Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell is expected to be the fulcrum of the team's offense this year, but his training camp holdout is grating on the patience of general manager Kevin Colbert.Bell and the Steelers couldn't reach a long-term extension and the two-time Pro Bowler hasn't signed his franchise tender which would pay him $12.1 million for the upcoming season, by far the highest figure for any running back.With the season on the horizon, Colbert isn't mincing words."I fully expect Le'Veon Bell to be a significant contributor for the 2017 Steelers. That's as simple as I can state it," Colbert said via ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Even though Bell is a superstar talent and training camp merely serves to get him back into game shape, Colbert preached the importance of him returning to the team before the season gets underway."It's beneficial for everybody to be in camp. I'll argue that consistently," Colbert said. "Training camp is important for the growth and preparedness to be ready to play this game opening week. We can argue about camp and preseason, how many games and all that, but I do know you need to practice this game to play it at the highest level. Someone once said it would be like boxing without sparring. You can't just show up and play."It would be shocking if Bell didn't return ahead of the regular season, but Colbert and the Steelers have every reason to be concerned.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) Washington Redskins safety Su'a Cravens had knee surgery and there's no official timeline for him to return.Coach Jay Gruden says Cravens had a knee scope to clean out some issues with his meniscus. Gruden says Cravens was injured on the third play of the Redskins' first preseason game last week at Baltimore.With Cravens out, Deshazor Everett has taken most of the snaps as the first-team free safety and could start there when the Redskins host the Green Bay Packers on Saturday.Tight end Jordan Reed, who's on the physically unable to perform list with a left big toe injury, isn't expected to play Saturday. Receiver Jamison Crowder, who has been bothered by a hamstring injury, said the plan is for him to play against the Packers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Lynch may not agree with NFL players protesting the national anthem, but he wants to make it clear that his organization will always be respectful of players' rights.The San Francisco 49ers general manager spoke to reporters Wednesday following a joint practice with the Denver Broncos and addressed the topic of national anthem protests and how he would feel if one of his players made the decision to protest this season, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post."I've got my own feelings about it and I think my strongest feeling - we had a great deal the other day where we had four chairs up there and there was Steve Young and Jerry Rice and they talked about 'The 49er Way' and I always thought it's one of the great things about this league ...You strive for a common goal and you have unity. I think this game brings people together."I think partially when I see that I think that's divisive, and I understand guys see things and they're not happy. And they have that right and I think we'll always respect people's rights. That doesn't mean I believe that. I believe this game should be celebrated for what it is. I think it's a tremendous unifier for our country and for the way things should be."Lynch additionally expressed the idea that anthem protests have the potential to overshadow team bonding involving individuals from different upbringings and other positive relationship building."Bill Walsh used to speak about it, you take guys from all over the country, different socioeconomic backgrounds, different racial backgrounds and you have friends for life. Warren Sapp's here today working with our defensive line because he's a buddy of mine and always will be. Those type of stories get lost in something like this, but they've got their reasons and we'll always be respectful of those."In the aftermath of his season-long protest, the 49ers showed no indication of retaining quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who officially opted out of his contract on Mar. 3.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns announced Wednesday that starting guard Joel Bitonio will be evaluated on a "week-by-week basis" after injuring his knee in Tuesday's practice.The team added that Bitonio won't play in Monday's preseason game against the New York Giants.The 25-year-old Bitonio is a key component on the Browns' revamped offensive line, which is expected to be among the league's best this year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The ascendance of T.J. Watt may coincide with a lessened role for James Harrison this upcoming season, and the linebacker is just fine with that.Watt, the Pittsburgh Steelers' first-round draft pick, broke out for a five-tackle, two-sack performance in his first preseason game and may be in line for more snaps.Position coach Joey Porter recently stated Watt and Bud Dupree may be counted on as the team's primary pass-rushers, leaving Harrison, a 15-year veteran, as a backup."I'll be fine, whatever they want me to do," Harrison said after Wednesday's practice, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN."Whatever they want, I'm good."Harrison has been tabbed for a reduced role before, but injuries that inevitably befall starters thrust him right back into a starting position. He's started 12 games over the last three seasons.Now at the age of 39, Harrison knows his days in the league are nearly numbered. But if he can survive another couple seasons, he has grand plans."I'm thinking of going to 40 if I can go to Vegas for the last (years)," he said. "That Oakland Raiders team, that Las Vegas Raiders team."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady came away from Wednesday's joint practice with the Houston Texans thoroughly impressed by the team's rookie quarterback, Deshaun Watson."Watching him play, he's got a great future," Brady told reporters after the practice. "He's got all the ability."Praise couldn't come from a better source than the five-time Super Bowl champion, and it didn't appear that Watson was taking the opportunity to share a field with one of football's all-time greats lightly."It's always great to be able to learn and watch Tom Brady, one of the best ever, and see how he works," said Watson after the practice session. "Each time he takes the field he's out there taking charge, being a leader."Though Brady appeared genuinely excited to meet the Heisman finalist, he wasn't ready to share many of the secrets to his success. When asked what advice he passed on to Watson, Brady replied: "Most of the time it's your own team. You're trying to help the guys you play with."Brady just turned 40, but it seems he's as competitive as ever heading into the upcoming season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville, Tenn. is the largest city in the path of Monday''s total solar eclipse, and Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Mularkey doesn't want his team to miss it.While totality is expected to last over two minutes and the start of the 2017 season is less than three weeks away from Monday, Mularkey is willing to take a break from practice to let his team enjoy the rare occurrence.“What a cool experience. You’re on the practice field. I rearranged the practice schedule to make sure we’re out there to see it,” said Mularkey, according to Terry McCormick from Titan Insider.Totality is expected to begin at 1:27 p.m. CT, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to flood the Nashville area for prime viewing. Titans players, though, won't be willing to give up their front row seats to tourists."It’s a big event and I know my kids are going to get a chance to see it. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said backup quarterback Matt Cassel.Kicker Ryan Succop is going to take full advantage of his locale."I’ve got three or four pairs of glasses and I’m looking forward to it. I’ve been excited about it for a while. I don’t know if I’ll see another one of these in my lifetime. It looks like Nashville is going to be close to seeing a total eclipse. It should be fun,” he said.The 30-year-old Succop will need to wait until 2024 for the next solar eclipse over North America, though he could schedule vacations to South America in both 2019 and 2020.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL Players Association has hit back at the NFL after the league accused the union of trying to "shame and blame" Ezekiel Elliott's accuser Wednesday.In a strong-worded statement released later on Wednesday, the NFLPA said it "categorically denied the accusations" and asserted the NFL was again displaying its "hypocrisy" by trying to shift the narrative away from its failings with player discipline:

Dating a fan of a rival team can be a deal breaker for some - especially if that rival is the New England Patriots, according to a new study.Fanatics surveyed over 2,900 NFL fans - at least 30 from each team - to find out how their football fandom impacts their dating habits, and received some interesting responses.Patriots fans were considered the least dateable, with 17 percent of respondents claiming they wouldn't consider dating one. The Dallas Cowboys came in second, followed by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, and Atlanta Falcons:Baltimore Ravens fans are very particular when it comes to dating. Fifty percent said there's no way they'd date a Steelers supporter:Twenty-four percent of Ravens fans also said they'd rather give up sex for a year than date a rival fan: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.Even with fantasy owners entering their drafts more prepared than ever, there are still players who slip through the cracks. Last year in this space, we mentioned names like Tyrell Williams and J.J. Nelson, both of whom emerged as fantasy starters at some point in the year.In a continued effort to shine a light on the unnoticed or outright ignored, we've once again built a list of players going undrafted who are candidates to become fantasy relevant this season.Average draft position (ADP) data courtesy of FantasyPros and is based on 12-team leagues with standard scoring.Branden Oliver, RB, ChargersAfter being placed on IR in each of the last two seasons, Oliver is a forgotten man on the Chargers' roster. However, word out of camp is that he has re-emerged as the immediate backup to Melvin Gordon, and could factor in as a pass-catcher with the first-team offense. When thrust into the starting lineup in 2014, Oliver fared well as a solid all-around back, and if Gordon goes down, we could see him get a chance to carry the Chargers' backfield again.Overachiever Potential: ★★★★★

Alex Wong is an NBA freelance writer whose work has appeared in GQ, The New Yorker, Sports on Earth, and Complex, among other publications.Before he was selected first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in this year’s NBA draft, there were plenty of questions surrounding Markelle Fultz, the talented point guard out of Washington.Why didn't the Huskies win more games last season? What red flags did Danny Ainge see in Fultz that made him relinquish the first overall pick? How will Fultz's game translate to the pros?Once it was clear he would become a 76er, there was a more pertinent question: Which Philly cheesesteak place would Fultz choose as his favorite?When athletes join a professional sports team in Philadelphia, it's often the first thing the fan base wants to know. "It's a rite of passage," Frank Olivieri Jr. said. "I don't think there's anything like it in the world. It's so unique."Olivieri is a third-generation owner of Pat's, which lays claim to being the original cheesesteak place.The origin of the cheesesteak sandwich goes like this: In 1930, brothers Pat and Harry Olivieri were low on cash when Harry stuffed some meat scraps into a roll to eat, which got the attention of a passing cab driver, who ate half of the sandwich and told the brothers they should stop selling hot dogs.The rest is history.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Olivieri compares the experience of eating at Pat's to visiting Anchor Bar restaurant in Buffalo, the home of the original Buffalo wing. "We've been here for 80 years," he said. "Everyone is newcomers compared to that."Despite being the original, there are plenty of other cheesesteak options in Philadelphia, and athletes are often encouraged to pick their favorite. Across the street from Pat's is Geno's, founded in 1966 by Joey Vento. Todd MacCulloch, who played for four seasons with the 76ers, calls it his favorite.While the restaurants are often gracious and delighted by the additional publicity that comes with an athlete's endorsement, the validation is reciprocal. "If they recognized you and liked the way you played, you might get invited inside Geno's through the back door," MacCulloch said in an email exchange.Geno's has one semi-circular booth inside, and seating is by special invite only. MacCulloch always felt welcomed when he would go up to the window to order at Geno's and got the go-ahead to sit down. "My out of town friends were always impressed," he said.Pat's and Geno's are the most popular in the city, but there are plenty of other cheesesteak spots that athletes, tourists, and locals prefer.Shamus Clancy, a Sixers Twitter personality who was born and raised in South Philadelphia, is well-versed on the topic."Some people will tell you that (Pat's and Geno's) are trash," Clancy said. "But as a lifelong South Philadelphian, I will tell you that those people are try-hards who are being too hipster. They're both more than serviceable. There are no bad spots to me."Clancy has his own favorites: Phillip's on 23rd and Passyunk, Jim's on 4th and South, and Joe's on Torresdale Ave.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)In 2014, GQ food writer Alan Richman tried 23 different cheesesteak spots in Philadelphia in a single day, ranking Sonny's - located by the Liberty Bell - as his No. 1 choice (Pat's was seventh on the list; Geno's was 10th).Another one of MacCulloch's favorites is Larry's, which has several locations in the city.Larry's is known for its "belly filler," which, according to MacCulloch, would always take up the entire surface of his lunch tray. On its website, the restaurant promotes itself as the official caterer of the Philadelphia 76ers.Interviewed by Jimmy Kimmel moments after being selected by the 76ers on draft night, Fultz was asked by the late-night host whether he prefers Pat's or Geno's. Instead, the rookie chose Larry's."That was amazing. It was so great," a manager at one of the Larry's locations said. "But the thing is, Larry's is used to that."Kobe Bryant, a Philadelphia native, rarely made a trip to the city during his NBA career without visiting. Bryant was spotted at a Larry's before his final game in Philadelphia back in 2015. "It gives us an adrenaline rush," the manager said of the star's cameos.According to the manager, when Kobe visited, he would always order a cheesesteak with American cheese and fried onions, and would go in the kitchen and shake every employee's hand.So, does Larry's fill up the order a little for their most famous guest? "Of course," the manager said. "Anything for Kobe." Which leads to another question: Who would the employees at Larry's cheer for when the Lakers visited the Sixers? "That's a question I cannot answer," he said, laughing.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)A proper cheesesteak endorsement can endear an athlete to the famously fickle fan base in Philadelphia, but backlash awaits those who don't do it properly. Clancy recalled a story about Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Ben Revere, who drew the ire of many fans online when he went to Pete's and ordered a chicken cheesesteak with lettuce and tomato.Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz caused a similar controversy when he tweeted out a photo of his favorite earlier this year: a homemade venison Philly cheesesteak.And then, there are cheesesteak tales that can't be confirmed. At Talk of the Town, another cheesesteak spot by the South Philadelphia Sports Complex where the Eagles play at Lincoln Financial Field, an autographed picture of Donovan McNabb hangs on the wall. According to Clancy, the urban legend is that McNabb would stop by and have a cheesesteak before every game.For lesser-known cheesesteak spots in Philadelphia, an endorsement from a well-known athlete can help launch the business to new heights. Meanwhile, an established place like Pat's doesn't necessarily need the additional publicity."An endorsement for any cheesesteak joint in Philadelphia is an endorsement for Pat's," Olivieri said. "Because, frankly, when you think about it: we invented it."He admitted that even though certain rivalries (Pat's vs. Geno's) are played up, most of the cheesesteak restaurant owners in the city are friends. They regularly meet for dinner, and go for drinks from time to time. Still, Olivieri couldn't pass up an opportunity to get in a friendly jab at Geno's.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)"For every 10 sandwiches I sell, he sells one," he said, laughing. "My trash is so full with Geno's because people take a bite, throw them in my trash, and get one of our sandwiches. I should send them a bill for my trash, that's how much it costs me each month."Olivieri would love for the Eagles to come celebrate a Super Bowl win at Pat's, even offering to cater the entire thing for free. "If you go by their record, it's never going to cost me a dime," he said, like any true frustrated Philadelphia sports fan.Olivieri enjoys seeing athletes try out different cheesesteak spots - whether it be Pat's, Geno's, Larry's, or somewhere else - before deciding on their favorite. Although he did issue a warning: "Usually, people who say Geno's don't last in Philadelphia for too long."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 withoutIt could be Ben Roethlisberger's final season, but that isn't bothering books as he and the Steelers' high-powered offense are the faves to win the third AFC North, but the Ravens could ruin his going-away party. Covers Expert Steve Merril gives you a team-by-team breakdown of the whole division, including season win total picks.Baltimore Ravens (2016: 8-8 SU, 7-9 ATS, 7-8-1 O/U)Odds to win division: +400

The NFL accused the NFLPA of trying to "shame and blame" Ezekiel Elliott's accuser Wednesday as the union prepares its appeal of the Dallas Cowboys running back's six-game suspension.Four external advisers declared there was "persuasive and substantial" evidence that Elliott used physical force against his ex-girlfriend on multiple occasions. After Friday's suspension, the NFLPA stated it will "ensure the NFL is held to its obligation of adhering" to its principles.In Wednesday's statement, the NFL said the NFLPA was attempting to "prove the innocence of the accused by discrediting the victim."

