Hank Aaron, the Atlanta Braves icon who endured vicious racism during his Hall of Fame career, is among those who think embattled quarterback Colin Kaepernick deserves a job in the NFL."I think he's getting a raw deal," Aaron said Wednesday in an interview with A TV One. "If you look at all the quarterbacks in the league right now, I think you have to say he is one, two, three, four. I don't think anybody can do the things he could do. I just wish somebody would open up and give him a chance to do his thing."With just over two weeks left until the start of the NFL regular season, Kaepernick - whose on-field national anthem protests from a year ago sparked political tumult within the game - remains unemployed, leading many to speculate that the league's owners are blackballing him. Kaepernick, who led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2012, put up solid numbers last season, after all, and still has the talent to be a starting quarterback, according to Aaron."The thing that bothers me about this whole situation is the fact that he is going to all these camps and nobody seems to think he stands a chance of being No. 1. This is a young player who almost carried a team to a championship, to a Super Bowl - but I was a Ravens fan."Related: Alex Smith: 'Crazy' that Kaepernick's still unsignedLast year, in his sixth season with the 49ers, Kaepernick posted his highest quarterback rating (90.7) since 2013, throwing for 2,241 yards and 16 touchdowns in 12 games while completing 59.2 percent of his pass attempts. In March, Kaepernick opted out of his contract with San Francisco.Though he remains out of work, Kaepernick's protest movement - with black people and people of color being oppressed, he said, he refused to stand for the playing of the national anthem - has gained traction around the NFL of late. Last week, Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett sat for the national anthem ahead of a preseason game in protest of racial inequality and police brutality, and a group of Cleveland Browns players kneeled in protest during the Star-Spangled Banner on Monday night.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 round.Draft Position

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been fairly tight lipped regarding the absence of teammate Le'Veon Bell this offseason, but some of his concerns about the team's star tailback are finally coming to light."I don't know if he'll be ready to play every single play like he does typically during the season," Roethlisberger said Wednesday to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette when asked about Bell's return.Bell tweeted out Tuesday that he will be returning to the team on Sept. 1, just in time for the regular season.Though Bell has spent his entire four-year career with the Steelers, Roethlisberger still sees cause for concern regarding his starting running back's conditioning and preparation after missing training camp and most of the preseason."There's in-shape and there's football shape," Roethlisberger said. "There's running around in shorts and T-shirt and putting the pads on and getting hit."Roethlisberger added that the offense has installed more new plays than usual this offseason and Bell will be required to catch up in the film room, as well as on the field."That's on him, how much studying he wants to do," Roethlisberger said.The good news for Big Ben and the Steelers is that Bell is used to getting up to speed quickly. He was suspended to start both of the last two seasons and it didn't appear to diminish his play, though he did suffer a significant knee injury that limited him to six games in 2015.It was reported earlier in the offseason that Bell wasn't responding to Roethlisberger's texts, so it's possible the signal-caller's comments are one last chance to air his grievances publicly before Bell rejoins the team.It shouldn't take long to find out if Roethlisberger's concerns were overblown, as the Steelers open their season Sept.10 versus the Cleveland Browns.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Bears announced the signing of left tackle Charles Leno to a four-year extension.The deal is worth $38 million, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.Leno is expected to receive $21.5 million in guaranteed money, which will make him the NFL's 14th-highest paid left tackle on annual average.The 25-year-old former seventh-round pick has started 29 consecutive games for the Bears. He finished 2016 as Pro Football Focus' 42nd-ranked tackle with a 71.2 grade, specializing in pass protection.Leno's extension, along with the one recently awarded to left guard Kyle Long, secures the left side of an offensive line charged with helping to develop rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who's expected to begin the 2017 season behind Mike Glennon on the Bears' depth chart. Both offensive linemen are signed through the 2021 season.Leno had one year remaining on his rookie contract at $1.797 million. He's now expected to earn $8.797 million in 2017.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard was an elite talent as a rookie last year despite being held back by vision problems that required surgery this offseason."I was just going out there kind of blind," Howard said to Adam L. Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times. "I couldn't see far away."Even with the limitations, Howard racked up 1,313 yards and six touchdowns on the ground last year after being selected in the fifth round.Howard's only glaring weakness was as a receiver, where he only caught 29-of-50 targets and looked extremely unnatural as a pass-catcher. The eye problems may have been a significant factor to those struggles."I can definitely track the ball a lot better," Howard said. "It's easier for me because I used to only be able to see the ball when it got right up on me."I could see close up. Catching passes and things like that when it's further away, that's where I needed the vision to improve."Howard underwent a common laser eye surgery known as photorefractive keratectomy back in April. The improvement in his vision was almost instantaneous, according to the star back."I used to squint a lot because I couldn't see stuff," said Howard. "Now I don't have to squint. My eyes, they're never hurting from squinting so much. I can just see the field a lot better. It's definitely easier to catch now."If the surgery has had the impact that Howard says it has, he should be a much more efficient pass-catcher in 2017. If he adds that skill set to his game, he will be a nightmare for defensive coordinators this season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brock Osweiler has gone from reported favorite for the starting job to the sidelines in just two days.The Cleveland Browns' veteran quarterback isn't expected to play in the third preseason game Saturday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Wednesday.DeShone Kizer was announced as the starter for the contest earlier in the day.Osweiler underwhelmed - again - during the Browns' 10-6 win over the New York Giants on Monday, seemingly all but killing his chance of winning the job that appeared to be almost his.Dropping Osweiler entirely from the main exhibition game for the starters is a clear signal that his time in Cleveland could be coming to an end. The Browns are presumably trying to avoid him suffering an injury so they can pursue a trade, or more likely, a straight release.After the Browns acquired Osweiler in March, they reportedly looked into immediately trading him. While no move came to fruition, Cleveland has continued to make calls about moving the quarterback before and after training camp started, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.With Osweiler out of the running, Cody Kessler should be in line for more snaps behind Kizer, as will No. 4 quarterback Kevin Hogan.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While Colin Kaepernick remains unemployed, the free-agent quarterback continues to make big strides in his charitable work.Kaepernick's foundation announced May's donations Wednesday, which took his total to $800,000 of the $1 million he's pledged to give to community organizations. He's been detailing exactly how his monthly $100,000 donations will be used on his foundation's website.May's $100,000 was split between The Dreamville Foundation, Lower Eastside Girls Club, and 100 Suits For 100 Men.The Dreamville Foundation, founded by hip-hop artist J.Cole, helps urban youth "have a dream, believe in their dream, and achieve their dream" with dedicated events and programs.Lower Eastside Girls Club, based in New York City, offers no-cost programs to young women and their families, with a mission to "break the cycle of local poverty by training the next generation of ethical, entrepreneurial and environmental leaders."Finally, 100 Suits For 100 Men provides free business-appropriate clothing to men and women who are seeking employment. The organization concentrates on helping "formerly incarcerated individuals, homeless individuals, gang members, and survivors of domestic violence."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens running back Danny Woodhead is dealing with a hamstring injury and may miss the preseason's final two games, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.The Ravens are hoping Woodhead will be ready for Week 1, against the Cincinnati Bengals.Woodhead played in only the second preseason game, recording a lone carry for two yards. With Kenneth Dixon already sidelined for the season due to a meniscus injury, Woodhead is expected to have a large role this season, his first with the Ravens.Should he end up missing any regular-season time, Terrance West's workload will rise, and as such so will his fantasy value as the offense's unchallenged RB1.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer will start the team's third preseason game Saturday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, head coach Hue Jackson announced Wednesday.However, Jackson reiterated that no decision has been made on who will become the permanent regular-season starter, though he said Kizer is "positioning himself well" to win the job."This morning, I informed our quarterbacks that DeShone will be our starter for the third preseason game against Tampa," said Jackson, according to Andrew Gribble of the team's official site. "He has made a lot of progress by investing the time necessary to learn our offense, working hard to improve on his fundamentals while also effectively moving the offense in preseason games. Development is so important for a young quarterback, this is the next step he needs to take and he deserves this opportunity. We are very excited about seeing DeShone in the role of starter for this week, as he is certainly positioning himself well to earn the starting job heading into the regular season."Much like DeShone, Brock (Osweiler), Cody (Kessler), and Kevin (Hogan) have worked extremely hard throughout training camp and have helped create a very supportive environment in our quarterback room. They’ve pushed each other, worked well together and we expect that to continue."Kizer has been the most impressive quarterback over the first half of the preseason, leading three touchdown drives and looking poised beyond his years. Meanwhile, Osweiler and Kessler have flashed in moments, but both have generally struggled to get the Browns' offense moving.While Jackson will be looking for Kizer to cement his position with a good performance, the rookie starting the preseason game in which the first team plays the most snaps is a sure sign he's the favorite for the gig.Kizer was selected 52nd overall in this year's draft, and if handed the top job, will be the Browns' 27th starting quarterback since 1999.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. could miss Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys due to an ankle sprain suffered during Monday's preseason loss to the Cleveland Browns, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan and Dan Graziano.Beckham underwent an MRI on Tuesday that confirmed a sprained ankle.The Giants' superstar suffered the injury after incurring a low hit from Browns safety Briean Boddy-Calhoun and left the field visibly upset.Giants head coach Ben McAdoo didn't provide an exact timeline on Beckham's recovery, stating that it'll depend on how well he responds to treatment.Beckham is one of the NFL's greatest talents, and so any missed time would be a significant loss for the Giants, who are searching for a second consecutive playoff appearance.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: video contains coarse languageTampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston is one of the NFL's brightest young talents, but even he faces a learning curve during his third professional season.Winston threw an awful pass in the red zone during a preseason contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars, much to the chagrin of Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter, which was captured on HBO's "Hard Knocks".

