In his first media availability since Ezekiel Elliott was suspended, Jerry Jones chose not to comment on the situation. The Dallas Cowboys owner will remain relatively quiet until a final decision on the suspension is made."I don't have anything to say about anything with the commissioner or with anything to do with Zeke at this particular time," Jones said Saturday after the Cowboys' preseason win, according to Kate Hairopoulos of the Dallas Morning News.Elliott reportedly has an appeal hearing set for Aug. 29, and Jones said he wants to let that process play out before commenting, though he confirmed the Cowboys are supportive of their star rusher."Because I have said I just want to get my thoughts together, see some more cards played, and just see kind of how this thing turns out," said Jones, when asked about why he won't comment. "I know that they've got a real important date set and want that to have every opportunity it can to have things in its best light."But we certainly are in support of Zeke."Elliott dressed but didn't play in the Cowboys' contest Saturday, but Jones said he "wouldn't be surprised" if the running back got some snaps in the team's third preseason game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2017 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.Every game night during the preseason, theScore gets you caught up on the most important fantasy performances from around the league.Hunt runs with the onesSpencer Ware was the official starter at running back for the Chiefs on Saturday, but he gave way to Kareem Hunt after just one snap and then watched from the bench as the rookie lit it up.Hunt, a player the Chiefs traded up to draft, carried the ball eight times for 40 yards and added three catches for 23 additional yards. Along the way, he broke tackles, stiff-armed a defender, and generally slashed though the defense.Ware handled 200 carries last season, the first time in his career (including college) that he's seen such a workload. His effectiveness also waned badly late in the season.Hunt is clearly pushing for at least a timeshare with Ware and it appears more likely than ever that the rookie will snatch away the starting job before Week 1.If you're drafting now, Hunt's eighth-round ADP represents a potentially extreme value. But it won't stay in the eighth round for long.Burkhead the Pats RB to own?Mike Gillislee has an ADP eight rounds earlier than Rex Burkhead right now, but that could flip by the time the regular season rolls around if current trends continue.With Gillislee again sitting out with an ailing hamstring, Burkhead was the Patriots' feature back Saturday and finished the evening with seven carries for 20 yards and three catches for 50 more yards and a touchdown.More importantly, Burkhead also may have finished the night as the new odds-on favorite to start for the Patriots in Week 1.It was Gillislee whom most fantasy analysts anointed as the likely successor to the LeGarrette Blount role in the Patriots' backfield - a job that produced an NFL-best 18 rushing touchdowns last season - but unless Gillislee gets healthy in a hurry he may miss his shot at making good on that promise.Of course, this is Bill Belichick's team we're talking about. No one should be surprised when Dion Lewis starts Week 1. Or maybe it will be James White.Instant Impressions

The Oakland Raiders receiving corps is already in midseason form.Amari Cooper made catching this deep ball look routine despite being surrounded by three Los Angeles Rams defenders.

For the first time in recent memory, there is reason for optimism on offense for the Houston Texans.Texans rookies Deshaun Watson and D'Onta Foreman proved that Saturday night against the New England Patriots on this impressive touchdown drive. First, Foreman took this pass 63 yards to set up Houston near the goal line.

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was on the field Saturday against the Houston Texans, marking the first time he's appeared in a preseason game since 2012.Gronkowski played 15 snaps, but wasn't targeted and didn't record a reception.Considering the 28-year-old's injury history, it was surprising to see Gronkowski out there, and a risk Patriots head coach Bill Belichick doesn't usually take at this time of year.Gronkowski's season was cut short a year ago when he underwent back surgery and missed New England's march to another Super Bowl.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Patrick Mahomes to be their eventual replacement for Alex Smith, but if the veteran quarterback doesn't watch out, his replacement may come sooner than later.Smith showed a more aggressive style than usual in his first preseason game and continued doing so Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals as he sent a deep ball to Travis Kelce for a 36-yard pickup and fit the ball in a tight window for a first-quarter touchdown.Related - Watch: Smith stays aggressive with Mahomes pressuringHowever, Mahomes came out firing in hopes of building on the momentum that saw him named second-team quarterback this week. The rookie pivot showed off his legs on his first drive, scrambling down to the one-yard line before throwing a short touchdown.

It was a rough night for Christian Hackenberg in more ways than one.The New York Jets quarterback was given a surprise start when coach Todd Bowles indicated that Josh McCown wouldn't play against the Detroit Lions, and was on the receiving end of a massive hit on his first dropback.