Ezekiel Elliott's appeal of his six-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy has been set for Aug. 29 in the league offices, sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.Veteran appeals officer Harold Henderson will oversee the hearing instead of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.The league handed the Dallas Cowboys running back the ban Friday after its investigation found "substantial and persuasive evidence" that he was physically violent with ex-girlfriend Tiffany Thompson in July 2016.Elliott has denied the domestic violence allegations, and his father, Stacy, tweeted Monday that his son's legal team is "ready to fight."Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has yet to publicly comment on Elliott's suspension, but is reportedly "furious" with the league's decision.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Perhaps no one is more in tune with the inner-workings of the Cleveland Browns than tackle Joe Thomas.During his 10 years in Cleveland, he's witnessed everything the Factory of Sadness has offered, including what was nearly a winless season in 2016.Entering 2017, the Browns are deciding between Cody Kessler, DeShone Kizer, and Brock Osweiler as starting quarterback. Thomas believes he knows who the favorite is."I think they're grooming Brock to be the starter in Week 1, based on what I've seen," Thomas told reporters Wednesday, including Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.Osweiler was brought aboard this offseason in what amounted to a salary dump by the Houston Texans. Osweiler wasn't expected to stick in Cleveland, as the Browns also received coveted draft picks in the trade.Nevertheless, the Browns named Osweiler the starter for the first preseason game, though it was believed to be in order to showcase him to other teams.Osweiler didn't distinguish himself from the group in preseason action, completing five of 10 passes for 47 yards. His first three drives ended in 3-and-outs, requiring him to play into the second quarter to produce a sustained drive.Kessler was the presumed favorite after starting eight games last year and faring well as a rookie. Kizer has garnered talk, however, after he impressed in his first preseason performance.Thomas said he's excited about Kizer's future, but threw cold water on the possibility he could start in his first year."It would be asking a lot," the veteran said, per Cabot. "I could be wrong," he added.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks have agreed to a one-year contract with cornerback Tramaine Brock, sources told Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.Brock was released by the San Francisco 49ers in April due to domestic violence allegations. Charges against him were dropped last week. He reportedly met with the Seahawks on Tuesday, though they apparently met in April as well.The cornerback, who spent his first seven NFL seasons with the 49ers, has recorded 11 career interceptions, but just one of them came last season. He played all 16 games in 2016, recording 49 individual tackles and 10 assisted.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will appoint Harold Henderson as the hearing officer for Ezekiel Elliott's appeal of his six-game suspension stemming from domestic violence allegations, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy announced Wednesday.Elliott's hearing has reportedly been scheduled for Aug. 29.Goodell is able to personally handle the appeal, but instead will give the duties to Henderson, whom the league has hired to oversee player appeals since 2008.Henderson, who's also president of the NFL Player Care Association, previously reduced Greg Hardy's ban for domestic violence from 10 games to four in 2015, notes NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Update your winter reading list and be sure to add "Free-radical scavenging reverses fructose-induced salt-sensitive hypertension" by Zach Zenner et al.The Detroit Lions running back will be the lead author on the medical research study undergoing peer review and expected to be published by the end of the year.Zenner spent months doing the study at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit just over a year ago, between his rookie and sophomore seasons. Zenner received high praise from his former boss, Dr. William Bierwaltes."The most important single thing in science is publication. And this, a real research study as opposed to a case study or a review, there’s lots of different things you can publish" said Beierwaltes, according to Michael Rothstein of ESPN.Beierwaltes refers to Zenner's upcoming publication as "the gold standard" in research achievement while giving his former employee full credit for the work involved.Zenner, a graduate of South Dakota State University, worked with Dr. Noreen Rossi in the offseason at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Detroit and could also have his work for that published.“It was very exciting just to have the opportunity to submit something for publication, and it’s really the culmination of the work that you’ve put in - and that, even though the journey was very important and the learning and everything, that’s what you put on the resume, so to speak,” said Zenner.Entering his third NFL season, Zenner has 105 carries for 394 yards, scoring four touchdowns and losing just one fumble. He's also added 207 yards on 20 career receptions. He's in competition in a crowded Lions' backfield which also includes Ameer Abdullah, Dwayne Washington, Theo Riddick, and Matt Asiata. Zenner is listed third on the team's official depth chart, behind Abdullah and Riddick.While hoping to continue his NFL career, Zenner has deferred enrolment to the Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Raiders are already getting heavy action in Las Vegas.Years before the franchise's move to Nevada, the Raiders are drawing the most bets in Vegas to win the upcoming Super Bowl, according to David Purdum of ESPN.The Raiders are the top pick to win it all in 2017 at a number of area casinos, Purdum reports."It's all Raiders," said Chuck Esposito of Station Casinos."We have 43 bets on the Raiders and four on Tennessee," added Ed Salmons of Westgate Las Vegas.The Raiders opened with 20-1 odds to win the Super Bowl, but those odds have changed to 6-1.