Le'Veon Bell's holdout apparently has a predetermined expiry date.The Steelers' star running back responded to a Twitter user Tuesday, tacitly admitting that he'd return to the club on September 1.It should be noted that Bell's winking emoji makes it hard to determine if he's being serious about his return.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay was unfazed Tuesday by criticism lobbed at him by former Rams head coach Mike Martz.Martz featured in a book titled "Blitzed: Why NFL Teams Gamble on Starting Rookie Quarterbacks", which is scheduled for a September release. ESPN obtained excerpts of the book, where Martz rips into the 31-year-old McVay due to his relative youth and inexperience."What is he, a couple month older than Jared (Goff)? They hired a buddy for Jared," Martz said. "And this guy is a quarterback expert? An offensive expert? Wait a minute while I puke."McVay became the youngest head coach in NFL history when the Rams hired him on January 12, and didn't appear upset whatsoever by Martz's remarks."Coach Martz is a guy that I have always had a huge amount of respect for with what he’s accomplished, especially with just being an offensive coach,” McVay said via Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio. "You look at the production of offenses that he's been a part of, so as a fan of coaching - I don't know Coach Martz, I met him real quick at the Combine a handful of years ago. Like I said, I have a lot of respect for what he’s accomplished and I can't say anything but good things about what he’s done and what kind of coach he is."McVay suggested that Martz's remarks could've been taken out of context, a contention that author Thomas George rejected."I certainly have an understanding and an awareness of how things can kind of get changed around and until I actually heard that directly - if he said that then everybody is entitled to their opinion and I can understand that and the bottom line is this - I’ve never been a head coach before, I haven’t won a game, I haven't done anything,” McVay said. "So, it's going to be a great challenge and we’re confident with the guys that we do have. I know that it’s going to be a great learning curve and I'm not going to pretend to have the answers to things that I don't know. But what I am going to do is continue to look at myself critically and try to be the best head coach and leader that I can be for this team and this organization."Martz is best known for his stint as offensive coordinator on the Rams' lone Super Bowl-winning team in 1999, before becoming the team's head coach for the next six seasons. The veteran coach led the Rams to Super Bowl XXXVI, where they were upset by the New England Patriots, entering the game as 14-point favorites.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Though no one seems to like the NFL's four-game preseason schedule, it's not going anywhere soon - but that doesn't mean it can't be modified.With the league surely getting a scare that one of its most exciting players could miss time due to a questionable hit in a virtually meaningless game, its time to take some precautions to ensure guys like Odell Beckham Jr. don't miss regular-season action.Assuming the preseason can't be eliminated entirely (which would be most fans' preference), we take a look at three changes that could help cut down on injuries in the preseason.Wrap tackling onlyIf you don't know how to tackle by the time you get to the NFL, you're never going to get it.This may lead to a world that fans who love the bang-and-smash physical side of football are afraid of, but its about time to face reality. If injuries are going to be curtailed and player safety is to be taken seriously, tackling needs to be scaled back, especially during summer games.Players are accustomed to wrap tackling from hundreds of scrimmage reps in practice, and it wouldn't be difficult to add some more specified rules for preseason contests.Designated playing timesPart of the issue with the hit Beckham took was that Browns cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun had much more on the line in that contest than the Giants star. Boddy-Calhoun was trying to move up the depth chart and secure a spot in the starting lineup, while Beckham could have dropped every pass thrown his way and still be the Giants' top receiver.If the players competing for roster spots were forced to only play against one another, their level of effort and physicality would theoretically match up better. So players who had enough starts the previous season would only face others who also have a similarly secured roster spot, while rookies, former practice squad players, and veterans who haven't seen the field can battle one another.It certainly wouldn't eliminate injuries altogether, especially for the players competing for roster spots, but for the stars who people pay to watch, the change would be relieving. Veteran players know the difference between playing at a preseason speed and balling out.Limited snap countsInstead of letting coaches determine who plays for how long, forcing a pre-determined limit to how often certain players can see the field would keep teams from overexposing themselves to risk in the preseason.Similar to how players could be divided for the above purpose of playing against equal competition, a limit on total snap counts could be imposed on players based on how many years they've played, how many starts they made the year before, or even how much money they earn.There are plenty of players who need preseason snaps to improve and stake a claim for a roster spot, so instead of punishing them by taking away the preseason altogether, make it a mandate that they are the ones playing - not the guys who are bringing in the big bucks.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On an average Sunday, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is close to unstoppable. Ahead of the upcoming season, it's entirely possible that the two-time MVP could be in the best form of his life.Rodgers was excellent in limited work against the Washington Redskins on Saturday, going 6-of-8 for 37 yards and a touchdown, before ceding control to his backups.With the season rapidly approaching, Rodgers explained why he may be in line for the best season of his decorated career."I worked hard in the offseason on my body and my core strength," Rodgers said to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "I took a break from throwing for about a month. I kind of let my arm come all the way back. It's felt good this year, as usual. But my legs, I think, have felt better the last couple years than maybe the previous couple years, probably due to the training and maybe eating better. I think when your legs are underneath you and you're throwing from the ground up, you're probably going to be a little more accurate."Rodgers said he took more time off than usual during the offseason, partially explaining why he feels revitalized."When we break from OTAs, I'll (usually) take a couple weeks and then get back into it," Rodgers said. "This year I took most of the summer and just relaxed. I don't think there's a big difference in my arm. It's just my legs, maybe, are feeling a little better than the last couple years."Defensive coordinators everywhere are likely losing sleep as a result.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL took a back seat to the NBA on Tuesday amid one of the greatest blockbuster trades in recent memory.The Cleveland Cavaliers traded All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics in exchange for All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas, small forward Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic, and the Brooklyn Nets' unprotected 2018 first-round pick.Related: Cavs officially trade Irving to Celtics for Thomas, Crowder, Nets' pickAlthough Irving demanded a trade in July, the seismic deal sent both the NBA and NFL communities into a frenzy.Here's how the NFL reacted to the Irving-Thomas swap:

Rumors of a potential fire sale from the Buffalo Bills have sprouted ever since the team traded away Sammy Watkins, and LeSean McCoy appears to be irritated that his name would even be mentioned in such talk.The star running back for the Bills took to Instagram on Tuesday shortly after a report surfaced that his team would not entertain any sort of trade talk involving the 29-year-old, insisting that his sights are still set on performing at the highest level in Buffalo.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders was involved in a car accident Tuesday, as his vehicle was struck by an 18-year-old woman, Erin Powell of KUSA reports.Neither Sanders nor the woman suffered serious injuries. The Broncos wide receiver noted he had a headache before heading to practice where he participated without further incident.Both parties were cited by police for careless driving.Sanders was named to his second Pro Bowl last season and is expected to play a major role in the Broncos' offense this fall.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nothing says "welcome to the NFL" like a terrible new haircut.Denver Broncos veterans continued their annual ritual on Tuesday, shaving the heads of their rookie teammates and posting the embarrassing results on social media for all to see. This year featured some real gems.

