New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman spoke publicly Tuesday for the first time since the team confirmed a torn ACL suffered last week would force him to miss the upcoming season."I will approach this rehab process the only way I know how, with everything I have," Edelman said in a brief statement."Tough times don't last, tough people do," he added.The gritty slot receiver has developed a strong rapport with Tom Brady throughout his eight seasons in the NFL and was expected to be one of the focal points of the team's offense again this season. Last year, Edelman led the Patriots in receptions (98) and receiving yards (1,106).Though such a significant injury is a devastating blow to any player, Edelman sounded genuinely relieved by the encouragement he's received from Patriots fans."This has been an extremely trying week," he said. "That being said, the amount of support I have received since Friday night is truly humbling ... thank you to everyone for your unwavering love and support."Edelman made one the most clutch contested catches in Super Bowl history last season, helping propel the Patriots to their momentous comeback against the Atlanta Falcons, in which the receiver earned his second career championship ring.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns are "aggressively" attempting to trade star cornerback Joe Haden, reports CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora.A league source confirmed the Browns are shopping Haden to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.Haden has three years remaining on his current contract, and La Canfora added that Cleveland is "very motivated" to get the corner's deal off its books. He has base salaries of $11.1 million this year, $11.1 million in 2018, and $10.4 million in 2019.While the 28-year-old has played at an elite level in the past, his play has declined over the past few seasons, and some no longer believe he's worth his top-level contract.The Browns are continuing to rebuild their roster from the ground up, so it makes sense they'd want to move on from an aging cornerback who last made the Pro Bowl in 2014.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The latest addition to the Cincinnati Bengals' offensive arsenal, second-round pick Joe Mixon, believes the unit will be a nightmare for defenses this season after teasing its sky-high potential in Sunday's preseason loss to the Washington Redskins."We can be electrifying," Mixon said, according to Geoff Hobson of the team's official site. "We've got a lot of home-run threats. We just have to able to execute. It was exciting to see our offense moving like that (on Sunday)."Cincinnati managed only 17 points in the defeat, but the first-team unit looked strong. Mixon highlighted his talents with an impressive 6-yard run during which he almost juked Josh Norman out of his skin:

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

NEW YORK - A year after the NFL pledged $100 million in support of independent medical research and engineering advancements, a huge chunk of that soon will be awarded to such research, primarily dedicated to neuroscience.A Scientific Advisory Board assembled by the NFL is set to launch its program to solicit and evaluate research proposals for funding. The board, comprised of independent experts, doctors, scientists and clinicians, and chaired by retired U.S. Army General Peter Chiarelli, will provide direction for the $40 million allocated under the league's initiative.''Prevention should always be a focus,'' Chiarelli says. ''Nevertheless, the development of biologically based diagnostics is critical for return-to-play decisions for the NFL, and return to combat/training for the armed forces. Imagine if you had a handheld analyzer that with a single drop could determine whether a player or a soldier had a concussion - and determine the severity of that injury.''The NFL has an ongoing affiliation with the armed forces, and in April partnered with the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command on a three-year venture to collaborate on head health research and development.As always in this era of CTE concerns, any sports-oriented medical studies must be all-encompassing. Developing improved tools for research and design is front and center, as the league's scientific advisory board is seeking to be, with significant financial outlay.CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) can cause memory loss, depression, violent mood swings and other cognitive and behavioral issues in those exposed to repetitive head trauma.''There have been significant learnings in recent years that have changed the way we look at traumatic brain injury, notably CTE,'' says Dr. Allen Sills, who came aboard this year as the league's chief medical officer. ''I agree with many medical experts that there are still a lot of unanswered questions relating to the cause, incidence and prevalence of CTE. But what is clear is that there's a problem that impacts some athletes in sports like ours, others possibly, too, and we are eager to see CTE research move forward and begin to assemble more pieces of the puzzle.''The NFL has a responsibility to do everything it can to make the game safer and drive research that advances treatment and prevention and, as we make advances, share them with the broader sports world. Most of the issues we face in the NFL are sport issues, and beyond that they are society issues.''A year out from Commissioner Roger Goodell's pledge to ''look at anything and everything to protect our players and make the game safer,'' one of the areas receiving concentrated attention by the league is developing equipment that provides even more specific and enhanced feedback on improving safety in football. Helmets, shoulder pads and other pads, and footwear all have seen improvements, but there's much more to be done.The league has embarked on what it calls ''The Engineering Roadmap,'' a $60 million program designed to improve head protection equipment.''This is a comprehensive and dedicated plan intended to spur innovation and significantly improve head protection for NFL players in three to five years,'' explains Dr. Jeffrey Crandall, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Applied Biomechanics and chair of the NFL's head, neck and spine engineering subcommittee.The program is managed in collaboration with NFL Players Association's engineering consultants, Dr. Kristy Arbogast, co-scientific director of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Dr. Barry Myers, director of innovation at Duke University's Clinical and Translational Science Institute.''A key component of the engineering roadmap is to accurately measure the motion and acceleration the head experiences during play in the NFL by player position, to give design direction for protective equipment,'' Arbogast says. ''To date, we have been doing that via video reconstructions and injury event recreations using crash test dummies. These approaches are incredibly time intensive and, by design, focus on `events' that must be subjectively selected from game film or injury reports.''But ''the engineering roadmap leverages the modeling approach used in other fields to apply computational models to helmet design and evaluation,'' Crandall adds.''Many fields have transitioned from primarily an experimental evaluation and design of products to a largely computational development program. Computational models that simulate various designs and use conditions can greatly enhance the thoroughness and efficacy of the design process while simultaneously reducing the time of product development.''Of note is a focus on sensors that can determine all sorts of data to help enhance safety. The league and the players' union are working to develop novel sensor technology capable of accurately recording the motion of the head during impact in varying game conditions and positions. The plan is for the NFL, when the technology is ready, to offer mouth guards instrumented with such sensors to players to measure their impact response.''This athlete exposure data will inform the testing of protective equipment so that future helmet test methodologies and design evolution are relevant to what is actually experienced on the field,'' Arbogast says.With a recent study into brain trauma revealing significant numbers of former NFL players among those examined suffering from CTE, the emphasis on injury prevention of all kinds must be paramount.That means pushing hard on all fronts, particularly equipment innovation and testing.Crandall sees the engineering roadmap as the correct, well, road to take.''Beyond the particular outcome of the roadmap,'' he says, ''we will develop an improved understanding of the types and severity of impacts players experience on-field through video analysis and sensors that will be available to examine a broader array of medical and engineering questions.''With, hopefully, benefits for every level of football - and for other sports.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sometimes, you just gotta have faith.After renaming Blake Bortles as the team's starting quarterback, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone believes he's being rewarded for his decision."I think he's doing a nice job," Marrone said Monday afternoon, according to ESPN's Michael DiRocco. "I really do. For me, personally, it's the best I've seen him."Marrone gave the start in Saturday's pivotal third preseason game to perceived backup Chad Henne, from whom Bortles initially took the starting job just two games into his 2014 rookie season.But after dropping from 4,428 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2015 to 3,905 yards and just 23 touchdowns in 2016, Bortles had another disappointing training camp full of inaccuracy and inefficiency. It forced the Jaguars to re-evaluate their faith in the man they considered a franchise quarterback as recently as May, when they picked up his fifth-year option for the 2018 season.Since being told his role won't be changing and having a 12-for-16 second half against the Carolina Panthers' second-team defense, Bortles has seemed re-invigorated in the eyes of his coach."I've seen him build upon his last performance," Marrone said. "I'm hoping to see that that carries over because he's actually done quite well."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just like with his play on the field for the Houston Texans, defensive end J.J. Watt keeps setting new goals for himself in his fundraising efforts to help victims of flooding in the wake of Hurricane Harvey's damage to the Houston area.