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pat McAfee is no longer a member of the Indianapolis Colts after the punter retired to join Barstool Sports this offseason, but he still frequently discusses the state of his former team.And the biggest question surrounding the Colts is the health of Andrew Luck, who remains sidelined after undergoing surgery on his throwing shoulder.Unfortunately for Colts fans looking for an update on their franchise player, McAfee's new job means he's no longer in the inner circle."I don't know anything," McAfee said Tuesday on the Dan Patrick show, according to Dakota Crawford of the Indianapolis Star. "They haven't talked to me at all. They almost treat me like I'm the enemy because I'm part of the media."While McAfee doesn't seem to have any inside information, he doesn't see how Luck could possibly be ready for the season opener after missing the offseason program and all of training camp so far."From everything I've seen, there's no way it's possible," McAfee said. "I have no idea how he's going to get out there and play. He hasn't thrown a ball to anybody. I don't even know if it's possible. ..."I've watched local news segments which show him out there coaching and stuff. Two weeks ago he didn't even pick his arm up past his nipple whenever he was imitating something. Last week, he had his hand up above his head with some water bottle."McAfee added, "I hope for the Colts' sake, which a lot of my friends are there, they need Andrew Luck in a bad way. Scotty Tolzien, (Stephen) Morris, and (Phillip) Walker are good options, but I hope the guy plays."Colts owner Jim Irsay announced Sunday that Luck has resumed throwing, but failed to guarantee the star pivot would be under center in Week 1, saying only he'd be ready "around the start of the season."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageBaby steps for Blake Bortles.Following a relatively restful Sunday at training camp, the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback continued to make mistakes at Tuesday's session, drawing harsh criticism from No. 1 receiver Allen Robinson.Despite the rest for an arm which head coach Doug Marrone claimed "looked tired," according to ESPN's Michael DiRocco, and the never-ending issues with interceptions and inaccuracy, Bortles isn't blaming what has been a strenuous practice schedule."My arm is fine," Bortles said. "It feels good. I’ll be all right."He added: "I’ve taken more reps in this camp than probably the last three years all combined. That was something in talking with coach Marrone and coach (Nathaniel) Hackett that I knew they had done that in the past. They had their reasons and philosophies on why they do it. I totally agree with it."Despite the miscues, Bortles seems to have found light at the end of the tunnel as a result of increased practice."We’re still making mistakes, and we’ve had thousands of reps," Bortles said. "Imagine if we only had 500, it would be probably way worse."Marrone opted to limit his starting quarterback to fewer than 20 snaps in 7-on-7 drills Sunday and left him out of the same session in the second half of practice. Prior to his day being cut short, Bortles had already thrown a pair of picks. The head coach offered an honest description of his quarterback's performance."There are some throws that I’ll think, 'Hey, that’s a good throw,' and then I’ll be like, 'That’s a horse s--- throw,' Marrone said. "At the end of the day, I’m just trying to get more and get better."Bortles will enter his fourth NFL season with a career touchdown-to-interception ratio of 69:51, while also losing 12 fumbles. He's confident all the extra work will pay off in reducing his number of turnovers."I think the only way to eliminate those mistakes is continue to do it and continue to do it and continue to correct it in meetings until it’s beaten in your head that you know how to do it," Bortles said.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The woman who accused Ezekiel Elliott of domestic violence admitted to NFL investigators that she discussed blackmailing Elliott with sex tapes during a text exchange, according to documents obtained by Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson.The league suspended the running back for six games Friday, declaring its investigation found "substantial and persuasive evidence" that he was physically violent with ex-girlfriend Tiffany Thompson in July 2016. Elliott officially appealed the decision Tuesday.According to the NFL's 160-page report, Thompson mentioned the idea of selling sex tapes showing her and the Dallas Cowboys running back to a friend in September 2016. The friend responded: "we could black mail him w(ith) that." Thompson replied, "I want to bro."Thompson also admitted registering an email address titled "ezekielelliott sex vids." Here's the investigator's description of the text exchange and Thompson's responses to questioning:

The New Orleans Saints have learned that what was first diagnosed as a leg contusion to Delvin Breaux is in fact a fractured fibula that will require surgery and put the cornerback on the shelf for four to six weeks.In light of the misdiagnosis, the team has fired orthopedists Deryk Jones and Misty Suri, ESPN's Mike Triplett reports.The fracture was discovered by an independent doctor, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The Saints were reportedly interested in trading the two-year pro as the organization was said to have grown tired of his injury history and slow recovery.The injury depletes what was already a thin cornerback unit. The Saints had to rely on veteran Sterling Moore and youngster Ken Crawley for much of last season. As a result, the team selected Marshon Lattimore in the first round of this year's draft.Breaux also suffered a fractured fibula in September.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The number 69 holds a special place in Rob Gronkowski's heart.The New England Patriots tight end has apparently been cracking 69 jokes since he was 3 years old, and even deliberately missed a free throw during a high school basketball game to keep his team's score at 69. So, it's not at all surprising that he'd be willing to switch his No. 87 jersey for No. 69.During an appearance on Bleacher Report's "Simms And Lefkoe Podcast," Gronkowski was asked how much he'd be willing to pay to wear the number during a game.

