The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are preparing for anything when it comes to their Week 1 opponent.Scheduled to play the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, the Bucs know they have a challenge on their hands in the form of Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler."He's a strong-armed, quick-release guy, stand in the pocket. He's been a little streaky in his career and when he's hot, he's red-hot. We've seen him light teams up," Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter said to the media Monday.Then Koetter invoked the name of one of the game's greats when speaking about Cutler."This week, he's Joe Namath to us. He's the greatest quarterback because he's the one we're playing this week," he said.Cutler is known to have the same approach to fitness Namath once had. In fact, upon signing with the Dolphins this offseason, Cutler said - that as a quarterback - he doesn't have to be in "that great of cardiovascular shape."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite Aaron Donald's continued holdout and the Los Angeles Rams' game against the Indianapolis Colts fast approaching, head coach Sean McVay is holding out hope his star defensive tackle will be on the field in the team's season opener Sunday."He is not ruled out, but right now he's not here. Guys are ready to go and we're getting a plan in place and the preparation goes on," McVay told Myles Simmons of the team's official website. "Fortunately, we've got a bunch of guys that we feel confident in that are ready to step up. Like we said, our message continues to remain the same: If he's here, great, we'll accept him back with open arms. But in the meantime we've got to get ready to play a football game and we know the Colts are getting ready as well."McVay is certainly hoping to have his best defender on the field, but for now he's preparing a game plan as if Donald won't be in the lineup."Knowing that Sunday at 1 o'clock that ball is going to be kicked off and we've got to be ready to go, we'd love to have '99' be a part of it," McVay said. "But if not, I have a lot of confidence in the defensive line and our defense as a whole that they'll be ready to go and they'll have a great week of preparation."Donald didn't report to training camp in hopes of negotiating a new deal, as he enters the final year of his rookie contract. The Rams picked up his fifth-year option back in April.The 26-year-old has been a force since entering the league, totaling 28 sacks in his first three seasons.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the 2017 season almost upon us, theScore's football editors make 11 bold predictions about the upcoming campaign.Kaepernick throws more TDs than Josh McCownMcCown is an injury-prone interception machine, and it's only a matter of time before the Jets are playing someone else under center. Meanwhile, as league-wide quarterback injuries continue to mount, someone will give Kaepernick the chance his skills clearly deserve. Once on a roster, Kaepernick will show why it's absurd that nobody signed him this offseason. - Dane BelbeckPatriots go 16-0 but ...The defending Super Bowl champions will breeze through the regular season and make a case to be the greatest team of all-time ... until disaster strikes.Pats lose Super Bowl to SeahawksPitted against a club that routinely gives them difficulty, the Patriots will succumb to a Seahawks team that's hell-bent on revenge, losing in the final seconds with Bobby Wagner preserving the upset during a heated goal-line stand. - Arun SrinivasanVikings' Hunter breaks sacks recordFinally, Michael Strahan's tainted single-season sacks record will be no more. Danielle Hunter is a supremely talented edge rusher who put up 12 sacks in just his second NFL campaign. With the Vikings' defense more consistent in 2017, Hunter will blow away expectations and finish the campaign with 23 sacks, easily winning Defensive Player of the Year honors. - Jack BrowneBills end playoff droughtThe Buffalo Bills appear to be in full rebuild mode after some shocking trades last month, but that doesn't mean they can't string together nine wins and sneak into the playoffs in a weak AFC. LeSean McCoy rushed for 1,267 yards last season and is sure to be a force once again in 2017. The Bills will also have the luxury of playing a plethora of winnable games, including two against the Jets, who have arguably the worst roster in the NFL, and two against the Dolphins, who've already lost their starting quarterback to a season-ending injury. - Michael AmatoPeterson finishes season off Saints' rosterWith rookie Alvin Kamara being drafted to serve in the pass-catching role out of the backfield, and Mark Ingram still being an efficient rusher and the goal-line back, Adrian Peterson will struggle to provide consistent value in the Saints' pass-heavy offense. There's a chance he'll be traded for a late-round pick, but with little perceived value around the league, he'll likely be cut and left alone on the waiver wire. - Esten McLarenRodgers breaks single-season records for yards & TDsAaron Rodgers will continue the inhuman passing pace he established last season - only this time, he's in position to post even more ridiculous numbers. The addition of Martellus Bennett will do wonders for Rodgers' red-zone efficiency, while chemistry will continue to build with Davante Adams. The lack of a power-running attack will force even more passing attempts than usual, allowing Rodgers to surpass Peyton Manning's single-season records of 5,477 passing yards and 55 touchdowns. - Mitch SandersonJets don't finish with league's worst recordThat's right. Despite their best efforts, the Jets won't have the worst record in the NFL this season. There's a surplus of awful teams (Bills, Browns, Jaguars, 49ers, Bears) also looking toward the future, and even after their roster purge, the Jets own enough prideful veterans