Standout receiver Demaryius Thomas believes Trevor Siemian is capable of guiding the Denver Broncos to the Super Bowl, as long as the third-year quarterback doesn't make a habit of coughing up the football."I think so. Our main thing is taking care of the ball," Thomas told Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post. "We got a great defense, we got a great receiving corps, great offensive line, great running back crew. Trevor is going to take care of the ball and put us in the right spots. It’s just about everybody staying healthy and doing their part."Siemian won the team's starting role for the second consecutive year, but is coming off an underwhelming 2016 campaign. After capturing Super Bowl 50 the previous season, the Broncos missed the playoffs a year ago despite boasting an elite defense.Thomas caught 90 passes for 1,083 yards and five touchdowns last season, excellent figures for most players, but totals that paled in comparison to his previous output.Broncos head coach Vance Joseph implored Thomas to become a more consistent presence in 2017, as the team looks to get back to the big game."I want him to be a dominant player all the time,” Joseph said. “I don’t want him to ease into games. I want him to be a guy. I want him to step out and be a guy. It’s time."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones extended an offer to host an upcoming preseason contest versus the Houston Texans at AT&T Stadium on Aug. 31.The Texans are scheduled to host the Cowboys, but with Hurricane Harvey threatening to cause major damage in Houston, Jones is offering to make his team's stadium available."We're working with them," Jones said Friday to the Dallas Morning News. "Certainly, our doors are open. We think so much of (owner) Mr. (Robert) McNair and the Texans and if we can help them in any way, then obviously our doors are open to help them out."The Texans are considering their contingency plans but have yet to make an official decision."Let's see what happens," Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said Thursday to ESPN. "Certainly if something does happen to that effect, we'll have to address it with our players. Family comes first. It's never football over family. It's football over a lot of things, but not family."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

All Cam Newton needed was two passes.In his first game action since undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, the Carolina Panthers quarterback went 2-for-2 and found Kelvin Benjamin for a 9-yard touchdown on the opening drive of Thursday's preseason affair against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He didn't play another snap."I'm ready to go," Newton said after the game, according to David Newton of ESPN.The 2015 NFL MVP admitted he'd hoped for more playing time. He's thrown sparingly throughout team practices and training camp."It was just for caution," Newton said when asked to compare his arm strength now to how it felt before he was shut down in training camp. "It's not no percentage I can really give you. I feel great right now. I felt great then."I just wish I had played a little longer. I feel behind in a lot of ways, but the optimism of this game is we did have a great first drive."The Panthers will close the preseason next Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. It'll be more than two weeks before Newton is on the field again, when Carolina opens the regular season on the road against the San Francisco 49ers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Legendary NFL running back Jim Brown made it abundantly clear that he doesn't support the national anthem protests going on around the league."I'm an American," Brown told The Post Game. "I don't desecrate my flag and my national anthem ... this is my country, and I'll work out the problems, but I'll do it in an intelligent manner."Brown was first asked about the Colin Kaepernick situation and responded by saying he understands the sentiment behind the quarterback kneeling for the anthem, but doesn't believe activism and professional sports go hand in hand."I want to be in his corner," Brown said of Kaepernick. "Colin has to make up his mind whether he's truly an activist or he's a football player. Football is commercial. You have owners. You have fans. And you want to honor that if you're making that kind of money."Brown's comments came on the heels of LeSean McCoy - one of this generation's star running backs - openly questioning whether Kaepernick's skill level warrants the unwanted publicity that he'd inevitably bring to any team that chooses to sign him."You have to understand there's intelligence involved ... I can't be two things at once that contradict each other," Brown added. "If I sign for money, then the people I sign with, they have rules and regulations."With the regular season just two weeks away, it seems less and less likely that Kaepernick will be on a roster this season after his anthem protests sent shock waves through the league last season. Given that the NFL is a business, Brown doesn't seem all that surprised.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Under a new regime, the San Francisco 49ers are parting ways with one of their longest-tenured players.The Niners released veteran linebacker Ahmad Brooks, the team announced Friday.Brooks spent the past 10 seasons of his 12-year career with San Francisco. He has led or shared the team lead in sacks since 2013."We would like to thank Ahmad for his nine years of service and contributions to the 49ers," 49ers general manager John Lynch said in a statement. "In that time, he played a significant role on some formidable defensive units that helped this team achieve great success. We feel good about the depth and competition along our defensive front and believe that by making this decision now it will give Ahmad a head start on exploring his options with other teams. We wish him and his family nothing but the best."Brooks had been fighting to hold off third-year pro Eli Harold for his outside linebacker spot, Barrows writes. The 33-year-old was scheduled to count $6.1 million against the cap, the fourth-highest figure on the team. Harold, meanwhile, is still on his rookie deal and holds an $823,000 cap hit.New 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan were given matching six-year contracts to reshape and rebuild the Niners' roster as they see fit.Brooks joins former Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Roberto Aguayo among the most notable names to be cut to this point.All 32 teams have to shave their rosters from 90 to 53 players ahead of their final preseason game. The third of four preseason weeks got underway Thursday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

FOX Sports has hired retired NFL quarterback Michael Vick as a studio analyst, according to A.J. Perez of USA TODAY Sports.Vick will work on "FOX NFL Kickoff" and make regular appearances on FS1 studio shows. FOX Sports will announce Vick's hiring Sunday."I'm very excited," Vick told Perez on Friday. "Over the last seven or eight months, I've done a lot of interviews, and I think I've gotten better as I've been put in those situations more often. Things really came together (with Fox) over the last couple months. They have shows that I have always watched and admired. My friends and family are thankful and proud of me."Vick spent the offseason interning as a coach with the Kansas City Chiefs after retiring in June as a member of the Atlanta Falcons, where he started his 13-year career."He was obviously an outstanding player, but we feel he has an incredibly bright future as an analyst," John Entz, Fox Sports president of production and executive producer, said in an email to USA TODAY Sports. "He has stayed close to the game and has many relationships with today's current coaches and players. We feel he can bring a truly unique perspective that intrigues and engages our viewers."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.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