With the regular season rapidly approaching, fans of the Indianapolis Colts have ample reason to be worried about their prospects.Colts head coach Chuck Pagano is unsure when Andrew Luck will be available, seven months after the star quarterback underwent shoulder surgery."There's no timeline," Pagano said via Stephen Holder of The Indianapolis Star.Pagano said the Colts wouldn't be able to accurately assess Luck's recovery until he takes the field, but he's yet to have been cleared by the team's medical personnel."We're not going to know until we get him out here,” Pagano said. "When the doctors say he's ready and he’s 100 percent and he can start practicing, then we’ll have that answer."Luck has been the central pillar of the franchise since being selected first overall in the 2012 NFL Draft, and any missed time during the regular season would be a catastrophic proposition for the Colts.If Luck is unavailable for the season opener, Scott Tolzien would likely become the starter, a nearly untenable position for the Colts if they are to snap a two-year playoff hiatus.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills will not entertain trade offers for running back LeSean McCoy, a source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.Buffalo traded wide receiver Sammy Watkins and cornerback Ronald Darby earlier in August, leading some to believe the organization is accelerating its rebuild ahead of a potentially loaded 2018 NFL Draft.McCoy has been the fulcrum of the Bills' offense since being acquired in a trade from the Philadelphia Eagles in March 2015, with the team leading the NFL in rushing offense in consecutive seasons.The standout running back rushed for 1,267 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2016, adding 50 receptions for 356 yards and another score.Florio noted the Bills would create a mere $1 million in cap space for the upcoming season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans wide receiver Jaelen Strong is appealing his one-game suspension for his arrest on a marijuana possession charge, stemming from a February 2016 incident, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports.Strong is hoping to be available for the Texans' season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 10.The 23-year-old caught 14 passes for 131 yards in eight games last season, before succumbing to an ankle injury.Strong was selected in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft and is seeking an increased role within the Texans' passing game this year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Reports surfaced Tuesday about a new book that has former NFL coach Mike Martz ripping the Los Angeles Rams over their hire of 31-year-old Sean McVay, according to Jared Dubin of ESPN."What is he, a couple month older than Jared (Goff)? They hired a buddy for Jared," Martz said in the book, according to excerpts acquired by ESPN. "And this guy is a quarterback expert? An offensive expert? Wait a minute while I puke."Martz was quick to respond to the reports, hitting the airwaves on Tuesday to contest the author's claims."I would never say something like that," Martz said on ESPN LA 710, adding that the quote "was kind of embellished."Martz, who led the Rams to a victory in Super Bowl XXXIV, admitted that he took part in the interview, but called it brief and offered a detailed explanation of how he was misquoted."I think what I told (author Thomas George) was there's only a couple years' difference between them, and they probably brought him in because of his ability to communicate … but all of that other garbage, I would never say something like that.""Blitzed: Why NFL Teams Gamble on Starting Rookie Quarterbacks," is set for release this September. Given the bold nature of the quotes, the author will likely need some concrete proof to back up his claims.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets wide receiver Quincy Enunwa underwent successful surgery on a bulging disc Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Enunwa will miss the entire 2017 season as a result of the injury, suffered during a non-contact drill during practice earlier in August.The 25-year-old recorded 58 receptions for 857 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games last season.Enunwa was expected to be the Jets' top target this season and his absence is a crushing blow to an already depleted offense.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 round.Here's a look at how you can attack your draft if you've been assigned one of the first two picks in a 12-team standard scoring league.Average draft position (ADP) data courtesy of FantasyPros and is based on 12-team leagues with standard scoring.Round 1Picks: 1.01-1.02This year, there's a clear top-2 in both standard and PPR leagues. When people ask me who they should pick between David Johnson and Le'Veon Bell, I lean with DJ due to his proven touchdown upside, but there's no wrong answer here.In drafting Johnson or Bell, you get an RB1 who can also produce WR2 numbers on the side, which is the argument Bell is trying to make in his contract negotiations. No other fantasy players offer that kind of scoring potential on a consistent basis.RosterPlayerRoundRB1Le'Veon Bell1stOthers to consider: David JohnsonRound 2Picks: 2.11-2.12When you have one of the first two picks in a draft, you're left waiting an eternity before making your next selection. In that time, unexpected runs can take place that drastically alter how you approach your pick.At this point in most drafts, the quality RB1s are off the board, which is fine for us since we took a running back in the first round. Now we can address the receiver position with a young star in Amari Cooper, who has topped 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons and has a chance to be a top-5 fantasy wideout if he increases his red-zone production.RosterPlayerRoundRB1Le'Veon Bell1stWR1Amari Cooper2ndOthers to consider: Rob Gronkowski, T.Y. HiltonRound 3Picks: 3.01-3.02After the turn, there are still several intriguing names available like fan favorite Marshawn Lynch, Bill Belichick’s new weapon Brandin Cooks, or high-end rookie backs Joe Mixon and Christian McCaffrey. They’ve all been in the headlines a lot this offseason and carry week-winning potential. But each of them brings along their share of risk and it’s too early in the draft to gamble with your picks.Instead, let's take a player who finished as a top-10 fantasy receiver the last two seasons. Doug Baldwin doesn't seem to be viewed as a high-end fantasy player, but he's played like one in back-to-back years and should benefit from Russell Wilson being 100 percent recovered from the injuries that plagued him in 2016.RosterPlayerRoundRB1Le'Veon Bell1stWR1Amari Cooper2ndWR2Doug Baldwin3rdOthers to consider: Demaryius Thomas, Isaiah CrowellRound 4Picks: 4.11-4.12The fourth round is where drafts really begin to open up and head in different directions depending on the league. Starting running backs tend to evaporate around this time, so grabbing a second rusher is a wise move.C.J. Anderson isn't guaranteed to return value, but going by current ADPs, he might be the last true lead back on the market. The Broncos' offensive line should be better, and with their quarterback situation in flux, the team is ready to go run heavy, while leaning on its defense.RosterPlayerRoundRB1Le'Veon Bell1stRB2C.J. Anderson4thWR1Amari Cooper2ndWR2Doug Baldwin3rdOthers to consider: Davante Adams, Spencer WareRound 5Picks: 5.01-5.02Now that we've established our core with at least three reliable starters, we can start to take some chances on players who could vastly outproduce their draft round if things fall their way.Martavis Bryant missed all of last season through suspension, but prior to that he flashed freak talent for the Steelers. With defenses focused on Antonio Brown, and a veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger who knows how to make the most of his weapons, Bryant is once again set up for