Get ready for your season with theScore's 2017 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.Every game night during the preseason, theScore gets you caught up on the most important fantasy performances from around the league.Mining for goldPlayers taking the field in the final game of the preseason don't normally have a direct path to fantasy value, but there were some performances worth mentioning on Thursday night.Jets rookie running back Elijah McGuire ripped off 56 yards on five carries, which is notable given the speculation that veteran Matt Forte could get cut when the team finalizes its roster over the weekend. For the record, Forte called those rumors "fake news."Forte also wasn't in the lineup against the Eagles, though projected starter Bilal Powell did see the field. Powell had eight touches for 28 yards, doing most of his damage in the passing game, an area where he should excel in 2017.Last season, in a slightly more talented Jets' offense, Forte and Powell finished as the RB21 and RB22, respectively, so there's fantasy production to be extracted from a bad situation in New York.Powell remains the back to target in fantasy drafts, though he lacks the upside of other rushers going in the fifth and sixth rounds. Forte is only worth drafting due to the low risk involved, since his ADP currently rests in the 12th round.Even if Forte does remain a Jet, which is the most likely scenario, an injury to the 31-year-old would open the door for McGuire to see a portion of the backfield work, making the rookie a player to put on your watchlist early in the season.Ross leaves with knee injuryIt was a promising start to the night for first-rounder John Ross, who had a 25-yard run and caught a pass for 6 yards. Unfortunately, the excitement was short-lived as the rookie was taken to the locker room with a knee injury.Ross came back to the sidelines without his helmet and was done for the night.This is the latest sign that the speedy Ross might struggle to make an impact early in the season. He's an excellent player to add in dynasty leagues, but could be a disappointment for those who select him in re-draft leagues.A.J. Green and Tyler Eifert will continue to dominate targets in Cincinnati, with Brandon LaFell and Tyler Boyd serving complementary roles.Instant Impressions

Matt Forte says New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan told the running back he will not be traded, despite reports that the team is trying to do the opposite.Following the Jets' preseason finale Thursday night, Forte called reports of him being shopped on the trade market "fake news," according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News."I know it's not true," Forte said about the rumors.While Forte has been adamant he will remain on the roster and the team will be competitive, a move might make sense as virtually every valuable veteran has been moved off the Jets' roster this offseason.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay admitted Thursday that Andrew Luck is unlikely to play Week 1 versus the Los Angeles Rams.Luck hasn't been ruled out, but has yet to participate during the preseason."Well, you know again, we're going to talk about it literally later tonight briefly and all weekend and continue to talk about it," Irsay said via Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star."I would say again the odds are most likely he probably won't open against the Rams. But let me (be) clear about it: In our own minds it's something that we haven't ruled out. We're going to see where he's at. It would be awesome."Luck underwent surgery at the end of the 2016 season to correct a shoulder injury which he played through.Colts general manager Chris Ballard said Thursday that Luck would likely be taken off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list ahead of the regular season. If Luck were to begin the year on the PUP list, he'd be forced to miss the first six games of the season.In the event Luck can't play against the Rams, Scott Tolzien will likely start for the Colts.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Donald is still embroiled in a contract dispute with the regular season rapidly approaching, but Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay doesn't appear too concerned.Donald is the NFL's premier defensive tackle and wants a new contract that's befitting of his three consecutive Pro Bowl selections.Although their season opener versus the Indianapolis Colts looms large on Sept. 10, McVay believes both parties are likely to reach a resolution ahead of time."I would say I feel optimistic about it," McVay said several times via Rich Hammond of the Orange County Register.This is a stark contrast from the opinion given by Rams general manager Les Snead on Tuesday, who opined that it would be unlikely for Donald to play in the season opener.Donald is the Rams' most valuable player by a wide margin and Rams fans everywhere have to be hoping McVay proves to be correct.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mitch Trubisky's impressive preseason took a rather conservative turn to cap off the rookie's first taste of NFL action.After putting up a total of 354 passing yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and completing over 70 percent of his passes through the first three preseason games, the Chicago Bears gave Trubisky a very safe game plan.Related: Glennon picks up pace, Trubisky stays steady as Bears continue QB battleThe second overall pick did not attempt a pass in his first three drives, as the Bears failed to pick up a first down until their fourth possession midway through the second quarter. Trubisky attempted just four passes, completing two for only ten yards, and had one carry for one yard.He was replaced by Connor Shaw in the second quarter following a drive where he took a hit out of bounds.Some had hoped to see Trubisky make a final push to win the starting job from Mike Glennon, but with the way the Bears handled their young quarterback's final preseason appearance, it looks like they've already seen everything they need to for now.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL lead investigator Kia Roberts recommended no suspension for Ezekiel Elliott, after speaking to his ex-girlfriend who alleged the Dallas Cowboys running back committed an act of domestic violence against her, according to Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.Elliott was suspended for six games on Aug. 11 for a violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy and is currently appealing the sanction.Roberts made her previous recommendation clear during Elliott's suspension appeal hearing, and was the only NFL employee to meet with Elliott's accuser. However, her recommendation was never included in the NFL's final report and suspension letter issued to Elliott.Goodell held a meeting with senior vice president of investigations Lisa Friel, executive vice president Jeff Pash, and senior vice president of labor policy and government affairs, Adolpho Birch, which was held without Roberts, reportedly at Friel's request.Friel then recommended a six-game ban for Elliott which the league acted upon.Since Roberts was absent from the meeting that ultimately led to Elliott's suspension, the NFLPA believes it has a very good chance of getting the sanction voided.Roberts is currently listed as the NFL's director of investigations.Elliott was never charged or arrested.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals receiver John Ross left Thursday's final preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts with a left knee injury.He was ruled questionable to return by the team, but was later seen without his helmet on the sideline. Given his virtually-guaranteed roster spot, Ross is not expected to risk further injury Thursday night.The ninth overall pick had one catch for 6 yards and one rush for 25 yards before leaving the game. Ross had played in just one other game this preseason, taking his sole rushing attempt for 8 yards last week.Ross has a history of knee issues, undergoing surgery to repair two meniscus tears in September 2014 and then tearing his ACL a few months later. The Washington product also missed much of the Bengals' offseason dealing with a shoulder injury.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard believes it's likely that Andrew Luck will come off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list before the start of the regular season."All indications are we're going to take Andrew off PUP," Ballard revealed during the Colts' pregame radio broadcast.If Luck were to begin the year on the PUP list, he'd be forced to miss the first six weeks of the regular season.Luck underwent corrective surgery after the 2016 season ended to repair a shoulder injury.Colts head coach Chuck Pagano refused to provide a timeline for Luck's return before the quarterback was cleared by the team's medical personnel.There is the distinct possibility that Luck gets taken off the PUP list, but Scott Tolzien will get the nod for the opener while the star quarterback recovers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On his old team, Geno Smith would have been deemed too valuable to get much action in the preseason finale - but things are very different now that he's a member of the New York Giants.In a fight for a roster spot, Smith was leaving it all out on the field on Thursday.Smith completed his first five passing attempts for 60 yards, capped by a 25-yard touchdown missile to Matt LaCosse that should show coaches he still has a chance to be a productive player.Smith finished the game completing 10-of-11 passes for 111 yards with one touchdown and no turnovers.The 26-year-old has been competing with veteran Josh Johnson and rookie Davis Webb for the Giants' backup quarterback job. Entering Thursday's game, he had yet to throw a preseason touchdown through three contests, but his performance against the New England Patriots looks to be giving him a shot at sticking around.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones donated $1 million to the Salvation Army Wednesday during a telethon hosted by his franchise.Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant accepted the call where Jones offered his pledge.

Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said the franchise expects the NFL to fully reinstate wide receiver Martavis Bryant before the regular season commences, via Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.Bryant was cleared to participate in all preseason activities but awaits another decision from the league before he can play during the regular season.The wide receiver was banned for the entire 2016 season due to a violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy.Bryant caught 50 passes for 765 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games during the 2015 campaign.If Bryant is reinstated, the Steelers will have another formidable weapon in an already star-studded offensive group which includes Antonio Brown, Le'Veon Bell and Ben Roethlisberger.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane is unsure if defensive tackle Marcell Dareus buys into the franchise's vision, but is letting the process unfold naturally.Dareus was sent home Saturday prior to the team's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens for an unspecified violation of team rules. It wasn't Dareus' first infraction and the new regime's patience is apparently running thin.Beane said he's unsure if Dareus buys in but will give him time to prove himself."Time will tell," Beane said via Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. "It was disappointing, as I said, after that game. He was contrite yesterday and said the right things. Actions speak louder than words. Time will tell. Hopefully, he is. We hope he'll play to his potential. We know what kind of player he can be. We hope to see that on the field."Dareus was named to the Pro Bowl in 2013 and 2014 and at his best, is one of the NFL's most disruptive defensive tackles.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans will sign star DeAndre Hopkins to a five-year contract extension that includes the largest amount of guaranteed money for an NFL receiver, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The contract is worth $81 million over the five years with $49 million guaranteed, according to Schefter. The previous record for most guaranteed money for a receiver was Julio Jones' $35.5 million.Hopkins' $16.2-million annual average value ranks second in the league among receivers, only trailing Antonio Brown's $17 million.The 25-year-old had briefly held out from training camp in the hope of getting a new contract last summer.Hopkins' contract was set to expire following the 2017 campaign. He has been the Texans' leading receiver in each of the past three seasons, racking up a career-high 1,521 yards in 2015 which earned him Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans signed tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz to a three-year extension, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Terms of the deal were not disclosed by the Texans, but the tight end reportedly signed a deal worth $22 million with $10.1 million guaranteed.Fiedorowicz caught 54 passes for 559 yards and four touchdowns last season, developing as one of the Texans' breakout stars in 2016.The 25-year-old is expected to contribute again as the Texans' premier tight end during the 2017 season.Fiedorowicz was selected in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Iowa by the Texans.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos players are not happy that one of their defensive leaders could reportedly be in his last week with the team.Related - Report: Broncos have discussed trades involving T.J. WardAfter Von Miller said he doesn't "see any reason" why the Broncos would trade safety T.J. Ward, linebacker Brandon Marshall made a definitive statement via Twitter about the potential move.

Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller is doing everything he can to increase his agility ahead of the upcoming season.Miller took part in a children's ballet class at the Studio 9 Dance Academy this week, working on his range of movement.It's not Miller's foray into the world of dance, as he featured on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" in 2016.The All-Pro linebacker is looking to break the single-season sack record this fall, and he may have learned a thing or two from the next generation of athletes.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

An animal rights group under the moniker "Rally for Animals" is petitioning FOX Sports to fire Michael Vick from his role as an NFL analyst ahead of the upcoming season.The activists penned a letter on Change.org to FOX Sports president Eric Shanks, arguing that Vick should be removed from his position.Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison for his role in a dog fighting ring in December 2007.Here is a partial excerpt of the petition addressed to Shanks:

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane is confident that the team will have their starting quarterback on the field to open the season.Tyrod Taylor suffered a concussion against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 26 in the Bills' third preseason game. While he will not take the field for Buffalo's preseason finale on Thursday night, Beane says Taylor is on pace to play against the New York Jets in Week 1."I feel good about it," Beane told WGR 550 on Thursday, according to Pro Football Talk's Charean Williams. "I've seen Tyrod, talked to him. I think from a layman’s perspective, he seems like he’s doing well, and I feel like he, in his mind, is on track and ready to play that Week 1."And if he's out there, he's the guy we want. He's the starter. He's got a lot of starts in this league, and we’re looking forward to him leading us out."Head coach Sean McDermott confirmed that Taylor will remain the starting quarterback following his concussion diagnosis. If Taylor can not make it through the concussion protocol in time for September 10, then rookie quarterback Nathan Peterman will get the start, says Beane, who had been impressed by the pivot prior to being hired in Buffalo."When I got here, he is better than I expected," said Beane of Peterman. "This guy has the moxie, the pocket presence, the leadership. You see him talk to veteran players, young players. Everything. He seems to be natural."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers added $2 million in incentives to tight end Greg Olsen's contract, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Olsen has been angling for a new contract but said he wouldn't skip any games in order to meet his goal.The 32-year-old is one of the NFL's premier tight ends, earning Pro Bowl honors in three consecutive years, while being named as a second-team All-Pro during the past two seasons.Olsen caught 80 passes for 1,073 yards and three touchdowns in 2016.Ahead of the upcoming season, Olsen is scheduled to earn $6.5 million in base salary, carrying a $10.35-million cap hit.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns and spent 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast." Find him on Twitter @WilliamsonNFL.I was asked to come up with some bold predictions for the 2017 NFL season. Hopefully these are bold enough!Adrian Peterson is going to be ferociousFor three years, I was the assistant recruiting coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh. Essentially, my job was to screen every VHS tape (yes, VHS!) that was sent to the football program to see which kids might help our team.Of course, I concentrated on the areas of the country in which we recruited, but for fun - and to get a frame of reference - I did my best to watch the very top recruits from across the United States. Over those three years, I watched many remarkable players at the high school level, and many ended up in the NFL, including several eventual Hall of Famers.But I only watched one young man that made me think he didn't need the college experience and could just jump right to the NFL. That was Adrian Peterson. My point is that Peterson, even at age 32, isn't like anyone else. Mark Ingram is a fine player, and Alvin Kamara looks great. But Peterson will be the man in New Orleans this year. He's in a class by himself.The Saints' defense won't stinkClearly, the Saints' method for winning games in the Drew Brees/Sean Payton era is to outscore their opponents. They've been involved in a bundle of shootouts, but it's worked rather well overall and made them a fun team to watch. But wow, has New Orleans had some bad defenses of late.Losing Nick Fairley was a big blow, but Cameron Jordan is already a star and Sheldon Rankins is on the cusp. The rest of the defensive front is worrisome, but the second level should be more serviceable. Alex Anzalone has been impressive in the preseason - he and Jordan were both terrific when the Saints shut out the Texans in Week 3 - and there is now actually depth at linebacker.The key here, though, is the secondary, particularly the cornerbacks. In Dennis Allen's scheme, it is imperative to be strong at cornerback, since he often leaves his corners in one-on-one situations. That allows Allen to be very complex with his interior coverages (and he utilizes his safeties in particular very well). The Saints have a promising cornerback trio of Marshon Lattimore, Delvin Breaux, and P.J. Williams, though they'll have to get through four-to-six weeks without Breaux, who fractured his fibula. Lattimore was a draft-day gift, and Williams is another defender who looked terrific against Houston.New Orleans also has three very talented, versatile safeties in Kenny Vaccaro, Vonn Bell, and Marcus Williams. These three should see the field together a great deal, even on early downs.As long as the secondary can overcome Breaux's absence, the unit could surprise a lot of people in 2017, taking the defense from terrible to serviceable.Myles Garrett and Joey Bosa will look like future Hall of FamersThis qualifies as bold, especially considering these two have combined to play in just a dozen NFL games thus far, right?Well, Bosa nearly averaged a sack per game in his rookie season without the benefit of training camp or a preseason. He fits into the Chargers’ new defensive scheme extremely well and should only be better in Year 2.No. 1 pick Garrett's preseason showings have been even more impressive than expected. He might be the most talented defensive end to enter the league since Julius Peppers, and he is already translating that immense talent to the field.These two have it all, and they'll both make it obvious this season. Unless injuries derail their career, someday we'll be discussing Garrett and Bosa as Hall of Famers. (Bonus prediction: Garrett will follow in Bosa's footsteps and win Defensive Rookie of the Year.)Landon Collins will be Defensive Player of the YearGranted, Collins nearly won this award last year, but J.J. Watt has returned from injury, and when Watt's healthy, this is simply his hardware. Of course, Watt could win it again - as could Aaron Donald, Von Miller, Luke Kuechly, 2016 winner Khalil Mack, or numerous other stars.But Collins' game is perfect for this award because he fills up the stat sheet in so many ways. Steve Spagnuolo used Collins closer to the line of scrimmage in his second season and tailored the Giants' aggressive defense to Collins' immense playmaking skills - think of Troy Polamalu with Dick LeBeau not so long ago. Collins' supporting cast helps his cause, too. New York isn't strong at linebacker, but the defensive line and secondary are outstanding. Those assets give Spagnuolo great freedom in how he uses his star safety.Collins has been simply terrific this preseason. After 16 games, expect his stat line to exceed the monstrous 125 tackles, four sacks, and five interceptions he posted in 2016.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL was met with an eight percent decline in television viewership last season, and at least one network believes anthem protests had something to do with it.CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus spoke during NFL Media Day in New York on Wednesday and revealed his network's findings in relation to the dip in ratings."I think if you look at some of the reasons why NFL viewership was down last year, that is a reason that's mentioned by a fair amount of viewers," McManus said, according to Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated. "It is something they don't find attractive or they don't find compelling in coverage of the football game. How big a factor it was? I don't really know. But it was one of the factors that I think perhaps led to the slight decrease in ratings last year."Colin Kaepernick, then a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, first sat on the bench during the national anthem before electing to take a knee. He continued the practice all season in an effort to protest racial injustices in America. The act was mirrored by a number of NFLers.While McManus believes those protests turned some viewers off, he believes the biggest factor in the ratings decline was the coverage of the 2016 presidential election which ramped up during the first quarter of the NFL season."Then there was the retirement of Peyton Manning, the fact that Tom Brady wasn't playing the first four weeks. J.J. Watt not playing, I think those storylines were a factor," McManus said.Anthem protests have returned during this year's preseason, with some players kneeling, others praying, and some raising a fist during "The Star-Spangled Banner."Though the protests don't appear to be going away, McManus believes the ratings will rebound this season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell's frustration with his contract has been a major storyline throughout the NFL offseason, and it doesn't appear to be over yet.After it was announced Thursday that the Steelers signed general manager Kevin Colbert to a two-year extension, Bell sarcastically tweeted his congratulations:

The Cleveland Browns are interested in Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse, who is reportedly on the trading block, a source told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.Kearse is just one of a number of wideouts the Browns are looking into, however.Kenny Britt and Corey Coleman sit atop the Browns' depth chart, but the team has little proven depth beyond their two starters.Kearse has been a major part of the Seahawks' passing game for the past four seasons. However, after a disappointing 2016 campaign and the presence of Paul Richardson and Tyler Lockett, Seattle likely views the veteran as expendable.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Last September, the NFL announced it would spend $100 million on concussion research. Since then, the league has funded just one study on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) - and it's researching jockeys, not NFL players, according to ESPN's Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru.The study aims to examine why jockeys aren't experiencing "deteriorating brain function in later life" despite the high concussion rates in horse racing. Leading the study are "an Australian researcher who once described American coverage of CTE as 'carry-on and hoo-hah' and a British doctor whose concussion presentations sometimes have included flippant jokes," Fainaru-Wada and Fainaru write.The NFL said its $100-million Play Smart, Play Safe commitment will address the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of head injuries. Of that share, the league will spend $60 million on technological research - likely research that could contribute to better helmets - and the other $40 million on scientific research. However, the league is mostly opting for in-house studies rather than funding external work, as was its approach in previous years."I would view it just as if any giant corporation was doing internal research," said concussion researcher Stefan Duma, interim director for Virginia Tech's Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science. "This is internal research that the NFL controls."The jockey project is being conducted by a nonprofit organization called the International Concussion & Head Injury Research Foundation. After its first year, the study has apparently broadened its scope and will look at athletes from other impact sports. Several league advisers are on the ICHIRF's Scientific Committee, including the NFL's chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills.NFL was hit with controversy last year after backing out of a significant contribution to research by the National Institutes of Health. One of the NIH studies was going to be headed by Robert Stern, a researcher who's been critical of the league. The NFL announced Play Smart, Play Safe not long after, promising to share what the league learns about concussions.So far, the NFL has announced funding for two Play Smart, Play Safe projects, totaling $210,000. It's not clear whether the league intends to sponsor any research on CTE or other neurodegenerative diseases.In July, a study published in the medical journal JAMA found CTE was present in 99 percent of the brains of deceased NFL players.According to ESPN, the NFL declined to make any of its health officials available for comment.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ezekiel Elliott's appeal of his six-game suspension wrapped up Thursday and arbitrator Harold Henderson is under pressure to have a decision by Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.The appeal lasted three days and more than 25 hours, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The Dallas Cowboys' star running back was banned six games in early August after the NFL determined after a year-long investigation that Elliott violated the league's personal conduct policy. The NFL determined there was "substantial and persuasive" evidence he engaged in physical violence with a former girlfriend.Elliott has denied such claims and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently stated the league has "no evidence" to support its findings.Henderson is expected to render a decision within a short time frame, considering the preseason comes to a close Thursday evening and the Cowboys' open their regular-season slate in 10 days. The franchise would like to know their rusher's fate before the season kicks off.As it stands, Elliott would be unavailable to the Cowboys until an Oct. 29 Week 8 contest with the Washington Redskins as their bye week falls within their first six games of the year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The final week of the preseason may be short on stars and entertainment value, but it's replete with players trying to make the final 53-man roster.Teams are required to reduce their rosters from 90 to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Saturday. Therefore, Thursday's preseason games provide the final chances for these 10 players to make the cut:Keenan Reynolds, WR/KR, RavensThe former college quarterback at Navy is in the midst of reinventing himself as a receiver and returner with the Baltimore Ravens. He broke out on a 46-yard punt return in his first preseason game, but he's done little since, even failing to record a single catch.Reynolds should be thrilled the fourth preseason game in New Orleans against the Saints wasn't canceled. He'll be afforded a ton of playing time and plenty of opportunities to make a lasting impression.Riley Bullough, LB, BuccaneersThe undrafted linebacker out of Michigan State has found fame on "Hard Knocks" under the lovable moniker of Joe Dirt. He's earned fans from his physical play and foul mouth, but - as revealed on episode 4 of the reality series - Bullough has struggled in coverage. Defensive coordinator Mike Smith damn near cut him after he allowed a long reception in the dying moments of the team's third preseason game.Bullough needs results in preseason Week 4 against the Washington Redskins or his heartbreaking cut could be shown on national television.Cardale Jones, QB, ChargersThe Chargers may have acquired the cannon-armed quarterback from the Buffalo Bills via trade, but his roster spot isn't promised.Kellen Clemens is currently entrenched as the team's backup quarterback, so Jones will either need to beat out the veteran, or hope the team elects to keep three passers. Through three games, Jones has completed just 48 percent of his passes and thrown two picks.Damore'ea Stringfellow, WR, DolphinsStringfellow's preseason got off to a hot start when he took a pass 99 yards to the house in Week 1. He's recorded just three receptions for 31 yards since.The Dolphins are loaded at receiver with Jarvis Landry, DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, Jakeem Grant, and Leonte Carroo all but locked in. Head coach Adam Gase's admission that Landry won't be traded means Stringfellow will have to make more eye-catching plays to cement the sixth spot.Chris Johnson, RB, CardinalsCJ2K is not who he used to be. Johnson currently finds himself buried on the Cardinals' running back depth chart and could have played his way out of a job by fumbling twice and losing one in Week 3 of the preseason.Johnson is of the belief that his standing with the team is safe, but head coach Bruce Arians might be thinking otherwise, as he recently stated there remains a position battle and "it's going to be a tough decision for that spot."Xavier Grimble, TE, SteelersThe Steelers identified a glaring need at the tight end position and pulled the trigger on a trade for the 49ers' Vance McDonald on Tuesday. That's bad news for Grimble.Grimble was hoping to climb the depth chart after playing in 13 games and catching two touchdown passes last season, but now finds himself behind Jesse James, David Johnson, and McDonald.TJ Clemmings, G, VikingsClemmings' 2016 campaign was one to forget. As part of a Vikings offensive line that was torn to shreds last season, Clemmings played in 15 games and allowed 8.5 sacks.The Vikings brought in reinforcements this offseason, signing Riley Reiff to play left tackle. They're also shifting Clemmings from tackle to guard. He currently finds himself in a backup role, but the team could be running out of patience with its 2015 draft pick.Geno Smith, QB, GiantsSmith possesses the confidence of a quarterback who's job is not in question, but the reality is he still needs to earn his keep as the Giants' No. 2 QB.Eli Manning's place atop the depth chart is unquestioned, and Davis Webb is the quarterback in waiting. That leaves Smith and Josh Johnson to battle it out for the backup role. The former Jet hasn't exactly dazzled in his first three preseason outings, completing 60 percent of his passes for 244 yards and two interceptions. Playing in Smith's favor are Johnson's even less impressive numbers (55 percent, 104 yards, 0 touchdowns/interceptions).Both figure to see the field a ton on Thursday night.Kony Ealy, DE, JetsHe flamed out in his short stint with the Patriots and will have but one opportunity to impress the Jets brass.It's a precipitous fall from grace for a player who dominated on the biggest stage of all at Super Bowl 50. Yet in the season since, he has fallen out of favor with the Panthers and was deemed unfit for a Patriots roster bereft of pass-rushers.Surely he can make one of the worst rosters in football, right?Connor Cook, QB, RaidersRemember when Cook started the Raiders' wild-card playoff game? Well, now he's competing with EJ Manuel instead of Matt McGloin to be Oakland's backup.He's acquitted himself well enough to this point in the preseason, throwing for 254 yards and a touchdown, but he can carve out his place on the roster with another impressive showing Thursday night against the Seahawks' backups.The Raiders hoped to solidify the position after watching starter Derek Carr go down with a broken leg late last season, and Cook can prove he's still the man for the job.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite failing to earn a contract following a recent workout with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, former NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel is still eager to play in the CFL, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.Manziel is reportedly continuing to discuss a potential contract with the Tiger-Cats, though no deal is on the horizon."This is something he very much wants," the source told Fowler.Manziel worked out for the Tiger-Cats last week but the team decided not to sign him, reportedly because it saw "too many red flags" in the former Heisman Trophy winner. Manziel repeatedly had his work ethic and dedication to the sport questioned while playing with the Cleveland Browns.Hamilton owns the Manziel's negotiating rights, meaning the 24-year-old can't sign with another CFL team unless the Tiger-Cats trade his rights.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions have traded 2015 first-round pick Laken Tomlinson to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2019 fifth-round pick, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.The guard never came close to living up to his draft status. He started 24 games over the first two years of his career, was benched in favor of third-round rookie Graham Glasgow last season, and has been further buried in the depth chart during training camp.San Francisco executive Martin Mayhew drafted Tomlinson when he was Lions general manager.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