who will keep the team competitive. Scam for Sam will be a failure. - Michael McClymontChargers go from worst to 1st in AFC WestNine of the Chargers' 11 losses last year came by one possession, meaning they were victimized by some bad luck, and probably some bad coaching. The latter was rectified by canning Mike McCoy, while the former should sort itself out somewhat. A Phillip Rivers resurgence will help L.A. go from worst to first in what might be the league's toughest division. Stay classy, San Diego. - Alex ChippinA wide receiver wins MVPThe league's top-tiered trio of Julio Jones, Antonio Brown, and Odell Beckham Jr. are all capable of becoming the first-ever receiver to take home MVP honors, but winning the award will likely require one of them to top the single-season yardage record and catch 15-to-20 touchdowns. If there was ever an era in the league in which this would be possible, it's the pass-heavy one of today. - Dan LeBaronCutler leads Dolphins to AFC East titleThe Patriots have held a divisional stranglehold for years, and the injury to Ryan Tannehill seemed to all but cancel out any hope the Dolphins had of changing that. Enter, Jay Cutler. While he may have a lot to prove, the Dolphins do offer an array of talented options including Jarvis Landry and DeVante Parker for him to utilize. The Patriots have already lost Julian Edelman for the season, and with Tom Brady another year older, any more key injuries could start a landslide that will shake the foundations of the division. - Dylan Perego(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL has filed a motion to dismiss the temporary restraining order filed by the NFLPA on behalf of Ezekiel Elliott.The restraining order had been filed by the NFLPA against Elliott's six-game suspension for breaching the league's personal conduct policy, and the NFL is now arguing that the Dallas Cowboys running back does not have the legal standing to challenge that suspension in federal court.

The Tennessee Titans honored former linebacker Tim Shaw and his battle against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (commonly known as ALS) on Monday, naming him one of their six team captains for the upcoming campaign.Shaw spent six seasons in the NFL, and finished his career with the Titans in 2012 as a special teams captain. He announced in 2014 that he'd been diagnosed with ALS."It is real special for Tim to be with us," fellow captain Wesley Woodyard told the Titans' website. "Nobody knows how many days you have on this earth, and him battling ALS, it shows the courage he has to keep going on. It is amazing to have him around and we cherish him."Shaw has accompanied the team on road trips since his diagnosis and gave a motivational speech during training camp.Brian Orakpo, Jurrell Casey, Delanie Walker, and Marcus Mariota were also named team captains.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans left tackle Duane Brown has yet to show any sign that he will end his holdout, but says he still plans to be on the field this season.Brown has stayed away from the Texans all offseason in hopes of renegotiating his contract. When he attended an event Monday to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey, he told reporters he's still determined to suit up in 2017."I'm not getting into that too much, but I'm definitely playing football this year," Brown responded when asked about the status of negotiations with the team, according to Mark Berman of FOX 26. "It's tough, man. It's my craft, something I love to do. Those are my brothers. So it's tough. But like I said, I'm not going to get into it too much. We'll see what happens."The veteran starter has two seasons remaining on his six-year, $53.4-million contract with cap hits of $9.65 million in 2017 and $9.75 million in 2018, but none of the money is guaranteed moving forward. The Texans have not publicly considered any sort of renegotiation with Brown, a three-time Pro Bowler and Houston's starting left tackle since 2008.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oakland Raiders and longtime starting kicker Sebastian Janikowski are at an impasse regarding the veteran's current contract. The Raiders have asked Janikowski to rework his contract, which would pay him $4 million this season, but the kicker declined, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Raiders already appear to be looking for a replacement, reportedly working out three kickers on Monday - Josh Lambo, Mike Nugent, and Marshall Koehn.If Janikowski is still on the roster by 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, his contract becomes guaranteed.Janikowski has played for the Raiders since being drafted 17th overall in 2000. He is tied with Tom Brady for having the longest tenure with his current team in the NFL.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys will continue to involve Ezekiel Elliott in their practices and meetings until it's officially against the rules do so.With the running back's appeal ruling still up in the air and the hearing for his temporary restraining order set for Tuesday evening, the Cowboys are continuing with Elliott as if business is usual. Head coach Jason Garrett said Elliott will continue to practice with the team and won't attend the hearing for his restraining order Tuesday.Related - Report: Elliott appeal ruling not expected Monday"We're just going to prepare for the Giants, and Zeke will practice until someone tells him not to," Garrett said, according to ESPN's Todd Archer. "And the other guys will get ready to play."If arbitrator Harold Henderson does not make a ruling on Elliott's appeal by 4 p.m. ET, the running back will be eligible to suit up Week 1 against the New York Giants. However, for the suspension to be dismissed entirely, Henderson would need to rule in favor of Elliott and overturn the six-game ban.Garrett added that Elliott has prepared himself to be a part