success. The fourth round might seem like a steep price, until you think about Bryant’s ceiling, which is as a low-end WR1.RosterPlayerRoundRB1Le'Veon Bell1stRB2C.J. Anderson4thWR1Amari Cooper2ndWR2Doug Baldwin3rdWR3Martavis Bryant5thOthers to consider: Michael Crabtree, Mark Ingram, Greg OlsenRound 6Picks: 6.11-6.12Since Anderson isn't a rock-solid option at RB2, it’s important to invest in some backs with league-winning upside. Enter Derrick Henry.DeMarco Murray is the top dog in the Titans' backfield, meaning Henry's value is tied to the 29-year-old's ability to stay on the field. Murray saw a massive workload in 2016 and broke down late in the season. If he misses time this year, Henry instantly becomes an RB1 for fantasy owners.RosterPlayerRoundRB1Le'Veon Bell1stRB2C.J. Anderson4thWR1Amari Cooper2ndWR2Doug Baldwin3rdWR3Martavis Bryant5thBenchDerrick Henry6thOthers to consider: Stefon Diggs, Larry FitzgeraldRound 7Picks: 7.01-7.02Henry and Coleman have similar appeal and could be selected in whatever order you prefer. Coleman has a higher ADP on most sites, but they're both going in the sixth or early seventh round in most drafts. If you were forced to pick between them, Henry is the more surefire RB1 if an injury happens above them on the depth chart, which is why we took him with our previous pick.Despite serving as the backup to Devonta Freeman, Coleman ended last season as the RB17, playing a significant role in the Falcons' high-powered offense. Coleman is a candidate for some touchdown regression, after scoring 11 times on just 149 touches in 2016, but we're not drafting him to be a starter, we're adding him as a home run swing in the event Freeman is sidelined.RosterPlayerRoundRB1Le'Veon Bell1stRB2C.J. Anderson4thWR1Amari Cooper2ndWR2Doug Baldwin3rdWR3Martavis Bryant5thBenchDerrick Henry6thBenchTevin Coleman7thOthers to consider: Jamison Crowder, Kareem Hunt, Kyle RudolphRound 8Picks: 8.11-8.12When coaches talk up a player in the offseason, its easy to write it off as a motivational tactic or general team propaganda. However, when that drumbeat continues and spreads to beat writers and teammates, at some point you have to take notice.DeVante Parker has disappointed through his first two NFL seasons due to a lack of off-field preparation, but the consensus on him was if the light ever turned on, he could be dominant. If you believe the hype - and you should - the light is on and Parker is about to shine brighter than ever. He’s a perfect bye-week replacement, who could turn into a full-time starter if he breaks out.RosterPlayerRoundRB1Le'Veon Bell1stRB2C.J. Anderson4thWR1Amari Cooper2ndWR2Doug Baldwin3rdWR3Martavis Bryant5thBenchDerrick Henry6thBenchTevin Coleman7thBenchDeVante Parker8thOthers to consider: Jeremy Maclin, Thomas Rawls, Jameis WinstonRound 9Picks: 9.01-9.02If you haven't noticed, we're into the ninth round and have yet to snag a tight end or a quarterback. That might feel unusual to some fantasy owners, but it's an excellent way to hack your draft if you target the right tight end. Quarterback is insanely deep, so if you don't grab one of the elite passers, waiting is almost a must.Eric Ebron had a breakout 2016 season, only most people didn't notice because he found the end zone just once. The former first-round pick was top-10 in receptions and yards among tight ends, a feat he should be able to reproduce this season. And that low touchdown total that limited his fantasy impact is certain to rise now that Anquan Boldin is no longer with the Lions.RosterPlayerRoundRB1Le'Veon Bell1stRB2C.J. Anderson4thWR1Amari Cooper2ndWR2Doug Baldwin3rdWR3Martavis Bryant5thTE1Eric Ebron9thBenchDerrick Henry6thBenchTevin Coleman7thBenchDeVante Parker8thOthers to consider: Darren McFadden, Jacquizz Rodgers, Ben RoethlisbergerRound 10Picks: 10.11-10.12We finally draft our quarterback, but the truth is there are still plenty of startable signal-callers on the board. Matthew Stafford and Philip Rivers are great options if guys like Jameis Winston, Kirk Cousins, and Marcus Mariota don’t fall. If you somehow miss out on all those names, Andy Dalton has an above-average group of skill position players and has cracked the top five fantasy quarterbacks before.Stafford gets the nod thanks to his deep receiving corps, which features the aforementioned Ebron at tight end. The Lions also have great pass-catching backs in Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick, and with their holes on defense they should be forced into shootouts. Stafford was the QB9 in 2015 and the QB7 last year, but his current ADP is QB14.RosterPlayerRoundQB1Matthew Stafford10thRB1Le'Veon Bell1stRB2C.J. Anderson4thWR1Amari Cooper2ndWR2Doug Baldwin3rdWR3Martavis Bryant5thTE1Eric Ebron9thBenchDerrick Henry6thBenchTevin Coleman7thBenchDeVante Parker8thOthers to consider: Philip Rivers, C.J. Prosise, Adam ThielenLate RoundsAfter the 10th round, you no longer need to pay close attention to ADPs. You should be focused on filling out your bench with as many high-upside players as possible with a focus on running backs and receivers. Quarterbacks or tight ends can always be streamed or at worst, acquired by trading a bench player.Players to consider: DeAndre Washington, Rex Burkhead, Jonathan Williams, D’Onta Foreman, Josh Doctson, Tyler Lockett, Devin FunchessCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo didn't provide a timeline regarding Odell Beckham's and Brandon Marshall's recovery from injuries suffered during Monday's preseason loss to the Cleveland Browns.Beckham suffered an ankle sprain after incurring a questionable hit from Browns safety Briean Boddy-Calhoun and was visibly upset upon the leaving field."We'll see how they respond to treatment," McAdoo said via ESPN's Dan Graziano.Related: Giants' Beckham escapes with ankle sprain after scary hit vs. BrownsBeckham will reportedly consider taking out an insurance policy that may be worth over $100 million in injury protection, if he and the Giants cannot agree on a long-term extension before the regular season begins. The policy could be inspired by Monday's events.Marshall underwent X-rays on his shoulder which came back negative. Beckham and Marshall are both listed as day to day.The two players are key components in the Giants' passing game and any missed time would be a major deterrent to the team's offensive game plan. Sterling Shepard would likely become a focal point of the attack if Beckham and Marshall miss any games during the regular season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

At the close of the first half of his second preseason game Monday night, Myles Garrett registered his first sack as a member of the NFL.The No. 1 pick in this year's NFL draft dropped New York Giants quarterback Geno Smith for a 9-yard loss and, being in Cleveland, home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, proceeded to strum an air guitar as his sack dance."Many more to come," Garrett said of his quarterback takedown. "You just like to get it out of the way."Garrett was working against third-year tackle Ereck Flowers for the majority of his snaps."I went speed to power, had the swimover inside and got double-teamed. He bounced me outside, and I kept my eyes on the quarterback. I saw that he was going outside, as well, and just got my hands on him," Garrett said.The rookie sack record is 14.5, set by Jevon Kearse in 1999. Garrett can begin making headway on that tally in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL Players Association president Eric Winston clarified comments he made Monday about not caring whether the NFL "dies out in 20 years" due to a work stoppage in 2021, which the Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle believes is likely.In a tweet Tuesday, Winston accused "the league's spin doctors" of misrepresenting his comments, and hit back at the NFL, arguing that team owners will be the ones who'll show they don't care about the future of the sport if they lock out the players or continue to ignore the health risks associated with football.