Blake Bortles has a fairly valid reason for not reading or listening to what other people are saying about him.As the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback fights to get back the confidence of his coaching staff, the former first-round pick says it is in his best interest not to pay attention to media pointing out his struggles."Whether you think you are as mentally strong as you can possibly be, if you read negative stuff about yourself long enough, there’s no way to not believe it," Bortles said before Saturday’s practice, according to John Reid of Florida Times-Union. "I don't watch cable sports news channels and I got to stay off social media and all that stuff because it does nothing for you.Related - Time's up: Jaguars must end Bortles era or risk another lost year"Anything you guys say, I have no idea. I think it’s all I can do is go out there and go earn, prove and show them with each play I can do it and I can consistently do it."Bortles was chastised for his poor performance Thursday night, completing 8-of-13 passes for 65 yards, and has entered a quarterback competition with veteran Chad Henne. Head coach Doug Marrone says he wants to see how Bortles handles the challenge before making the next decision."It’s just comes down to how I handle it, departmentalize it and how I’m able to function with all that’s going on," Bortles said.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Marrone isn't quite ready to name Chad Henne his starting quarterback. Or Blake Bortles, for that matter.Marrone says Saturday he wants to ''see how this thing goes'' over the next few days before deciding who will start against the Carolina Panthers in a preseason game Thursday night.Marrone opened up the team's quarterback competition after another inconsistent performance from Bortles, the third overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft.Bortles was 8 of 13 for 65 yards in a loss to Tampa Bay. All four of Bortles' drives ended with punts. Bortles has led the offense to three points in six possessions in the preseason.Henne is 11 of 16 for 183 yards with a touchdown. The 10th-year pro should have another score, but rookie Keelan Cole dropped a would-be touchdown pass in the second quarter against the Buccaneers.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Justin Britt's show of support for Seattle Seahawks teammate Michael Bennett during the national anthem Friday night did not go unappreciated.After hearing Bennett's call for a white player to join protest efforts, Britt said the comments led him to place a hand on the defensive end's shoulder while he sat out the national anthem before Friday's preseason game.Related: Eagles' Long wanted to support Jenkins 'as a white athlete'"I want to support him," Britt said after the Seahawks' win over the Minnesota Vikings, according to ESPN's Sheil Kapadia. "I want to support what he stands for and his beliefs. I'm not foolish. I'm from Missouri. I get that things are different in that area than they are in some other areas. I'm not against what the flag means and veterans. My dad was in the Army. So I'm not putting any disrespect to them. I'm just trying to understand the issues, trying to educate myself more in that regard and showing support ..."I always tell kids: Don't be a follower. Be the one they're following. So whether it's good or bad in some eyes, I feel like I'm just supporting my teammate, supporting why he's doing it and his reasons, and trying to encourage others."Britt says that he talked to Bennett beforehand about showing support and is considering sitting out the anthem in the future. Bennett was moved and motivated by the gesture of his teammate."A very emotional moment to have that kind of solidarity from someone like Justin Britt, who's a known leader in our locker room, who's from a different part of America than me," Bennett said. "But to be able to have that solidarity and to be able to have somebody who is behind me and know that it's someone that I really trust, and to see him put everything on the line to support one of his teammates, I thought that was a very special moment."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back Leonard Fournette said Saturday he expects to be healthy in time for the Sept. 10 regular-season opener despite an injured foot, according to John Oesher of the team's official site."That's nothing to worry about," said Fournette.The No. 4 overall pick said his foot issue isn't related to the ankle injury he dealt with in his final season at LSU.Wide receiver Marqise Lee is also confident he'll be ready to suit up in Week 1 after avoiding a serious ankle injury in practice Sunday, according to Oesher.With uncertainty at quarterback due to Blake Bortles' struggles, Fournette is expected to the focal point of the Jaguars' offense in 2017.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The crowning achievement of Tom Brady's career so far, a record fifth Super Bowl title for a quarterback, was soured by the theft of his jersey from his locker at NRG Stadium after February's triumph.What ensued was a globe-trotting investigation spearheaded by the FBI and NFL security, ending with Brady's historic jersey being retrieved months later in Mexico, in the possession of a member of the international media.Brady talked about his side of the experience in an interview this week with Fox Sports' Jay Glazer."I didn't think I'd ever see it again," Brady told Glazer, per Tyler Sullivan of 247sports. "And then within a week I had started to hear like, 'Oh, they may be on the right track.' It took quite a while to kind of figure out the process and no one would really give me much information."I had to talk to the FBI. I had to talk to the people in the Houston Police Department and they obviously were onto it. They didn't give me much inclination to say that they think it's in Mexico. Before you know it they said, 'Well, we've got some good news. We recovered the jersey.' Mr. Kraft gave it to me at his house this summer."Having nearly lost some of his most valuable memorabilia, Brady won't make the same mistake again."I think what it means for us players is that we've got to be safer," Brady said. "In the locker room we've got to be safe bringing stuff in. There's a lot of valuable things in our bags, in our lockers and people have access that you never have idea. Obviously, the person had been doing it for a long time so ... I mean, I've learned a lesson. There's obviously no valuables going into the locker room or things that really matter or you care about, so you got to put them in a safer place than I originally thought."Brady will return to the stadium where his jersey was stolen when the New England Patriots visit the Houston Texans for their second preseason game Saturday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins have signed free-agent linebacker Rey Maualuga to a one-year, $900,000 contract, Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald reports.The Dolphins needed reinforcements at linebacker after second-round pick Raekwon McMillan was lost for the season due to a knee injury.Maualuga reunites with Dolphins defensive coordinator Matt Burke, who was the linebacker's position coach with the Cincinnati Bengals.The 30-year-old's coverage skills have eroded of late, but he should have enough in the tank to act as an early-down run stuffer.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL Players Association director DeMaurice Smith took aim at Roger Goodell during an interview with Bryant Gumbel that airs Tuesday night on HBO, accusing the commissioner of lying about how the personal conduct policy was changed in 2014 following the Ray Rice scandal and other high-profile incidents."When Roger Goodell can stand up there as he did and say, 'We're drafting a new NFL Personal Conduct Policy,'" asked Gumbel, according to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio. "We're gonna do so in conjunction with the union,' and then doesn't consult the union, comes up with a new policy, that says what?""That says he lied," responded Smith.The changes essentially allowed Goodell to act as judge, jury, and executioner when it came to player discipline, and eventually led to the NFL clashing with several big-name players, most notably Tom Brady during the Deflategate scandal.Many have laid the blame for allowing Goodell to wield such power at the feet of the NFLPA, seemingly causing a rift between Goodell and the NFL owners and Smith."He has a job," Smith said. "And I have a job. My relationship with Roger I would argue is irrelevant."Asked if he trusts Goodell, Smith opted for a more diplomatic answer, but only slightly."I don't have the luxury of trust, now do I?" said Smith.The NFL and NFLPA are once again at loggerheads over Ezekiel Elliott's six-game ban for domestic violence allegations, with the league accusing the union of victim shaming. The NFL suspended Elliott after its investigation found "substantial and persuasive evidence," though the running back was never arrested or charged.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