of the Giants game plan should he become eligible to play Sunday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints have placed cornerback Delvin Breaux on injured reserve with a fractured fibula, a source told ESPN's Field Yates.Breaux is eligible to be a short-term IR player, meaning he could be brought back to the roster after eight weeks.The Saints fired team doctors for supposedly improperly diagnosing Breaux's fibula this summer, but the New Orleans hospital system that employs them later ruled the medical staff handled the injury correctly.The 27-year-old was the Saints' top corner in 2016 and was expected to anchor one of the sidelines for the team again this season. In his absence, rookie Marshon Lattimore and third-year defender P.J. Williams will be asked to carry the bulk of the load.Breaux also missed six games with a broken fibula last season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arbitrator Harold Henderson is not expected to issue a ruling on Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott's appeal hearing until Tuesday at the earliest, a source told Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.The hearing for Elliott's appeal of his six-game suspension concluded Thursday. If a ruling is not made by 4:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, the running back will be eligible to play Week 1 against the New York Giants. For a suspension to be in effect, it needs to be out of the appeal process by that time or the player is automatically eligible for that week's game, though they may still have to serve the entire suspension.The matter is complicated by the hearing for a temporary restraining order that Elliott and the NFLPA filed against the suspension Friday. A Dallas judge will hear Elliott's arguments to have his suspension blocked at 6:00 p.m. ET Tuesday.If Henderson rules in favor of Elliott and overturns the suspension, the restraining order will be dropped, and the running back will be eligible to start the 2017 season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey, the Houston Texans will still host the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium during Week 1 on Sept. 10, head coach Bill O'Brien told reporters on Monday."Sunday’s game, I can confirm to you, will be played here in Houston against the Jacksonville Jaguars," O'Brien said during an opening statement to media. "(Texans President) Jamey Rootes spoke with (Houston) Mayor (Sylvester) Turner and (Harris County) Judge (Ed) Emmett - obviously (owner) Bob McNair is involved with that - and everyone agrees that our game will not take resources away from other parts of the city and that this game will be an opportunity to continue to bring us all together as Houstonians and as Texans."Related: Texans players hand out supplies to Houston residentsO'Brien had said last week that the team was aiming to keep the game in Houston as long as the stadium was "ready to go". The head coach also took time on Tuesday to thank the media for keeping the team informed about the hurricane while it was away from Houston.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Redskins safety Su'a Cravens may not be ready to officially say what has led him to contemplate retirement, but he has shed some light on his thought process.The 22-year-old took to SnapChat on Monday to let his followers know he won't lose sleep over what anyone has to say regarding his decision, as his main concern is himself and his family."I don't feel like I need to explain myself. I don't feel like I have to," Cravens said. "I think I need to follow what makes me happy, get my mental right, my well-being right, and my family right. I'm not worried about the comments or what people think about me."

Brock Osweiler has endured an eventful 18 months since leaving his first NFL franchise, the Denver Broncos - and the quarterback is apparently just happy to be home.Osweiler appeared to have burned his bridges with the Broncos when he jumped ship for a big-money deal with the Houston Texans in March 2016. But after being released by the Cleveland Browns on Friday, the Broncos re-signed Osweiler as Trevor Siemian's backup, with Paxton Lynch sidelined due to a shoulder injury.On Monday, Osweiler opened up about his decision to leave Denver, calling his return "probably a top five, if not three, day of my life," according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post."Any hard feelings? No, and if you look back at all my interviews from the time that I signed with Houston and then traded up to Cleveland, I spoke volumes about this organization, I spoke volumes of this city," Osweiler said, according to Jhabvala. "I have nothing but love and appreciation for this organization, for John Elway, for Joe Ellis, for the Bowlen family, just for this community itself. Our old neighbors have reached out. This is just such a special place and there's nothing but love. And that's how it's always been."I want people to know that decision didn’t come lightly. I didn't sleep for about a week. I was sick to my stomach every single day. I was a mess. At the end of the day, I tried making the best business decision for myself and my family. Whether I made the best one or not, that could be argued. But the fact of the matter is it was made. I'm not going to live in the past. But I've always had nothing but love and appreciation for the Denver Broncos and the city of Denver."Osweiler was dumped by the Texans after an abysmal 2016. Houston was forced to send the Browns a second-round pick to take the veteran pivot off its hands, in what was effectively a salary-dump move.Despite his struggles in Houston and his inability to beat out rookie DeShone Kizer for the Browns' starting job, Osweiler is still confident in his talents."I do see myself as a starter in the National Football League," Osweiler said, according to Jhabvala. "I feel like I proved that back in 2015. However, in saying that, this is Trevor Siemian's team, and my job is to be the backup of this football team and do it to the best of my ability. Get the scout team running, get our defense ready to go. And I'm going to embrace that role with everything I have because, like I said, I'm so happy to be back here, and there's no greater place in the NFL."