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.The big betting attractions happen on Saturday with Mayweather vs. McGregor and the kickoff to the college football season. If you're looking for a little warmup wager on Friday, look no further than the two NFL preseason games. Covers previews both games including the Seahawks hosting the Chiefs which will air nationally on CBS.New England Patriots at Detroit Lions (+2.5, 43.5)About the PatriotsTom Brady started last week against the Texans before getting the hook after the offense’s first two drives. The 40-year-old quarterback is looking forward to see more snaps Friday against the Lions.“For me, it is just feeling the rhythm of the game, and it is different than practice,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “The rhythm of practice is very different, and the only way to simulate the game is to play. I can draw on a lot of experience, but it is nice to get out there and actually do it.”Head coach Bill Belichick is doing his shtick, mumbling but not answering any questions - particularly those about how much time Brady and the first team offense will see on Friday. Using Week 3 of the preseason in 2015 is our best clue for what we’ll see. Brady played in the first half in that game.In the Brady era, the Patriots are 8-6-1 against the spread in Week 3 of the preseason.About the LionsThe Lions are 2-0 straight up and against the spread this preseason but those two games came against the sad-sack New York Jets and the Andrew Luck-less Indianapolis Colts.Will Detroit’s defense be able to replicate its preseason success in the first two weeks against the Patriots on Friday? We’re going to guess no seeing how Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo are far superior to Christian Hackenberg and Scott Tolzien.The Lions’ starters are expected to play the entire first half before the backups take the field for the last 30 minutes of action. Quarterback Jake Rudock will lead the Lions offense in the second half. The second year pro out of Michigan has passed for 226 yards with two touchdowns and one interception while completing 60 percent of his pass attempts.Detroit is 10-4 against the spread in preseason games since Jim Caldwell took over as the team’s head coach.Line movesThe Lions opened as 1-point home pups but the line has been bet up to +2.5. The total has also dropped two full points after opening at 45.5.Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks (-3.5, 42.5)About the ChiefsThe peeps in KC are falling in love with their new quarterback Patrick Mahomes II. The rookie out of Texas Tech has completed 17 of his 23 pass attempts with three TD passes and no INTs in his two preseason outings.Incumbent starter Alex Smith hasn’t been a slouch this preseason either. The veteran signal-caller is 12 for 15 on his pass attempts for 131 yards and one touchdown in limited action this month. Smith and the rest of the Kansas City starters will play the first three quarters on Friday against the Seahawks.The Chiefs are 3-1 against the spread in Week 3 of the preseason under head coach Andy Reid.About the SeahawksHead coach Pete Carroll hasn’t told reporters exactly how much time his starters will play on Friday, but based on last year bettors can expect quarterback Russell Wilson and the rest of the first teams to play until about halfway through the third quarter.The Seahawks’ offensive line is the talking point this week in Seattle. The team lost starting left tackle George Fant for the season with an ACL injury and the coaching staff is scrambling to find a replacement for him. Offensive line has been the Achilles’ heel of this Seattle club over the last few seasons.This game will be nationally televised on CBS. Former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was going to make his debut as a color commentator but he was a late scratch after his wife gave birth to their third son earlier this week.Line movesNo movement on the spread but the total has been moved up 1.5 points and is sitting at 43.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ezekiel Elliott will personally attend the appeal of his six-game suspension for domestic violence allegations, the Dallas Cowboys running back's representatives told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.While Elliott will attend the appeal, his accuser, and ex-girlfriend, Tiffany Thompson, reportedly won't be.Arbitrator Harold Henderson - who will oversee the appeal rather than NFL commissioner Roger Goodell - has denied a request from Elliott's representatives to make Thompson available to testify. He also rejected a separate request for notes or transcripts of the league's meetings with Thompson, a league source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.The NFL and the NFL Players Association have engaged in a war of words over what the league perceives as the union trying to victim-shame Thompson.Related: NFL accuses NFLPA of trying to shame Elliott accuserRelated: NFLPA slams NFL for Elliott victim-shaming accusationsThis reported development means Elliott's representatives won't get a chance to question the only witness in the case.Elliott's appeal is scheduled for Aug. 29 at the NFL's offices.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kony Ealy has yet to suit up in a regular-season game for the New England Patriots, but he may already be on the trading block.The Patriots have "gauged the trade market" for the defensive end, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL.com.The former Carolina Panther was acquired by the Patriots this offseason along with a third-round draft pick in exchange for New England's second-round selection.No Patriots trade rumors should come as a surprise with Bill Belichick running things, especially after several reports surfaced this summer that Ealy was struggling throughout training camp.It's been an up-and-down career for the 25-year-old Ealy, whose most notable performance came in Super Bowl 50 when he racked up three sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception in the Panthers' loss to the Denver Broncos.The pass-rusher was originally expected to play a significant role on the Patriots' defense this year, but it now sounds as though those plans could be in jeopardy.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Race relations is an unavoidable topic in the Boston area. Protests and rallies have dominated the news cycle and has even led one of the most affable local athletes to weigh-in on the subject.New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was asked to share his thoughts on race relations in America and provided a measured response."I just feel like evil will always destroy itself," Gronkowski said to Class Act Sports, according to Sam Galanis of NESN."In sports, a team is surrounded with people with different backgrounds, with different races, with different religion. And you know how in order for a team to win is everyone comes together. And I feel like that's what the USA represents - everyone just needs to come together in order to win, just like sports teams."It's a rare political commentary from a man typically regarded as a party animal.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Bears were paid a visit by one of the game's all-time greats this week.Retired quarterback Peyton Manning spent some time at Bears training camp and was spotted conversing with rookie pivot Mitchell Trubisky and starting quarterback Mike Glennon.