No NFL roster is perfect, but the Patriots have amassed one of the most enviable collections of talent in league history ahead of the 2017 season.Finding a discernible weakness on New England's roster is difficult, especially after the reigning Super Bowl champions somehow managed to significantly improve by reinvigorating its backfield, trading for speedster Brandin Cooks and snatching star corner Stephon Gilmore away from the division rival Buffalo Bills in free agency.The only things that appear to stand in the way of the Patriots and a second consecutive Lombardi Trophy are injury or bad luck. However, there could be another major issue New England must find a way around: their questionable pass-rushing corps.Third-round defensive end Derek Rivers, New England's top draft pick this year due to the team being without its first two selections, was set to be a significant contributor to a defensive line that lacked dynamic talent on the outside.However, Rivers is out for the 2017 season after tearing his ACL. Suddenly, the Patriots' could have an Achilles' heel to exploit.New England's defensive end depth chart is topped by Trey Flowers, who had seven sacks last campaign and is set for a breakout year in 2017.But beyond Flowers, the Patriots don't have a lot of proven depth, especially after reliable veteran Rob Ninkovich retired in July after 11 seasons, robbing head coach Bill Belichick of not only one of the quintessential Patriots, but a player who'd contributed 48 sacks over the past eight seasons.While Ninkovich's loss was unexpected, the state of the Patriots' pass rush is a fate Belichick has chosen.Top pass rusher Chandler Jones was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in March 2016, and super-athletic linebacker Jamie Collins was sent packing to the Cleveland Browns midway through last season.Nevertheless, the Patriots, as they always seem to do, still rose to the top of the mountain despite losing their premier sack man and middle linebacker who racked up 5.5 quarterback takedowns in 2015.So while questioning Belichick's moves admittedly almost always ends in his doubters looking foolish, the head coach can't be excited about the state of the defensive end position right now.Kony Ealy, whom New England traded for this offseason, has talent, but the inconsistencies that convinced the Carolina Panthers to trade him despite a historic performance in Super Bowl 50 are still present.Rookie Deatrich Wise Jr. could be another option opposite Flowers, but he's dealing with a concussion and doesn't have the speed to consistently win one-on-one matchups, especially early in his career.After Ealy and Wise, the Patriots' depth is just career special teamers and undrafted rookies.Again, Belichick is a defensive wizard, often pulling miraculous levels of production from unlikely sources, but even for him, turning this group into a productive unit seems a tall task.The Patriots finished tied for 16th last year with 34 sacks, and that was with Ninkovich and departed free agents Jabaal Sheard and Chris Long combining for 13 sacks.How New England replaces that production, especially after Rivers' injury, could be the dominant question of their season.Rivers' loss is a blow, but has also shined a spotlight on the weakness and should motivate Belichick to get creative to find reinforcements, either via trade or on the open market, where useful veterans like Dwight Freeney and Paul Kruger are still available.Regardless, New England rightfully remains far and away the favorite to win Super Bowl LII, but even a small crack has the potential to take down the biggest behemoths.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LeGarrette Blount's career with the Philadelphia Eagles hasn't exactly gotten off to a blazing start, as the veteran running back has failed to perform over the first two preseason games.Blount carried the ball five times in Thursday's 20-16 win over the Buffalo Bills for just eight yards, taking his total over two games to nine totes for a paltry 17 rushing yards.He also fumbled one of his two receptions against Buffalo and appeared to lack the power and divisiveness that helped him rush for over 1,000 yards and lead the league with 18 rushing touchdowns in 2016 with the New England Patriots.However, Blount is unconcerned by the faltering Eagles ground game."You go back and look at my preseason performance and then go look at my regular-season performances, and you tell me," Blount said, according to Zach Berman of Philly.com. "There's nothing that we're doubting or that we feel like we're lacking. I feel like we got all the pieces we need to be a good running team."As a physical monster, weighing in at 250 pounds, Blount's said his style benefits from extended snaps that allow him to wear down defenses - a rarity in the preseason for a starter, especially a 30-year-old running back."Obviously, you want to be productive," Blount said. "Whether you go in there for one play, and it's a run, and it's on the 20, you want to break it for 80 yards. . . . You're not going to get a lot of plays like that. But hopefully over the course of a four-quarter, 60-minute football game, you get teams that wear out, teams that get tired. And then usually that's when you see the big runs come. We haven't been playing long enough in the game for that to happen."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Blair Walsh took his chance for some payback against his former team, the Minnesota Vikings, after connecting on two long field goals during Friday's preseason contest.The Seattle Seahawks kicker gestured toward the Vikings' bench after hitting the two 52-yard kicks and said after the game he did so in response to taunts from Minnesota players."I felt like it was nothing that was serious or meant to be hurtful, but I wanted to let them know that it just wasn't going to roll off," Walsh said, according to ESPN's Sheil Kapadia. "I didn't say anything though. Just looked at them."Watch: Seahawks' Walsh appears to point at Vikings' bench after long FGWalsh spent five seasons in Minnesota, but he's likely best remembered for shanking a potentially game-winning kick against Seattle in the 2015 playoffs. He was cut by the Vikings last November after his struggles bled into the 2016 campaign and was picked up by the Seahawks this offseason.Asked what the Vikings were saying to him, Walsh said, "Nothing I can repeat here. That's for sure.""I simply was just responding to getting taunted," Walsh continued. "I didn't say anything. When you've got guys who were your teammates for five years yelling at you when you're trying to kick, it's just odd. And I hope they were in jest. And I hope they didn't mean it because I didn't mean anything with mine, but it was definitely not out of nowhere."Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll had no problem with his kicker giving as good as he got."I'm fired up for Blair. ...They were giving him a hard time," Carroll said. "They were razzing him a little bit and all that. He was just having a little fun with it. He's a really good competitor. I like his mentality, and I think we are very fortunate to have him."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Items connected to Colin Kaepernick's protest of the national anthem during the 2016 season and his work to fight social injustice and racial inequality will be displayed as part of a Black Lives Matter collection at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History."The National Museum of African American History and Culture has nearly 40,000 items in our collection," Damion Thomas, the Washington museum's sports curator, told A.J. Perez of USA Today Sports. "The Colin Kaepernick collection is in line with the museum's larger collecting efforts to document the varied areas of society that have been impacted by the Black Lives Matter movement."Thomas previously said the museum planned to display Kaepernick's game-worn jersey and cleats, along with a picture. Contrary to another report, however, the curator said there won't be a specific exhibit for the free-agent quarterback."There are no current plans for an exhibition on Colin Kaepernick," Thomas said.Kaepernick remains unsigned after opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers. He continues to fulfill his pledge to donate $1 million to charitable causes and has confirmed he will not sit for the anthem in 2017 if he's signed.