During games when the Giants struggled to run it, the offensive line was exposed in the passing game. Left tackle Ereck Flowers’ limitations are well documented.Even though he has won two Super Bowls, there are questions about Manning, as well. He is nearing the end of his career and his body has taken thousands of hits. Though he hasn’t missed a game since his rookie season, and his stats have been consistently solid since Ben McAdoo started calling plays, quarterbacks seem to hit the wall as their careers wind down. Is this the year it happens to Manning?Even though Eli has the most talented receiving corps of his career (including rookie tight end Evan Engram), his lack of an offensive line and running game is a major concern. No matter how many weapons an NFL quarterback has, none want to throw the ball 50 times a game, especially when you are playing in your late-30s.Dallas CowboysI have the Giants ahead of the Cowboys in the NFC East this year. I believe Dallas will be in the playoffs, but it isn't as talented a team this year thanks to players leaving in free agency and a myriad of suspensions.Dak Prescott was remarkable in 2016. Throwing 23 touchdowns against only four interceptions would be phenomenal for a former MVP, much less a fourth-round rookie. But Prescott will have to throw more than 23 touchdowns if the Cowboys want to repeat as NFC East champions.Dallas is weaker in the secondary this year, a potential problem when playing twice against Manning, Kirk Cousins, and Carson Wentz this season. It also lost dependable offensive lineman Ronald Leary to free agency.But no loss could be greater than possibly being without running back Ezekiel Elliott for the first six games. Elliot has already shown himself to be an elite running back, even though an average one could rush for 1,000 yards behind this Dallas offensive line.However, Elliot turns four-yard gains into six-yard runs, and when that line gets him to the second level, he has the ability to make the safeties miss and outrun the pursuit. He is a special back and Prescott will miss him if his suspension stands.The running game is a quarterback’s best friend. When you are under center, there is a big difference between second-and-4 versus second-and-7. Elliot is that difference maker for the Cowboys.Pittsburgh SteelersThough he flirted with retirement in the days following the Steelers' loss to the Patriots in the AFC title game, it wasn’t a surprise when Ben Roethlisberger announced he would come back for 2017. The Steelers have the best combination of running back, receiver, and quarterback in the NFL. Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown are rare talents for a quarterback to walk away from.My concern with Pittsburgh is their tight end position, depth at receiver, and Big Ben’s health.Last year, Steelers tight ends Jesse James, Ladarius Green, and Xavier Grimble combined for 68 catches. During the last four years of his career, former Steelers tight end Heath Miller averaged 64 catches by himself. Big Ben loves throwing to his tight end, and the Steelers don’t have one that scares defenses.Brown is a stud. Martavis Bryant is really talented as well. But who does Pittsburgh have behind them if they get hurt (or suspended)? Not much. Luckily, the Steelers always somehow find great wide receivers who come out of nowhere and become household names. But, I doubt Darrius Heyward-Bey and Eli Rogers will surprise anybody this year.Lastly, Ben has been hit and beat up more than any quarterback currently playing in the NFL. He has missed dozens of games in his career, and played dozens more hobbled. His health is going to a major factor if the Steelers want to dethrone the Patriots in the NFC.Green Bay PackersAaron Rodgers is the NFL’s version of Superman. I call him the Video Game Quarterback because some of the throws he completes only happen on your PlayStation 4.The Packers are weaker at guard this year. They signed Jahri Evans this offseason, but he isn’t an equal replacement for T.J. Lang and JC Tretter.Though I love Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, neither player scares teams who have good man-to-man corners, such as the Minnesota Vikings.Ty Montgomery was one of the biggest surprises in the NFL last year, and helped solve the Packers’ running back issues. As a receiver who moved to running back, my concern is: Can Montgomery carry the load for 16 regular season games plus the playoffs?Seattle SeahawksOffensive line. Offensive line. Offensive line.The rest of the team is really, really good.Kansas City ChiefsThe Chiefs are loaded, too. A top-five defense. Weapons all over the field on offense. One of the best head coaches in football. KC will be in the hunt as we get closer to January.The big question is Alex Smith. He wins a lot of games, and executes Reid’s offense just like it was drawn up in the playbook. He limits mistakes, keeps his team close, and finds a way to win in the fourth quarter.To win a Super Bowl, more often than not, the quarterback has to make a few throws during the playoffs that are memorable. The other top-ranked teams have quarterbacks who can, or have, made those throws. Smith has not.With first-rounder Patrick Mahomes II waiting behind Smith, the quarterback position is going to be the