There's at least one Jacksonville Jaguars fan who believes the team's quarterback issues could be solved by signing Colin Kaepernick.Related: Marrone declares Jaguars QB job up for grabsDuring Thursday's 12-8 preseason loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in which Blake Bortles completed 8-of-13 passes for just 65 yards, a fan was spotted wearing a Jaguars jersey with Kaepernick's name and number on it.

Enough is enough.Let's not spin this wheel one more time, Jaguars, in hopes that you'll hit the jackpot after three years of disappointment and the occasional mirage of a solid return with Blake Bortles under center.It doesn't matter that Bortles has the appearance of a franchise quarterback, standing 6-foot-5 and 236 pounds with a big arm and decent athleticism. He simply isn't a starting-caliber quarterback; closing your eyes and sticking your fingers in your ears for the 2017 season isn't going to change that.Bortles' improvement since entering the NFL in 2014 has been minimal, and as he highlighted again and again during Thursday's preseason game, he's actually somehow regressed, with his footwork, mechanics, and accuracy far below that of a backup quarterback, let alone a franchise pivot.And the Jaguars know this, with head coach Doug Marrone saying after the game that the starting quarterback job is "up there for grabs."

Tony Hawk found himself in another awkward situation while at a restaurant recently.The skateboarding legend took to Twitter on Thursday to share a humorous conversation he had with someone who, after asking if he was famous, noted that he bears a resemblance to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

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.Cutler zeros in on ParkerIn his first preseason game with the Miami Dolphins, Jay Cutler played well for a guy who spent the offseason standing naked looking at the ocean. He only completed 50 percent of his passes for 24 yards, but that doesn't include a 31-yard gain to DeVante Parker that was brought back on a holding penalty.Parker was clearly Cutler's favorite weapon on the night, which is another good sign for a potential breakout campaign from the third-year receiver. The only reception that shows up in the box score is a 16-yard catch over the middle, but Parker also had the aforementioned 31-yarder called back and was targeted again deep down the right side, but Cutler slightly overthrew him. Parker's lone blemish on the night was a dropped screen pass that was a little lower than it should have been.After the game, Cutler referred to Parker as a faster Alshon Jeffery, something worth noting for fantasy owners, since Cutler peppered Jeffery with targets during their time in Chicago. Parker carries a lot of upside at his current ADP in the eighth or ninth round.Job securityIf you're waiting on a quarterback in your drafts, you might want to avoid Tyrod Taylor and Blake Bortles. Both passers had atrocious outings Thursday night, leading to postgame questions about how long they might remain starters for their respective teams.Taylor was intercepted twice by the Eagles, completing 8-of-18 passes for 53 yards with a 12-yard run. The first pick was tipped at the line, but the second was a poor throw from Taylor snagged by former Bills cornerback Ronald Darby. You can't write it any better than that. Darby almost had another pick earlier in the same drive, also from a bad pass by Taylor.The TyGod has reportedly struggled with the Bills' new offense, and if that continues, it wouldn't be surprising to see the new coaching staff turn to rookie Nathan Peterman, since the Bills aren't likely to contend in 2017. Head coach Sean McDermott said Taylor's starting spot is safe, but that could quickly change if he doesn't turn things around.A disappointing performance from Bortles is much less surprising, but Jaguars fans appear to have had enough as they booed him on his home field. Bortles missed receivers several times while completing 8-of-13 passes for 65 yards and no scores. In a move that was apparently planned, but may have been seen as foreshadowing, backup Chad Henne relieved Bortles and got time with the first-team offense into the third quarter. Head coach Doug Marrone admitted postgame that the quarterback competition is wide open.Even if Taylor and Bortles start in Week 1, the chances of them maintaining those jobs throughout the year is becoming less likely by the day. Taylor's rushing ability is enticing for fantasy owners, but both quarterbacks are too risky to gamble on in re-draft formats.Instant Impressions

A day after Michael Bennett said a white player joining the anthem protests could spark change, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long embraced teammate Malcolm Jenkins during the anthem Thursday.Long didn't take a knee, but put his arm around Jenkins as the safety raised his fist in the air, something Long wanted to do as a white athlete."If you don’t see why you need allies for people that are fighting for equality right now, I don’t think you’ll ever see it," Long said after the game, according to Tim McManus of ESPN. "So my thing is, Malcolm is a leader and I’m here to show support as a white athlete."This was Long's first statement during the anthem, but he was vocal recently after the riots in his hometown of Charlottesville, Va.Long spoke out against the events last weekend, where a woman who was involved in a counter-protest was killed after being struck by a vehicle.Jenkins was obviously moved by Long's gesture, speaking to Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News:

Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Pierre Garcon entered a scuffle during a joint practice Thursday, but both teams downplayed the incident.Talib reportedly shouldered Garcon after a pass was tipped by Broncos cornerback Chris Harris, and the 49ers wide receiver fought back.After the practice ended, Talib didn't think much of the skirmish."Just a little wrestling match, it wasn’t no major thing," Talib said via Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. "I've been in real fights. That was nothing."49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan also made light of the incident."At the end of the practice, they were sitting, laughing with each other, talking," Shanahan said, via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. “Guys are competitive and guys support their teammates, and everyone’s got each other’s backs. So anytime there’s a little scuffle on the field it’s really hard to keep people back on both sides because everyone is so protective of each other. I think that says a lot about both teams."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott confirmed to Buffalo News' Vic Carucci that he's not planning on removing Tyrod Taylor as the team's starting quarterback, following a poor performance during Thursday's 20-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.Taylor went 8-of-18 for 53 yards and two interceptions, before T.J. Yates and Nathan Peterman entered the contest."We're always going to evaluate everything," McDermott said during his postgame press conference when asked if the Bills would make a change at quarterback.McDermott's comments led some to believe that Peterman or Yates would be replacing Taylor, but the coach confirmed to multiple reporters that his incumbent's status isn't in danger.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's a quarterback controversy brewing in Jacksonville.Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne saw some action with the first-team offense against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, after Blake Bortles turned in another less than stellar performance.Jacksonville head coach Doug Marrone stated after the contest that there's an open competition for the role.