Jaylon Smith is finally ready to take the field.The Dallas Cowboys linebacker will play Saturday against the Indianapolis Colts, owner Jerry Jones told Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News on Tuesday.A second-round pick in 2016, Smith was forced to miss his entire rookie campaign due to the significant knee injury he suffered in his final collegiate game with Notre Dame. The 22-year-old appeared to be inching closer to a return late last month, but didn't play in Dallas' first two preseason games.If Smith is healthy and able to contribute this season it would be a big boost for the Cowboys, as he likely would have been a first-round selection if not for the knee injury.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse language

Unlike some of his quarterbacking peers, Eli Manning is keeping expectations for the length of his career realistic.While Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers each believe they can play into their mid-40s, the New York Giants quarterback is targeting a slightly lower number."I think sitting here right now, I think I can play another four years," Manning, 36, told ESPN as he enters his 14th season.The two-time Super Bowl champ has not missed a start since his rookie campaign, and says he's continuing to feel healthy."That's the way the body feels," Manning said. "Again with football, you don't know what's going to be the difference, how you're going to feel next year. And right now I still have the same enthusiasm and I'm working hard and I like doing the training and watching film and doing everything ... I have to do to prepare for it."So I don't see it slowing down. I think until the time comes or that changes, I'm going to keep going as hard as I can."As he aims for his third career Super Bowl, Manning heads into the 2017 regular season with Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall, and Sterling Shepard potentially providing him with the best receiving weapons he's ever had.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones refused to speak about Ezekiel Elliott, after the running back was issued a six-game suspension on Friday for a violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy.Elliott was investigated by the league for domestic violence allegations made by his ex-girlfriend. Although the running back was not arrested or charged, the league found sufficient evidence to issue a suspension.Elliott officially submitted his appeal to the suspension Wednesday in conjunction with the NFLPA.Related: Elliott officially appeals 6-game suspensionJones, who unreservedly supported Elliott throughout the league's investigation, did not issue further comment when asked about the running back."I don't have anything to say about any of the appeal or anything about that issue today. But certainly I'll be visiting with you guys about it in the future. But right now, today is just not the time for me to talk about it," Jones said via NFL Network's James Palmer.Jones was asked if he's spoken to Elliott after the suspension and once again remained elusive."Again, I'm not going to visit about that and I don't want to do you anyway here and I'm just going to comment on this thing when I have all our thoughts and plans in place," Jones said.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins head coach Adam Gase said he acted on his intuition before coaxing Jay Cutler out of retirement earlier this month.Cutler retired in May and accepted a broadcast position at FOX. However, Cutler's eventual foray into the television world was postponed after Dolphins incumbent starter Ryan Tannehill suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice.Gase made a phone call to Cutler and reflected on it before the Dolphins eventually signed him to replace Tannehill."I don’t know if I was convinced he was done," Gase said to The MMQB's Robert Klemko."I didn't feel like he was really looking for anything or searching for a team. It was what it was at the time."Gase, who previously worked with Cutler as the Chicago Bears' offensive coordinator in 2015, believes the Dolphins acquired a quality starter at a bargain price."We've got a lot of good players and a lot of guys who work extremely hard, and I wanted to make sure we had a chance to compete this year. To me, we got a steal, a guy who's a pretty good player."Cutler is already making a strong impression on the Dolphins' players and coaching staff, with the season less than a month away."He came in here to be a part of it, what we've built,” Gase said. "Our players do a great job of rallying. Seems like we always have something weird happen. They just don't say anything, put their head down and grind, and it's one of the things I love the most about this team."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It doesn't matter if it is John Fox, Gary Kubiak, or Vance Joseph leading the Denver Broncos coaching staff, Von Miller is just here to make his head coach a happy man.In his first training camp with Joseph, Miller says he is doing what he can to make things easier on his new coach."I just try to be a coach's dream," Miller told SiriusXM NFL radio on Tuesday. "I just try to be coachable. I just try to go in and make his job easier. And that’s the same thing I’m trying to do here with V.J. Whatever Coach wants me to do, I’m going to buy into it."All the roles that he wants me to fill, I'm going to do it. I’m going to go out there and I’m going to try to make plays, I’m going to try to be perfect when it comes to my job so I can make his job easier."As runner up to the league's Defensive Player of the Year award last season, Miller likely doesn't need to risk playing in a preseason game to get ready for the year, but he's ready to do whatever is asked."Like I said, I’m a coach’s dream," said Miller. "I come out here, I practice hard. I go to the weight room, I work harder than I’ve ever worked before. If I get in a preseason game, I'm going to play hard. So whatever Coach V.J., whatever they need me to do, I’m going to do it."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Last season, the Dallas Cowboys said goodbye to the Tony Romo era and hello to the "Ezekiel Elliott-Dak Prescott Show."The pair of rookies lit up the NFL throughout 2016, as Elliott led the league in rushing and Prescott's 23-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio helped the team to a 13-3 record. The two were tightly linked, and even shared the stage to accept Prescott's Offensive Rookie of the Year award in January.With Romo now heading to the broadcast booth, it appeared Prescott and Elliott would once again share the spotlight in 2017 and beyond.However, after more than a year of investigating, the NFL put the "Zeke and Dak Show" on hold for at least six games, handing Elliott a lengthy suspension last Friday.While Elliott is a valuable player, his absence - which he's appealing - could be a blessing in disguise for his quarterback.As a model citizen who's seemingly said the right thing at every moment of his young career, Prescott would never admit wanting to distance himself from Elliott, but the second-year quarterback has already achieved massive success in his own right, doing things his way. He'll get the chance to show off those individual abilities with Elliott sidelined - on and off the field.Related - Prescott: Elliott's suspension gives other RBs chance to shineWithout Elliott, Prescott still has a pair of solid backs to run behind the Cowboys' league-best offensive line in former 1,000-yard rushers Darren McFadden and Alfred Morris. The veterans won't provide the same potency as Elliott, but they can do enough to keep defenses honest and give Prescott space to flourish.And not much has been made of the Cowboys' receivers - outside of All-Pro Dez Bryant - but the unit is more well-rounded than its gotten credit for.Cowboys receivers - 2016 statsReceiver GP Rec. Yards TDsCole Beasley16758335Dez Bryant13507968Jason Witten16696733Terrance Williams16445944Brice Butler16162193*Ryan Switzer139611126*Noah Brown12324027*college statsIt certainly isn't the greatest receiving corps in the league - or even in the division - but with an expected rise in Bryant's usage and with a year under Prescott's belt, it's not unreasonable to ask the quarterback to improve on his stats from last season.The most important stat for Prescott, however, will be victories. The Cowboys' 11-game winning streak in 2016 gave him credibility as a rookie, but a similar streak to start the year without Elliott would push the quarterback to the next level.If the Cowboys can win at least four games in Elliott's absence and stay atop the NFC East race, Dallas will become the "Dak Show featuring Zeke" by the time the running back steps back