Odell Beckham Jr. will undergo the first in a series of laser therapy treatments on his injured ankle Friday, reports Gil Brandt of NFL.com.The procedure will take place in Phoenix, Ariz., and is similar to the one former player Jared Allen underwent in 2016 prior to Super Bowl 50.Despite missing the NFC Championship that year with a broken foot, Allen was able to suit up for the Super Bowl after the procedure.It was reported this week that Beckham could miss the New York Giants' regular-season opener after sustaining the ankle injury on a low hit in Monday's preseason game against the Cleveland Browns.The Giants will hope the treatments work similar wonders on Beckham, as he's slated to be the focal point of the team's offense this season, per usual.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A lifelong Philadelphia Eagles fan died last Friday, but not before poking fun at his team one last time in his planned obituary.Jeff Riegel, 56, of Port Republic, New Jersey, requested "eight Philadelphia Eagles as pallbearers so the Eagles could let him down one last time," according to the Associated Press.He didn't quite get his wish, though eight friends did wear Eagles jerseys as they laid him to rest.Riegel was a season-ticket holder for over 30 years, and it's easy to understand his frustration with the team; the Eagles only reached the Super Bowl twice in his lifetime, and lost both contests.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Those anxious to hear how Tony Romo fares as a broadcaster will have to wait until the regular season.Romo, the new lead analyst for CBS, was scheduled to cover Friday's preseason game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks with partner Jim Nantz. It was to be his first live game as a broadcaster. However, he was allowed to be away after the birth of his third child Wednesday.

Former Washington Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan said Thursday he'd pick Carson Wentz to build a franchise around out of all the young quarterbacks in the NFL."I'd probably go with Wentz," McCloughan told ESPN's Adam Schefter on his podcast, according to Bleacher Report's Alec Nathan."With the size - I like those guys. He (Wentz) reminds me of (Ben) Roethlisberger. The big, thick-boned guy that's got the strong arm, that's tough enough to stay in there and plays. And takes hits and doesn't affect 'em. Guys like (Jared) Goff and those type of guys, they're thinner, which makes you a little bit nervous just about durability. Everyone wants to throw the ball so much nowadays and everyone talks about sacks, but it's not so much sacks - it's the knockdowns."Wentz produced a decent rookie season for the Philadelphia Eagles last year, excelling over the first three games before largely coming back down to earth for the rest of the campaign.While Wentz's struggles were partly due to a lack of legitimate receiving threats in Philadelphia, he was thoroughly outshone by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who took home Offensive Rookie of the Year honors for his highly efficient season.The Eagles recognized Wentz needed reinforcements, signing Pro Bowler Alshon Jeffery and deep threat Torrey Smith this offseason.Wentz is set for a sophomore leap, but it's questionable whether he's done enough to warrant a place above Prescott, let alone the likes of young stud quarterbacks like Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston, and Derek Carr.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With just over two weeks until the Jacksonville Jaguars' season opener, head coach Doug Marrone still isn't prepared to settle on one quarterback.Neither Blake Bortles nor Chad Henne stood out in Thursday's 24-23 preseason loss to the Carolina Panthers, leaving Marrone seemingly no closer to a decision."I'm not going to stand up here and comment a lot on the two," Marrone said after the game, according to John Oehser of the team's official website. "I'm going to go back and look at things and see where we're at."Marrone declared the starting job was "up there for grabs" after Bortles' abysmal performance in the second preseason contest. And while the clock is ticking for the head coach to pick a starter, he won't rush the crucial decision."I'm not going to put that pressure on myself to say, 'Hey, listen. I need to do this.' I've got time," Marrone said, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Henne started the game and played the entire first half, with Bortles taking over after the break. While both had strong moments and questionable throws, they received little help from their teammates.The two signal-callers were victimized by drops, poor protection, and little production on the ground with first-round pick running back Leonard Fournette sidelined with a foot injury.Marrone admitted having a fledgling ground game made "it very difficult for whoever's playing quarterback," per Oehser.Despite the less-than-ideal situation, the Jaguars must figure out who between Bortles and Henne gives them the best chance of winning - and soon.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan isn't afraid to say it. With his team's quarterback situation unresolved heading into the 2017 campaign, the eccentric billionaire let it be known that he'd have no issue signing free-agent quarterback and divisive figure Colin Kaepernick.The Jaguars' projected starting quarterback, Blake Bortles, played behind veteran Chad Henne during the team's third preseason game on Thursday, leading Mike Dempsey of 1010XL to ask Khan if he'd consider adding Kaepernick if that's what "the football people" want."Absolutely," Khan said, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.It's the first such statement by an NFL owner with regards to the idea of adding Kaepernick to their team. In July, Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said he was "monitoring" the situation and asked fans to "pray for us" as he mulled a decision. The Ravens instead signed quarterbacks David Olson and Thad Lewis.Kaepernick, 29, has remained unsigned since opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers at the close of the 2016 campaign. He chose to sit or kneel during the playing of the national anthem last season as a form of protest against social inequality in America, but has reportedly decided to stand for the anthem going forward.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For a supposed franchise quarterback, being benched is about as bad as it can get.Blake Bortles hit rock bottom Thursday, as the Jacksonville Jaguars opted to start Chad Henne over him for the crucial third preseason game against the Carolina Panthers."I don’t know if it can get any worse than that," Bortles said postgame. according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "As a quarterback in the NFL, that’s probably the last thing you want to hear. I think you can roll over and lay down or you can keep working, grinding and trying to win that spot back. So, you have two options and I think you pick one and you go."Henne was unable to make the most of the opportunity, however. He went 8-of-14 for 73 yards, though his night would have looked better if not for a drop by Keelan Cole which likely would ended in a touchdown had he corralled Henne's perfect deep shot.Bortles looked improved, throwing a 4-yard touchdown and making some of the high-level throws that made some believe he would be a star just a season ago. He ended the game with 125 yards on 16 attempts, with one interception souring his otherwise solid effort.It wasn't enough to reclaim his starting job, but Bortles is remaining positive."It's tough. I think you're getting dealt a certain hand and it's your decision and you chose to do what you want with it," Bortles said. "You can put your head down and continue to work and continue to fight and go out and play. Make each rep you get in practice as meaningful as possible."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler needed just over one quarter of play in the team's third preseason game to show his coaches, teammates, and fans what they can expect this season.Cutler stayed true to himself in what was likely his final preseason action. In limited play, the recently unretired 34-year-old showed that despite his imperfections, he'll be a perfectly adequate replacement for - if not an improvement on - the injured Ryan Tannehill this season.The baitCutler was forced into a brief early retirement this offseason, after finishing the 2016 campaign with four touchdowns to five interceptions and two lost fumbles in just five games played.Early in the first quarter, the carefree gunslinger showed some of what scared teams away when he was strip-sacked by Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Vinny Curry. Offensive guard Laremy Tunsil deserves his share of the blame for the blown block, but with everyone focused on Cutler, it was a play much too similar to what fans had come to rightfully fear.The switchShortly after spotting the opposition an early 7-0 lead as a result of his fumble, Cutler demonstrated his ability to quickly erase mistakes.