Would you be willing to eat a bowl of cockroaches to guarantee a Super Bowl championship for your favorite NFL team?That was one of several extreme scenarios posed in a Fanatics survey to determine how die-hard each team's fanbase is. Carolina Panthers supporters were most willing to chow down on cockroaches, but Minnesota Vikings fans were deemed the most "hardcore" overall.Check out the full survey below.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

(Warning: Story contains coarse language)Chris Long has already noticed a change since he supported teammate Malcolm Jenkins during his national anthem protest.Jenkins put his right fist in the air during the playing of the national anthem Thursday as a symbol of his protest of racial injustice in America, and Long put his arm around his Philadelphia Eagles teammate."No one gave a shit, frankly, until I put my hand around Malcolm," Long said to NFL.com's Tom Pelissero of the response to the gesture."That just goes to show you the power of symbolic protests. All of a sudden, everyone cares about my protest, but they never cared about my actions - which kind of proves, well, why do you need (to protest during the anthem)? If guys were just like, 'Hey, I'm over here! I want to talk about social issues,' the reporters would be like, 'We don't care.'"The gesture came days after protests and violence in Charlottesville, Va., Long's hometown.Since Thursday's game, anthem protests continued in Seattle on Friday, Oakland on Saturday, and in Cleveland on Monday night. A group of 11 Browns players prayed during the anthem, including the first white player to kneel in a protest."Guys love each other, man," Long said. "We're lucky that we get to interact with each other. And we just know the reality is there's some pockets of America where you might go to work every day, you wake up every day and only see people that look like you. You never get a chance to interact or really hear people out."The Eagles' next game takes place Thursday against the Miami Dolphins.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants defensive tackle Damon Harrison wasn't happy about the reaction from the crowd FirstEnergy Stadium after Odell Beckham Jr. went down with an injury in Monday's preseason game.Harrison called out Cleveland fans on Twitter for booing Beckham, who left the game after suffering an ankle injury on a hit by Browns cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun.

Odell Beckham Jr. will consider taking out an insurance policy that could be worth more than $100 million in injury protection if he and the New York Giants don't agree on a contract extension by the start of the regular season, two sources close to the player told Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports."(If a deal isn't done) by the regular season, he'll take steps to protect himself. (But) a new deal is preferable to adding insurance," one source told Robinson.Beckham was hurt by a shot to his lower left leg during Monday's preseason game. While he escaped with just a sprained ankle, the incident could further motivate him to push for a new deal this offseason.Such a policy for one season would cost Beckham around $600,000, sources told Robinson.Beckham has two years left on his rookie deal thanks to the Giants exercising his fifth-year option. He has expressed his desire to be the NFL's highest-paid player and is at least reportedly expected to eclipse Antonio Brown as the league's top-earning receiver, possibly becoming the first wideout to earn a $100-million deal.While the Giants have made it clear they want to lock up Beckham for the foreseeable future, they haven't made it a priority this offseason.The 24-year-old is a bargain for the next two seasons, as he's set to earn nearly $1.84 million in 2017 and $8.46 million in 2018. New York could then further delay giving him a monster contract by way of the franchise tag.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers assistant Katie Sowers became the second female hired as a full-time NFL coach earlier in August, and she continued to make history Tuesday by becoming the first openly gay coach in the league."No matter what you do in life, one of the most important things is to be true to who you are," Sowers told Jim Buzinski of Outsports.com. "There are so many people who identify as LGBT in the NFL, as in any business, that do not feel comfortable being public about their sexual orientation."The more we can create an environment that welcomes all types of people, no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, the more we can help ease the pain and burden that many carry every day."The 31-year-old developed a love for football at an early age and played professionally in the Women's Football Alliance, winning a world title and gold medal in 2013.Now, Sowers has the chance to be the female role model in the league - something that was lacking for her during her childhood spent dreaming about being part of the NFL."The most fulfilling aspect is having the ability to impact the lives of these young men chasing their dream of playing in the NFL, as well as serve as a role model for young girls who might happen to see me following my passion," she said. "I am a strong believer that the more we can expose children to a variety of different opportunities in life, the better chance they have of finding their true calling."I would have loved to see women in this role when I was growing up because I think it would have allowed me to follow my passion even earlier. If you can't see something happen, sometimes it's hard to believe it can. We don't know what we don't know, and I didn't know football was even a possibility for women."Sowers started her NFL career as an intern with the Atlanta Falcons in 2016, impressing then-offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and ultimately following him to San Francisco."Katie did a real good job for us in Atlanta, she's done a really good job here," Shanahan told reporters earlier this month. "She helps (receivers coach) Mike LaFleur out, just with some rotations and she helps our quality control (coaches) out just with all the stuff they have to do. She's a hard worker, you don't even notice her because she just goes to work and does what's asked. Because of that, she's someone we'd like to keep around."Sowers is hoping her reveal helps inspire more of the LGBT community in the NFL and eases "the pain and burden that many carry every day.""There are so many people who identify as LGBT in the NFL, as in any business, that do not feel comfortable being public about their sexual orientation," Sowers said. "The more we can create an environment that welcomes all types of people, no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, the more we can help ease the pain and burden that many carry every day."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sage Rosenfels is a former 12-year NFL quarterback who writes, does radio, and podcasts about the NFL and college football. Find him on Twitter (@SageRosenfels18).The Jacksonville Jaguars didn't even make it to the third preseason game without their quarterback situation devolving into turmoil.After three seasons with Blake Bortles at the helm, Jaguars fans - and even some players - are starting to show their impatience with their starting quarterback. Head coach Doug Marrone's press conference following their ugly 12-8 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second preseason game was much more intense than most mid-August interviews. It wasn't hard to get a sense of the coach's frustrations with his starting quarterback situation.The question for Jacksonville is what to do now, but at least the team hired someone who's not afraid to make that decision based on what he feels is best for the organization. Last winter, Tom Coughlin came aboard as executive vice president of football operations - and he'll have more power in his new role than he did as Giants head coach.Despite winning two Super Bowls, Coughlin never received (or demanded) full authority over the roster. That's just not the way the Giants have ever, or will ever, do business. The owners of the Giants, the Mara and Tisch families, believe in a separation of powers: The head coach's job is to coach the players and the general manager's job is to fill the roster with talent.This must have bothered Coughlin, even though it's something you didn't see in the press. Most head coaches want to pick the players they coach. After only seven months in Jacksonville, though, Coughlin will have his fingerprints on the most important roster spot: the quarterback.And the mess he's currently looking at there is the Jaguars' own fault.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Bortles' struggles are the elephant in the room. After an encouraging sophomore season in which his statistics made it look like he was a rising star in the AFC South, Bortles' level of play dropped significantly, and his mechanics have continued to regress. Much of the organization is losing, or has lost, confidence in him as a starter.The Jaguars knew going into the season that Bortles would be under a tremendous amount of pressure to perform at a higher level. They knew that if he struggled early, their loyal fans would start to turn.And still, all they did was re-sign backup Chad Henne and keep Brandon Allen, a sixth-round draft pick going into his second season as a pro. Rather than put pressure on Bortles with an upgrade behind him on the depth chart, Jacksonville stayed with the status quo.I believe this was a huge mistake. Yes, Henne knows the offense and is well-liked on this team. However, because of Bortles' struggles, the Jaguars needed a legitimate competitor to push their starter, if not win the starting job outright. Henne isn't that competitor.Coughin hasn't had to deal with this scenario in a long time. During his 12-year run as head coach in New York, Coughlin never experienced a season when he didn't have a true No. 1 quarterback on the roster. The biggest quarterback controversy he went through happened in his first year, when he started future Hall of Famer Kurt Warner for half the season before moving on to his first overall pick, rookie Eli Manning.The Giants started the season 5-2, then lost eight in a row before winning their last game to finish 6-10. Switching from Warner to Manning cost the Giants an opportunity to make the postseason in 2004, but the vast majority of the organization was on the same page. This would be Manning's team going forward, and they were planning for the future. And in the long run, this strategy worked out well for Coughlin and the Giants.Coughlin's first-year decision in New York was difficult because he had two starters on the roster. The decisions in Jacksonville will be much tougher because it looks like they have no legitimate starters.