onto the field. It won't be an easy task, though, as Dallas faces the Giants, Broncos, Cardinals, and Packers within the first five weeks while playing without their lead rusher.If Prescott can go 2-2 against those four opponents - while beating the Rams in Week 4 and the 49ers in Week 7, as expected - the Cowboys won't appear overly reliant on Elliott's ability. The quarterback will have two prime-time games to display his leadership skills and hog the spotlight, though his personality won't let him beg for the extra attention.Meanwhile, the biggest off-field benefit for Prescott - if he can keep the Cowboys winning - will be showing how much more marketable he is than his suspended teammate.While Elliott hasn't been able to keep himself out of trouble, Prescott's been squeaky clean, an elite teammate, and an ultra-charming personality throughout his first full year in the NFL. He's done virtually nothing for fans, players, or media to dislike, handling his rapid ascension to NFL superstardom with grace, respect, and modesty. Prescott has made it clear that his focus is on winning football games and getting the most out of his teammates, which seems like a page right out of Romo's book of leadership.Regression from the Cowboys has been labeled as inevitable by some critics heading into 2017, which would make another hot start all the more impressive and elevate Prescott's status among the fan base. Winning settles everything in Dallas, so if Dak can bring home victories without Elliott, the Cowboys will officially become his team.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Michael Bennett may not be the only Seattle Seahawk kneeling for the national anthem this season.Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin told Sheil Kapadia of ESPN that he supports Bennett and is considering joining him. Bennett sat for the anthem during Seattle's first preseason game and indicated afterward he'll continue doing so for the rest of the season.Bennett also explained his decision further in a letter to Yahoo Sports on Tuesday:

Warning: Video contains coarse language

New York Giants wide receiver Brandon Marshall no longer has time for New York Jets defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson's string of incendiary remarks toward him.Richardson has actively tried to reignite a feud with Marshall, his former teammate, insisting the wide receiver created issues between Jets players last season."That man knows what he did to the locker room," Richardson said on Aug. 8 during an appearance on "The Michael Kay Show" on ESPN New York 98.7. "I was the one who addressed it and I would still address it to this day. If he can't come out (in the) media and tell 'em what he did and how he actually quit on his team way before the season was over, that's all in itself."Marshall signed a two-year contract with the Giants in March and said he's not fazed by Richardson's latest attempt to rile him up.Related: Jets' Richardson still not over feud with Marshall"I wasn't surprised," Marshall said of Richardson's comments, via ESPN's Jordan Raanan. "But, you know, there is so much good energy here and the environment is amazing. I don't really have time ... I don't have time to go back to that."That's dead."Related: Bowles over Richardson-Marshall feud: 'I don't have time for the BS'The Giants and Jets are scheduled to play each other during the preseason on Aug. 26.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Marquise Goodwin has been suspended by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for one year after failing to reveal his location for potential drug testing.Goodwin, however, stated Tuesday that he's quit track and field to play football full-time. The suspension will not affect Goodwin's NFL career."Never in my life have I failed a test," Goodwin said via ESPN.com "I have never been opposed to testing and, in fact, have always been compliant with each and every protocol and policy associated with my competitive career in track and field. More than a year ago, I decided to cease competing in the sport in order to concentrate 100 percent on my NFL career. Therefore, I discontinued all practices associated with competing in track and field, including submitting my 'Whereabouts' information."It appears that because I did not inform USADA of my plans, my name was inadvertently included in their 2017 testing pool. I greatly appreciate the support of the San Francisco 49ers and the National Football League as I work to clarify this matter."Goodwin competed in the long jump for the U.S. during the 2012 Olympics, but failed to qualify for the 2016 Summer Games.The 49ers were well aware that Goodwin quit track and field for good."Marquise informed our organization quite some time ago that he has no intentions of competing in track and field and has been entirely focused on his football career for more than a year. We have been in touch with the League office regarding this matter, and understand that Marquise will not be subject to discipline under the NFL Policy on Performance-Enhancing Substances as a result of USADA's decision," the 49ers said in a statement.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has officially appealed his six-game suspension with the NFL, the NFLPA announced Tuesday.

Dak Prescott isn't giving up on the Dallas Cowboys' season just because of his buddy Ezekiel Elliott's suspension.The second-year quarterback is confident he and his teammates can pick up the slack that Elliott leaves behind."We have great running backs," Prescott told ESPN's Todd Archer on Tuesday. "Darren McFadden, Alfred Morris. Those guys have had a lot of success in this league for a long time. It's just an opportunity for them to come in and get more reps in that time off."The Cowboys' rushers have the benefit of playing with the best blockers in football, which should keep their running game alive. While many assume Elliott's threat as a runner was the reason Prescott had so much success as rookie, the quarterback said its a team effort that opens things up."A huge impact with his ability to run the ball, make the defense load the box, giving us one-on-ones outside and not only that, keeping our defense off the field and keeping their defense on the field for a long time," Prescott said. "That's not just Zeke. That's the offensive line, that's the receivers blocking. We still have all of those guys in his time off."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers have signed veteran linebacker Thomas Davis to an extension that will add one year to his contract and keep him with the team through the 2018 season, the team announced Tuesday.The deal is worth $6.75 million with $2 million guaranteed, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport."I'm extremely excited. Everybody knows how I feel about being a Carolina Panther," Davis said, according to a team release. "This extension solidifies me being here for the rest of my career, and I'm excited about that. Now it's totally focused on winning a Super Bowl."The 34-year-old had one year remaining on his current deal. Davis had expressed his desire for a new deal throughout the offseason and reportedly negotiated with former general manager Dave Gettleman before the executive was fired.Davis has spent his entire career with the Panthers and has made the Pro Bowl in the last two seasons. He is the team's all-time leading tackler.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is trying to shed its "No Fun League" reputation this summer.After softening its stance on player celebrations, the league's now reportedly given players the go-ahead to personalize their cleats.Players will be shown more leniency regarding their footwear in practice and will be permitted to wear more colorful cleats during games as well, the league informed coaches and equipment managers Monday in a memo obtained by ESPN's Darren Rovell.Pregame cleats need only to avoid trademarked logos and offensive or political marks, according to the memo.Last season, during Week 13, the league allowed players to express their support for various charitable causes during "My Cause, My Cleats" week.