Although the Miami Dolphins were handily defeated in a 31-7 rout by the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night, Jay Cutler is sufficiently impressed by his new teammates.Cutler went 3-of-6 for 24 yards, before giving way to a host of backup options.The veteran quarterback wasn't altogether concerned by the result and heaped particular praise on wide receiver DeVante Parker."A faster Alshon," Cutler noted to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, referring to his former Bears teammate Alshon Jeffery.Jeffery signed a one-year, $14-million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in March and is expected to be a pivotal part of their offense.For the time being, Cutler is still developing a camaraderie with his wide receivers, but the pieces are in place for the Dolphins to make a second consecutive playoff appearance.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills will be in good spirits, even after losing 20-16 Thursday to the Philadelphia Eagles.Bills running back LeSean McCoy ordered 200 cheesesteaks and crab fries from Chickie's and Pete's Sports Bar & Crab House to be consumed after the game.

Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Danny Shelton is expected to miss three-to-six weeks with a knee injury, a source told ESPN's Field Yates.Shelton was designated as week to week by the Browns earlier Thursday, and head coach Hue Jackson said he wasn't too concerned about his status.The 23-year-old recorded 59 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble in 16 games last season, and is expected to be an integral part of the Browns' revived defense this fall.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LOS ANGELES (AP) Los Angeles prosecutors say Oakland Raiders cornerback Sean Smith has been charged with beating his sister's boyfriend last month.The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said Thursday that Smith faces assault and battery charges.They say the 30-year-old Smith beat the victim and then stomped on the man's head in Pasadena on July 4.Smith previously played for the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs. Smith pleaded guilty in 2015 to a driving under the influence charge in Kansas City and was sentenced to two years of probation.He's scheduled to be arraigned in Pasadena in September. If convicted, Smith faces up to seven years in prison.It wasn't immediately clear if Smith had an attorney who could comment on the allegations.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jay Cutler didn't look totally out of place in his debut for the Miami Dolphins on Thursday, but a 15-yard completion to DeVante Parker was the only notable "highlight" he could produce.

Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II is not anticipating his team's season to start without its star running back.Having yet to sign his franchise tag or report to the team this summer, Le'Veon Bell has not directly given Rooney an ETA on his return, but the team owner is confident it will be before Sept. 10, when the Steelers start their season."He has not given any indication to anybody that he plans to hold out into the season," Rooney told Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Thursday. "But I don't think he's given (head coach) Mike (Tomlin) any day he's planning to come, either."It was reported earlier Thursday that Bell won't miss any regular-season time, but Rooney is hoping the 25-year-old shows up before the eleventh hour."To be honest, I would hope that it’s next week (he reports) to give himself two weeks to get acclimated," Rooney said. "I don’t think it’s been a distraction to the team, so it’s really a matter of him getting here to get acclimated to being in pads, working with his teammates."There are advantages to be here practicing with your team."It is unlikely that the lack of preseason activity will keep Bell from success. Ahead of his career-best season in 2016, Bell had just three preseason carries, all of which came in the same game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Melvin Ingram is making his foray in the music world.Ingram released his single "Nervous" from his five-song EP titled "Reap What You Sow" on Thursday.It remains to be seen whether Ingram, who signed a four-year, $66-million extension this summer, will have as much success as a rapper as he's had on the football field.You can listen to Ingram's new song here. It contains coarse language.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.David Johnson and Le'Veon Bell (not necessarily in that order) will be the first two running backs drafted in almost every fantasy football league this summer. But who will be first off the board next summer?Identifying the next great fantasy RB is an exercise in more than just identifying running talent - though that's obviously the most important part. We must also consider the offense a running back plays in and the market share of carries he can expect.Let's take a closer look at the candidates:Derrick HenryRushing skills: ★★★★☆

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan isn't going to stand in the way of any of his players protesting.While general manager John Lynch called player protests "divisive" on Wednesday, his head coach said he would fine with his guys protesting and completely understands the motive to do so."I'm not going to tell anyone what to do or not to do," Shanahan told reporters Thursday, according to David Facillo of Niners Nation. "I see stuff on TV, also. And things that are going on in this country and this world. And I think anybody who sees that stuff and doesn't get the feeling that they'd like to do something about it to end that stuff, I think something's wrong with you. I completely understand why guys want to do stuff and want to speak up."Shanahan said that he plans to stand for the anthem and that he's too focused on the game at hand to get out of his usual coaching routine, but from a player's point of view, he can see why a protests makes sense."For a player, if they see that differently and they want to do something about that, I completely understand their intentions and why," said Shanahan. "Because I think everyone can agree there's lots of stuff that's pretty sad to see right now."Shanahan said it doesn't matter to him if a team protest is planned or not, and clarified that he has no knowledge of a planned display by the 49ers without Colin Kaepernick on the roster. Shanahan never specifically mentioned which injustices he supports protesting, referencing "all this stuff" instead."I think everyone gets kinda what's going on to a degree and understands what's very wrong about all this stuff," said Shanahan. "And I think everyone wants to do stuff to help. And everyone wants to make a change. I'm not going to sit and tell people how to do that. That's up to them. That's why our country is the best country. And if someone does decide to do that, I'll talk to anybody about anything."The 49ers had several members of the team join Kaepernick in protest last season. Safety Eric Reid was one of his teammates to take a knee, but has said he will not continue to do so this season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson read a prepared statement Thursday to clarify his stance regarding players protesting racial inequality during the national anthem.Jackson said Tuesday that he hopes his players avoid protesting during the anthem, although noted that everyone has a right to do so.Upon further reflection, Jackson read a statement Thursday, clarifying his previous stance:

The Seattle Seahawks signed cornerback Tramaine Brock on Thursday, and head coach Pete Carroll is confident the team did its due diligence on his background.Brock was released by the San Francisco 49ers in April after he was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence, but the charges were dismissed earlier this month due to lack of evidence."What I would say to you is, I don't know how anybody could have done a more extensive look into this," Carroll said, according to Sheil Kapadia of ESPN. "John (Schneider, the team's general manager) started this quite some time ago and followed it throughout to make sure we knew exactly what was going on. I'm not going to go into particulars for you, but we feel assured that we have done all of the homework that can be done and done a little bit past that and then maybe past that. We've really done our work here and feel that we're in a good place with him."Brock's accuser later released a statement saying the confrontation was only verbal. Carroll wouldn't reveal if he spoke to the alleged victim."I'm not going to go into that, OK," he said. "There's a million questions you could ask me about that. We've done everything that you could do. All I can tell you is it's been a comprehensive look into it, and I feel great telling you that. There's too many aspects of it to go ahead and talk to you about it specifically."Brock spent the past seven seasons with the 49ers, totaling 181 tackles and 11 interceptions.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tennessee Titans defensive lineman DaQuan Jones is worried that the stigma surrounding Colin Kaepernick's activism will be held against him, if he continues to lobby against police brutality and racial inequality.Jones was one of four Titans players who raised their fist during the national anthem last season, promoting awareness of racial injustice in the United States.Ahead of the upcoming season, Jones is hesitant to continue his protest, fearful of being blacklisted from the league."It's going to affect your job, your endorsements and your money," Jones said via ESPN's Cameron Wolfe. "Someone like me, going into my fourth year, I'm trying to get paid too. A lot of teams will look down at that and say, 'He's a Colin Kaepernick.'"Titans receiver Rishard Matthews echoed Jones' sentiment, believing that players are fearful of losing their jobs if they continue to protest."I know there are guys who want to take a knee or stand up as well, but a lot of people come to this league from nothing. Job security is everything," Matthews said. "It's not a secret that guys who protest on teams might be gone."Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey said in the wake of the events in Charlottesville, Va., players shouldn't be fearful of taking a stand."The Charlottesville thing over the weekend with the riots really caught my eye. It's very disgusting what's definitely going on," Casey said. "We can't be afraid to voice our opinions about this."Numerous players around the league have joined Kaepernick's protest and it'll be compelling to see if the Jones and the Titans maintain their efforts this year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Richard Sherman has not let up on his expectations for the Seattle Seahawks defensive backs.After admittedly having a "banged up" season in 2016, Sherman is expecting a bounce back season from the "Legion of Boom". Seattle still had the eighth-ranked pass defense and fifth-ranked overall defense last season, but that wasn't up to Sherman's standards - he wants better."It's always the same challenge," Sherman told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Wednesday. "We're always raising the bar. We always want to be the best unit to ever put cleats on. And that's the standard and that's every day, every play, every tackle. That's why … we don’t subscribe to the notion that corners just kind of go out there and you sweep the legs or nothing."No, you come up there and you put your body on him. And every single person that steps on that field, all 11 on defense, better be able and willing to put your body on somebody if that’s what the play requires. And that’s what we do every year."Sherman fought through an MCL sprain through the season while Kam Chancellor was out four games due to injury and Earl Thomas went down for the year with a broken leg in Week 13. Sherman wants to warn fans and critics that 2016 was just a blip on the unit's progress.“We had a few games where we were off and I think ended up ranked like two or three," said Sherman. "And (people) were like, 'Oh, my God! Look how terrible they've become. They’ve fallen so far from the top.' It’s like, well, yeah, I appreciate you holding us to our own standard, but..."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story and video contains coarse language