J.J. Watt's impromptu Hurricane Harvey relief fund for the city of Houston reached a staggering $10 million in donations Thursday, thanks to funds raised by people all over the country.Among the celebrity donors was Drake, who gave $200,000 to the cause, as he revealed on Instagram:

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2017 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.On Wednesday, theScore staff participated in a 10-team, 12-round mock to help provide a glimpse at what your drafts might look like and to give some insight on what to watch for in each round.This is a standard (non-PPR) scoring league with the following roster spots: QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, WR, TE, FLEX, BN, BN, BN, BN. We left off defenses and kickers since they normally get selected in the final two rounds.Draft Participants: Dan Levine, Justin Boone, Dan Wilkins, Josh Wegman, Michael McClymont, David P. Woods, Dan LeBaron, Jack Browne, Gino Bottero, Dane Belbeck.Round 1PickPlayerOwner1David Johnson (RB1)Levine2Le'Veon Bell (RB2)Boone3Antonio Brown (WR1)Wilkins4Julio Jones (WR2)Wegman5Odell Beckham Jr. (WR3)McClymont6Mike Evans (WR4)Woods7A.J. Green (WR5)LeBaron8Melvin Gordon (RB3)Browne9Jordy Nelson (WR6)Bottero10Jay Ajayi (RB4)BelbeckRound 1: There are rarely many surprising picks in the first round, and this draft held to form. For a standard scoring league, it might seem a little odd that six receivers went off the board to only four running backs, but that speaks mostly to the uncertainty surrounding the rushers outside of Johnson and Bell.Round 2PickPlayerOwner11Amari Cooper (WR7)Belbeck12Devonta Freeman (RB5)Bottero13Michael Thomas (WR8)Browne14LeSean McCoy (RB6)LeBaron15Dez Bryant (WR9)Woods16DeMarco Murray (RB7)McClymont17Jordan Howard (RB8)Wegman18Todd Gurley (RB9)Wilkins19Rob Gronkowski (TE1)Boone20Doug Baldwin (WR10)LevineRound 2: Cooper went off the board in the second round, earlier than he normally does, but there's good reason to think the third-year wideout takes his game to another level in 2017. This is the furthest I've seen McCoy fall, though it's understandable given the state of the Bills' offense. McCoy might see less scoring opportunities this season and might have less incentive to play through injuries if the team is losing later in the year. He's become a much riskier pick than he was a month ago.Round 3PickPlayerOwner21Brandin Cooks (WR11)Levine22Isaiah Crowell (RB10)Boone23Leonard Fournette (RB11)Wilkins24T.Y. Hilton (WR12)Wegman25DeAndre Hopkins (WR13)McClymont26Ezekiel Elliott (RB12)Woods27Kareem Hunt (RB13)LeBaron28Demaryius Thomas (WR14)Browne29Lamar Miller (RB14)Bottero30Christian McCaffrey (RB15)BelbeckRound 3: Three rounds in and I'm the only team without a receiver, although you could argue that Gronk produces like a WR1 when he's healthy. I decided to pass on the receivers available in the third because I know there will be value at the position in the middle rounds, while quality running backs tend to disappear quickly. Hunt gets selected as the RB13 now that he's locked in as the Chiefs' lead back, a role that has been extremely fruitful for fantasy owners.Round 4PickPlayerOwner31Terrelle Pryor (WR15)Belbeck32Carlos Hyde (RB16)Bottero33Dalvin Cook (RB17)Browne34Aaron Rodgers (QB1)LeBaron35Joe Mixon (RB18)Woods36Marshawn Lynch (RB19)McClymont37Alshon Jeffery (WR16)Wegman38Keenan Allen (WR17)Wilkins39Ty Montgomery (RB20)Boone40Travis Kelce (TE2)LevineRound 4: Cook is a solid pick in the fourth round by Team Browne. By all accounts, the rookie will serve as a three-down back for the Vikings and performed well in that role during the preseason. I once again skipped over pass-catchers in favor of a running back, as Montgomery represented intriguing value at this point in the draft as a player who could be a top-10 fantasy asset if he stays healthy. Starting Montgomery as my flex will give me a major advantage over my opponents at that spot.Round 5PickPlayerOwner41Mark Ingram (RB21)Levine42Tom Brady (QB2)Boone43Davante Adams (WR18)Wilkins44C.J. Anderson (RB22)Wegman45Drew Brees (QB3)McClymont46Martavis Bryant (WR19)Woods47Jordan Reed (TE3)LeBaron48Ameer Abdullah (RB23)Browne49Greg Olsen (TE4)Bottero50Adrian Peterson (RB24)BelbeckRound 5: We've reached all-out zero-WR status now, with me addressing yet another position. Brady guaranteed me top-three quarterback stats, while the receivers in this range were far from sure things. The degree of difficulty is increased now as I need to find startable receivers in the next few rounds. Ingram and Peterson bookending the round is interesting. Ingram has a better chance at returning RB1 value, but it is possible that we'll see both players making a weekly impact, just as Ingram and Hightower were doing at one point in 2016. Still seems like a reach for AP.Round 6PickPlayerOwner51Martellus Bennett (TE5)Belbeck52Allen Robinson (WR20)Bottero53Sammy Watkins (WR21)Browne54DeVante Parker (WR22)LeBaron55Tyreek Hill (WR23)Woods56Doug Martin (RB25)McClymont57Rob Kelley (RB26)Wegman58Michael Crabtree (WR24)Wilkins59Emmanuel Sanders (WR25)Boone60Larry Fitzgerald (WR26)LevineRound 6: Team Belbeck follows up the reach on AP with an even bigger swing, taking Bennett in the sixth round. Bennett is one of my favorite tight ends to target in drafts, but he can normally be had in the eighth. A lot can change in August, especially ADPs - just ask Watkins and Robinson who fell to the sixth round, or Parker who has seen his stock jump up since Jay Cutler made him his new favorite weapon. Grabbing Martin in the sixth round seems like a potential league-winning move. He'll miss the first three weeks of the season, but after that he could return to the RB1 ranks.Round 7PickPlayerOwner61Bilal Powell (RB27)Levine62Golden Tate (WR27)Boone63Telvin Coleman (RB28)Wilkins64Kelvin Benjamin (WR28)Wegman65Derrick Henry (RB29)McClymont66Thomas Rawls (RB30)Woods67Mike Gillislee (RB31)LeBaron68Jimmy