The Philadelphia Eagles are parting ways with fan-favorite long snapper Jon Dorenbos, who doubles as a part-time magician, trading him to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a 2019 seventh-round pick.Dorenbos had been with the Eagles since 2006 and gained notoriety during the summer of 2016 as he competed in "America's Got Talent" as a magician. He finished third on the reality show.Eagles head coach Doug Pederson, vice president of football operations Howie Roseman, and owner Jeffrey Lurie all released statements thanking Dorenbos for his time with the team."This was one of the most difficult decisions we have had to make as an organization, not only because of his stellar performance on the field for so many years, but also because of the relationships he has within the organization and the connection he has with our fans and the Philadelphia community," said Roseman.The Saints already have Justin Drescher, their long snapper since 2010, on the roster, but he has yet to show any magical skills.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Don't count Dan Fouts as a believer that the scaled-down size of the Los Angeles Chargers' temporary home creates a better, more intimate atmosphere.The former Chargers quarterback witnessed the first two preseason games played by his old team at StubHub Center, a stadium designed for soccer, and was not a fan of what he saw."It is embarrassing, I think, for both the Chargers and the National Football League, to be playing in a 27,000-seat stadium," Fouts told KNX-AM, according to Jay Posner of the San Diego Union-Tribune.The 66-year-old Hall of Famer - who is employed by the team as a broadcaster during the preseason - played 15 seasons for the Chargers, only competing in front of a crowd less than 27,000 three times in the regular season, according to Posner.The pair of preseason games failed to bring in crowds of at least 22,000, though that is standard for exhibition contests.While he is disappointed with the Chargers' current stadium, Fouts did not provide another option and blamed ownership as well as the city of San Diego for the move to Los Angeles."Both the city and the ownership are to blame for where the Chargers are right now," said Fouts. "They couldn't get together on a deal for a new stadium for over 15 years, so both sides have to share in the responsibility."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As optimism spreads in regards to Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer, head coach Hue Jackson remains prepared for the worst should the starting play-caller falter."We're going to make this happen. We're going to work through this because I think he's talented. This guy has the right stuff and if I'm worth my salt as a coach, I'll get it out of him and if he's willing to do the work, he'll rise to the occasion and I think he will," said Jackson according to Mark Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.Jackson had previously vowed to "swim in the lake" if the Browns were to go 1-15 for a second consecutive season, but he's not letting his high hopes shorten Kizer's leash."I have a vision for it. It might not go that way. If it does, great. If it doesn't, we keep working through it. But I probably felt better about this one, making this decision than some in the past because I think the guy can do it. I really do,'' said Jackson.The Browns made several big moves this offseason, most notably rebuilding their offensive line, while they still possess talented pieces at both the running back and wide receiver positions. Jackson said it'll be the responsibility of these other positions to help Kizer fulfill his early signs of promise."It's going to take a lot of work on his part, my part, our staff's part, the rest of the team 'cause everybody's involved in this. It's not just me and him. Everybody's got to do their part in order for this young man to have success. But I think we all get it. I think his teammates get it. I think he gets it. I think the coaching staff does. So we've got to make this right," said Jackson.As Brock Osweiler, Cody Kessler, and Kevin Hogan continue to compete for the backup quarterback job, Jackson isn't anticipating a scenario in which he'll need to make a switch."I'm going to ride this with DeShone, you know the good, the bad, or whatever comes,'' said Jackson.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant accused Matthias Farley of trying to hurt him during their game Saturday, but the Indianapolis Colts safety denies any such intention."I have no ill-will towards anybody," Farley said, according to Zak Keefer of the Indy Star. "I'm not trying to hurt anybody."Farley knocked the ball loose from Bryant as the receiver was trying to get to the Steelers' sideline but was being held up by Colts cornerback Vontae Davis. The fumble was called back when it was ruled Bryant's knees were down.Farley's lone penalty flag in the 2016 season was for running out of bounds while covering a punt.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey has made the 2017 season about more than just football for the Houston Texans.As the storm ravaged the city of Houston and forced the Texans to move their last preseason game to Dallas, head coach Bill O'Brien announced that his team will play the season for their city."Football's obviously important, but I think the most important thing right now is doing everything we can for our city," O'Brien told reporters, according to Pro Football Talk's Charean Williams. "I will tell you right now: We're going to dedicate this season to the city of Houston, the people of Houston."There are no guarantees in football. That's not what I'm here to say. But I will guarantee that this team will go out every Sunday, Monday, Thursday, whenever they ask to play, and we'll play our asses off for the city of Houston. I promise you that."The Texans, along with the NFL Foundation and the New England Patriots, have pledged $1 million each to relief funds for those affected by Hurricane Harvey while J.J. Watt has also raised over $500,000. Before the game had officially been moved, Watt said that he hoped Thursday's game can be used as a fundraiser for victims in Houston.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thursday's preseason game between the Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys, originally scheduled to be hosted in Houston, will now be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington due to weather caused by Hurricane Harvey.The NFL released a statement addressing the situation Monday:

New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo said Monday that wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is "improving" in his recovery from an ankle injury, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan.Beckham hasn't yet returned to practice, but the team is hopeful the star receiver will be able to play in the season opener on Sept. 10 against the Dallas Cowboys."He's getting treatment," McAdoo said. "He's responded well to treatment. We'll repeat that process again (Tuesday)."McAdoo added: "I'm hopeful he'll play (against Dallas)."Fellow Giants receiver Brandon Marshall made his return to practice from a shoulder injury Monday. He suffered his ailment in the same game as Beckham.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams fans had an opportunity to buy a Forrest Lamp jersey on Monday, despite the fact that he doesn't even play for the team.Lamp is actually a draft pick of LA's newest club - not the Rams.For The Win's Steven Ruiz captured these screenshots of the Los Angeles Chargers rookie guard's jersey being sold in the Rams' official online store. It has since been removed.For The Win reached out to Fanatics, the company that runs the store, about the mishap, but has yet to receive a response.Lamp, a second-round pick out of Western Kentucky, has been ruled out for the season after suffering a torn ACL in a training camp practice earlier this month.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens signed head coach John Harbaugh to a contract extension, the team announced Monday.The contract will keep Harbaugh with the Ravens through 2019, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. His previous deal was set to expire after 2018.Harbaugh has been Baltimore's head coach since 2008, winning a Super Bowl in 2012 but missing the playoffs in three of the past four seasons. He's just the third head coach in franchise history.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles announced Monday that Josh McCown will be the team's starting quarterback.McCown beat out Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg for the job. Bowles added that he's yet to decide on the backup."(McCown) gives us the best chance to win right now," Bowles said.The Jets had limited the veteran's snaps in practice and preseason games of late, seemingly to get a clearer view on how Petty and Hackenberg would handle first-team reps.With that in mind, New York's decision to go with McCown, a journeyman, over the two younger options, speaks volumes about how each of them looked, especially Hackenberg, who was a second-round pick last year and is now in danger of losing his roster spot.McCown will lead an offense almost entirely devoid of established talent. He will also be without top wideout Quincy Enunwa, who's out for the season with a neck injury.Most believe the Jets will be among the worst teams in the league in 2017, so it would be a shock if they don't hand over the reins to either Petty or Hackenberg at some point if that's indeed the case.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

An MRI confirmed Monday that Chicago Bears wide receiver Cameron Meredith sustained a torn ACL in Sunday's preseason game, as well as other damage to his left knee, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Such an injury means Meredith will miss the entire 2017 season.Meredith took a hit to the knee after making a catch in the first quarter and needed to be carted off with an air cast on his leg.Warning: Video contains graphic content

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2017 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his fourth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition.Scroll down to see his updated rankings for 2017, including PPR leagues.Standard

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said he's "not at all" tempted to join the increasing number of NFL players who have decided to protest racial inequality and police brutality during the national anthem."I mean, it's bigger than I think some of us think," Prescott said in an interview with Yahoo Sports, according to SportsDayDFW.com. "It's just important for me to go out there, hand over my heart, represent our country and just be thankful and not take anything I've been given and my freedom for granted."Even if Prescott was inclined to protest, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made it clear last week that he would prefer his players didn't do so."I just feel so strongly that the act of recognizing the flag is a salute to our country and all of the people that have sacrificed so that we can have the liberties we have," Jones said. "I feel very strongly that everyone should save that moment for the recognition of the flag in a positive way, so I like the way the Cowboys do it."However, Cowboys running back Darren McFadden said last week that Jones hasn't explicitly told players not to protest during the anthem."He hasn't come in and said that to us personally," McFadden said.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins head coach Adam Gase has made it clear that the team is not trying to get rid of their leading receiver.With no news of a extension as Jarvis Landry enters the final year of his rookie contract, former NFL executive Michael Lombardi speculated the Dolphins "will seriously listen to offers" for Landry, but Gase categorically denied that Monday."I did talk to (Landry) and told him there's no chance that he's going to be traded," Gase said, according to ESPN's James Walker. "And if something that's not true comes out like that, then I'm going to deal with it. I'm going to approach the player. ... I just let him know that there's no chance I'm going to trade you."Related: Is Jarvis Landry in the Dolphins' long-term plans?The Dolphins are reportedly unlikely to offer Landry an extension prior to the end of the 2017 season. Landry has been the Dolphins leader in receptions over the past three season, tying the record for most catches in a player's first three years with Odell Beckham Jr.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski have partnered with Dunkin' Donuts to show off their best celebratory dance moves.In this behind-the-scenes video from a commercial the pair filmed for the company's "Sip, Win, Peel" campaign, Beckham can also be seen perfectly executing one of Gronkowski's famous spikes.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs will entrust their ground game to rookie Kareem Hunt following starter Spencer Ware's season-ending knee injury, and the third-round pick said he's ready to step up."It means everything," Hunt told BJ Kissel of the Chiefs' official website after being named the new starter. "It means that (coach Andy Reid) trusts and believes in me. I'm very excited to be taking on such a big role, and I'm ready for the challenge."Hunt was expected to push Ware for the starting gig this year, but will now be responsible for carrying a significant portion of the offensive workload. The young runner has already impressed during the preseason, racking up 79 yards on 18 carries and catching four passes for another 31 yards.Reid is confident the running game won't miss a beat, especially with the team's strong depth at the position."I think we're going to be OK there," the coach said Sunday. "Now, listen, are you going to replace (Ware)? No, he's a good football player, but the young kid (Hunt) will step in and he'll do a nice job for us, and Charcandrick (West) has got reps under his belt, and C.J. (Spiller) has reps under his belt, so we're OK."Reid continued: "I don't want to take anything away from (Ware) and how important he was to our team, but that's a position where we have a little strength, so we should be OK."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