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks starting left tackle George Fant suffered a season-ending ACL injury during Friday's preseason win over the Minnesota Vikings, head coach Pete Carroll announced, according to ESPN's Sheil Kapadia.Carroll said Fant will undergo surgery."I'm really broken-hearted about George Fant getting hurt," Carroll said. "Just unfortunate. He's done so much and come so far."Fant was replaced by second-year player Rees Odhiambo after going down in the second quarter and needing the cart to exit the field.The Seahawks could roll with the inexperienced Odhiambo at Russell Wilson's blindslide, or attempt to slide guard Luke Joeckel to left tackle, where he started his career.Either way, the Seahawks' arguably weakest position just lost got even weaker with the loss of Fant, who expressed his gratitude for the support early Saturday on Twitter:

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2017 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.Every game night during the preseason, theScore gets you caught up on the most important fantasy performances from around the league.Flying togetherDoug Baldwin and Russell Wilson have combined for some excellent fantasy campaigns in recent years, and it appears 2017 will be more of the same from the Seahawks' duo.Wilson connected with Baldwin four times on Friday night, tallying 69 yards in less than a half of action. The veteran receiver made plays all over the field, including a quick strike over the middle that he turned upfield for a 37-yard gain. Wilson was also in midseason form, completing 13-of-18 passes for 206 yards and a pair of scores.After an off-year spent battling injuries, Wilson has the look of a top-five fantasy quarterback once again - a feat he accomplished in each of the previous two seasons. Meanwhile, the annually underrated Baldwin deserves to be drafted as a low-end WR1 in the second round.Running away with itWhen Latavius Murray signed with the Vikings in the offseason, he must have expected a starting role would be in his future. The team didn't see it that way, however, instead trading up to draft Dalvin Cook in the second round.Cook got a head start in the offseason while Murray was sidelined with an ankle injury, and after two stellar preseason performances, it's safe to crown him as the unquestioned lead back in Minnesota.Cook rattled off 40 rushing yards on seven carries Friday, adding another 10 yards on a reception. That brought his two-game preseason totals to 17 touches for 93 yards.The Vikings' offensive line has played well in August and there's nowhere to go but up after a disappointing 2016 season marred by injuries.Cook has been able to capitalize on the creases his line is opening and consistently get to the second level of defenses. His ADP has been skyrocketing over the past couple weeks - and for good reason. The third and fourth rounds can be a dead zone in drafts this year and Cook is an excellent player to target in that range.Instant Impressions

SEATTLE (AP) Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett sat during the national anthem for the second straight game of the preseason.Bennett was alone sitting on the Seahawks bench during the ''Star-Spangled Banner'' before Friday night's preseason game against Minnesota. But teammates showed support for Bennett with center Justin Britt standing alongside with his hand on Bennett's shoulder. Defensive back Jeremy Lane also stood next to Bennett. Lane sat for the national anthem during one preseason game last year.Bennett said after last Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers that the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, including the death of a woman who was struck by a car deliberately driven into a group of counter-protesters, solidified his decision.Bennett has received support from his teammates and the Seahawks organization. Coach Pete Carroll said earlier this week he believes players should stand for the anthem but supported Bennett.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard won't play Saturday versus the Arizona Cardinals because of a corneal abrasion, the team told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Pelissero added the injury was suffered during a walkthrough Friday and it appears to be minor. Howard only received three carries in the Bears' first preseason game, so he won't get a chance to see significant action now until late in August.While it may be unrelated, it's worth noting Howard had eye surgery during the offseason to improve his vision.After a standout season that saw Howard rush for more than 1,300 yards as a rookie, Chicago will now be counting on him to carry the offense behind Mike Glennon and Mitch Trubisky.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If you're an NFL player hoping to out-work Tom Brady, you better step up your game.New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski recently revealed just how far the future Hall of Famer goes in his preparation."I'll give you a legendary story; this happened the first day of camp. He was in the special teams meeting and he isn't on special teams, paying full attention writing notes down," Gronkowski told Jay Glazer of FOX Sports. "There you go. That just shows how hard the guy works. He's in on special teams meetings, too."While Brady's dedication to the craft is admirable, Patriots special teams meetings hardly seem relevant to his job behind center. Of course, the 40-year-old has made it known he wants to play as long as he can, so perhaps Brady has his eye on a future conversion to kicker to extend his career.- With h/t to CBS BostonCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sean McDermott doesn't want a quarterback controversy on his hands.The Buffalo Bills head coach created a minor stir Thursday night after a poor performance by Taylor when he indicated "we're always going to evaluate everything." McDermott quickly tried to squash any idea that Taylor's job would be in jeopardy and reiterated that Friday."I have all the confidence in the world in Tyrod," McDermott told reporters, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com. "By no means was that meant to come across that way. Tyrod's going to start for us (against the Ravens on Aug. 26), and I look forward to him getting back on track."Taylor managed just 53 yards passing and two interceptions against the Philadelphia Eagles, causing some to question a possible change. That being said, the depth chart behind Taylor isn't exactly brimming with talent, with journeymen T.J. Yates and rookie Nathan Peterman next in line.With Buffalo apparently rebuilding after dealing away Sammy Watkins, it could be a challenging season for Taylor.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Covers.com the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.Each week during the pro football season, covers expert Art Aronson of AAA Sports looks at the NFL odds and tells you which spread to bet now, which one to bet later, and which total to watch as the week plays out.Game to bet nowLos Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos (-3.5)This one opened at Denver -4.5, but quickly melted down as quarterback issues arose during Bronco training camp. At some point in the process new coach Vance Joseph will have to decide between Paxton Lynch and Trevor Siemian as the search for the next John Elway or Peyton Manning continues to play out at Mile High. The early returns on both Siemian and Lynch were not all that encouraging, and only served to mask the fact that the Broncos have other problems to deal with - namely on the offensive line.The Chargers are hoping against hope that the move to Los Angeles will invigorate the roster after winning just nine of 32 games in their last two seasons in San Diego. Quarterback Philip Rivers turns 36 before the end of this season, so if the Chargers get off to a slow start there may be rumbling about seeing what they have in former Buffalo Bill Cardale Jones. Unless