It's never too early to start looking to the future.With the beginning of the 2017 season just weeks away, it's a good time to remind yourself about who might be up for grabs after the year is over.Since you're already aware franchise-tagged Le'Veon Bell, Kirk Cousins, and Trumaine Johnson will become free agents after the deadline for their long-terms deals passed in July, they aren't included in this list. The Detroit Lions appear extremely confident they will re-sign Matthew Stafford, as do the Houston Texans with DeAndre Hopkins, so they're out of consideration as well.But from the hundreds of other pending free agents, we found the top 10 to look out for as potential additions to (or subtractions from) your team.10. Vontaze BurfictPosition: Linebacker | Current team: Cincinnati BengalsBurfict may be the most hated player in the NFL, but he brings a ton of impact from the linebacker position and will be in demand from any team willing to put up with his shenanigans.The 26-year-old would be the best linebacker available if the fear of constant penalties and suspensions was gone.9. Allen RobinsonPosition: Receiver | Current team: Jacksonville JaguarsRobinson's 1,400-yard, 14-touchdown season from 2015 seems like forever ago, and with the Jaguars' shift to a run-focused offense, it's hard to imagine him replicating those numbers in Jacksonville.He would be much better served in a pass-oriented offense with a quarterback who can keep the ball in bounds.8. Jarvis LandryPosition: Receiver | Current team: Miami DolphinsOnly Odell Beckham Jr. has caught as many passes in the first three years of his career as Landry, but the Dolphins have shown signs they aren't so keen on keeping the slot specialist around.Landry is perhaps the best slot receiver in the NFL at age 24 and will be in high demand as a free agent, though the size of his contract may be in doubt as his elite reception numbers do not reflect his yards and touchdowns.7. Sheldon RichardsonPosition: Defensive end | Current team: New York JetsRichardson needs to calm his feud with Brandon Marshall soon or he'll be known more for his petty temper than his on-field skills among potential suitors.The former 13th overall pick should be one of the most coveted defenders in the league, but his history of suspensions, fines, and locker-room grudges is starting to overshadow his talent.6. Sammy WatkinsPosition: Receiver | Current team: Los Angeles RamsThe Rams have already proclaimed they want to keep Watkins in L.A. for the long term, though the 24-year-old has yet to step on the field for the team.Watkins' injury history should make the Rams and any potential suitors concerned about committing to a future with the receiver, but his physical gifts are undeniably attractive.5. Teddy Bridgewater/Sam BradfordPosition: Quarterback | Current team: Minnesota VikingsEither Bridgewater or Bradford will become a free agent, if not both. For Bridgewater, his health will decide a lot for Minnesota. Bradford, however, could convince team brass to keep him over their first-round pick with a good 2017 season.4. Jimmy GrahamPosition: Tight end | Current team: Seattle SeahawksThe Seahawks are in the process of locking up core pieces of their team, but Graham may not be considered part of that group.Graham's potency has gone down since being traded from the Saints to the Seahawks, but his value could be much better in a high-octane passing attack.3. Malcolm ButlerPosition: Cornerback | Current team: New England PatriotsButler unsuccessfully tried to escape to the Saints as a restricted free agent last spring, but with the restriction lifted in 2018, there's no keeping him in New England without paying big.The 27-year-old was understandably discouraged by his team giving big money to Stephon Gilmore instead of him and is reportedly motivated to build on his 2016 Second-Team All-Pro selection for a better contract.2. Drew BreesPosition: Quarterback | Current team: New Orleans SaintsOf all the players on this list, Brees is the most likely player to stay with his current club, but the possibility of this being his last year in New Orleans is alive.Brees, 38, has kept the Saints' heads above water the last few seasons, but if the team has another year at 7-9 or worse, New Orleans may decide it's time to rebuild. The All-Pro quarterback still has plenty in the tank and could have success with a Peyton Manning-esque transition to a new team.1. Jimmy GaroppoloPosition: Quarterback | Current team: New England PatriotsIt is very rare that a 25-year-old quarterback with no injury history and nothing but rave reviews from coaches, scouts, and teammates hits the open market, but when you have Tom Brady under center, difficult decisions must be made.The Patriots will have to pay through the nose to keep Brady and Garoppolo under contract after 2017, which doesn't mean they won't do it. However, quarterback-needy teams will all have Jimmy G at the top of their lists if he makes it to the open market.Honorable Mentions: Morgan Burnett, Alshon Jeffrey, Nate Solder, Ezekiel Ansah, Dontari Poe, Tyler Eifert, Terrelle Pryor, Carlos HydeCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL Players Association has advised its members to begin saving their money in preparation for a possible work stoppage after the 2020 season, but it appears a boycott is much more than just a possibility."I think that the likelihood of either a strike or a lockout in '21 is almost a virtual certainty," NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith told Albert Breer of The MMQB.Smith went on to accuse NFL owners of colluding during previous negotiations of the collective bargaining agreement and inferred that certain concessions that were made last time the NFLPA went up against the league won't be made again.NFL players have spoken out recently about the gulf between player contracts in football and the money being lavished on players in the NBA.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive line hit up Ruth's Chris Steak House on Wednesday night for their annual rookie dinner. And, as per tradition, the first-year players were expected to pick up the tab.However, Korren Kirven and Cole Gardner got quite the surprise upon learning they'd be splitting a $26,000 bill.Left tackle Donovan Smith posted a photo of the bill on his Instagram story:

Everyone has an opinion on the recent protests of racial injustice by NFL players during the national anthem.While some coaches, general managers, and owners have expressed their support to such demonstrations, others have cautioned against them.Related: Carroll supports Bennett while saying Seahawks should stand