The Buffalo Bills have traded linebacker Reggie Ragland to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a 2019 fourth-round pick.Ragland was selected in the second round by the Bills in 2016 and missed his rookie season with a torn ACL. He had been seen as a fit in the Bills' 3-4 system under former head coach Rex Ryan, but less so in new coach Sean McDermott's 4-3 scheme.This is the third player the Bills have traded since hiring new general manager Brandon Beane in June.In Kansas City, the former SEC Defensive Player of the Year will likely get a chance to start at inside linebacker beside veteran Derrick Johnson.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos quarterback Paxton Lynch has been diagnosed with a shoulder sprain that will cause him to miss at least a few weeks, but will not require surgery, reports Mike Klis of 9News.Lynch had been forced to leave Saturday's game with the injury, keeping him from any chance of re-igniting a quarterback competition with Trevor Siemian.The 23-year-old former first-round pick lost the starting quarterback competition to Siemian for a second year in a row this summer. Lynch played in three games last season, 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.

The Houston Texans and owner Bob McNair announced Monday a pledge to donate $1 million to the United Way of Greater Houston Flood Relief Fund.The NFL Foundation also announced it will match the Texans' donation, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.The Dallas Cowboys will also donate $1 million to help Houston following Hurricane Harvey, according to ESPN's Sarah Barshop, as will the New England Patriots, who will send their contribution to the American Red Cross.Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said his team will dedicate this season to the people of Houston."We hope our actions encourage others to do whatever they can to help their neighbors in need," added O'Brien.Texans star defensive end J.J. Watt has already raised over $422,000 for flood victims in Houston and is targeting $500,000."If there's a way that we can help brighten up people's days for a couple hours on Sundays, we are going to do it," said Watt.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