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Officially unveiled as the newest member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, safety T.J. Ward had some direct words for his old team.Ward was released by the Denver Broncos Saturday, despite being a member of the league's best pass defense the past two years and a component of the Super Bowl 50 champions.The three-time Pro Bowler was obviously displeased by the move."It's unfortunate the way they handled that situation," Ward said in his first address to the Tampa media. "But it is what it is. They got to live with it. I got to live with it, and we'll see what happens. But I'm going to make sure I land on my feet. That's just me. And whatever happens to them, happens to them. That's on them."Ward wasn't done there, however."I mean, you could have let me know what was going on. You had a full offseason. I know it's a business, but when you have good employees you're supposed to treat your employees a certain way. I think they just handled it completely unprofessional. That's just my opinion."Ward will transition into the Bucs' starting lineup at strong safety.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Le'Veon Bell was on the football field with his teammates for the first time since last season, after signing his $12.1-million franchise tag tender for the 2017 campaign."I feel good, I feel great, I feel fresh," the Pittsburgh Steelers running back said, according to Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL Network, after skipping all of training camp.Bell stayed away from the club after both sides failed to come to terms on a long-term agreement, forcing the fifth-year pro to either play on the franchise tag or holdout.Bell was always expected to sign the rich, one-year contract, but the absence of a multi-year deal provided him with an excuse to skip all of training camp and the preseason, avoiding the possibility of injury.Now, it's up to the Steelers whether Bell will be available for the first game of the season Sunday against the Cleveland Browns."I'm worried about this year and worried about winning a Super Bowl," Bell said, according to Missi Matthews of Steelers.com.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman was placed on injured reserve Monday due to an ankle injury suffered in the preseason opener, the team announced.Perryman will have to miss the first eight weeks but is a logical candidate to be one of the two players the Chargers can activate from IR during the season, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The 24-year-old has impressed over his first two seasons in the league, racking up 145 total tackles, four sacks, and one interception in 26 appearances.In a corresponding move, the Chargers re-signed quarterback Kellen Clemens.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor returned to practice Monday, the team announced, as he continues to work through the NFL's concussion protocol.Players in the protocol can practice once they pass certain stages. Bills head coach Sean McDermott said earlier in the day that Taylor had shown signs of improvement, but was still in the protocol.Backup quarterback T.J. Yates also returned to practice after being sidelined with a concussion, according to Chris Brown of the Bills' official website.If Taylor and Yates aren't cleared in time for the season opener Sunday, rookie Nathan Peterman will likely be made starter. Buffalo also signed journeyman Joe Webb on Monday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys and three-time Pro Bowl guard Zack Martin have stopped discussions regarding a new contract extension until after the 2017 season, ESPN's Todd Archer reports.One of the premier players at his position, Martin is expected to challenge Cleveland Browns guard Kevin Zeitler's $12-million yearly average with his first NFL extension.Martin was named a first-team All-Pro in 2014 and 2016 and a second-team All-Pro in 2015. He is under contract through the 2018 season after Dallas exercised the fifth-year option on his rookie deal.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Indianapolis Colts announced on Monday that franchise quarterback Andrew Luck is out for the 2017 season opener against the Los Angeles Rams.General manager Chris Ballard said the team is being extra cautious with Luck as he continues his recovery from the shoulder surgery he underwent in January. Backup Scott Tolzien will start in Luck's place.Luck was initially expected to be fully recovered in time for training camp, but the Colts backed off that timeline by the spring. Instead, the sixth-year pro entered training camp on the physically unable to perform list.He was removed from the PUP list on Sept. 2, but the Colts are exercising caution with their star pivot, opting for a week-to-week approach.Tolzien started all four of the Colts' preseason games, completing 23 of 34 passes for 241 yards and an interception.The Colts acquired quarterback Jacoby Brissett from the New England Patriots in exchange for receiver Phillip Dorsett on Saturday, but Ballard said it was a move made with an eye towards the team's long-term future rather than as a stopgap for Luck.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.The long national nightmare is almost over. Real, meaningful NFL games start this week, and thankfully we only have to wait until Thursday for the first regular season contest. Covers checks in on opening lines and early action for four key matchups, with insights from Scott Cooley, odds consultant for offshore sportsbook Bookmaker.eu.