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."Professional football is a fluid, ever-changing line of work for both players and coaches. Stability within an organization and coaching staff is something few teams can boast from year to year, but all that change also opens the door for new people to move up and step up.Below are coordinators in the NFC that we're really excited to see in their new homes. It turns out that in this conference, the most notable new coordinators are familiar names. You can find the AFC list here.Atlanta Falcons OC Steve Sarkisian(Photo courtesy: Action Images)What Kyle Shanahan did with Atlanta's offense last year was truly remarkable. Now, Sarkisian has the unenviable task of trying to keep the league's best offense of 2016 as strong as it was a year ago.Shanahan is a master game planner and play-caller with a great ability to adjust during the course of a game. Meanwhile, Sarkisian doesn't have much NFL experience and has never been a play-caller at this level. As you would expect, Sarkisian isn't expected to change much in Atlanta; we should still see a heavy dosage of outside zone scheme as the foundation of the offense.There will be designed quarterback movement, no huddle, play action, multiple tight end and running backs sets as we have seen. But to expect Sarkisian to be as good at coordinating as Shanahan was last year is unrealistic. Also, the chance of Atlanta's entire offensive line staying healthy for all 16 games is highly unlikely to repeat again.While this is a very talented offense led by Matt Ryan, the depth at wide receiver and up front is not ideal. This offense is bound for some regression.Los Angeles Rams OC Matt LaFleur(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)LaFleur is the offensive coordinator, but the reality is that he is head coach Sean McVay's right-hand man on this side of the ball. Los Angeles has been aggressive this offseason in building around last year's first overall pick, Jared Goff. That includes the hiring of McVay, who comes over from Washington.Jay Gruden had a huge amount of influence over the Redskins' offense, but this is an ideal hire for Goff. Adding Andrew Whitworth, Robert Woods, Sammy Watkins, and others also shouldn't hurt. McVay helped do wonders with Kirk Cousins. Goff has more natural ability than Cousins, and Todd Gurley is a far more talented ball carrier than anyone McVay had in Washington.We'll see a lot of play-action passing and plenty of deep shots from multiple tight-end sets. This is also an offense that utilizes pre-snap motion very well to help the quarterback read the defense and isolate the best weapons in 1-on-1 situations.As for LaFleur, he has been the Falcons' quarterback coach the last two years and worked in the same capacity with McVay in Washington for three years before that. His time with Shanahan should prove fruitful for the Rams as well. Expect the Rams' offense to be noticeably improved in 2017.Los Angeles Rams DC Wade Phillips(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Everyone knows Phillips' reputation as one of the top defensive coordinators in the history of the game.He comes over from Denver, where he was in charge of the 2015 Super Bowl championship team that arrived at that honor on the back of its amazing defense. With McVay concentrating on the offensive side of the ball, the Rams' defense will belong to Phillips, who had already been coaching for 10 years when McVay was born!As outstanding as Phillips' resume is, some were concerned that a coordinator that favors a 3-4 would be messing with a good thing. The Rams were a 4-3 defense under Jeff Fisher - and a very good one at that. However, in Phillips' scheme, the difference is minimal.This is an attacking penetrating unit that will best use the great talents of Aaron Donald. Also, don't be surprised if Robert Quinn, often coming from a two-point stance, gets back to being one of the elite edge-rushers in the NFL under Phillips.While Los Angeles doesn't have the Broncos' great cornerbacks to play Phillips' preferred man coverage at Denver's level, this is a coach that has instantly improved the defense in every stop he's made over his long and illustrious career.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Always the backup, never maybe the franchise quarterback.Veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer is on his sixth team, having started at least one game for five franchises since the start of the 2012 season.The 31-year-old has started just 31 games in that time, continually being thrust into starting roles as an injury replacement or the secondary choice when someone else fails.When the San Francisco 49ers - with head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch - signed him in the offseason to be the 2017 starter, he was widely viewed as a placeholder until Shanahan's perceived No. 1 choice - Kirk Cousins - reaches free agency next summer.Lynch may be changing his stance on what Hoyer can provide a team clearly in the midst of a significant rebuild.“We’ve said from the beginning we want a franchise quarterback around here, and a lot of people are making assumptions as to what Brian’s role is,” Lynch said, according to Joe Fann of the 49ers' team website. “Our response to Brian and to everybody is he’s got the first crack of being that guy."Hoyer has had stretches of success in the past, including four straight starts with at least 300 passing yards with the Chicago Bears last season. After his 2016 season was cut short by injury, doubts persisted regarding his abilities."I think (he’s) probably exceeded my expectations of how I thought he could play,” Lynch said. “(He’s) been very, very good. We’ve only played one preseason game and we’ve got to continue to let it develop, but he’s taking this opportunity and I think doing a tremendous job with it.”The last time Hoyer worked with Shanahan - with the Cleveland Browns in 2014 - he led the league with 13.7 yards per completion. Lynch and Shanahan have controlled the variables involved in their quarterback experiment by bringing in wide receivers Pierre Garcon, Marquise Goodwin, and Aldrick Robinson.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks and center Justin Britt have agreed to a three-year $27-million contract extension, reports NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Britt confirmed the contract Thursday via Twitter. He is now tied as being the NFL's third highest-paid center.Britt has spent his entire three-year career with the Seahawks, moving from right tackle to left guard in his first two seasons before finding a home at center in 2016. While the Seahawks had the lowest-rated offensive line in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus last season, Britt was their top-graded blocker.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Donald's holdout from the Los Angeles Rams is threatening to extend into the regular season, league sources informed ESPN's Adam Schefter.One source suspects Donald could sit out the entire 2017 season.The star defensive tackle skipped OTAs, attended minicamp, but has yet to show up to training camp.Drafted 13th overall in 2014, Donald is entering the fourth year of his rookie deal and the fifth-year option in his contract has already been picked up by the team. He's currently set to earn $1.8 million in base salary this season, a meager earning for one of the top talents in the league.Donald may be ready to extend his time away from the team in order to lock up a more lucrative, long-term deal, however difficult that may be. Teammate Michael Brockers has stated that the holdout is "killing" Donald.The two sides are said to be a fair distance apart from one another in negotiations. General manager Les Snead stated on Friday that there has been "not any movement" in talks, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN reported, but the Rams remain optimistic about retaining Donald long term."There is hope. There's hope that he'll be a Ram a long time," Snead said, according to Sean Wagner-McGough of CBS Sports.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Training-camp holdout Le'Veon Bell will report to the Pittsburgh Steelers before the start of the regular season, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter, though there's no exact date for Bell's return to team activities.The running back has not yet signed his one-year franchise tender, worth a fully guaranteed $12.2 million. As an unsigned player, Bell isn't subject to any team fines for missing camp, but would be fined weekly once the season begins.Should Bell concede and accept the one-year tender, he'd be the NFL's highest-paid running back on an annual basis. Under the CBA, he can't negotiate a new, long-term deal with the Steelers until after this season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Stefon Diggs has been getting very creative with his cleats lately.The Minnesota Vikings wide receiver unveiled a custom pair of "Cleveland Show" cleats last week, and will wear a Starbucks-inspired pair for Friday's preseason game in Seattle, where the coffee company was founded. Both pairs were designed by Mache Custom Kicks.