difference between this Chiefs team just making the playoffs or bringing home postseason hardware.Oakland RaidersIt’s amazing what Reggie McKenzie has done to this team since becoming general manager in 2012. He has drafted well, added the right players in free agency, and transformed this team into a contender.The majority of the Raiders' concerns are on defense. This means quarterback Derek Carr will have to score a lot of points on offense if they want to challenge New England, Pittsburgh, and Kansas City.Offensively, they are loaded. The offensive line is massive. The receivers group is one of the NFL’s best. They added Jared Cook to improve their tight end position. They pulled Beast Mode, a.k.a. Marshawn Lynch, out of retirement to take handoffs from Carr, who has already exceeded everyone’s expectations.This team is on the rise. If they falter, it will be because of its defense - or another injury to its star quarterback.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants wide receiver Brandon Marshall insisted Monday that he'll be ready for the season opener Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys despite a shoulder injury which forced him to miss the last two preseason games."I'll be out there," said Marshall, according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY, adding that "there's nothing that should hold me back."Marshall refused to go into details about his injury, or even if it's 100 percent healed."I feel good," Marshall said. "Other than that hit I had in Cleveland the body feels amazing. This is probably the only camp that I've had where I really didn't have anything. So, that's kind of encouraging being 33 and trying to be aware of where I'm at. My body - I try to keep track and try to be mindful of that so I know how to treat it."But I feel amazing."Marshall has yet to catch a pass from Eli Manning, and could be asked to carry more of the offensive workload if Odell Beckham Jr. is limited or sidelined by an ankle injury."Yeah, Brandon and I will be on the same page, but there's always a learning curve," Manning said. "We're on the same page. It doesn't mean we'll complete every pass that I throw to him, but we've gotten a lot of work and communicate all the time about the different things. So, I expect us to go out there and make the plays that we need to make."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pete Carroll could not contain his emotions watching Jake Olson long snap for USC on Saturday.The Seattle Seahawks head coach was close to Olson during his time at USC when the long snapper was only 12. Olson, who is blind, made his first-ever appearance for USC against Western Michigan on Saturday."That was an incredible moment," Carroll told the Seahawks' official website Monday. "I’m so glad that (USC) Coach (Clay) Helton figured out a way to create the opportunity for Jake to show what he could do. This is just an extraordinary young man. Jake has done stuff throughout his life. From the time he was 10 years old, he has been doing remarkable things - he wrote his first book at 10 - and onward. For a guy to out there and play in a college football game, snap a ball, they kick the extra point and make it, that’s just something, that’s just something about Jake. Jake’s a huge story. He’s one for all of us about courage and character and grit and vision and special qualities that few people would be able to hold onto."Olson delivered a perfect snap as the Trojans easily converted the extra point, but Carroll is also excited for the sophomore's future off the field."He’s going to be a big factor," Carroll added. "We’re all going to see him do a lot of stuff in this world. There’s nothing holding Jake back. I was so excited to see it, I couldn’t stop crying. It was thrilling. It was good to see a Trojan win too, but it was really something."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Terrell Owens won't be dancing in an end zone anytime soon, but he's found an alternative.The former NFL wide receiver will be showcasing his dance moves on the latest season of hit television show "Dancing With the Stars."

Could Rob Gronkowski eschew his iconic Gronk spike in favor of a new celebration in the light of the NFL's softened new rules?The fun-loving New England Patriots tight end said Tuesday on "PFT Live" he has nothing planned (yeah, right), but he's pumped about the league's decision to allow its players more creative freedom with celebrations."I have nothing planned, I really never thought about it, but I think the rule's great," Gronkowski said, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "I think it gives the fans what they want to see. Already through the preseason you see many, many celebrations that are cool to see, with many teams and many players. So I'm excited for it, excited to see what people got, and excited for the fans to see what they want to see, some extra celebrations in the end zone."While Gronkowski saw time in preseason, he hasn't played a competitive game since the end of November due to a back injury.With all that time on the sidelines, don't be surprised if Gronkowski is eager to test the new rules early during the Patriots' season opener Thursday against the Kansas City Chiefs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.