With fantasy draft season underway, theScore has the award-winning rankings and expert advice you need to dominate your league.2017 Fantasy RankingsStandard

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell signed his $12.1-million franchise tag Monday, the team announced.The superstar rusher missed all of training camp after failing to come to terms with the team on a long-term deal. He reported to the Steelers on Friday and underwent a physical.On tag deadline day, Bell reportedly turned down a five-year contract worth $12 million per season - the highest average for any running back.The former second-round pick has consistently said he wants to help reinvigorate the running back market with his next contract.The Steelers will get a two-week roster exemption for Bell, which begins Monday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills announced the signing of free-agent quarterback Joe Webb on Monday after working him out the day prior.With starter Tyrod Taylor and backup T.J. Yates in the concussion protocol ahead of Sunday's season opener, rookie Nathan Peterman was the only healthy quarterback on the roster prior to the Webb signing.Head coach Sean McDermott was tight-lipped about Taylor's status in a press conference Monday."Tyrod remains in concussion protocol," he said. "I think he's getting better but he's still in the league protocol."McDermott and Panthers general manager Brandon Beane both know Webb - who has also played at receiver - from their time with the Carolina Panthers."Joe Webb has experience at many different positions," said McDermott. "He's a high-energy person who will be great for our locker room."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons released 2014 second-round pick defensive tackle Ra'Shede Hageman Monday, the team announced, days after he was placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List as the result of 2016 domestic violence-related charges."The Atlanta Falcons today terminated the contract of Ra’Shede Hageman, who was placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List on Sept. 2," the Falcons said in a statement. "The organizational decision to move forward without Hageman was made by the Falcons after a thorough investigative process by local authorities."Players who are on the exempt list are prohibited from practicing or playing in games.Hageman allegedly pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges stemming from an incident with the mother of his child. He was charged with interfering with a call for emergency help, battery family violence, and cruelty to children in the third degree.The 27-year-old's case is still under review by the NFL.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Members of the Houston Texans spent their Sunday delivering supplies to Houston residents affected by Hurricane Harvey.J.J. Watt led the charge as the group distributed enough food, water, clothing, and cleaning supplies to fill 10 semi trucks.

Odell Beckham Jr. is as sure-handed as they come, so it makes sense that teammates look to the superstar wide receiver when searching for a babysitter.That's exactly what New York Giants defensive tackle Damon Harrison did, leaving his baby boy in the trusted hands of OBJ.

It seems Su'a Cravens won't be appearing for the Washington Redskins anytime soon, as the club announced Sunday that he's on the exempt/left squad list heading in to the season.The news comes just hours after a report broke that the standout safety contemplated retirement as recently as this weekend.According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the designation means that the former USC star will have five days to return to the team following notice regarding consequences of not returning. Should he not return in that time period, he will be ruled out for the season."It's shocking, but it is what it is," safety D.J. Swearinger told Mike Jones of the Washington Post about the news. "He's got to handle what he needs to handle, whether it's mental, whether it's family. We're here to support him, but that's something tough. I'm not in those shoes so I can't speak on it. I'm praying for him and hope he'll be back."Cravens is currently rehabbing from knee surgery, but was expected to return to practice this week.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs' secondary got a bit thinner Sunday, as the team placed starting cornerback Steven Nelson on injured reserve/designated to return with a core muscle injury, according to BJ Kissel of Chiefs.com.The earliest return from this type of injury is six weeks, according to Kissel, meaning Nelson is likely to miss a solid chunk of the season.The 24-year-old made 15 starts last season, recording a combined 65 tackles along with 16 pass deflections.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With two of the Buffalo Bills' three quarterbacks currently in concussion protocol, the club worked out former Carolina Panther Joe Webb on Sunday, ESPN's Field Yates reports, citing a source.New coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane are familiar with Webb thanks to his time with the Panthers, and his versatility could be a a bonus for the AFC East outfit. Webb has played quarterback, receiver, and spent time on the special-teams unit during his NFL career.Tyrod Taylor and T.J. Yates are both still in concussion protocol and have yet to be cleared for game action, meaning rookie Nathan Peterman is the only healthy quarterback on the 53-man roster.The Bills open the season Sunday against the New York Jets.