there’s a major injury, this line will probably stick.Game to wait onNew Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings (-3.5)It’s not hard to figure out where the Vikings went south and lost control of the NFC North last season. After recovering from Teddy Bridgewater’s late-camp, season-ending knee injury, Minny rallied behind new QB Sam Bradford and started the season with five straight wins. Any playoff hopes went down the drain, though, when the Vikes lost six of seven, averaging just over 12 points a game in those losses.It all added up to a disappointing 8-8 record and this season Minnesota will try to buck the league-wide trend and do it with defense. Last season the Vikes had the third-ranked defense in the NFL, and this time around feel that they just may have the best D. We’ll get back to you on that, but it might be wise to see how things stand health-wise as we get closer to kickoff.Total to watchKansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots (48.5)This has actually been bet down since opening at 50, and the question is why? New England has loaded up the offense in moves reminiscent of 2007, and Tom Brady finally has a burner in Brandin Cooks. It should be 1980s Showtime Lakers in Foxboro this year with Cooks outside the numbers, a healthy Rob Gronkowski down the seam and Julian Edelman working the underneath stuff as only he can. The over deserves a good, hard look in this one.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly came closer than anyone knew to locking up Le'Veon Bell for the foreseeable future.On July 17, the deadline to sign franchise-tagged players, the Steelers thought they'd come to terms with Bell's agent on a five-year contract, only for the star running back to nix the deal at the last minute, Ed Bouchette of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.It was reported in mid-July that Bell turned down a five-year deal worth $12 million per season - the highest average for any running back.Bouchette adds that Bell is seeking $15 million per season, though it wasn't clear why his agent would agree to a lesser deal if his client's demands were set in stone.Bell's agent Adisa Bakari refuted the report, stating that an agreement was never in place to ESPN's Adam Schefter."All stories to (the) contrary are false," Bakari said.Bell has yet to sign the $12.12-million tag or report to training camp. However, it was reported Thursday he won't miss any regular-season time and Steelers president Art Rooney II said he expects him to return to the team before Week 1.The 25-year-old is coming off a dominant season in which he led the league in yards from scrimmage following a three-game ban to start the year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The lone Friday Week 2 NFL preseason game sees the Minnesota Vikings visit the Seattle Seahawks. How long will there be players on the field with names we all know?Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks (-3, 40.5)About the VikingsThe Vikings improved to 13-1 straight up and 12-2 against the spread in the preseason under head coach Mike Zimmer after last week's 17-10 win over the Buffalo Bills."At the end of the day, does it matter? No," Zimmer told Minnesota reporters after being asked about his record in exhibition games. "But I think the competitive nature of your team, especially if you've got a young team getting used to winning - that's good. I know the record. We don't really go out of our way to win, but I like to win, yeah."Zimmer expressed concern about seeing a lot of NFL starters pick up injuries - some season-ending - in the first week of the preseason. The Vikes head coach would also like to see some more production from his first teamers.Sam Bradford and Co. picked up just one first down in three series. Expect the starters to play at least for the full first quarter for the Vikings.Case Keenum and Taylor Heinicke are battling for right to be Bradford's backup. Keenum is No. 2 on the depth chart as it stands and he had a strong showing last week against the Buffalo Bills.About the SeahawksSeahawks head coach Pete Carroll is not talking about playing time for his starters against the Vikings. Carroll kept Russell Wilson and the rest of the first teamers out for the entire first half against these same Vikings in Week 2 of the preseason last year.Carroll used the same strategy in Week 2 of the 2015 and 2014 preseasons as well.Seattle put up 48 points on the scoreboard against the Los Angeles Chargers, by far the most points scored in Week 1 of the preseason. Backup quarterbacks Trevone Boykin and Austin Davis had a lot to do with all those points.Boykin is fighting for his job as the team's backup QB because of some problems off the field and because of the play of veteran Austin Davis. The two should split snaps again in the second half against Minnesota.Players to watch for fantasy football fanaticsThomas Rawls, RB SeahawksEddie Lacy was signed in the offseason, but news out of Seattle's camp is that the No. 1 RB job is Rawls' to lose.Dalvin Cook, RB VikingsThe rookie out of Florida State's average fantasy draft position is in the late third round but he could way outperform that ranking. Anyone who saw him play in college knows he's got moves and should be a real weapon in the passing game - particularly in an offense led by "Captain Checkdown."Line movesThe spread is holding to its opening number at Seattle -3 while the over/under line has dropped half a point to 40.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton won't play in the team's second preseason game Saturday, against the Tennessee Titans, according to ESPN's Dianna Russini.Newton's shoulder was re-evaluated and deemed unready, as he continues his comeback from surgery to repair a partially torn rotator cuff in March.Quarterbacks Derek Anderson, Joe Webb, and Garrett Gilbert will continue to split playing time until Newton is ready.Webb led the passing attack in the first game, converting seven of his 14 pass attempts for 128 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens have re-signed center Jeremy Zuttah, the team announced Friday. Details of Zuttah's deal weren't disclosed, but a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport that the veteran signed a two-year, $4-million contract that could max out at $6 million.The Ravens traded Zuttah to the 49ers this offseason after three seasons with the club, but San Francisco released the offensive lineman just months after making the move, opening the door for a reunion in Baltimore.Zuttah started all 16 games for the Ravens in 2016, but was traded for a swap of late draft picks.His return to Baltimore highlights the team's desperation for bodies on the offensive line, which has been hit hard by injuries. Zuttah will compete with Ryan Jensen for the starting job.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Listed at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Mohamed Sanu thinks being bigger will help make him better. And so does his coach."Although he's 220 pounds, he can change direction like a smaller player. And that kind of size in the slot, you can see the advantage that would have. He's a real valuable factor for us in the passing game," said head coach Dan Quinn, according to Will McFadden of the Falcons' website.Sanu played last season at his listed weight, finishing his first year with the Falcons with 59 receptions for 653 yards. According to Pro Football Focus, Sanu caught 59 of the 78 catchable targets he received, dropping just two would-be receptions. His 76 percent catch rate ranked 10th among receivers to play at least 25 percent of their team's snaps.His 2.8 percent drop rate over the past two seasons leads all receivers.According to Quinn, Sanu's aim this offseason has been to be able to do more with the ball once it's secured in his hands."He threw a good camp; he got improved on certain things," Quinn said. "Inside in the slot, for a big guy, he still has good change of direction to break a guy off in the slot."Even with the high catch rate, Sanu ranked 51st in yards per target last season. His 11.1 yards per reception ranked just 96th. Sanu's 10-pound larger frame this season should make it more difficult for diminutive defenders to bring him down, while he maintains the speed necessary to elude larger opponents.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots, who didn't have first- or second-round picks in the 2017 NFL Draft, may have lost their top selection, defensive end Derek Rivers.