The Atlanta Falcons are still getting relentlessly trolled over their Super Bowl LI collapse.While dining at an Atlanta restaurant on Tuesday, Mason Ginsberg, a writer at the New Orleans Pelicans blog Bourbon Street Shots, left a very specific tip on his bill to remind his waitress that the Falcons blew a 28-3 lead.

Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick used to battle for the San Francisco 49ers' starting quarterback job. Five years later, Smith is quarterbacking the Kansas City Chiefs, and he wonders why Kaepernick is unemployed."Crazy to think he's not playing," Smith said to Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star. "Yeah, that's a crazy thing. As good as he was playing. Young, strong, I felt like he had a long career ahead of him. Crazy that at this point he's out of a job. ..."A lot's changed in those few years obviously since I've been gone and came here. Everything that's gone on since, it's not something I saw coming, knowing Kap."Smith and Kaepernick both started for the 49ers in 2012, but the year ended with Smith on the shelf with a concussion and Kaepernick leading the team to the Super Bowl. Smith was shipped off to the Chiefs a month later.At the time, Kaepernick was thought to be the new breed of quarterback. Five years on, however, he's a 29-year-old without a job."It's hard for me to comment on it," Smith said. "I don't know. Lot going on in that landscape right now. Certainly when I was there, he was playing at a really, really high level, right? Had a lot in front of him as far as a career goes. He was playing really good football."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.Every week we get deeper into the preseason, the closer we get to real football.The common practice for playing time in Week 2 of the exhibition calendar is for the starters to play the first quarter, backups playing the second quarter, and the scrubs fighting for roster spots playing the second half.Not all teams follow this staple, however, and that’s why we’re going long to find any nuggets to help our readers gain an edge over the book when betting on the NFL preseason on Thursday.Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins (-3, 38)RavensStarting quarterback Joe Flacco is out for all of preseason with a bad back, meaning bettors will see lots of Ryan Mallett. The Ravens’ de facto No. 1 QB hasn’t impressed in training camp and wasn’t much better in his Week 1 preseason appearance. Mallett completed nine of 18 passes for 58 yards and an average of 3.2 yards per attempt.Baltimore cut Dustin Vaughan, the guy behind Mallett on the depth chart, and signed veteran Thad Lewis as his replacement. Mallett, Lewis, and Josh Woodrum will get all the snaps on Thursday against the Dolphins.DolphinsJay "smoke 'em if you got ‘em" Cutler makes his debut for the Fish on Thursday. The retread QB, formerly of the Bears and Broncos, will start against the Ravens and is expected to play a couple series - maybe even all the first quarter.Matt Moore, who started last week under center, is not expected to get much action this week. Coach Adam Gase is worried about over-extending his 33-year-old veteran.That leaves Brandon Doughty and David Fales to split the remaining snaps once Culter completes his cameo. Fales went 8-for-17 on pass attempts and racked up 184 yards and two TDs to one INT last week. Doughty completed seven of his 12 pass attempts and totaled 69 yards through the air with one touchdown pass and one interception.Miami beat reporters suggest starting running back Jay Ajayi might not play as he is still recovering from a concussion suffered earlier in camp.Line movesThe total opened at 39.5 but has been bet down to 38, while the Fish have gone from 2.5-point favorites to 3-point chalk.Buffalo Bills at Philadelphia Eagles (-4, 39.5)BillsBuffalo fans are still spinning following the two trades their team made last week, shipping its best wide receiver and cornerback out of town. One of the players the Bills got back in the trades, WR Jordan Matthews, is a bit banged up and isn’t expected to play for the rest of the preseason. Ditto for starting left tackle Cordy Glenn.Rookie QB Nathan Peterman has overtaken T.J. Yates as the team’s top backup under center. Tyrod Taylor will start and play most of the first quarter before giving way to Peterman and Yates.EaglesPhilly head coach Doug Pederson says his plan for playing time should mirror Week 1 when the starters got one series before heading to the sidelines. Pederson says he might extend their playing time to two drives, but no more.The Eagles released veteran running back Ryan Matthews earlier this week, clearing the path for LeGarrette Blount to the top of the depth chart.New wideout Alshon Jeffery is expected to make his first preseason appearance for the Eagles on Thursday, although Pederson hinted he’d like to see his team do a better job of establishing the run game. Philly picked up just 47 yards on the ground last week on 19 carries against the Green Bay Packers.Line movesThe spread and total are both holding steady to their opening numbers.Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars (Pick’em, 40.5)BuccaneersThe Bucs’ starters are expected to play the entire first half against the Jags. Don’t expect wideout DeSean Jackson to suit up though, as the free agent signee was limited in practice on Tuesday because of a sore ankle.Tampa will be working in a new kicker after the team cut former 2016 second rounder Roberto Aguayo.JaguarsThings aren’t going well for the Jags and we’re just a week into preseason. Starting running back Leonard Fournette will not play against TB because of a foot injury.Meanwhile starting quarterback Blake Bortles is having a disastrous training camp. He tossed two picks in practice over the weekend before head coach Doug Marrone yanked him. Marrone had Bortles sit out more sessions because he said he thought his QB’s arm looked tired. Bortles says his arm is fine.Awkward.There have already been a couple videos going viral from practice where Jags receivers can be heard voicing their frustration with the throws they’re getting from Bortles.Line movesThe total has moved down half a point to 40.5 while the spread went from Jags -1.5 to pick’em.