Colin Kaepernick has garnered a great number of supporters throughout his political stance over the last year, and a group of those decided to take their message straight to NFL headquarters.The free agent quarterback wanted to make sure those supporters know their voices have been heard, as he offered thanks via Twitter on Thursday for their support.

CANTON, Ohio (AP) Robert Brazile and Jerry Kramer have been picked as the senior finalists for the 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.The seniors committee selected Brazile and Kramer on Thursday. A senior nominee must have completed his career at least 25 years ago and will need at least 80 percent of the vote by the Hall of Fame selection committee when it meets during Super Bowl week in Minneapolis to be elected.Brazile went to seven Pro Bowls and was a member of the NFL's All-Decade team of the 1970s as a linebacker with the Houston Oilers.Kramer helped Green Bay win five NFL championships and the first two Super Bowls, and the guard was voted to both the 1960s All-Decade team and the NFL's 50th Anniversary team in 1969.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Joe Thomas can readily admit his eye isn't quite as good as his memory.Roughly a week after predicting veteran quarterback and off-season acquisition Brock Osweiler to be the team's Week 1 starter, rookie DeShone Kizer gets set to start the Browns' pivotal third preseason game Saturday - a strong indication he'll begin the regular season under center.Osweiler isn't even expected to play in the game.The franchise lineman admitted his mistake, stating he's certainly not the expert others would like him to be.“Everyone always asks me about quarterback,” Thomas said, according to Pat McManamon of ESPN. “I always say, ‘I really don’t know anything about quarterbacks. And I proved it in this case.”Related: Watch: Joe Thomas lists all 18 Browns QBs he's played withThomas' list was going to get longer either way, but he may want to start practicing a new mnemonic device for Kizer, who vows to end Cleveland's continuing circulating carousel of quarterbacks.“There is a lot to show Joe Thomas,” Kizer said. “That guy has seen quite a few quarterbacks obviously. My ultimate goal is for him to not see another one. In order to do that, I have to continue to show him the type of worker that I am and how much time I am putting in off the field in my preparation and making sure that he can go out and get the wins that he absolutely deserves.”Thomas was quick to throw his support behind the rookie, clarifying that his original prediction was not an evaluation of Kizer's skill set, more a statement on the enormity of the task that lies before him.“Starting as a rookie in the NFL at any position is very challenging,” Thomas said. “The difference in speed and quickness and college is vast. But when you talk about a quarterback, that’s even more difficult because of the complexity of the position. It’s definitely the most difficult position to start when you’re a rookie.”With Osweiler reportedly being shopped on the trade market, or possibly destined for the chopping block when roster sizes decrease, Thomas could end up being reunited with the familiar hands of Cody Kessler - who started eight games last season - should Kizer falter.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Playing the New York Jets is going to be special for Geno Smith.Not only is it a chance for the 26-year-old to nail down the Giants' backup quarterback job in the annual preseason game against the Jets on Saturday, but it's a shot for the former Jets' second-round pick in 2013 to show his old team they made a mistake waiving him earlier this year after an up and mostly down four-year stint.Smith is trying to resurrect his career after signing with the Giants as a free agent. He has shown flashes of being a capable quarterback in training camp and the preseason, and perplexing moments of bad decisions that have resulted in turnovers.With a little more than two weeks to go before the season opener against Dallas, Smith seems to be a little ahead of veteran Josh Johnson in the fight to be Eli Manning's backup. Rookie third-round draft pick Davis Webb seemingly will be the redshirt third stringer.Smith laughed Thursday when asked about playing the Jets. It was the first question he was asked and he knew it was coming.''You always want to go out there and prove yourself,'' Smith said. ''But, nothing extra added toward them, though. I have a lot of great respect for a lot of people in that organization and I appreciated my time there, but now it's just focusing on what we have to focus on, which is going out there and executing on game day.''Smith has maintained some contacts with the Jets, snap-chatting with defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, and talking with former Jets center Nick Mangold and injured receiver Quincy Enunwa.Smith said he realized that he would be facing the Jets as soon as he signed with the Giants, but he also said he has to play well.''If you don't produce, you're probably not going to have a job in this league,'' said Smith, who has completed 21 of 33 passes for 193 yards and two interceptions.''So, it's not really about the Jets. It's more about me going out there and just continuing to get better and continuing to showcase my ability, but also be productive. I think I've shown that I can make plays, but I need to be more productive and finish drives.''Giants coach Ben McAdoo did not discuss his plans for his quarterbacks Thursday. Manning probably will play at least the first half and maybe into the third quarter.Either Johnson or Smith probably will follow him. Smith got the majority of the snaps after replacing Manning on Monday night in Cleveland and Johnson did not get as much. That might flip-flop on Saturday.Johnson, who finished last season as the Giants backup after Ryan Nassib was hurt, has not played in an NFL game since 2013, and he has not thrown a pass in a game since 2011. The 31-year-old knows this will be an important game for him, too. He only got to throw four passes against the Browns and is 7 of 14 for 37 yards in the preseason.''They held the ball a lot and controlled the clock,'' Johnson said of his limited action Monday. ''Different things happened throughout the game. My job isn't to complain; just be a professional about it, and make sure to take advantage of the opportunities.''His goal is to put points on the board and get a seventh season in the NFL.''My love for football has allowed me to stay this long,'' Johnson said. ''It has allowed me to push through the hard times, to be humble and to keep working in the good times.''Right now, I'm really trying to just stay in the moment. Obviously, the goal is to be on this team and to be the backup quarterback, but you really have to live in the moment and control what you can control in this process.''NOTES: WRs Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle) and Brandon Marshall (shoulder) did not practice for the second straight day. Marshall was on the field for practice. Beckham was in the team building getting treatment. McAdoo refused to rule them out for Saturday's game. ... CB Michael Hunter and LB Keenan Robinson remain in the concussion protocol. ... McAdoo said he would not hesitate to make changes on his offensive line if he felt it would make the group better.