John Lynch would like to clarify his stance on protests during the national anthem.Speaking on the subject earlier in the week, the San Francisco 49ers general manager stated that players have the right to protest racial injustice in America and that he'll "always respect people's rights." However, he also characterized the practice as "divisive," giving rise to the perception he wouldn't tolerate players sitting for the national anthem."If I could take one thing back, I would have changed that word," Lynch said Friday on KNBR radio, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. "Because of the negative connotation. But I was really trying to make the point that our game should be a beacon for what can be."Lynch had previously explained he sees football as a unifier of people of various ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds and pointed to a scene during Thursday night's preseason game in Philadelphia in which a white player put his arm around a black teammate who stood with a raised right fist."When I saw that picture of Chris Long and Malcolm Jenkins, I think that's exactly what I was speaking to and what I think is so great about football, of how I think our society can be and how it should be - of people coming together," Lynch said."When you're talking to your 10-year-old and you're trying to explain what's going on (in Charlottesville) - it's sad, it's disgusting, it's unbelievable that these things still exist. So I want to go a step further (and say) not only do I respect, but I understand the motivations of these players that are trying to do something about it. I want to be very clear with that, that's where my heart is."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.No fantasy owner's draft plan should be so rigid as to classify any player as a "must-own," but it's wise to enter your draft with a short list of names to target. Below, we identify seven players we believe will be key to winning a fantasy title this season.You shouldn't plan to get all of them on your roster - that's probably impossible - but if you build your draft plan around selecting at least a few players on this list, you'll greatly increase your chances of fantasy glory this season.Average draft position (ADP) data courtesy of FantasyPros and is based on 12-team leagues with standard scoring.Jameis Winston, QB, BuccaneersYou could spend an early draft pick on Aaron Rodgers, or Tom Brady, or Drew Brees, or you could use that pick on a stud tailback/wideout and wait to draft a quarterback on the cusp of joining the ranks of the NFL's truly elite passers at a bargain price.Winston entered the league in 2015 as a borderline generational prospect and has continued to display astronomical potential since then, throwing for more than 4,000 yards and 22 touchdowns as a rookie and following up with 4,000 more yards and 28 touchdowns last year.With the Buccaneers adding DeSean Jackson and O.J. Howard this offseason to complement Mike Evans in their receiving arsenal, the time for Winston's final ascent is now. Don't miss out.Joe Mixon, RB, BengalsThe Bengals have a history of looking past players' off-field issues, but they wouldn't have invested a second-round pick in Mixon and endured the public shaming that followed if they didn't believe he is a game-changing talent.It's easy to see why they think that. The vision, patience, elusiveness, and receiving ability Mixon shows on tape conjures images of Le'Veon Bell or David Johnson. He has all the tools to be a three-down player as a pro.Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill remain in the picture, but there's not a single thing they do that Mixon can't do better. This is the rookie's job to run with, and fantasy owners who can stomach drafting Mixon despite his off-field transgressions will reap the rewards.Isaiah Crowell, RB, BrownsRecommending a Browns player seems like fantasy blasphemy, but the trend of outright avoiding everyone on their roster is coming to an end.Crowell was a surprise fantasy starter in 2016, finishing with 952 rushing yards, 319 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. He averaged an impressive 4.8 yards per carry and ended the year as the RB15 in standard leagues and the RB14 in PPR. The 24-year-old also saw a big increase in passing-game usage over the second half of the season, which bodes well for him holding off Duke Johnson for touches.Browns head coach Hue Jackson has gone on record saying the team is committed to running the ball, a move that was obvious when it beefed up its offensive line in free agency. All signs are pointing up for Crowell, who has a chance to move into the RB1 conversation.Derrick Henry, RB, TitansThink Leonard Fournette running a 4.51 40-yard dash at 240 pounds is impressive? Consider that only a year prior, Henry ran 4.54 at 247 pounds. This is a beast just waiting to be unleashed behind one of the NFL's best offensive lines.The problem is there's a major roadblock in the way. His name is DeMarco Murray.Betting on an injury requires a leap of faith, but in this case it's a leap worth taking. Though Murray has been more durable in recent seasons than his reputation would suggest, he's 29 years old and touched the ball nearly 350 times last season.Henry only needs a tiny opening and he will knock the door off its hinges. It might not come in Week 1, or even by Week 4, but by the fantasy playoffs this will be Henry's backfield and he should be dominant in the role.Michael Thomas, WR, SaintsWhen Sean Payton uncharacteristically offered up fantasy advice last summer, everyone should have listened. Payton suggested he would try to have Thomas on his team if he played fantasy football, and that proved to be more than just coachspeak, as the rookie went on to haul in 92 catches for 1,137 yards and nine touchdowns.Thomas is a student of the game with an unstoppable work ethic, and entering the 2017 season, he's officially at the top of the Saints depth chart following a trade that sent Brandin Cooks to New England.While Drew Brees loves to spread the ball around, Thomas should see an increase in targets after Cooks' departure, which will lead to an even bigger sophomore year.Martavis Bryant, WR, SteelersAsk yourself where Bryant would be drafted if his 2016 suspension for substance abuse violations hadn't occurred. Then consider where he's actually being selected.Bryant is a truly dynamic weapon in an offense that should be among the NFL's best. He's probably the Steelers' best red-zone threat and he will never see double coverage thanks to the presence of Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell.The Steelers can't count on Bryant staying out of trouble long term, but fantasy owners have nothing to lose but a draft pick - and a heck of a lot to gain considering the bargain price Bryant comes at.Martellus Bennett, TE, PackersBennett has been a top-10 fantasy tight end in three of the last four years and, barring injury, he's a lock to do the same in his first season with Green Bay.While the Packers haven't featured the tight end prominently in their offense, Aaron Rodgers has never had a talent like Bennett to work with at the position. Bennett isn't going to challenge for 1,000 yards, but his touchdown total will more than make up for that. Repeating the numbers he posted in New England last season - 701 yards, seven touchdowns - is easily attainable and would keep him comfortably as a mid-level TE1.Outside of Rob Gronkowski, there isn't a tight end worth spending a high pick on, so why not wait to address the position later in the draft with a potential weekly difference-maker like Bennett.More from this series