And the hits keep coming for the Baltimore Ravens.Ravens linebacker Albert McClellan is out for the 2017 season after tearing his ACL in practice last week, the team announced Monday.This latest blow comes on the heels of losing key players like tight end Dennis Pitta and running back Kenneth Dixon to season-ending injuries, as well as handful role players, among them rookie guard Nico Siragusa and slot corner Tavon Young.Joe Flacco has also missed the first three preseason games with a back injury, though head coach John Harbaugh promised Saturday the quarterback will be ready for Week 1.McClellan started 11 games in 2016 (and appeared in 16), racking up 55 total tackles and one sack. His versatility and special teams prowess will be hard for Baltimore to replace.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Earlier in August, San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid said he wasn't going to stage any protests during the national anthem this season after kneeling with Colin Kaepernick during the 2016 season.Reid changed his mind, however, taking a knee during "The Star-Spangled Banner" before Sunday's preseason game while teammates Marquise Goodwin, Eli Harold, and Lorenzo Jerome all placed hands on his shoulder in support.After the contest, Reid told reporters he decided to restart his protest after a conversation with Kaepernick and in the wake of the recent events in Charlottesville, adding he plans to continue to do so throughout the season."Change. The accountability for officers that step outside of the line," Reid said when asked what he hopes to achieve with his protest, according to NFL.com. "We want our president to be a president and not threaten to shut down the government over a wall. To change the oppression that happens in this country, it has no place in the world, let alone America."So, I think our goal is to just keep talking about it. Hopefully, we ... inspire people to do something about it through our protests. And this isn't something that's new. I've learned a lot of things throughout the past year about athletes that have talked about the same things that we're talking about. So, the goal is to just create some change."Reid said the violence in Charlottesville by rallying white nationalists, ending in the murder of a counter-protester, inspired him to kneel once again during the anthem in order to "regain control" of the narrative that some have spun against NFL players for protesting."What I was upset about was the false narratives that were being told about us, people were saying we're un-American, that we're against police entirely and the military," Reid said, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. "And that just wasn't true. At first, I thought that was a small sacrifice to pay to get the word out to raise awareness, and I settled with thinking that raising that awareness was victory."Then fast-forward to Charlottesville, and the country sees what an un-American protest really looks like. That's when I had my change of heart, because what Colin, Eli and I did was a peaceful protest fueled by faith in God to help make our country a better place. And I feel like I needed to regain control of that narrative and not let people say that what we're doing is un-American, because it's not. It's completely American. We're doing it because we want equality for everyone. We want our country to be a better place, so that's why I decided to resume the protest."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Over the past four seasons, Tom Brady has looked to Julian Edelman more than any other receiver.For the 2017 campaign, however, Brady will have to find a new go-to guy after the pass-catcher suffered a season-ending knee injury during Friday's preseason game - a loss that had Brady reeling."It's a challenging part of the job, it really is," Brady said Monday on "Kirk & Callahan," according to Zack Cox of WEEI.com. "In my 18th year, it certainly isn't that easy. I don't think you should take those things well. You hate to see guys get injured. You hate to see guys that you've had so much experience with get injured. I think just because there is so much dependability and trust. You've been through these things. You know what you can count on. I think it was pretty tough. That was a tough night for me the other night, and it still is."The New England Patriots quarterback is used to playing without one of his top offensive weapons. Star tight end Rob Gronkowski missed the last two months of the 2016 season, but the Patriots and Brady were able to persevere and win their fifth Super Bowl title.The 40-year-old quarterback is expecting the same resilience from his team with the Edelman blow."We're going to be tested this year," Brady said. "We're going to be tested early. I am sure (Edelman) is not going to be the only one that gets injured over the course of the year. Every team has injuries so they are dealing with the same thing. No one is going to feel sorry for us. We have to understand this is where we're at and this is how we have to get the job done and work as hard as we can at it."Brady will likely rely more on newcomer Brandin Cooks, as well veterans Chris Hogan and Danny Amendola. But Brady - who suffered his own ACL tear in 2008 - has no doubt his favorite target will bounce back from the injury."It's a tough injury being through it," Brady said. "It happened to me going into my ninth year, and it happened to him going into his ninth year. I haven't had any problems. Obviously, it is a different position, but he'll overcome it."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The latest instalment of Madden NFL has hit the shelves (or more likely the "store" tab on your console), and the folks at EA Sports have managed to improve upon football's favorite video game.Madden 18 still keeps the fan favorites Franchise mode and Ultimate Team in tact, allowing users to take control of their favorite club or build their own fantasy roster to compete against friends and strangers.However, there are some great added elements to this edition of the game. Here are the five best features of Madden 18:'Longshot' modeBy far, the biggest change to Madden is the addition of its first ever story mode "Longshot".In this mode, users take control of aspiring NFL quarterback Devin Wade and essentially play out the scenes of "Longshot", the movie. EA Sports went the extra mile to tell the story, bringing in voice actors JR Lemon, Academy Award-winner Mahershala Ali, "Friday Night Lights" actor Scott Porter, and several NFL personalities - including Dan Marino and Chad Johnson.Playing as Wade, you are judged on intangibles, football IQ, and on-field skills as you pass through a series of off-field predicaments, practice drills, and in-game simulations.Improved commentaryEA Sports came out with a brilliant new idea to cut down on the frustration of Madden commentary last year by introducing weekly updates of customised play-by-play analysis.Fox Sports analyst Charles Davis and play-by-play man Brandon Gaudin are back for another season of outstanding commentary that will include regular in-season updates. Understandably, there were a few hiccups as Madden became the first sports game to accommodate the feature in 2016, but now all the wrinkles have been smoothed out and the broadcast chemistry is on point.Play Now modeThe "Play Now" mode for any sports video game generally has a pretty simple concept: pick the home team, pick the away team, play the game.While that option still exists in Madden 18, an up-to-date feature has been added to let users play their team's next opponent or any game on the weekly schedule. This feature will be updated from week to week as the season moves on, giving users a quick option to play the most anticipated matchups at each stop of the NFL season.MUT SquadsMadden Ultimate Team mode has always allowed users to play against friends, but now you can be on the same team.The MUT Squads lets users team up with two friends in three-on-three online play, combining rosters to create a "squad" and splitting the roles into offensive captain, defensive captain, and head coach. The co-operative game play lets one player control the offense and special teams, one player use the defense, and the third player manage the clock and choose the details of the combined rosters (jerseys, stadiums, playbooks, etc).GraphicsIt has become expected that EA will slightly improve its graphics from year to year, but switching over to the "Frostbite" graphics engine this year has caused very noticeable differences in Madden 18.Using the same graphics engine as "Battlefield 1" and "Mass Effect: Andromeda", Madden 18's visuals are sharper and more detailed than ever.With the additional available details, Madden 18 has customised each stadium even further, adding specific half-time shows, introduction festivities, and a handful of signature touchdown celebrations. The effects of weather have also been magnified to ensure a difference is felt between a December game in New England and September scorcher in Miami.(Photos Courtesy: Madden 18)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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.Meredith likely done for year The third week of the preseason wrapped up with a tripleheader on Sunday, and the injury reaper claimed another victim.Cameron Meredith will miss the entire season after suffering what's believed to be a torn ACL in a gruesome collision with the Titans' Johnathan Cyprien and Wesley Woodyard. Spare yourself the horror and don't go watch the video.The Bears now need to fill the void left by Meredith, who was entering the season as Chicago's top option in the passing game. Former first-round pick Kevin White is finally healthy, and will likely get the first shot at the job. However, White hasn't shown anything that would inspire confidence that he can produce in a lead role. He remains a dart throw in the later rounds.Kendall Wright is another name worth watching, but isn't someone you want to invest in outside of a deep fantasy pick. That leaves Markus Wheaton, who's recovering from a broken finger. Wheaton will be worth taking a waiver-wire flier on once he's nearing a return.Overall, you might as well draw a big red X over the Bears' passing game.Instant Impressions