Graham (TE6)Browne69Donte Moncrief (WR29)Bottero70DeSean Jackson (WR30)BelbeckRound 7: After leaving my receiver spots empty through five rounds, I've now managed to grab Sanders and Tate, both of whom have recent histories as top-20 fantasy WRs. Sanders gets a boost with Trevor Siemian winning the Broncos' job, as he was Siemian's favorite target in 2016. Tate has caught 90 passes in three straight years and with the Lions defense looking porous, Detroit will be forced to air it out once again. Rawls and Gillislee might turn out to be the starters in two of the league's best offenses, and were well worth the risk in the seventh round.Round 8PickPlayerOwner71Corey Coleman (WR31)Belbeck72Stefon Diggs (WR32)Bottero73Matt Ryan (QB4)Browne74Eric Decker (WR33)LeBaron75C.J. Prosise (RB32)Woods76Tyler Eifert (TE7)McClymont77Darren McFadden (RB33)Wegman78Kyle Rudolph (TE8)Wilkins79Pierre Garcon (WR34)Boone80Jarvis Landry (WR35)LevineRound 8: It's always interesting to see where the fourth quarterback gets taken, after the elite three go in the first six rounds or so. In this case, it's Ryan in the eighth which seems about right, though I would have gone with Russell Wilson instead. Every owner kept their roster fairly balanced throughout the draft, which is smart because it allows you to scoop up value whenever it presents itself. I'm still in the hunt for receivers, and as predicted there are plenty of quality options left to choose from. Garcon could push for 140-plus targets on a 49ers' offense that lacks talent and will be trailing often.Round 9PickPlayerOwner81Frank Gore (RB34)Levine82Jamison Crowder (WR36)Boone83Chris Hogan (WR37)Wilkins84Russell Wilson (QB5)Wegman85Brandon Marshall (WR38)McClymont86Hunter Henry (TE9)Woods87Eddie Lacy (RB35)LeBaron88Tyrell Williams (WR39)Browne89Paul Perkins (RB36)Bottero90Terrance West (RB37)BelbeckRound 9: Just to emphasize the depth at receiver, several players drafted in the ninth round could return WR2 fantasy production. Crowder has a chance to lead the Redskins in receiving and will likely catch upwards of 90 passes this season. With Julian Edelman going down for the year, Hogan is now a full-time receiver in the Patriots' high-powered offense. Williams finished with the 13th-most fantasy points among receivers last season and will continue to have a big role with rookie Mike Williams' health in doubt.Round 10PickPlayerOwner91Jameis Winston (QB6)Belbeck92Danny Woodhead (RB38)Bottero93Jonathan Stewart (RB39)Browne94Zach Ertz (TE10)LeBaron95Marcus Mariota (QB7)Woods96Willie Snead (WR40)McClymont97Jalen Richard (RB40)Wegman98Jamaal Williams (RB41)Wilkins99John Brown (WR41)Boone100Kirk Cousins (QB8)LevineRound 10: The next wave of quarterbacks features Winston, Mariota, and Cousins, and all three went off the board in the 10th round. Richard seemed like a bit of a reach by Team Wegman, but he must be confident that Richard will win the Raiders' backup job over DeAndre Washington. Brown gives me an upside receiver to add to my arsenal and, if he stays healthy, could easily top 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns.Round 11PickPlayerOwner101Jeremy Maclin (WR42)Levine102Adam Thielen (WR43)Boone103Samaje Perine (RB42)Wilkins104Delanie Walker (TE11)Wegman105Kenny Britt (WR44)McClymont106Corey Davis (WR45)Woods107Randall Cobb (WR46)LeBaron108Ted Ginn Jr. (WR47)Browne109LeGarrette Blount (RB43)Bottero110Duke Johnson (RB44)BelbeckRound 11: This round was full of great picks, but Davis and Ginn standout as potential difference-makers. Davis might start the year slow after missing time due to injury, but once he catches up, the rookie could emerge as the Titans' best receiver. If you don't draft him, try to trade for him early in the season after he gets off to a quiet start. Meanwhile, Ginn is starting in two-receiver sets in New Orleans. He specifically cited the desire to extend his career by playing with Brees, and it looks like that might be happening.Round 12PickPlayerOwner111Mike Wallace (WR48)Belbeck112Cam Newton (QB9)Bottero113Jacquizz Rodgers (RB45)Browne114Kevin White (WR49)LeBaron115Jonathan Williams (RB46)Woods116DeAndre Washington (RB47)McClymont117Alvin Kamara (RB48)Wegman118Philip Rivers (QB10)Wilkins119Rex Burkhead (RB49)Boone120D'Onta Foreman (RB50)LevineRound 12: If you need proof you should wait on drafting quarterbacks, especially in smaller leagues, look no further than Newton being taken in the 12th round. Since most teams don't need to draft a backup in 10-team formats, the last few owners can wait forever before pulling the trigger. Every running back selected in this round is worth targeting in the later rounds of your draft.Get ready for your season with theScore's 2017 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed general manager Kevin Colbert to a two-year extension Thursday. The deal will keep Colbert in the fold through the 2020 NFL Draft."Kevin's dedication and diligent work have played a major role in our success," team president Art Rooney II said in the release. "We are pleased he will continue to lead our personnel efforts for at least the next three years."Colbert joined the Steelers in 2000. He spent the first 11 seasons as the team's director of football operations and the last seven as GM. In that time, the team has played in three Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl XL in 2005 and Super Bowl XLIII in 2008.The Steelers have made postseason appearances and won 10-plus games in each of the past three seasons.Most recently, Colbert traded for former San Francisco 49ers tight end Vance McDonald and, on Wednesday, signed free-agent cornerback Joe Haden to fortify the team's roster entering the 2017 season.The Steelers have traditionally eschewed turnover for loyalty in their leadership positions. The franchise has had but three head coaches since 1969 and four general managers over that period of time.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