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rest and rehab didn't work.Indianapolis Colts center Ryan Kelly was expected to be out just a few weeks with a foot injury and return for Week 1 of the 2017 season, however, head coach Chuck Pagano said Thursday that Kelly will require surgery and miss regular-season time.The injury is a bone defect in his foot that will sideline Kelly for six-to-eight weeks, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.The Colts will look at free-agent options at the position, Pagano said, according to George Bremer of The Herald Bulletin.Kelly injured his foot last week during practice.The 2016 first-round draft pick hasn't missed a game or start in his career.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians has been harsh when commenting on his team's wide receiving corps this training camp.He offered a little further explanation Wednesday on some of his issues with the skill group, most notably fourth-year receiver John Brown."I don’t have any choice,” Arians said. “If he can’t run he can’t play. Now, if he can’t run long enough (after he returns), you’ve got to replace him," according to Darren Urban of the team's official website.Brown was diagnosed with sickle-cell trait last season, a condition which continues to affect his daily life, particularly by slowing his healing process."That's a fact," said Arians.Brown managed to play in 15 games last season, matching his number from 2015, but he posted career-worst totals in targets, receptions, yards, and touchdowns, finding the end zone just twice.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Week 2 of the NFL preseason kicks off Thursday night with a number of starters set to make their exhibition debuts. Position battles are ramping up and rosters are being revised as we inch closer to regular-season football.Here are three players to watch Thursday:Jay Cutler, QB, DolphinsThere's plenty to watch in regard to Cutler. Pulled out of retirement to replace Ryan Tannehill as the team's starter, the veteran joked about not having to be in the best "cardiovascular shape" in his first remarks to the Miami media. Thursday's game will be our first glimpse at Cutler's fitness level as he has been tabbed to start against the Baltimore Ravens.It will be Cutler's first game action since Nov. 20 and therefore will also offer an indication on how he has recovered from offseason shoulder surgery and the rapport he has developed with receivers.Ronald Darby, CB, EaglesThe Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills orchestrated a trade last week, and now they'll meet in preseason action. Jordan Matthews - the receiver the Eagles sent to Buffalo - will not suit up due to a chip fracture in his sternum, but Darby - the player the Bills moved to Philly - is expected to.Since being traded, Darby has had to dismiss the rumor that he was unhappy in Buffalo. Still, if he feels some type of way after being dealt, he can get some measure of revenge against his former team Thursday night. Surely he wouldn't have believed he'd get such an opportunity so quickly.Watch out for what may be Alshon Jeffery's Eagles debut as well.Blake Bortles, QB, JaguarsThings haven't been so hot for Bortles during training camp. Daily reports indicate the struggles that plagued him during the 2016 season have continued. One needs only to watch receiver Allen Robinson's response to being overthrown during a joint practice against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to see that.The quarterback has increased his reps in an attempt to fine tune his mechanics, and while head coach Doug Marrone has suggested Bortles may be tired, Marrone may also be growing tired with Bortles inaccuracy."There are some throws that I’ll think, 'Hey, that’s a good throw,' and then I’ll be like, 'That’s a horses--- throw,'" Marrone said recently.We'll see every one of Bortles' throws, horses--- or otherwise, Thursday night.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff had another shaky start to an NFL training camp, but three days of practice with new No. 1 wide receiver Sammy Watkins seems to have him headed in the right direction.When Watkins tracked down a ball thrown through the middle of the field Wednesday to make a grab and allowing him to turn and keep running down field, it prompted praise from his sophomore signal caller."It was obviously a special play and special player,” Goff said, according to Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. “It was a good catch and, hopefully, something that won’t be quite a surprise anymore."Watkins was quick to admit it would take some time to fit into the Rams' system following last week's trade from the Buffalo Bills. He watched the Rams' first preseason game - against the Dallas Cowboys - from the sidelines, but he's all set to make his debut Saturday against the Oakland Raiders, according to head coach Sean McVay."Sammy’s going to be a guy that is a big part of our plans offensively," said McVay.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns' next preseason game isn't until Monday, but the starter has already been revealed.Brock Osweiler will start his second consecutive preseason game when the Browns take on the New York Giants in exhibition action."Brock is going to start. DeShone (Kizer) is going to go second. And Cody (Kessler) will play third and then Kevin (Hogan) will play fourth," head coach Hue Jackson revealed Wednesday.The Browns entered training camp with a quarterback competition between Osweiler, Kessler, and Kizer. Osweiler, the most experienced passer of the group, has been given every preseason start, however. It's a surprising development considering he was acquired in a salary dump from the Houston Texans and wasn't expected to stick with the team.The Browns may still be showcasing the five-year pro for a potential trade. But veteran left tackle Joe Thomas is of the belief the team is grooming Osweiler to be its starter in the regular season.Kizer, the team's second-round draft pick, is also being given every opportunity to prove himself a worthy pro as he will be the second quarterback up in Monday's game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate became the latest athlete to criticize President Donald Trump for his tacit support of the white nationalist riots in Charlottesville, VA.Tate was incensed by Trump's comments - in which the president appeared to justify the actions of the white nationalist protesters - and said the state of social affairs within the United