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just days after adding Joe Haden, the Pittsburgh Steelers apparently continued to bolster their secondary, as a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the club traded for Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety J.J. Wilcox on Sunday.The Steelers will reportedly also receive a 2019 seventh-round pick, with the Bucs getting a 2018 sixth-round selection.Wilcox never actually played a game for Tampa Bay, as he signed a two-year deal in March after four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. He'll add depth to a Steelers secondary that ranked 17th against the pass last season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rookie quarterback Patrick Mahomes proved every bit as dynamic as advertised during the preseason, making Kansas City Chiefs fans contemplate whether he should take over starting duties from veteran Alex Smith. The Chiefs' front office, however, isn't having it.Just weeks after head coach Andy Reid said there will be no quarterback controversy, general manager Brett Veach did the same Saturday."Coach made a statement a few days back, there's no gray area: Alex is our quarterback," Veach said. "Alex is so far advanced from the mental side of things in regards to his ability to read coverages, to shift to better plays, and really play the chess game. He's so far ahead of what Pat is. I don't think it's even close right now."The Chiefs remain adamant that Smith won't have to hand over the keys to the offense just yet, but admitted they're impressed with Mahomes' early work."The development he has made and the strides he has taken in those departments has exceeded our expectations to this point," Veach said. "So we're excited where we are, and again, the longer that Alex and Pat are together, the better we will be."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Bears announced on Sunday that former starting running back Jeremy Langford has been waived.Though the team cut the roster from 90 to 53 players on Saturday, the Bears picked up three additional bodies via waivers on Sunday, necessitating the dismissal of three others. Langford, a 25-year-old with two years of NFL experience, was among the small group let go.He started three games at the outset of the 2016 season, before rookie Jordan Howard took over as the team's new lead rusher.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said Sunday he's elated for former quarterback DeShone Kizer, who won the Cleveland Browns' starting job months after Kelly said he wasn't ready for the NFL."We're thrilled for DeShone," Kelly told reporters at his Sunday press conference, a day after the Fighting Irish kicked off their season with a win over Temple, according to Eric Hansen of the South Bend Tribune."Hopefully, he's surrounded by guys who can get the Browns back to championship caliber."Kelly's relationship with Kizer was scrutinized heavily last year. The coach was often seen screaming at his quarterback on the sidelines, and he benched Kizer multiple times.In April, weeks before the NFL draft, Kelly suggested Kizer would have benefited from at least one more year in school."Well, he still should be in college," Kelly said then. "The circumstances are such that you have to make business decisions and he felt like it was in his best interest. I'm going to support him and his decision. But the reality of it is he needs more football, he needs more time to grow in so many areas. Not just on the field, but off the field."Evidently, the Browns disagreed, selecting him in the second round and eventually annointing him their starter going into the 2017-18 season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Now that the cuts have been made, NFL teams were afforded an opportunity to make a waiver claim on players released on Saturday. The following is a roundup of every team's claims:49ers

The Buffalo Bills released running back Jonathan Williams, who was expected to serve as the primary backup to LeSean McCoy, on Sunday, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The 23-year-old spent just one season with the Bills, rushing for 94 yards and one touchdown in 10 games while working behind McCoy and Mike Gillislee on the depth chart. He was selected in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Arkansas.The Bills have a host of veteran running backs still on the roster. It remains to be seen if one of them will emerge as the top backup for McCoy, or if the team will look externally to fill the void.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Indianapolis Colts claimed running back Matt Jones off waivers from the Washington Redskins, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Jones spent two seasons in Washington, but slid past Rob Kelley, Chris Thompson, and rookie Samaje Perine on the depth chart this summer, leaving him discontent with his role.The third-year pro gives the Colts an additional layer of depth in the backfield, where they appear set to lean on grizzled veteran Frank Gore and rookie Marlon Mack. Robert Turbin could also factor into the equation.Jones rushed for 950 yards and six touchdowns in his two campaigns with the Redskins, averaging 3.9 yards per carry.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As J.J. Watt and various members of the Houston Texans prepared to board buses to donate supplies to areas in Houston hit hard by Hurricane Harvey, the star defensive end who raised $17 million in donations provided an update on how he plans to distribute the funds.He first stated that he and his group of volunteers would spend Sunday distributing 10 semi-trucks full of water, food, clothing, and cleaning supplies to people effected by the flood."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, per the Texans' Periscope account.