J.J. Watt has hit an incredible milestone in his efforts to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Harvey.The Houston Texans defensive end reached the $10-million mark in donations Thursday, an amazing feat considering his original goal Sunday was $200,000.Watt thanked everyone who donated - over 100,000 people - in a Twitter video, saying the website to give money will remain active but no new goal will be set."We'll see how high we can get it," said Watt.

The Seattle Seahawks are gauging trade interest in cornerback Jeremy Lane and running back Alex Collins, sources told NFL.com's Ian Rapoport on Thursday.The news comes just a day after it was reported that the team is trying to trade veteran receiver Jermaine Kearse.Lane and Kearse have been mainstays on the Seahawks' roster for the past five seasons, and each played a role in the team's Super Bowl XLVIII victory over the Denver Broncos.Collins, a fifth-round draft choice for Seattle in 2016, saw minimal playing time in his first year with the club.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans are happy to be home, and home is where they will remain when the regular season kicks off in 10 days.The Texans' final preseason game was canceled Wednesday so the team could attend to matters in Houston, where Hurricane Harvey has left devastation. However, the area around the team's home stadium has been spared the flooding that's occurred in other parts of the city. As a result, Texans general manager Rick Smith believes their first game of the season - a scheduled home date with the Jacksonville Jaguars - will remain in Houston."The game is at NRG (Stadium). It's scheduled to be played at NRG, so it will be played at NRG," Smith said Wednesday.In the meantime, the Texans will attend to family matters and assist the Houston community with its recovery."There's just so much devastation in the city and the region that we want to be a part of that recovery process," Smith said. "We know that we will recover as a community, as a city, as a region, and we just want to give back and become a part of that process."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the 2017 season just around the corner, theScore's team of football editors casts their votes for each of the league's major awards.NFL Awards Predictions

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.The Cowboys seemingly came out of nowhere to win the NFC East last season, but the target on their back will be much larger in 2017 and they're squarely in the sights of the Giants, who look to claim their first division crown since 2011. Covers Expert Matt Fargo gives a team-by-team breakdown of the whole division, including season win total picks.New York Giants (2016: 11-5 SU, 9-6-1 ATS, 4-12 O/U)Odds to win the NFC East: +160