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Don't ever think Dez Bryant doesn't care.The Dallas Cowboys wide receiver clarified comments he made in training camp two weeks ago."My whole thing about that whole situation is like people think that I don't care,'' Bryant said, according to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. "That's crazy.""I'm not criticizing nobody,'' Bryant said. "They're free to do whatever they want. Hell no, I'm not doing none of that. Their beliefs are their beliefs and I'm not saying they're wrong because they're feeling a certain way. They're supposed to. I'm just saying OK, I want to lead by example by doing positive. I'm not saying what they're doing is wrong. I just have my ways of going about things.''Bryant said his earlier lack of comment was because of his focus on training camp and on the Cowboys as a team.In his elaboration, he pointed toward his community involvement as active participation."I'm the first to say, my childhood was bad, it was poor, but I don't let it weigh on my shoulders. I don't. I try my best to become a better person from it and do the exact opposite. That's why I try to show people, that's what I try to show these young kids. What I love about my home town, Lufkin, Texas, you can see them trying to do the same thing. I love and I respect it. It's going to get us far," Bryant said."If you want real peace, that's how you get real peace. That's my opinion.''Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Erica Harris DeValve doesn't want the public to lose sight of what the real focus is behind her husband's actions.Erica, the wife of Cleveland Browns tight end Seth DeValve, submitted a post to TheRoot.com Thursday discussing her husband's choice to kneel with a large group of African-American teammates prior to Monday's game against the New York Giants, calling for the public to not lose sight of the true motive simply because her husband is white."We should not see Seth’s participation as legitimizing this movement. Rather, he chose to be an ally of his black teammates. To center the focus of Monday’s demonstration solely on Seth is to distract from what our real focus should be: listening to the experiences and the voices of the black people who are using their platforms to continue to bring the issue of racism in the U.S. to the forefront."Seth, as a white individual, never has and never will truly have to feel the weight and burden of racial discrimination and racial oppression. No white person does or will. But all white people should care and take a stand against its prevalence in this country."Harris DeValve went on to admit that she is grateful for the support her husband has received in subsequent days, but took the opportunity to remind the public that the man at the center of anthem protests in the NFL is still without a job."I am grateful for the widespread support and praise that Seth is getting for his actions, but I would like to offer a humble reminder that a man - a black man - literally lost his job for taking a knee, week after week, on his own. Colin Kaepernick bravely took a step and began a movement throughout the NFL, and he suffered a ridiculous amount of hate and threats and ultimately lost his life’s work in the sport he loves."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL has officially handed down a one-game suspension to Houston Texans wide receiver Jaelen Strong for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse, the league announced Thursday.Strong will be eligible to return to the Texans' active roster following their Sept. 10 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.The wideout later posted a statement to Twitter, expressing his disappointment in learning of his suspension, and assuring that sort of behavior is behind him."I've done everything since that night. I have learned and matured. I have dedicated myself to being the best person I can be for this team, this city, and our community and I want to be someone kids can look up to," the statement reads. "I made a mistake that night, but I won't let this define me."A report earlier in the week from John McClain of the Houston Chronicle suggested that Strong was appealing a one-game suspension for marijuana possession related to an incident in February of 2016. An official suspension from the league suggests that appeal has been denied.In his second year with the Texans, Strong appeared in eight games and finished with 14 catches and 131 receiving yards.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy believes quarterback Colin Kaepernick remains unsigned more because of his play and less because of his national anthem protests."It's a lot more than just, he's not on the team because he doesn't want to stand for the national anthem," the star runner said Thursday, per Joe Buscaglia from WKBW. "I think it's more than that. That may have something to do with it, but I think it also has a lot to do with his play."... And then it's the chaos that comes with it. I mean, it's a lot."Kaepernick, a free agent, has received minimal interest from NFL teams, despite appearing to offer an upgrade to several teams at the most important position in the game.Only the Baltimore Ravens have seemingly come close to inking him, but they wound up signing with the likes of David Olson and Thad Lewis instead."There's certain players that can be on the team with big distractions, and there's other players that they're not good enough where it's worth it," added McCoy. "I think his situation's not good enough to have on the team with all the attention that comes along with it."If (Tom) Brady or a guy like - whoever's your favorite player, Odell Beckham or a guy like that - you'll deal with that attention and play him. With certain guys it's not worth it."Kaepernick caused a national uproar last season with his decision to sit for the national anthem while a member of the San Francisco 49ers. After meeting with members of the U.S. military, Kaepernick agreed to kneel instead of sitting down completely.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars signaled they still believed in Blake Bortles' long-term potential despite a poor 2016 season when they exercised his fifth-year option in May.And the Jaguars' confidence in Bortles may date back even further, at least to when they were choosing their next head coach in January.Jacksonville allegedly gave head-coaching candidates a mandate that Bortles was the team's starting quarterback, Jaguars beat writer Ryan O'Halloran of the Florida Times-Union told Ross Tucker‏ of SiriusXM NFL Radio.The Jaguars quickly denied the report Thursday."This is inaccurate," tweeted Tad Dickman, the Jaguars' senior manager of PR.Jacksonville didn't bring in any genuine competition for Bortles over the offseason. The Jaguars re-signed journeyman Chad Henne and selected Brandon Allen in the sixth round of the draft, but didn't pursue any free-agent quarterbacks.That decision was questioned at the time, and just three months later, the Jaguars have decided to start Henne over Bortles in the third preseason game Thursday.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.theScore's Justin Boone breaks down the best ways to approach your draft depending on where you're selecting in the order.Draft Position