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sage Rosenfels is a former 12-year NFL quarterback who writes, does radio, and podcasts about the NFL and college football."It's rarely as good as it seems and it's rarely as bad as it seems."That advice was given to me by Gary Kubiak, my head coach during my time with the Houston Texans. As a former quarterback, he understood the precision it takes to succeed at the position. Though every signal-caller is judged by the fans, media, coaches, and teammates, nobody is harder on a quarterback's performance than the quarterback himself.Through Week 1 of the preseason, the NFL's rookie quarterbacks had some outstanding performances, as well as a few they wish they could forget.Breaking down each QB's game reminded me of my rookie season and my first preseason game with Washington. We traveled to Kansas City, only three hours from my alma mater, and played the Chiefs.Though I was the third-string quarterback going into the game, and I'd gotten minimal team and seven-on-seven reps during the first two weeks of training camp, I was called upon to play the entire second half. Let's just say my performance wouldn't have left anyone thinking I'd make the roster that season, much less last for 12 years in the league.Quarterbacks don't arrive in the NFL under equally favorable circumstances. Some play for teams with essentially the same offense they ran in college, while others are simply trying to get the play called correctly in the huddle. The development process can take years, so initial preseason performances should be taken with, not a grain, but a giant block of salt.As an analyst, I am not in the huddle or film room with these quarterbacks. I don't have all the information. They're often playing with the third offensive line, and the majority of their skill-position players won't make the roster. But I can judge how comfortable rookies look in the pocket, the accuracy of their throws, their ability to create when things break down, and the strength of their arms.None of these QBs proved to me that they can't play in the league - and none of them looked like an immediate Pro Bowler, either. Let's keep in mind that this is the first game of the preseason, and it's easy for NFL fans and media members to jump to extreme conclusions based on these initial outings.Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago BearsBears fans have been searching for a quarterback to fall in love with since Jim McMahon was "throwing the pill all over the field" in the 1980s. And to the average Bears fan's untrained eye, Trubisky showed enough in his first preseason game to crown him a future Hall of Famer.To the trained eye, he was still pretty darned good. Trubisky's obviously talented: He has a strong, accurate arm; moves well; and is extremely accurate on the run.I loved the game plan from offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains. He started Trubisky with a play action out of a slot formation (two receivers to one side and two tight ends to the other). Once both corners went to cover the Bears' receivers, this signaled to Trubisky that he had man coverage. Helping a young quarterback identify the defense before the snap makes it easier for him to go through his reads with proper footwork.Trubisky threw 25 passes and completed 18 of them, and his performance was actually better than those stats. For the first 15 passes, Loggains called plays that didn't make Trubisky hold the ball in the pocket and deal with the pass rush. Chicago called multiple play-action and bootleg plays.On every one of these, Trubisky had great technique, went through his reads in the correct order, and was accurate on a variety of throws. This kid can throw on the run better than many of the league's veteran starters.When the Bears weren't moving the pocket, Loggains called three-step and quick five-step passes to get the ball out of Trubisky's hand. Again, he made the right reads and was accurate on these throws.Not until later in the game did Loggains call deeper drop-back plays, which are the most demanding for an NFL quarterback. Trubisky showed great pocket awareness, as well as accuracy and decision-making, during these plays.When the pocket wasn't clean, or when Trubisky had taken his third "hitch" in the pocket, he impressed me with his athleticism, gaining positive yards and first downs with his feet.Of the few negatives from his first game, the easiest to spot is the fact he had multiple balls knocked down by the Broncos' defensive line. Quarterbacks who have an issue with their passes getting batted down are the same throwers who stare down their receivers for too long. This is common for young players, but it's something to keep an eye on as his preseason, and career, continues.Overall, I was extremely impressed. Trubisky showed why he was the first quarterback off the board, despite having the least college experience.Patrick Mahomes II, Kansas City ChiefsIf my son was a quarterback, I'd love for him to be drafted by an Andy Reid-coached football team. Throughout his coaching career, Reid's done a fantastic job of developing quarterbacks, maximizing their strengths while minimizing their weaknesses.Mahomes is the most gifted thrower drafted in 2017, but he was in an unorthodox offense at Texas Tech. To get Mahomes comfortable, Reid had him in the shotgun formation for the vast majority of his throws. The quarterback was rarely under center in college.Mahomes' first three pass plays were a bubble screen, a regular running-back screen, and another bubble screen. Obviously, Reid wanted to get his quarterback a few completions to build his confidence.After the easy start, Mahomes got mixed results. His footwork is poor, something that should be corrected over time. The Chiefs' West Coast offense demands precise footwork to match up with the pass patterns that are designed, but Mahomes still has the "see it and throw it" timing that usually doesn't work in the NFL.Mahomes also forced a slant throw into good coverage near the goal line. That could have been a catastrophe for the quarterback and the wide receiver, whose health was very much at stake on the play.The rookie did make a solid throw with good timing to a receiver over the middle, which demonstrated his arm strength and accuracy. Then, on the very next play, he displayed a lack of proper progression footwork.Mahomes showed he can play, but needs to work on a ton of mental and physical skills. Luckily, he has one of the best technicians in the league to copy at every practice in Alex Smith. If Mahomes can eventually harness his arm strength and playmaking ability - like he showed on a broken play for a touchdown - to the discipline of Smith's footwork and decision-making, he could be great.Rght now, he's exactly what most coaches and analysts thought he was before the draft: talented and raw. It could take weeks, months, or even a couple years before Mahomes is a legit starting quarterback.Deshaun Watson, Houston TexansHead coach Bill O'Brien didn't ease his rookie quarterback into the action. Though his first preseason pass play was a simple bootleg, which got Watson out of the pocket for an easy completion, he spent most of his time in the shotgun and looking to get the ball deeper downfield.Unlike the Bears and Chiefs - who used bootlegs, play action, three-step drops, and screens to get their rookies comfortable - O'Brien called more complex pass plays than Trubisky and Mahomes had to deal with. Even after that original bootleg completion, the Texans immediately went no huddle, which demands quick thinking and communication from a rookie quarterback.Watson responded well. He had great pocket awareness, and didn't force balls into coverage. He saw, and executed, multiple blitz situations by the Carolina Panthers. He even completed a pass on a well-disguised corner blitz, something many veterans can miss.Because of the deeper pass patterns, Watson held the ball for long periods. This caused him to buy time in and out of the pocket, which highlighted his decision-making. He threw a flat-footed - and accurate - 67-yard bomb to a wide receiver with one-on-one coverage. In the red zone, he threw the ball away multiple times, while giving his receiver, and only his receiver, the chance of making a play.Watson’s biggest mistakes came on missing seam throws three separate times. The players were all open, though the coverage was tight on two of them. These are some of the most important, and commonly called, throws in the NFL.Overall, Watson showed he can handle the complexities of the NFL game, and has the physical skills to compete at the pro level. O'Brien gave his quarterback a tougher test than the other two first-rounders, and Watson's solid performance passed.DeShone Kizer, Cleveland BrownsKizer played in a Notre Dame offense with a lot of concepts that are used in the NFL. Before watching the Browns play the Saints in the preseason opener, I imagined Kizer would initially succeed because of his familiarity with these concepts.Like the Bears and Chiefs, the Browns started their rookie with an easy completion, a screen pass. As the game progressed, Kizer took the majority of his snaps from the shotgun, which is where most of these rookies spent their time in college. On most of his throws, Kizer showed a strong, accurate arm. His