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)I have firsthand experience with the way Tom operates, having played for him. His no-nonsense approach allows him to make decisions based on what he feels is best for the entire organization, not what outsiders think. Both coaches and players appreciate this consistent message. The best players will play, and those who don't perform won’t last long.This strategy is extremely useful, especially with an organization that's basically starting over. It puts all players on the same level, which pushes them to perform at their best every day.If Bortles continues to struggle, the Jags may move on and go with Henne. I think this would be a mistake too. Henne could play better than Bortles, and the Jags could win a few more games, but he isn't the answer either - he's a solid backup who doesn't have the upside to be the starter in the years to come.The unknown on the roster is Allen, who's played well this preseason. I recall watching Allen at Arkansas, and based on the Razorbacks' pro-style offense, I thought he looked like a future pro quarterback. During his three years as a starter, Allen helped rebuild the program's reputation, leading them to more wins each season.I've always liked quarterbacks who make significant contributions to rebuilding a college program. They've experienced seasons of failure, and dealt with the adversity that comes with those loses. Once the program turns around, they understand what it takes to win, and they're a big part of it. Allen made his teammates better. Could he do the same in Jacksonville?One of the reasons he wasn't drafted higher was because of his size. At "only" 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, Allen is smaller than most NFL quarterbacks. I've always felt that this is one of the most overrated aspects of scouting NFL quarterbacks. Though it can help to be tall, shorter quarterbacks are frequently more athletic than the prototypical pocket passers coveted by general managers, and that's the case with Allen.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)He is quick and agile, and has a strong and accurate arm, at least from the few throws I've seen in preseason games. It also helps that Arkansas ran an offense that consisted of the the quarterback under center with traditional drop-back and play-action concepts. As simple as it seems, that experience gives Allen a head start of a year or two on his 2016 classmates who played in a college spread offense.Before training camp even started, Henne beat out Allen for the backup job, which makes sense, given Henne's experience. But which quarterback of the three gives the Jaguars the most upside? In three-plus seasons, Bortles hasn't proven that he's headed in the right direction. Henne is a known commodity, but his value isn't as a starting quarterback. He is a solid, experienced backup.This leaves Allen. Obviously the Jaguars are the only ones who know how Allen competes in practice, and how he handles the complexities of the game in meetings. One thing they don't know - because nobody knows - is how well he'd play when the lights come on during an NFL regular-season game.Some players perform better in practice than in real competition. Others aren't pretty in practice, but know how to create enough plays to win games. Is Allen a gamer? This is the biggest unknown in the Jacksonville quarterback quandary.The Jaguars need to find some sort of path forward, and quickly - it's rare that an NFL starting quarterback position is up in the air so late in the preseason. And under Coughlin, production is all that matters. If Bortles and Henne don't play winning football soon, we may get our answers about Allen faster than anyone probably expected.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just two episodes into the latest season of "Hard Knocks" and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston is already proving to be a popular character.Winston's No. 3 jersey has climbed from 66th to 31st among the NFL's best-selling jerseys nationwide at Dick's Sporting Goods, according to ESPN's Jenna Laine. His jersey sales now rank ahead of Andrew Luck, Matt Ryan, and Derek Carr.Through the early portion of training camp, Winston has showcased his humble upbringing, charismatic personality, and leadership qualities.The third episode of the series airs Tuesday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With three words Tuesday, Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien ended any semblance of a quarterback competition.The battle between Tom Savage and rookie Deshaun Watson came to a close during his press conference."Tom's the starter," O'Brien said, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle."Tom had really had a good camp. He's only thrown three incompletions in two games. He's got a really good command of the offense."Savage entered camp as the favorite based on his three years of NFL experience and rapport with receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Yet Watson, the team's first-round draft pick, impressed in the preseason. He's passed for 281 yards and rushed for two scores in two games."Deshaun is a very, very good player who has a bright future in this league," O'Brien said. "Let's put the cards on the table, but Tom has been here for four years. The way we want to play, the style relative to getting guys lined up, protection points, route reads, putting guys in the right spots, Tom's ahead of Deshaun."The Texans open the regular season at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two weeks into the preseason, and the Cleveland Browns' quarterback competition is just as foggy as when it began. Neither Brock Osweiler, DeShone Kizer, nor Cody Kessler have taken claim to the starter's job and head coach Hue Jackson hopes to have a final decision by Wednesday.Entering Week 3 of the preseason and the dress rehearsal for the season ahead, theScore discusses who the Browns should name as their starting quarterback.Michael McClymont: The Browns claim Osweiler is being given every opportunity to actually win the starting job, and they backed up that claim by starting him in their first two preseason games. But the team needs to turn its attention away from showcasing the salary dump for a potential trade and focus instead on putting the woefully poor roster in the best position to win more than one game in 2017. They need to start Kessler.Jack Browne: Let's move past this whole "Osweiler is the favorite to start" thing as quickly as possible. If that truly is the case, Jackson isn't the quarterback guru we thought he was. Time and time again, Osweiler has proven himself incapable of executing an NFL offense consistently. Starting him makes zero sense. But why Kessler and not Kizer? The rookie will start eventually, why not from Day 1?McClymont: Because he'll get killed, is why. In Monday's preseason game alone, Kizer took multiple unnecessary blows from defenders ready and willing to get in a free shot at a running quarterback. Kizer isn't exactly being protected by Dak Prescott's offensive line with the same weapons at his disposal. Cleveland should, for once, take the sensible approach and bring their rookie quarterback along slowly.Browne: But that's more on Kizer than the offensive line. His biggest issue right now is he holds the ball too long, and that's something Jackson should be able to fix. Cleveland spent an enormous amount this offseason to fix its offensive line, and they have an underrated running game. Kessler is a safe pair of hands, but there's a reason he's slipped to third on the depth chart. Kizer, with all his flaws, is still the best quarterback on this roster. Yes, the Browns don't want to rush him and stunt his development, but at some point the choice has to come down to who'll help them win the most games.McClymont: And at the present time, that man is Kessler. He's "slipped" to third if you're led to believe that Osweiler earned his spot as preseason starter. The Browns rightfully used the preseason to give Kizer a chance to test himself against live bullets. After the carousel of quarterbacks the Browns have trotted out in the last 15 years, the team should be thrilled to have a safe option in Kessler. Put his 92.3 passer rating and 3.0 touchdown-to-interception ratio behind that aforementioned line and the Browns just might be competitive this year.Browne: If you'd have asked me a few months ago, I'd have been all aboard the Kessler train. He was far better in 2016 than anyone gives him credit for, but Kizer's rapid progress makes that moot. Kizer has led three touchdown drives this preseason to Kessler's one, and the latter's was after a turnover set up the offense at the Saints' 21. Kizer's only going to get better with just under three weeks to Week 1. After Kessler went 0-8 last year, it will only take a few losses to start the year for the fans to demand Kizer.McClymont: And Kizer would stand to benefit from those additional weeks learning and developing without the risk of injury or being beaten down by the lack of immediate results. Kizer is the future and the future for the Browns is nowhere close to being in 2017. There's very little to gain and much to risk by playing Kizer - a player who's college coach said wasn't ready for the NFL - in Week 1.Browne: No one wants to see Kizer rocked early on, but he has looked like the most ready rookie quarterback. And while sitting a rookie quarterback has value, nothing progresses them quicker than competitive NFL football. We know the Browns aren't going to make the playoffs in 2017, but stranger things have happened. We know the ceiling under Kessler is pretty low, why not go with the sparkplug Kizer and give him the best shot at developing and the team at defying the odds.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