Bill Belichick isn't one for conversation. At least not at his press conferences.So when a reporter asked the coach of the New England Patriots why the team traded third-string quarterback Jacoby Brissett for Indianapolis Colts receiver Phillip Dorsett on roster cutdown day, he had but a three-word response."To acquire Dorsett," was all Belichick offered Sunday morning.In subsequent questions, Belichick revealed he had a "good evaluation" of the Colts' 2015 first-round pick and that Dorsett is a "pretty talented player," but not much more than that."If you want to get something, you have to give up something. That's what trades are," Belichick said.Tune in tomorrow as Belichick breaks down the basic details of a waiver.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Su'a Cravens, a 22-year-old safety and 2016 second-round draft pick of the Washington Redskins, told members of the organization as recently as this weekend that he planned to retire after just one season, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.The Redskins' projected starting strong safety sat down with team staff and has opted against retirement for the time being, Schefter adds, citing league sources.Regardless, the Redskins are placing the youngster on the non-football exempt list and will keep him out for at least one month, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post.Cravens revealed in October that a concussion he suffered in Week 4 last season has damaged his sight to the point that he has trouble following moving objects."Due to my concussion, my eyes have lost the memory to keep track of moving objects, so I have to wear (glasses) for the rest of my life," Cravens said.He is currently rehabbing from knee surgery he underwent in August.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans grew tired of him. After one year, they dumped him on the Cleveland Browns, who tried to trade him.Yet Brock Osweiler remains a prized possession to the Denver Broncos.After the Browns cut Osweiler on Saturday, ensuring they'll have to pay him north of $15 million not to play for their team, the Broncos scooped up their former quarterback on a one-year, $775,000 deal.Soon after the signing, Broncos president and general manager John Elway attempted to explain why he brought back a player that stunned the franchise with his departure for Houston in 2016."When Brock made that decision, he made the decision that he thought was best for him. It's just kind of funny how these things worked out with our situation and Brock being available. Funny how everything aligned," Elway said in a press conference Saturday night.The Broncos had named Trevor Siemian as their starting quarterback for the upcoming season, but backup Paxton Lynch suffered a sprained shoulder that will sideline him for five weeks. His injury provided the opportunity to bring Osweiler back."We know that Brock can win football games with us, he's got a lot of experience and that was one glaring hole we had at that time in my mind when Paxton hurt the shoulder. We're able to get it fixed," said Elway.Osweiler spent the first four years of his career in Denver, backing up all-time great Peyton Manning. Now, he'll be the backup to Siemian until Lynch is healthy.What will the Broncos do with their three quarterbacks upon Lynch's return?"We'll cross that bridge when we get there," Elway said. "It's always fluid, so we'll cross that bridge when Paxton gets healthy. We'll see what we have and go from there."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans star defensive end J.J. Watt raised an astonishing $17 million and a mass of supplies for flood victims after Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Houston. Now, he's ready to distribute what he's collected.Watt shared images and videos on his Twitter account of a warehouse stocked with supplies. He and several teammates will spend the last Sunday before the beginning of the regular season providing supplies to Houston residents with the use of nine semi-trucks.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed three-time Pro Bowl safety T.J. Ward to a one-year, $5-million contract a day after roster cuts were made across the league, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing a source.The Buccaneers pounced on the opportunity to sign the three-time Pro Bowler after he was released by the Denver Broncos on Saturday to the dismay of many of his former teammates. Tampa Bay has yet to announce who Ward will replace on the 53-man roster.Ward spent the past three seasons in Denver and helped the secondary rank first in pass defense the last two years. His release saved $4.5 million in cap space, however.Prior to the move, the Buccaneers were projected to begin the 2017 season with veteran Keith Tandy or offseason pickup J.J. Wilcox as the starting strong safety. Instead, Ward will enter the starting lineup next to free safety Chris Conte and corners Brent Grimes and Vernon Hargreaves.The safety position has been a weakness for the Bucs for years. Armed with more than $20 million in cap space, Tampa Bay couldn't pass up the chance to add the 30-year-old who is coming off a season in which he recorded 87 tackles, three forced fumbles, a sack, and an interception.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.Now two years removed from back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, the Seattle Seahawks are healthy and eager to get back to the Big Game, and they're big faves to win their fourth division title in five years. Covers Expert Al McMordie gives you a team-by-team breakdown of the division, including his season win total picks.Arizona Cardinals (2016: 7-8-1 SU, 6-10 ATS, 10-6 O/U)Odds to win division: +299

The conclusion of preseason action has teams around the NFL finalizing their respective rosters. And with a spring rule change eliminating the cutdown to 75 players, traditionally scheduled for a week prior, clubs will have to go from 90 to 53 ahead of Saturday's 4 p.m. ET deadline - though several teams elected to wait until well after that time to make their rosters public.Keep up with all the roster moves in our cut tracker below.* Move not yet official.49ersWR Jeremy Kerley, QB Matt Barkley, RB Tim Hightower, DL Sen’Derrick Marks, C Tim Barnes, NT Quinton Dial, LB Shayne Skov, RB Kapri Bibbs, OL JP Flynn, CB Asa Jackson, FB Tyler McCloskey, K Nick Rose, CB Will Davis, DL Leger Douzable, OL Andrew Gardner, WR Louis Murphy, OL Andrew Lauderdale, WR Tim Patrick, OL Norman Price, S Vinnie Sunseri, CB Prince Charles Iworah*, CB Will Redmond*, TE Blake Bell, LB Austin Calitro, WR DeAndre Carter, TE Cole Hikutini, QB Nick Mullens, DL Noble Nwachukwu, WR DeAndre Smelter, OL Darrell Williams Jr.