It's only been one week since the Buffalo Bills traded Ronald Darby to the Philadelphia Eagles, but he's already looking like a steal for his new club.The cornerback didn't have to wait long to exact revenge on his former team, as he hauled in an interception and narrowly missed another in Philadelphia's 20-16 preseason victory Thursday night.The performance landed him the game ball and earned him universal praise from his teammates and coaching staff."We welcomed him with open arms and you see he's making his mark here in Philly already," teammate Rodney McLeod told David George of the team's official website after the contest.Despite whiffing on an early tackle attempt against LeSean McCoy, Darby didn't lose his composure, and the quality he showed in limited preseason reps had head coach Doug Pederson raving about his secondary's prospects for the upcoming season."Yeah, it's very impressive. Very exciting. Encouraging, obviously," Pederson said about Darby's performance. "He's definitely going to help us there in the back end."A strong first showing is exciting for any player who has joined a new roster, but the fact it came against his former club was that much sweeter for Darby."It's a great feeling to do well against a team you were just at," Darby said.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Zach Orr announced Friday he will again retire from the NFL after a brief comeback attempt.On The Players' Tribune, Orr explained he's hanging up his cleats for good this time after finding no team willing to take a risk on him due to the spinal condition that first forced him to retire in January."Today, I'm officially retiring from professional football … again," Orr wrote. "And I'm even more at peace this time around because the teams have spoken. If there was any way I could come back, I would."Now, I know that's not possible."In the emotional statement, Orr revealed he visited with six teams - including the Ravens - and spoke with 11 others, but was unable to be medically cleared.Orr has a weakened C-1 vertebra, a herniated disc, and a potentially damaged spinal cord. While some teams were OK with one issue, none were willing to accept the combination of risks with Orr's back, he wrote.The 25-year-old paid tribute to the Ravens organization, expressing his gratitude for the team giving him a shot as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2014."We have a saying in Baltimore: Once a Raven, always a Raven," Orr wrote. "Well, I wanted to end my career as a Raven. And even though it didn't happen the way I envisioned, I've done that. I wish it didn't have to end like this. I wish it didn't have to end after I had just had the best season of my life. I mean, I was an undrafted free agent out of North Texas who came in and in his third season, led the Ravens' defense - the Ravens' defense - in tackles. That in itself was a dream come true."But it’s just bad timing. Sometimes, that's how life goes. I believe everything happens for a reason, and I'm excited for the next chapter of my life, whatever that may bring."I'm just thankful that the Ravens gave me the opportunity to show people the kind of player I could be before it was all over."Orr looked set for stardom after a hugely impressive 2016 season in which he racked up 132 total tackles, three interceptions, and one forced fumble.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

DAZN CEO James Rushton was admittedly exhausted when he met with the media in Toronto last week to celebrate his company's foray into the Canadian digital sports market.You would be, too, if you were as busy as Rushton.DAZN made a stunning splash earlier in the summer, announcing it had secured exclusive rights to stream every live NFL game this coming season. That package includes NFL Game Pass, NFL RedZone, and the entirety of the old NFL Sunday Ticket, which provided out-of-market games to Canadians who had purchased the package through their cable provider.DAZN is available in Canada on the majority of network-connected devices, including smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, and game consoles like Xbox One and PlayStation 4.Rushton believes his product - which is already thriving in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Japan - offers an alternative to cable programming that will appeal to most football fans."As we started to develop our ability to deliver live content around the world, about two, two-and-a-half years ago, we really started getting serious," Rushton told theScore. "We took a step back and said, 'If you're buying your home broadband, would you accept a 24-month contract with a penalty to get out of it? Of course you wouldn't. Would you accept paying 100 dollars for access to relatively vanilla sports content? No.'"So we said, 'We can do this. We can create a better deal.' So then it was, how do we do it? And what market do we do it in? And how do we try and position ourselves? And we came to the realization that it had to be non-linear. There's no need to create linear outputs anymore. Buy all the content, put it out there, and let the fans choose."The move is a significant shakeup to the NFL broadcast environment in Canada. Customers for both Rogers and Bell will no longer be able to order pay-TV NFL packages, though Rogers has countered by offering its Super Sports Pak subscribers a time-shifting package that will give them access to NFL games on channels they might normally not be able to watch."We know our customers want to experience sports on a big screen in HD or 4K from the comfort of their living rooms, and we'll continue to offer all the best weekly NFL matchups through customers' regular cable subscriptions," a Rogers spokesperson told theScore on Thursday.Rogers estimates that customers will be able to watch up to half of the games on Sunday afternoon, and 60 percent of all NFL games in a given week. NFL Sunday Ticket will still be available to commercial customers.Bell did not respond to a request for comment.As for DAZN, diving headlong into a new market is one thing - but doing so with one of the world's