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict is facing a five-game suspension for an illegal hit on Kansas City Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Burfict will have a hearing with the NFL to appeal next week.The veteran linebacker's latest offense came when he hit a defenseless Sherman on a pass play in the Bengals' second preseason game on Aug. 19.

Sunday's preseason contest between the San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings rewarded viewers who stuck with the game well into the third quarter.49ers running back Raheem Mostert initially appeared to make the play of the evening as he caught a screen pass and bolted upfield for an 87-yard score, giving his team a 24-10 lead.

The NFLPA is scheduled to vote by October 15 to determine whether to extend executive director DeMaurice Smith's term without facing opposition from external candidates, according to provisions obtained by Mark Maske of The Washington Post.A set of election procedures previously unbeknownst to the public stipulate that a 14-member selection committee - and potentially a 32-member board of player representatives - could decide whether to extend Smith's term without him facing an election against any opposition candidates.Smith has served as the NFLPA's executive director since being unanimously elected in March 2009. However, attorney Cyrus Mehri is lobbying against Smith, vying for his position while believing that he misled the players about a prospective March 2018 election - the same month Smith's current term is slated to expire."De Smith has given the vast majority of NFL players and the public at large the false impression that the election is in March of 2018,” Mehri said to the Post. "Meanwhile, he devised a scheme with a virtually secret and unobtainable constitution to prevent any election at all."Mehri believes that players are currently being deprived of a fair system and that Smith is unilaterally hording power."It is ironic in a league where players have to compete every single day that De Smith is afraid of competition,” Mehri said. “NFL players deserve better. . . . We will not let him get away with this. Players deserve choices. We are going to fight every day to advance player voices and choices. To be the (executive director of the NFLPA is a privilege that should be earned every three years in broad daylight. The stakes are too high to deprive NFL players of an opportunity to evaluate the candidates after a full debate."The NFLPA has yet to offer formal comment on this development.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant claimed Indianapolis Colts safety Matthias Farley intentionally tried to injure him during Saturday's preseason contest.Colts cornerback Vontae Davis dragged Bryant down to make a tackle, then Farley connected with an upper-body strike, irking Bryant."I feel better about my body and my ability on the field. I don't have to worry about taking so many injuries from different plays like yesterday where he tried to hurt me," Bryant said to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "Just making sure my body feels good and I stay in shape."Farley was not sanctioned for the play.Bryant was permitted to participate in all preseason activities after being banned for the entire 2016 campaign due to a violation of the league's substance abuse policy. The receiver awaits full reinstatement before he can suit up during the regular season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