It didn't take long for T.J Ward to find a new home after he was released by the Denver Broncos on Saturday.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to sign the three-time Pro Bowl safety, according to NFL Network's James Palmer.The 30-year-old will join a young emerging defense in Tampa, desperate for consistent play from its safety positions.Related: Broncos defenders, NFLers can't believe Ward releaseWard racked up 87 tackles, eight passes defensed, two forced fumbles, one interception, and one sack during his final season in Denver.The Broncos decision to part ways with one year left on Ward's contract saved them $4.5 million in cap space, according to spotrac.com.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As of Saturday evening, every team in the league has set their 53-man rosters - for now.With over 1,200 players being waived or released this weekend, there is still plenty of roster movement to go down as teams respond to the bevy of players made available.Many players released will never see an NFL field again, but for the following four veterans, a return to the gridiron is virtually guaranteed. We take a look at where the biggest free agents after Saturday's cuts will end up next.RB Matt JonesFormer Team: Redskins | Next team: RamsOnce considered possibly the next Marshawn Lynch, Jones lost a lot of love from the Redskins after the departures of offensive coordinator Sean McVay and general manager Scot McCloughan, culminating in his release Saturday.Jones has the power and vision to be a solid backup on most teams, but he may not need to learn a new offense. The Rams, with McVay as their head coach, don't have much depth behind Todd Gurley. Adding Jones, who was on pace for a 1,000-yard season before getting injured last year, would solve a major issue for both the team and the player.G Alex BooneFormer Team: Vikings | Next team: RavensBoone was brought in to Minnesota to add some toughness and physicality to their offensive line, but after mustering the league's worst rushing attack in 2016, the team decided to go in a different direction.The veteran guard left the San Francisco 49ers in 2016 because he was sick of losing, so he likely won't take any offer thrown his way. Boone also is known for a loud, unapologetic personality that won't match with some teams. However, he was also one of Jim Harbaugh's favorite players in San Francisco and the former 49ers head coach happens to have a brother who coaches a rather physical football team. Boone landing with John Harbaugh on the Ravens would be a great fit stylistically that could give both parties a chance to get back to their old school roots.DT Ahtyba RubinFormer Team: Seahawks | Next team: RaidersAfter the Seahawks acquired Sheldon Richardson from the Jets, there just weren't enough spots to keep the veteran Rubin. The 31-year-old doesn't put up flashy stats, but he sucks up blocks and makes room for his teammates as well as any nose tackle.The Raiders cut their former starting nose guard Dan Williams this offseason and didn't do much to replace him outside of drafting Eddie Vanderdoes. The interior of the Raiders defense is ripe to be attacked by opposing run games, but Rubin could give Oakland a lot of help in that area.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Denver Broncos will bring back quarterback Brock Osweiler after he was released by the Cleveland Browns, pending a physical on Monday, general manager John Elway announced Saturday.As the Browns owe Osweiler $15.225 million from his previous contract, the Broncos will pay the quarterback just $775,000 for a one-year deal, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Osweiler will back up starter Trevor Siemian while Paxton Lynch is out with a shoulder sprain. Elway has confidence that the Broncos can get Osweiler back to playing at the level he did when helping the team to a Super Bowl championship in 2015."Without Brock that year, we don't win the Super Bowl. … But I'm sure it's been a long 18 months for him," said Elway of Osweiler, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post. "He's going to need a little football rehab. We know that. We'll show him that and give him a little love."Osweiler was drafted by the Broncos in the second round in 2012 and spent four seasons with the team as Peyton Manning's backup before signing a four-year, $72-million contract with the Houston Texans in 2016. However, he only lasted one year there.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks have waived backup quarterback Trevone Boykin as part of their lineup moves to establish a 53-man roster.Boykin was expected to back up Russell Wilson after performing that role as a rookie, but it appears Austin Davis has won that position.The 24-year-old started the preseason strong, completing 12-of-15 passes for 189 yards with one touchdown and one interception, as well as a rushing score, but saw his play regress as the games went on.Boykin was also arrested for misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana and public intoxication in March.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Richard Sherman is not keeping his opinions about the Seattle Seahawks' recent roster decisions to himself.After the team reportedly cut receiver Kasen Williams following a strong preseason and training camp performance, the Seahawks cornerback took to Twitter to share that he thinks the move was a travesty.

Denver Broncos backup quarterback Paxton Lynch will miss "roughly five weeks" with a bruised shoulder, but won't be placed on injured reserve, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The former first-round pick was reportedly set to miss only a few weeks with the injury, so his increased absence likely explains the Broncos' rumored interest in Brock Osweiler.If signed, Osweiler will likely back up Trevor Siemian during Lynch's absence. Siemian won the starting job over Lynch for the second straight season.Lynch played in three games during his rookie year, throwing for a total of 497 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.