most valuable sports properties marks an incredibly aggressive approach to expansion. Rushton wouldn't have it any other way."You need a big data set to learn - and the only way you get a big data set in sports is buying premium rights that people are interested in," Rushton explained. "And premium rights, unfortunately, create big-ticket price tags around them. And so you have to be aggressive."Would we have made this play in Canada if we had had an indifferent start to our life in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Japan? No. Of course not. You look at what we're doing in those markets, we've invested and invested. We're making a big bet, but it's a bet based on a year's worth of empirical data and a load of research on what Canadian sports fans like and how they feel about multiple sports, not just hockey."Rushton admitted that the NFL package wasn't cheap. In his eyes, though, cost was far from the only consideration."Was it a tense project? Was there a strong negotiation? Yes, sure," Rushton said. "The NFL is very good at commercializing their rights. Was it fair? Yeah, of course it was. They're very fair owners and operators. Was it a process where it was all about the dollars? No, it wasn't."Obviously we had to put an amount of money that the NFL is comfortable with, but there are other factors at play. It's an interesting play for them to see how a pure streaming service can work with their rights. And we share a plethora of data, way more than a traditional pay-TV operator would."The NFL content will resonate most with the majority of Canadian sports fans, but that's far from the only property DAZN offers. Earlier in August, it finalized a distribution partnership with beIN SPORTS, allowing the streaming service to provide coverage to Canadian subscribers of La Liga, Ligue 1, Serie A, and the Champions League, among other properties.Fans can purchase a monthly subscription for $20, or they can opt instead for a limited-time offer of $150 for an annual subscription. Canada's the only place where the annual package is offered - and Rushton is open to the possibility of even more varied subscription options in the future."We've talked in the past about whether we want to do smaller bite-sized payment models," Rushton admitted. "It's something we continue to think about. We're a business that likes to make decisions based on our user feedback - especially big decisions."We have a pretty big beta user group, a pretty active base of testers. In the next six months, sure, we'll start to think about whether there are different ways we could look to commercialize the service. But we won't do anything without reaching out to Canadian sports fans."DAZN is also ad-free, at least for now - one of the key benefits of being part of Perform Group, one of the world's largest digital sports content and media organizations."We're purely a subscription business," Rushton said. "We don't have any advertising at all. We don't do any interstitials. That's not to say we don't work with brands. We'll work with brands on promotions where, if you interact with a brand or buy something, you get a discount on DAZN. But we're not really interested in having 30-second spots across our business."Yet, despite making waves with its NFL rights acquisition and multi-platform availability, DAZN still faces the oldest and most significant issue relating to streaming live sports: The delay between the actual game action, and when that action shows up on users' connected devices."(Delay) is an inherent industry challenge with internet protocol-based delivery," Rushton said. "It's something we take pretty seriously as you can imagine - and we're always looking at the trade-off between quality and latency. One of the things we've really focused on the last six months is trying to deliver the best 1080p HD signal from the lowest possible bandwidth. And we've seen a 100 percent improvement from where we were six months ago."I would love to say there's a sort of silver bullet whereby, with the flick (of) a switch, a piece of code will be released that would change that. But it doesn't exist. And it's one of the challenges that live sports have. It's something we're aware of and continuing to look to improve, but it's not something that is unique to DAZN in any way. It's something I do think will improve over time."The migration of DAZN to Canada seems like a precursor to an eventual move to the U.S., where the market is 10 times bigger - and sports fans are equally ravenous for content. The competition for eyeballs is sure to be fierce; one major player in the market has already made a move. Turner secured rights to European soccer Wednesday with designs on creating its own subscription streaming service next year.Though Rushton is aware of what's happening - and will continue to happen - in the U.S., for the moment, his focus is north of the border."We're launching in Canada because we think Canada is an amazing opportunity for us," Rushton said. "We aren't launching in Canada because we're trying to step into the U.S. In terms of markets, in order for our business to be as successful as it can be, we need to be in big markets that have huge connected populations, huge disposable incomes, and are interested in sports. The U.S. kind of ticks a lot of those boxes."But the challenge is that you have to write some big checks to play in those markets. Are we interested in launching in the U.S.? Yes we are. Does that mean we're definitely launching in the U.S.? No, of course it doesn't. It's on the list. But we're in Canada because we love the passion Canadian sports fans have, and we believe our proposition - fans first - resonates really well against our competitors in the market and resonates really well with fans."(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison clarified his views on players protesting during the national anthem after a fake story claimed he said a teammate "better be in a wheelchair" if he's sitting for The Star-Spangled Banner."That's up to the individual," Harrison told Sports Illustrated's Jonathan Jones on Thursday. "If they feel like that's something they want to do, that's their right."Harrison has twice been wrongly quoted as saying he'd have an issue with anthem protesters.In 2016, a tweet Photoshopped to look like it was from the 39-year-old read, "If you are on my team and not standing for Anthem better be because a broken leg or I'm gonna give you one. #EyesonuCK."This week, former NHL star Jeremy Roenick tweeted a screengrab of a Facebook post written by "Happy Gilmore" with the headline reading, "Steelers' James Harrison - "Anyone on my team sits for the anthem, they better be in a wheelchair."However, Harrison never said that.Regardless, Roenick's tweet was retweeted over 3,300 times and still hasn't been deleted, despite the Steelers confirming its inauthenticity.