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.Week 3 of the NFL preseason is as close as it gets to being the real thing before the regular season starts. The third game of the exhibition schedule is when starters will see the most playing time in August.Coaches and players treat the game as a final tune-up before the kickoff of the regular season. And you won’t see any familiar faces in Week 4 of the preseason. Those games are left to the scrubs.Miami Dolphins at Philadelphia Eagles (-3.5, 42)About the DolphinsThe big news in Miami is that former Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey will be playing Thursday with the rest of the Fish starters. Pouncey hasn’t played since last October due to injury.Miami is expected to play its starting unit for at least the full first half against Philadelphia. Quarterback Jay Cutler didn’t play the first week of preseason and saw limited action in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens.The Dolphins will have their top two running backs available for game action for the first time this month. Both Jay Ajayi and Kenyan Drake suffered concussions during training camp.About the EaglesHead coach Doug Pederson is acting a little more cautious with his first teamers this year than he did in his first year as the Eagles’ HC. The Philly starters saw just half the first quarter last week whereas in Week 2 of the preseason a year ago, the first teamers played the full first half.Pederson isn’t telling reporters how much his starters will play against the Dolphins on Thursday either.“Typically in this game, as you know, two quarters in a half… a little bit into the third,” Pederson told reporters earlier this week. “But I haven’t made that decision yet. I’m going to wait and see how the guys are after these couple days.”Philly beat reporters are predicting the Eagles starters will play the first half against the Fish before taking the pine.The Eagles and Dolphins have been practicing together this week and QB Carson Wentz has been lighting up the Miami secondary, according to reporters on the scene.Line movesNo movement on the line or the total in this game.Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars (+1.5, 43)About the PanthersThe big story in Carolina is that starting quarterback Cam Newton is expected to see his first preseason action on Thursday against the Jags. Newton is expected to start but beat reporter Scott Fowler says the 2015 league MVP will only play the first quarter and maybe a possession into the second quarter. The rest of the Carolina starters should play until the end of the third quarter.“He’s starting to get it back,” Rivera said of his starting quarterback. “We’re trying to practice fast and create as close as we can the game simulation. You can see the timing coming back.”Derek Anderson will assume QB duties once Newton’s night is over in Jacksonville.The Panthers are 1-1 straight up and against the spread so far this preseason. They’ve scored 27 points in both games, helping the Over cash in both contests.About the JaguarsThe Jaguars announced Wednesday night that Chad Henne will start at quarterback Thursday.

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."Welcome to Matty's Mailbag, a semi-regular feature where I answer questions solicited from NFL fans on Twitter. Here is this week's offering:Why don't defenses consider the nickel package as base? More are playing extra DB than standard LBs now on more plays.

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith - who suffered a career-threatening knee injury in his final college game - made his preseason debut Saturday versus the Indianapolis Colts.And while Smith only saw limited action and accrued just one tackle, his performance was enough to leave Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli gushing with excitement."Oh boy, good instincts, speed," Marinelli said Thursday to Clarence Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram when asked about Smith. "Man that was a heckuva play he made on that tackle. You could see his speed, got natural instincts with leverage. And he's just so hungry."Smith would've been a potential top-five pick in the 2016 draft, but after tearing both his ACL and LCL while suffering nerve damage in the January 2016 Fiesta Bowl, many questioned whether he'd ever play football again.The Cowboys decided to gamble on Smith, selecting him in the second round with hopes that the nerve would regenerate. And though it's still early, it seems the gamble could pay off."He took another step," Marinelli added. "Another good step."The next step will be seeing whether the linebacker's knee can hold up over the course of a full game, and ultimately, an entire season.For now, Marinelli and the Cowboys seem thrilled with the progress.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said Thursday he's leaning toward allowing Ezekiel Elliott to make his preseason debut in Saturday's game against the Oakland Raiders, according to Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.Garrett added that Elliott will likely play just a few series, and that it will be the running back's only action of the preseason, according to Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News.It could also be Elliott's only taste of live-action football for a while. He's been suspended for the first six games of the regular season for domestic violence allegations, with his appeal reportedly scheduled for Aug. 29.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Blake Bortles' fall from franchise cornerstone in 2015 to potentially losing his starting job to Chad Henne has been dramatic, and the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback's former college coach believes the mental strain is taking its toll."I think his issue at this stage is more that six inches between his ears than anything," Charlie Taaffe, Bortles' offensive coordinator at UCF from 2011-13, told the MMQB.com's Chris Burke. "I think it's a mental thing now. ..."You read all the negativity, you hear all that, after a while - you're only human -it gets to you. ... I don't think it's so much of a physical thing, the mechanics. If anything it's the confidence factor. It's a tough business and, obviously, he hasn't progressed in the last year. There's a lot of reasons. A lot gets pinned on the quarterback, but they look pretty much like the same team I've seen over the time Blake's been there."They don't block very well, can't run the ball with any consistency which obviously hurts the quarterback, their pass protection is getting better but it's still a little suspect. A lot of moving parts where they're not a very good football team and quarterback's the focal point of it."Henne will start over Bortles in the Jaguars' third preseason game on Thursday, and both quarterbacks will have a chance to play with the first team and compete for the job.Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone admitted Bortles' job is at risk after a terrible performance in Jacksonville's second preseason game, highlighted by an egregious underthrow to Allen Robinson.