J.J. Watt is stepping up to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey, which has brought catastrophic flooding to the Houston area.The Texans defensive end tweeted a video Sunday announcing the launch of a fundraiser to assist with the recovery efforts, and called upon fans to donate if they're able to. Watt himself contributed $100,000 to the cause.

Mike Glennon finally looks to be holding his own after back-to-back preseason contests that featured Mitch Trubisky stealing the show.In the Chicago Bears' win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday afternoon, both Glennon and Trubisky fared well enough to keep their spots as the team's No. 1 and No. 2 quarterbacks, respectively.Glennon had his best showing as a Bear, completing 11-of-18 passes for 134 yards with one touchdown and no turnovers. He spread the ball well among his receivers and was able to confidently look downfield after resorting to a flurry of checkdowns in his previous preseason action.

After impressing during the preseason with a series of performances that belied his raw statistical output, rookie DeShone Kizer won the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback role Sunday.The first-year pivot is being groomed to become the face of the franchise by head coach Hue Jackson, who ardently believes the 21-year-old is destined for stardom. Upon committing to their quarterback of the future, the Browns no longer have to enlist in half-measures and can accelerate their rebuild with their most important position secured for the time being.Need a good laugh on a quiet Sunday evening before "Game of Thrones" or the 49ers-Vikings preseason clash? Look no further than the laundry list of quarterbacks the Browns have trotted out in years past.Brady Quinn never completed over 54 percent of his passes in a single year. Colt McCoy looked lost in space. Brandon Weeden started the 2012 campaign as a 28-year-old rookie, an oxymoron if there ever was one, flaming out after two seasons before improbably cultivating a journeyman role with the Texans. Will anyone remember the Jason Campbell/Brian Hoyer/Josh McCown starting trio from 2013-2015? We've gone this far without touching on the ill-fated attempt to revive Robert Griffin III's career, nor have we addressed the Johnny Manziel saga - a modern American tragedy with a dramatic arc fitting of an Aristotelian archetype.One can be forgiven if they're relentlessly skeptical of Kizer taking over the reigns, but he's putting the Browns in the best position to succeed long-term.Kizer is Jackson's unreserved choice and the pairing will be tied to each other as the two central figures behind the Browns' rebuild - with due apologies to 2017 first overall pick Myles Garrett. If Kizer fails during his rookie year, he will likely avoid scrutiny and the decision to throw the second-round pick into action will be viewed as a bold coaching decision gone awry. However, if Kizer excels, or is even merely competent during his rookie campaign, he will receive due credit for taking over a moribund franchise.It's a win-win scenario for the rookie as Jackson slowly bides his time in eventually trying to turn the Browns into a Super Bowl contender.

The New York Jets claimed defensive end Kony Ealy off waivers after he was released by the New England Patriots on Saturday, the team announced.The Patriots traded for Ealy in March, though they didn't give up much draft capital to acquire him. In three preseason games with the Patriots, Ealy made one tackle.Ealy will join cousin Sheldon Richardson with the Jets. Ealy was a second-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in 2014, but struggled to find a role and be productive in their scheme. The 25-year-old could be moved to outside linebacker in the Jets' 3-4 system or be used as a rotational player on the defensive line.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After the team had previously feared a season-ending injury, Dallas Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens was diagnosed with a tibial plateau fracture in his right knee that will cause him to miss eight weeks, ESPN's Todd Archer reports.While he'll miss significant time, the prognosis comes as good news for the Cowboys who originally feared Hitchens suffered a torn ACL following his exit from Saturday's game.Hitchens' injury leaves a gap in the middle of the Cowboys' defense as he started at middle linebacker for all of the 2016 season. His absence could open up a chance for second-year linebacker Jaylon Smith to start as he returns from a major knee injury. Kyle Wilber and Justin Durant will also likely get a chance to compete for the vacated role.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.