States has continually descended during the his regime."It hurts to have those types of things happen," Tate said Wednesday to Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. "For it to be supported by the leader of our country is even scarier."I haven't read too much into it, but what I have read into it hasn't been pleasing. It leaves us minorities with our hands up, like, 'What can we do to protect ourselves? Who can we trust? What can we trust?' I feel like a whole lot of Americans feel like they've been tricked. But at the same time, what is the leader of our country doing that he wasn't already doing before he was elected? It's saddening, man. It's saddening. Because we're supposed to be taking steps forward. We're supposed to be moving over that hump. Instead, it just seems like things are getting worse. Only thing I can do is pray on it and try to lead this community otherwise."Tate said he's considering staging a protest against social inequality, but doesn't want to sit through the national anthem."I haven't thought about how I want to do it yet," he said. "I want to definitely support what's right for humanity, I just haven't figured out what's the appropriate way to do it. The way that's going to get my point across, and not be misinterpreted. I support the cause that Michael Bennett and Colin Kaepernick are standing for. I'm just not sure I would do it that way because I do have a lot of respect for the men and women who serve our country. That just wouldn't be my approach."I want to talk with my support system, my family, my agency, and see what I can do. But I'm definitely all for it, and hopefully, if I choose to stand up for what I believe in, which is humanity and what's right, hopefully I'm not blackballed out of this league."The Lions also released a statement in which they condemned the use of their logo by white nationalists in Charlottesville over the weekend. An image published Saturday showed a shield held by a man displaying a logo that looked very similar."We detest and disavow any use or implied use of the Detroit Lions logo or any of our marks in association with the event this past Saturday in Charlottesville," the Lions' statement read, via Sports Illustrated. "We value diversity as it represents the strong fabric of our team, the City of Detroit, the NFL, the game of football, our fans, and our country."Ahead of the upcoming NFL season, it seems the turbulent political climate of the United States is becoming too much for players and teams to avoid.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett plans to protest racial inequality and police brutality by sitting during the national anthem throughout the upcoming season, and wants white players to join his effort.Bennett joins Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins, Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch, and Los Angeles Rams defensive end Robert Quinn in protesting during the national anthem. Free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick evoked both national scrutiny and praise for his protest last year, though he remains unsigned after opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in March.Despite his best efforts, Bennett feels his white co-workers need to get involved to make their protest truly successful."It would take a white player to really get things changed, because when somebody from the other side understands and they step up and they speak up about it ... it would change the whole conversation," Bennett said via ESPN. "Because when you bring somebody who doesn't have to be a part of (the) conversation making himself vulnerable in front of it, I think when that happens, things will really take a jump."Bennett's decision to protest was inspired by the Charlottesville riots, along with the fact that Kaepernick remains out of the league, despite a host of subpar quarterbacks receiving jobs this summer."He had to sacrifice. He spoke up and dealt with a lot of things that were going on - from death threats, people not wanting him in the stadium, people hating him," Bennett said of Kaepernick. "I think a lot of players were scared of that. Then on top of that, players feeling like he was being blackballed, people were eventually scared."But now, just because he's out of the league, we didn't want to lose that message, pushing for liberty and equality for everybody, we just wanted to keep that message alive."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Frank Clark apologized Wednesday for punching guard Germain Ifedi in practice on Aug. 3.Clark and Ifedi engaged in a verbal dispute which quickly turned physical. Ifedi was reportedly without a helmet and Clark punched him in the face, leading to a brawl between the Seahawks' offensive and defensive players.The 24-year-old was contrite Wednesday."It was a heat of the moment thing," Clark said via ESPN's Sheil Kapadia. "I let my emotions overcome the situation. For a brief moment, I thought that myself, that I was bigger than the team in all regards. I thought about myself first before I thought about my defense as a whole and my defensive line, to be more specific. Because it was a 1-on-1 drill. And that was basically it. It was an overheated thing. We always get heated up. It's O-Line, D-Line. It's supposed to happen. But it just got taken too far."Clark said it's likely his temper will flare up again but he'll try to be more conscientious going forward."The biggest message was just letting them know how remorseful I was," Clark said. "I just wanted to let them know that I was actually sorry. And I wanted to let Germain know that I was sorry, besides the team. That was my biggest thing. I just wanted to let him know that it was my fault and that it would never get to that point again. I'm sure things are going to get heated again. It's football. It's the offensive line and defensive line. But you've got to be aware of those situations and know how to take the actions out another kind of way."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles is quickly falling out of favor with his teammates.A day after Jaguars wide receiver Allen Robinson was caught berating Bortles for an errant pass, cornerback Jalen Ramsey tacitly advocated for a new quarterback.Ramsey appeared to like a post on Instagram from comedian Lil Duval, suggesting the Jaguars ought to consider six options to replace Bortles.