Mitchell Trubisky has outplayed Mike Glennon in the preseason, with his first-team practice reps increasing as coaches recognize his quick progress. Now he has a shot at taking the Chicago Bears' starting quarterback job from his veteran teammate.Glennon feels like he's heard this story before."Deja vu," said Glennon, according to Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune.Glennon was supplanted by then-rookie Jameis Winston after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took him first overall in the 2015 draft.Trubisky was expected to sit on the sidelines throughout his rookie season despite the king's ransom Chicago gave up to acquire him, and even opened training camp as the No. 3 quarterback behind Mark Sanchez.But after completing 18-of-25 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown in Chicago's preseason opener against the Denver Broncos, Trubisky's forced his way into the conversation for starter, though his performance in the second preseason contest was less impressive.Head coach John Fox said the depth chart hasn't changed, and Glennon is still No. 1."He's going to start preseason Game 3, which is a pretty good indicator where you start the season," Fox said. "I'll leave it at that."Trubisky, however, will get his shot to play with the starters Sunday against the Tennessee Titans."I think I've progressed faster than they expected I would," Trubisky said, "but I've still got a long ways to go, and I know that. But I think I've shown that I've earned these reps, and I just need to continue to get better each day."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colin Kaepernick remains unsigned with the upcoming season rapidly approaching, but he still has prominent active players in his corner.Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis advocated for Kaepernick to join his team and said the quarterback's protest against racial inequality and police brutality certainly wouldn't be a distraction for the organization."For me as a player, we would definitely love to have a player like Kaepernick because we know what he has to offer to this game," Davis said to Sports Illustrated's Maggie Gray. "We know that he's a guy that can come in and play right away. He's proven that he can lead his team to the Super Bowl. If you look at his numbers, he's had some pretty decent numbers from a quarterback standpoint. At the end of the day, that's what you want. You want to focus in on football. You know there's a lot that's going on in the outside so I commend Kaep on raising the awareness for the social injustices going on in this world. I would definitely welcome him on as a teammate."Davis, who has been named to consecutive Pro Bowls is universally considered one of the most respected players in the NFL and his comments may carry weight with Panthers' management. It was noted that Davis advocated for Kaepernick in the event that incumbent starter Cam Newton is unable to play during the regular season, after missing the team's first two preseason contests.Kaepernick's supporters marched on the NFL headquarters in New York earlier Wednesday and it appears that he's gaining support throughout the league, with many in disbelief that he remains on the open market.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey defended his teammate Le'Veon Bell after the running back unofficially announced he'd be returning to the team on Sept. 1.Bell has yet to sign his franchise tender that would make him the NFL's highest-paid running back at $12.1 million this season, but is preparing to join the team ahead of the regular season.Pouncey fully supported Bell's decision to skip most of the summer."People catch feelings about certain things. I think anybody in his situation would do the same exact thing. I would. We'll see how things turn out. I'm pretty sure he'll come in here and ball out like normal, things that Le'Veon does in the pass game and the running game," Pouncey said via ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Bell's decision to miss the start of the preseason wasn't met with universal praise, however. Ben Roethlisberger questioned whether Bell would be in shape ahead of the upcoming campaign Wednesday.Pouncey didn't agree with that notion whatsoever."Trust me, L. Bell wants to be here. He wants to be a football player, he wants to be the best running back in the NFL. At the same time, it's business. ... The fans don't (understand). But we do."One of the NFL's marquee running backs, Bell's return to the Steelers only makes the AFC finalist more formidable as they look to unseat the reigning champion New England Patriots.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's starting to look like Blake Bortles' days as a Jacksonville Jaguar are numbered.After an offseason of struggles for the former third overall pick, Chad Henne was announced as the starter for the team's third preseason game Thursday, which is generally the game most teams use as a tune-up for their first-team units. With a solid roster overall - minus the quarterback and offensive line positions - it would be no surprise to see the Jaguars let another quarterback get the ball in the hands of his playmakers for a season.Here are five options to either start over Henne or back him up if the Jaguars end the Bortles era this summer:Mark SanchezSanchez is currently on the Bears' roster, but with Mike Glennon and Mitch Trubisky both guaranteed to make the team, the veteran quarterback may very well be cut in similar fashion to last summer.The 30-year-old has become a journeyman of sorts since losing his starting job with the Jets in 2013; however, his leadership skills and ability to be a supportive teammate have been praised at every stop. Sanchez would again be a backup in Jacksonville, using his eight years of experience to help the young Jaguars roster.Matt BarkleyDepending on how many quarterbacks the 49ers plan to keep, Barkley could be available as a cut candidate or a low-value trade asset. The former USC quarterback isn't in contention to take over Brian Hoyer's starting job and doesn't have the potential to compete with rookie C.J. Beathard.Barkley would likely come in as a backup with the Jaguars, though he does have recent starting experience and could take over the job after learning the playbook if Henne struggles. The 26-year-old started six games for the Bears last season, throwing for over 300 yards three times despite only winning once.Paxton LynchLynch and Bortles find themselves in similar scenarios, as the Broncos' quarterback the starting job to Trevor Siemian and there's a chance he's available for trade. He would need time to adjust before getting any playing time, and would still be a bit of a project player, but the former first-rounder has athletic gifts to be taken advantage of.The Broncos are likely hoping for a decent return for their 23-year-old, but there isn't much on-field evidence to suggest he was worth the draft spot. Depending on the price tag, Lynch could be a low-risk, high-reward player for the Jaguars, and if he didn't happen to work out, passers in the 2018 draft are expected to be the best in recent memory.AJ McCarronJudging by the Bengals' reported asking price, a trade for McCarron would essentially anoint him the new starter; maybe not right away, but once he gets in, he'd be the man for the foreseeable future.McCarron and his three NCAA national championships could help bring a winning culture to the Jaguars along with new vice president of football operation Tom Coughlin. The 26-year-old hasn't had a chance to prove himself yet, as he's started only three games in his career, with a 2-1 record.Colin KaepernickIt seems like if the Jaguars wanted to sign Kaepernick they would have done it by now, but maybe without Bortles on the roster, they will finally become the team to end the apparent blackballing.Kaepernick would instantly become the Jaguars' best quarterback, and his mobility would be ideal for their run-first offensive system. He's also the easiest quarterback on this list to acquire as a heavily publicized free agent. The move would also inject a level of excitement and relevance to the Jaguars they haven't had in recent memory.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There are ample concerns about the preseason inviting unnecessary injury, but Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin isn't buying into that notion.Tomlin is readying the Steelers for another deep playoff run, where the club is looking to unseat the defending champion New England Patriots.Although there's been a greater emphasis on player safety and reduced contact during the summer, Tomlin believes physicality is necessary to be correctly prepared for a rigorous regular season."Preparing to play without the physical part is like asking a boxer to go in and fight without sparring," Tomlin said to Peter King of The MMQB. "There is a certain hardening that has to happen to your group individually and collectively, I believe, through this process. I believe live tackling not only aids in that, but is kind of central to that. That’s why we made the conscious effort to have at least 12 to 15 snaps a day of live football. It provides an opportunity, it sets the pace, it gives a certain urgency, in your group."Tomlin noted that with correct preparation, being physical in practices doesn't carry any greater risk than avoiding serious contact until the season commences."I think there is probably a propensity for increased injury in the stadium if you haven't done this. So from that perspective, I am willing to present an argument that one approach is not any more safe. The bottom line is, you better find ways to impose your will on your opponent. Sometimes that's physical, but sometimes it's conditioning, sometimes it's mental."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Vikings are getting the trolling started early ahead of their Week 6 matchup against the Green Bay Packers.Comedian and Vikings fan Nick Swardson is currently in Vancouver shooting a movie with Olivia Munn, the ex-girlfriend of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and has been busy recruiting her to the team.