How's this for a motivational speech?Weeks away from the regular season, New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles was asked to deliver a message to the fan base. This is what he opted for:"I would tell them that we're not going to be a terrible team," Bowles said to Mike Francesa of WFAN, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN."We're going to come out there and fight, and blood, sweat, and tears will go out to the city and our fans, and we're going to win more games than everybody ever expected."The current over/under line on wins for the Jets during the 2017 season is set at 4.5, according to Bodog. That means five or more wins would definitely be characterized as a success.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Antonio Freeman doesn't get many opportunities to show off his Super Bowl XXXI ring anymore.While chatting with ESPN's SportsNation on Tuesday, Freeman revealed the ring no longer fits because the majority of his fingers were broken or dislocated as a result of catching passes from Brett Favre.Freeman isn't the only ex-Packer whose fingers Favre mangled. Robert Brooks once told ESPN that he had to get his wedding ring resized because Favre broke his finger multiple times."Brett's got a bullet for an arm. It's tough," Brooks said. "I've broken a lot of fingers messing with that guy. I had to get my wedding ring custom-fitted and I'm waiting for it to come back right now because Brett broke my ring finger about three times, the same finger. He takes pride in that. He chalks up how many fingers he gets during training camp."- With h/t to RedditCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

No Dallas Cowboys player has participated in a protest during the national anthem yet, and that's just how team owner Jerry Jones likes it.Jones has said he's against any kind of demonstration during the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Players from other teams have continued protesting during the current preseason, but the Cowboys haven't been participating."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 on 105.3 The Fan, according to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News."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."Head coach Jason Garrett has also denounced such actions, stating last week, "The national anthem is sacred. Our flag is sacred. And our team has demonstrated that."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After missing the Carolina Panthers' first two preseason games as he recovers from shoulder surgery, quarterback Cam Newton is on track to play in Thursday's contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars, head coach Ron Rivera announced Tuesday, according to Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer.While Newton has been sidelined to date, he has been practicing and was reportedly expected to see exhibition time. There's been no indication the 2015 NFL MVP was in danger of missing the season opener on Sept. 10.The Panthers' offense has been surprisingly effective without their star passer, scoring a combined 54 points over the first two preseason games, with one loss and one win.Rookie running back Christian McCaffrey has been especially impressive, and on Thursday, Panthers fans should get their first look at Newton and McCaffrey together in the backfield.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns and spent 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast." Find him on Twitter (@WilliamsonNFL).It was easy to poke fun at the Chicago Bears for trading up just one spot - forfeiting some valuable picks in the process - in the 2017 NFL Draft for the opportunity to select quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.We're only two games into the preseason, but that move doesn’t look quite so comical anymore. In fact, contrary to popular belief, there's a very clear plan in Chicago, for both now and the future.We don't know when Trubisky will take over as the Bears' starting quarterback, but we do know that day is coming sooner rather than later. Mike Glennon is a quality quarterback, and the Bears have invested heavily in him as well, but we know how the NFL works. Teams don’t do what Chicago did only to have their hopeful franchise quarterback sit on the bench.Plus, the biggest knock (but not the only one) on Trubisky coming out of school was that he hadn’t played enough - another reason it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to have him sidelined for his entire rookie campaign.In early preseason action, Trubisky's shown that he's a mobile and accurate passer. He appears to have a very good feel for the game and looks comfortable behind center. His arm strength is average as starting NFL quarterbacks go, but his efficiency can really propel his game.But regardless, the Bears are going to be terrible this year, right? Well, they're not a playoff contender, but this is a better football team than you might think.First of all, no roster in the NFL was hit as hard by injuries last year as the Bears. That destroyed a team that lacked depth, and should change for the better in 2017. Ditto for turnover production by the defense, as the Bears only forced 11 all of last season - an all-time low.In fact, the defense is an underrated group as a whole, especially the front seven. Chicago is a good tackling unit and has put a lot of resources into improving that front seven over the past few offseasons.There are now building blocks in place, led by Eddie Goldman, Akiem Hicks, Jonathan Bullard, Pernell McPhee, Leonard Floyd, Jerrell Freeman and Danny Trevathan. McPhee needs to stay healthy, Hicks and Floyd could be primed for gigantic seasons, and Floyd is one of the NFL’s premier defensive breakout candidates.Expect Chicago to continue building its secondary next offseason, too, and it's already in much better shape than when we saw it last. New additions Prince Amukamara and Quintin Demps are not Pro Bowlers, but are respectable NFL starters and can hold down the fort. Also, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will mostly employ two deep safeties, which lessens the stress on this unit overall.But it's the offense that everyone is focusing on. There will surely be growing pains at the quarterback position - and it won't be an upper-tier unit overall - but there are solid pieces in place.For starters, the Bears' interior offensive line is as good as any in the league. Their tackles aren't at the level of their guards and center, but they aren't major liabilities, either. This line gives Chicago a foundation.As we saw last year, that foundation is a strong running game led by Jordan Howard - a power back who was no fluke. With his excellent vision and decisiveness, he excels in Chicago’s inside- or outside-zone scheme. The offense should continue to run through Howard, who will get the ball early and often with the hope that the defense can keep games close.This will allow the Bears' offense to presumably stay away from too many threatening down-and-distance situations, and should open up the play-action game for the quarterbacks. It will be a controlled and measured attack that gradually puts more and more on Trubisky’s plate.This approach worked extremely well for stalwarts such as Ben Roethlisberger and Russell Wilson. This isn’t to imply that Trubisky will lead a contender as those two quarterbacks did very early in their career. But the philosophy remains the same and fits John Fox’s coaching persona extremely well.Finally, as is the case with Chicago’s secondary, more work needs to be done with the receivers. But the cupboard isn’t totally bare here, either.The Bears brought in two king-sized tight ends in Dion Sims and Adam Shaheen. Expect to see a high percentage of double-tight end sets, with Zach Miller also factoring in. This will help Chicago’s offensive tackles, add a physical edge to this side of the ball, and provide large middle-of-the-field targets in the passing game.We shall see, but the Bears hope they've found Trubisky’s partner in crime for years to come in Shaheen, who like his counterpart will need time to develop. But the pair can grow together.At wide receiver, Cameron Meredith was a very pleasant surprise last year. He has a great body for the position and is extremely athletic. The pieces are in place for him to take another step in 2017.Chicago also has a bevy of smaller slot types in Kendall Wright, Markus Wheaton, and Victor Cruz. None of these are likely to be long-term solutions, but they do have move-the-chains skills.Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains’ primary personnel grouping employs three wide receivers. If one or two of Wright, Wheaton, or Cruz can be counted on week after week, that would go a long way.The huge wild card here, though, is Kevin White. He had a ton of ability as a draft prospect, but was very raw. He needed a lot of work and simply hasn’t gotten it due to injuries. When he has seen the field, White has played tentatively and hasn’t looked as explosive as he was in college. This is a pivotal year for White, and if he steps up Chicago might just have Trubisky’s top receiver. If not, that becomes priority No. 1 next offseason.The Bears aren't a contender - but they are growing. And more importantly, they're doing it the right way.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills should have their newest weapon on the field for the start of the regular season.Bills head coach Sean McDermott said Tuesday that wide receiver Jordan Matthews is on schedule to return for Week 1 after sustaining a chip fracture in his sternum in the first practice with his new team, according to ESPN's Mike Rodak.Matthews was declared week to week, but he was able to return to practice on a limited basis at the end of last week.After Anquan Boldin's retirement, the Bills can't afford Matthews to be sidelined for any period of time.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While Odell Beckham Jr. said he was "alright" after taking a big hit and spraining his ankle in Monday's preseason game, he will still undergo an MRI on Tuesday afternoon, NFL Network's Kimberly Jones reports.The New York Giants wide receiver didn't return to the game, and was seen kneeling in pain on his way to the locker room. However, he returned to the sidelines for the second half against the Cleveland Browns, walking under his own power.The 24-year-old indicated he was OK in a tweet Monday:

Roger Goodell has drawn the ire of players and owners alike. During his 11-year reign as NFL commissioner, he's earned criticism from the workforce for his heavy-handed approach and, of late, he's enraged the owners of the league's two most valuable franchises.His rating with the public isn't much better. Fans blame him for the diluted product, what with the advent of Thursday games, and for the muzzling of their beloved players. The media and the public as a whole find the former public relations assistant an easy target for the league's PR nightmares, including the fumbled suspensions to Ray Rice, Josh Brown, and Greg Hardy, and its concussion crisis.Yet, these are the same reasons Goodell is beloved by his bosses - the owners of the NFL's 32 teams. And it's why it comes as little surprise that the NFL is nearing a five-year extension with the commissioner, which would keep Goodell in power through 2024.Goodell acts as the shield for The Shield. As long as he continues to be a good soldier and bear the brunt of the vitriol hurled in the league's direction, he'll continue to earn roughly $35 million annually as commissioner of the NFL."It's a job that requires you to take a lot of beatings publicly to kind of shield and cover for the owners," WEEI columnist and former Forbes sports business contributor Alex Reimer told theScore. "That's what Goodell is: He's the bag man. I guess most of the NFL owners realize there's no real reason to replace him."Not while NFL teams are more valuable than ever. Jerry Jones' Dallas Cowboys brought in $700 million in revenue in 2016 and was valued at $4.2 billion. He bought the team for $140 million in 1989. The New England Patriots, owned by Robert Kraft, are the second-most valuable team, at $3.4 billion.The league also remains flush with money from the billion-dollar television contracts signed with NBC, FOX, CBS, and ESPN in 2011."Business is still damn good across the league," said Reimer. "Goodell still takes the public beatings, which owners require him to do, he's the perfect bag man still for that, so maybe they figured, all things considered, it would be more trouble to replace him than just keeping him on if he wants to stay on for another four years."And within the next four years, the league will have to prepare for another standoff with the NFLPA. The union is already preparing for a work stoppage when the collective bargaining agreement expires in 2020. NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith launched a warning shot last week, declaring that a players' strike is "almost a virtual certainty."To this point, however, Goodell's record is spotless when it comes to labor strife. Since he was appointed commissioner in 2006, there hasn't been any missed games due work stoppages."That's really the commissioner's most important job, the CBA and negotiating that, hiring lawyers and presiding over the strategy there," Reimer said. "And let's be honest, NFL owners kick ass in every round of CBA negotiations. They did last time under Goodell, so the owners are probably saying, 'We've got another one of these coming up, let's stick with what's been working for us.'"What's been working for the league is having Goodell as its figurehead. He's accomplished what he was appointed to do, including return a franchise (or two) to Los Angeles, making headway in Las Vegas, and keeping the coffers full."I don't know if Goodell necessarily hurts business. I think what the NFL's biggest worry is is everybody's and that's cord cutting and that's declining live television viewership," Reimer said.Though late to the party, the NFL is making strides in new media as well. The league inked a multi-year deal to share live programming with Twitter and Periscope, has partnered with Amazon to stream its Thursday Night Football package, and announced Monday a digital streaming partnership with Tencent to air live games in China."I think the issue down the road for the NFL and all the leagues is kind of the climate in which we live now with cord cutting and DVR and streaming," Reimer said. "Goodell seems to be willing to adapt and evolve on that front, too. Maybe that's another reason why they kept him on."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Le'Veon Bell is expected to end his holdout and return to the Pittsburgh Steelers by the start of next week, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Monday."(He's) expected to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers, not this week but likely at the start or right before the start of next week, which is consistent with his schedule the entire time," Rapoport said on "Total Access," according to Conor Orr of NFL.com. "This has always been Le'Veon Bell's plan. Stay home, train in Florida. ... Let the Steelers get through the preseason, get through training camp in Latrobe, get back to Pittsburgh, play the three preseason games."Then he is set to show up, sign his $12.1-million franchise tender and play for his team. If this all sounds familiar, it's almost exactly what Eric Berry did with the Kansas City Chiefs last year."The Steelers and Bell were unable to agree on a long-term deal this offseason, leading to the running back staying away from all offseason activities and training camp.As Rapoport noted, Bell wasn't expected to extend his holdout into the regular season. It was reported last week that he wouldn't miss any regular-season time and Steelers president Art Rooney II said last Thursday he expected Bell to return to the team before Week 1.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Browns tight end Seth DeValve became the man that national-anthem protester Michael Bennett had been hoping for, as he joined a group of Cleveland players who chose to kneel and huddle during The Star-Spangled Banner before a preseason game against the New York Giants on Monday night.Related: Seahawks' Bennett: White player joining protest could spur changeDeValve is believed to be the first white NFL player to kneel during the anthem this year, and the second-year pro opened up about why he was motivated to do so.

Cleveland Browns safety Briean Boddy-Calhoun says he didn't intend to injure New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on Monday night.Boddy-Calhoun went low to tackle the wideout early in the second quarter and it resulted in an ankle injury that sidelined Beckham for the rest of the evening. The play has drawn criticism from Boddy-Calhoun's NFL peers.Related: NFL players condemn 'ugly' preseason hit on Giants' Beckham"I'm just thinking hit him low, make sure I don't get no fine or nothing," Boddy-Calhoun explained after the game, according to Dan Labbe of the Cleveland Plain Dealer."I was just trying to hit him low, hit him in the target area, which is from the neck to the knee, just anywhere in there, but I wasn't aiming at anything specific."It was actually the second time in the game that Boddy-Calhoun tackled Beckham low. He chopped the player down by diving at his ankles on a reception in the first quarter."I cannot have a teammate next to me playing that way," Giants safety Landon Collins said of the play that injured Beckham."He had about 30 seconds to make a play on the ball in the air. He could've made a play on the ball, could've hit him high, but he chose a different route. I can't respect him."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns' quarterback competition is nearing the finish line.After two weeks of preseason action, head coach Hue Jackson said he hopes to announce the team's starting quarterback for the regular season by Wednesday of this week."I need to watch the tape and honestly answer that question, but I have an idea in my mind based on what I felt and what I saw from our football team," Jackson said following Cleveland's 10-6 win over the New York Giants on Monday night.The Browns played all four of their quarterbacks against New York, although none clearly separated themselves from the field.Brock Osweiler drew his second consecutive start, and while he completed six of his eight passes, they went for just 25 yards combined. He also had a throw batted down by a defensive lineman that was intercepted.Rookie second-round draft pick DeShone Kizer completed eight of his 13 passes for 74 yards and added five rushes on the ground, including a 1-yard touchdown plunge.Cody Kessler, the starter for much of last season, played in the third quarter and went a perfect 7-for-7 for 50 yards while playing with many of the team's backups.The Browns' next preseason game comes Saturday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.