The Los Angeles Chargers have had trade talks centered around wide receiver Dontrelle Inman, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Inman has spent his entire three-year career with the Chargers, playing a total of 37 games in which he has caught 105 of 176 targets, totaling 1,454 yards and seven touchdowns.He is currently slated behind Keenan Allen as the Chargers' left-side receiver on the team's official depth chart.Inman is owed $2.75 million for 2017, after signing a one-year deal earlier this offseason.All rosters must be trimmed to 53 players by the 4 p.m. ET deadline on Saturday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers officially signed cornerback Joe Haden to a three-year contract on Wednesday.Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed by the Steelers, but the contract is reportedly worth $27 million according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Haden was released by the Cleveland Browns after spending the first seven seasons of his career with the organization.The 28-year-old recorded 48 tackles and three interceptions in 13 games with the Browns during the 2016 season.Haden was named to the Pro Bowl in 2013 and 2014 and was signed to a five-year, $68-million extension by the Browns in May 2014.Steelers star wide receiver Antonio Brown was impressed with the signing."A fierce competitor,” Brown said of Haden via the Steelers' official website. "A tough opponent. And someone you have to be ready for and prepared for. He is strong, he is fast."The veteran cornerback battled through injuries over the past two seasons and saw his game decline, but the Steelers likely made an astute move in taking a calculated risk on a player who, at his best, is among the NFL's top cornerbacks.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Terrell Owens hasn't suited up on a football field in five years but ardently believes he should still be in the NFL.Owens last signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 2012 but was released before the season started.Nonetheless, the five-time All-Pro believes a team should sign him before the season begins.“Me not being on the field right now is a joke,” Owens said on Fox Sports Radio with Eric Dickerson. “I don’t care what people say. Even though I’m 43, trust me, I’m not your average 43-year-old.”"Even when I was 35, 36, 37 they said I was too old, but I was still ballin’ out with the 20-year-olds. I can go out right now and give you a 4.4 (in the 40),” Owens added.One of the greatest wide receivers of all time, Owens has ample reason to be confident. Whether a team presents an offer to him based off his own self-assessment remains to be seen.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians provided Blaine Gabbert with a vote of confidence Wednesday.Gabbert signed with the Cardinals in May, following unsuccessful stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2011-2013) and San Francisco 49ers (2015-16).The 27-year-old struggled miserably early in his career and was labeled by some as a bust after being selected 10th overall in the loaded 2011 NFL Draft - one spot ahead of Houston Texans superstar J.J. Watt.It appears that Gabbert's luck is beginning to turn around, however, according to Arians."I've been very pleased," Arians said via the team's website. "Short-term, I'd be very comfortable if he had to play for us. Long-term, if he continues at this rate, he could be a starter."Carson Palmer, the team's incumbent starting quarterback, also offered praise towards Gabbert."I had worked out with him a handful of times a couple of years ago in the offseason," Palmer said. "Very aware of his skill-set. He's as talented as it gets throwing the football and moving around in the pocket and on the run. I haven't been surprised."Once derided as a punchline, Gabbert could finally find some stability in Arizona.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks are attempting to trade wide receiver Jermaine Kearse, sources told ESPN's Dianna Russini.Seattle signed Kearse as an undrafted free agent in 2012 and the 27-year-old has developed into a key part of its passing game. He was part of the Seahawks' lone Super Bowl victory in franchise history during the 2013 season.It's likely the Seahawks view Paul Richardson and Tyler Lockett as more valuable pieces entering the 2017 season, rendering Kearse expendable.Kearse caught 41 passes for 510 yards and a touchdown in 2016.If Kearse is traded, he'll likely be remembered fondly by Seahawks fans. He caught the game-winning touchdown in overtime against the Green Bay Packers during the 2014 NFC Championship game, and recorded one of the greatest catches in Super Bowl history against the New England Patriots. On the same drive, however, Russell Wilson was intercepted by Malcolm Butler, securing a victory for the Patriots.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict had his five-game suspension reduced to three games.ESPN's Josina Anderson was the first to report the story.Burfict was sanctioned for an illegal hit on Kansas City Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman during the preseason.The 26-year-old linebacker has been suspended and fined several times during his professional career for various infractions.NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan wrote Burfict the following statement informing him of his original suspension:

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2017 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.With one week of fantasy drafts remaining before the 2017 season kicks off, most of the important position battles have been decided heading into the final night of preseason action Thursday.However, there are a few backfield depth charts that remain unclear, creating a window of opportunity for fantasy owners who can accurately predict which running backs will rise to the top.SeahawksProjected starter: Thomas Rawls

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan released a statement offering his support to the city of Houston as they face the perilous effects of Hurricane Harvey.The storm has ravaged the city with residents fleeing out of concern for their safety.The Texans are scheduled to host the Jaguars Week 1, but Khan isn't concerned about the location of the game for the moment.Khan's statement read:

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo gave a lot of thought to extending his NFL career before ultimately deciding to retire and join CBS as a broadcaster. A lot of thought.Speaking Wednesday at a CBS network talent availability event, Romo said there were four teams he was seriously considering extending his career for, according to Conor Orr of NFL.com.Romo's list started at many more than four teams.When asked if he gave any thought to joining the New York Jets, who are set to begin their season with Josh McCown under center and Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty expected to receive weekly consideration as alternatives, Romo didn't respond with the expected outright 'no.'"I took a look at them, I'm not going to say if they were in the final four, but I did take a look," said Romo."I went through a lot of teams," Romo said. "There was a lot of discussion about, you know - I narrowed the focus to about four teams and from there, obviously I made the decision to come to CBS."Perhaps the Jets will be able to use Romo's rejection as bulletin-board material when he covers their Week 9 Thursday-night game against the Buffalo Bills.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

USC quarterback Sam Darnold is projected to be a top-3 selection in the 2018 NFL Draft but isn't concerned about the professional ranks just yet.Darnold is considered by many to be the prospective first overall pick for next spring's player selection event, and some have suggested NFL teams will tank in order to choose him or UCLA's Josh Rosen.Just don't tell Darnold about it."It's crazy to hear," Darnold said to Brian Costello of the New York Post. "The whole tank or whatever thing, that’s something I don't really want to talk about and something that’s not on my mind at all. It's definitely a little obtuse, the whole idea of it."Darnold will almost certainly be subjected to the rigors of being a top NFL prospect in the modern age with plenty of scouts and fans dissecting his every move during the upcoming season.For the time being, the NFL isn't on Darnold's radar as he looks to steer USC to a national title."I'm definitely just focused on the now," Darnold said. "When that time comes, I'll focus on that."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to sign former Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden to a three-year, $27-million contract, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Schefter adds Haden had received more lucrative offers from other teams, but he wanted to go to Pittsburgh.Cleveland had offered to cut Haden's 2017 salary from $11 million to $7 million, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. After rejecting the deal, Haden was cut from the Browns and will now make the same amount in his first season with the Steelers.Haden has played just one 16-game season in his seven-year career - his rookie season - and was limited to just 18 contests over his final two campaigns with the Browns.In 13 games in 2016, his play dropped off considerably, recording a career low of 48 combined tackles. He received a Pro Football Focus grade of just 46.0, particularly struggling in pass coverage and ranking 88th at his position.The Steelers' returning top three cornerbacks of William Gay, Ross Cockrell, and Artie Burns ranked 18th, 27th, and 38th among qualified corners, respectively. The depth addition should still help improve an average pass defense which allowed 242.6 net passing yards per game last season.Still just 28 years old, the Steelers will hope to help get the former seventh overall pick back to the elite shutdown form he showed in his rookie season when grabbing a career-best six interceptions.The Steelers and Browns will open their respective seasons against each other with a Week 1 meeting in Cleveland.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.