Michael Vick once left the football world in awe of his velocity and ability to quickly escape the pocket. The 37-year-old now sees his best qualities in Kansas City Chiefs rookie quarterback Patrick Mahomes.Kansas City traded up 17 spots with the Buffalo Bills to select Mahomes 10th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, and the former Texas Tech standout is expected to eventually supplant Alex Smith as the face of the franchise.Vick raved about Mahomes' skill set, believing that he can develop into one of the league's premier talents."I've seen it firsthand. I've seen Patrick Mahomes do some things that I wish I could have done with my arm in terms of throwing on the run. And I was one of the best at it, outside of the pocket, being mobile," Vick said recently to Colin Cowherd of Fox Sports 1. "But this kid can make some throws that are going to shock the world. And I'm so anxious to see him play down the road, in the future at some point. But right now he's going through the phases of maturation and learning the system and becoming a complete quarterback."He has a ways to go, but this kid is going to do some special things."Mahomes will likely be tethered to the bench for long stretches of his rookie season but it's not difficult to envision living up to Vick's vision in the future.- With h/t to CBS Sports Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will start Chad Henne at quarterback over Blake Bortles for their third preseason game Thursday against the Carolina Panthers, the team announced.Head coach Doug Marrone said Bortles' job was at risk after a poor showing in Jacksonville's second preseason contest. The 25-year-old is still expected to see time with the first-team offense Thursday.Henne has not started a game since Bortles' rookie season in 2014, but was a regular starter with the Jaguars and the Dolphins from 2009 to 2013. The 32-year-old was Miami's second-round pick in 2008.Bortles threw for 3,905 yards with 23 touchdowns and 16 interceptions last season as Jacksonville stumbled to a 3-13 record.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Amid a contentious political climate where numerous players are protesting racial inequality and police brutality, NBC will air the national anthem before the season opener between the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs.Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem throughout the 2016 season, gaining support from Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins and a pocket of select players throughout the league. Kaepernick remains unsigned, but during President Donald Trump's first year in office, protests during the anthem are rapidly gaining traction."As in the past, we will televise the national anthem for select games, including the NFL Kickoff game and the Super Bowl, and, like last year, will cover activity around the anthem as news merits," NBC Sports spokesman Dan Masonson said to Michael McCarthy of Sporting News.The recent white nationalist riots in Charlottesville, Virginia, prompted several players to get involved in protests, and it appears that this won't be a temporary measure during the 2017 NFL season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback-turned-broadcaster Tony Romo and wife Candice welcomed their third son, Jones McCoy Romo, into the world Wednesday.Romo didn't reveal whether the name was inspired by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and family, whom he remains close with, but did share several adorable photos of the newborn on Twitter and Instagram.

Oakland Raiders offensive tackle Donald Penn reported to team facilities Wednesday after holding out through the first two games of the preseason.Penn was spotted in uniform and headed to the weight room, ESPN's Paul Gutierrez reports.The veteran tackle earned his second Pro Bowl selection last season, starring for one of the NFL's premier offensive lines.Penn's holdout was reportedly due to dissatisfaction with his current contract. The 34-year-old will earn $5.8 million in base salary, holding a cap hit of $7.15 million for the upcoming campaign, and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2017 season.The Raiders are expected to make a major leap after snapping their playoff drought last year and Penn is integral to keeping quarterback Derek Carr protected during passing downs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL players will once again be permitted to wear cleats with whatever design they like - within reason - for one week only in 2017.The league will continue the "My Cleats, My Cause" campaign which debuted in Week 13 of the 2016 season, according to Jonathan Jones of The MMQB.It's the continuation of an effort by the "No Fun League" to relax overly strict guidelines on personalizing uniforms and/or cleats. A memo sent through the league earlier this month declared players would be permitted to wear personalized cleats during "pregame activities," so long as the activities take place before team warmups.The campaign is designed to allow players to show off their commitment to charitable causes. More than 1,300 players have expressed interest in taking part in the campaign this season, according to Jones.The league managed to maintain it's no-nonsense image during last season's promotion. Then Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham was fined $6,076 for wearing Yeezy cleats - designed by rapper Kanye West - which he claimed were in honor of the Yeezy Foundation.The cause didn't pass the league's validation, or a simple Google search.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.