footwork, timing, command of blitz adjustments, and ability to manipulate defenses with his eyes was also impressive.He played best in the fourth quarter, when both teams have their worst players on the field. This means Kizer was going against a poor defense, but he was also surrounded by lesser players on offense.I like watching rookie quarterbacks who rise to the moment at the end of preseason games. These moments don't have real consequences, but they're an opportunity for the "it" factor to reveal itself. Kizer led two scoring drives late in the fourth quarter to pull out the win, making a couple clutch throws when his team needed it most.As an example of what a fan may see as a great play versus what a veteran quarterback or coach may see on the same play, I'd like to break down the game-winning touchdown pass from Kizer, a 45-yard go route to his left. Faced with a fourth-and-2, the Saints brought an all-out blitz.Despite the Browns leaving seven blockers in to protect, the Saints had eight players rushing the quarterback. During a regular-season NFL game, in which the "varsity" is playing, that extra rusher would get to the quarterback quickly. The quarterback would not have enough time to take his drop, use a full hitch, and throw a deep ball while standing in a clean pocket.But because it's the preseason, Kizer faced an undisciplined eight-man rush that allowed him to take his time and make an accurate throw.I liked what I saw out of Kizer through one preseason game, and head coach Hue Jackson must be happy with that performance too. Kizer was fairly accurate, had great footwork, and led his team on key scoring drives. The quarterback competition is wide-open in Cleveland, so he could be the starter in a month - or he could still be the third-stringer.C.J. Beathard, San Francisco 49ersNothing about Beathard's performance surprised me. He ran Kyle Shanahan's offense without a problem, and took more snaps from under center than most of the other quarterbacks on this list. He bought time to create a play downfield, something he did at the University of Iowa, and found his receiver for a touchdown. The throw worked out well for the 49ers, but also showed Beathard's lack of big-time arm strength.Shanahan's very high on his rookie quarterback - he thinks Beathard could be a Kirk Cousins type. If that ends up being the case, the 49ers found a steal in the third round. Beathard will receive a ton of playing time over the next three weeks. Brian Hoyer will be the starter, but Beathard needs to be ready to play sooner rather than later.Josh Dobbs, Pittsburgh SteelersDobbs' performance was the poorest of the players I analyzed, and his first throw was one of the worst I saw all weekend. It was inaccurate, but should have never been thrown in the first place - he tried to fit a pass into double coverage and was intercepted.Later, Dobbs threw another interception versus a blitz. Rookie quarterbacks rarely see defensive linemen dropping into coverage on blitzes. Dobbs didn't see the Giants defensive end and threw it right to him. That rookie mistake should be a great learning experience for Hobbs, who did rebound to throw some accurate deep balls later in the game.His arm is strong, but he's obviously still getting used to the complexities of the NFL game.Davis Webb, New York GiantsDespite a solid first game, Webb didn't separate himself in the three-man competition to be Eli Manning's backup. He only completed half of his passes, but ran the offense efficiently. He'll play much more as the preseason continues, which will give the Giants a better idea of whether he'll be the No. 2 or 3 quarterback this season.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tony Romo has his regular-season schedule.The quarterback-turned-broadcaster will make his debut as an analyst with CBS in its Week 1 broadcast of the Oakland Raiders versus the Tennessee Titans, the station announced on Tuesday.He will be teamed with play-by-play voice Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson.The trio's Week 2 assignment will be to cover the New England Patriots' contest with the New Orleans Saints. They'll announce the Cincinnati Bengals versus Green Bay Packers game in Week 3.In Week 4, Romo, Nantz, and Wolfson will handle double duty as they will cover the Chicago Bears-Green Bay Packers Thursday night contest and the Raiders game versus the Denver Broncos on Sunday.Romo's on-air debut will come during Week 3 of the preseason in a CBS broadcast of the Kansas City Chiefs-Seattle Seahawks game.The network's first Dallas Cowboys broadcast comes in Week 9 in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs. It's safe to say Romo will be apart of the coverage team for that one.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After Demaryius Thomas had his worst statistical season in five years with starter Trevor Siemian at the helm in 2016, the Denver Broncos wide receiver continues to endorse a switch at quarterback to sophomore Paxton Lynch."He has the tools, he has everything he needs to do. He just has to go out and be passionate. Don't think about the bad plays and go on to the next," Thomas said, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post.Lynch will start Saturday's second preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers, after going 6-for-9 for 42 yards in the opener. He is listed as the Broncos' co-starter at quarterback on the team's official depth chart alongside SiemianLynch started two games and appeared in one other as a rookie in 2016. He finished the year 49-for-83 passing, totalling 497 yards through the air with two touchdowns and an interception while adding 11 rushes for a modest 25 yards.Thomas says he has spent training camp helping Lynch get into the mindset for success."I'm always trying to keep him smiling. It's what you do. It's what we love to do so you go out and everybody's not perfect. Nobody is perfect to tell you the truth. Just go out and do your job and don't think about bad plays."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anquan Boldin has seen a lot during his 15-year NFL career, but one thing he doesn't see when it comes to Buffalo Bills receivers is a soft attitude.The newest member of the Bills receiving corps heaped praise onto his new teammates Tuesday, praising their ready-to-work attitudes and the versatility they have shown during camp, according to Vic Carucci of Buffalo News."There's definitely not that diva mentality in our receiver room," Boldin said. "We have guys that are willing to do whatever it is that the coaches ask, whether that be blocking, running a clear-out route or going across the middle, taking a big hit and making a catch."We have guys that are willing to do whatever it takes. That's the kind of guys that you want to work with, work along side of, because with the game on the line, you can count on them."Boldin's comments come at an interesting time, considering the Bills traded star receiver Sammy Watkins to the Los Angeles Rams just three days prior.Sure, Boldin's statements could be taken as a veiled shot at Watkins and his departure, but the 36-year-old isn't the only Bills receiver sharing that belief. Rookie wideout Zay Jones echoed much of his elder's sentiments Tuesday and has already begun to praise his leadership."In our room, there's no entitlement," Jones said. "I don't think anyone feels entitled, starting with Anquan. He's the most decorated and prestigious receiver in the room, and he comes to work just like all of us. His work habits are unbelievable and that's something that I look at and really feed off of."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie's sock game is on point.The New York Giants cornerback was spotted wearing socks adorned with characters from the beloved Nickelodeon animated series "Hey Arnold!" at Tuesday's practice.

Trey Griffey, the son of MLB Hall of Famer and Seattle Mariners great Ken Griffey Jr., is taking his two-sport ability to the NFL.The 23-year-old, drafted by the Mariners in the 24th round in 2016, was signed Tuesday by the Miami Dolphins to play wide receiver.

Former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson wants to take on the NBA's reigning MVP in a game of one-on-one.Johnson issued the challenge to Russell Westbrook in a tweet Monday night:

The Philadelphia Eagles released running back Ryan Mathews on Tuesday.Mathews missed the final game of last season with a herniated disc in his neck that required offseason surgery, and the Eagles were expected to cut him ahead of the 2017 campaign due to his $4-million base salary. He was medically cleared Tuesday, allowing the team to release him without having to pay an injury settlement.The Eagles revamped their rushing attack by adding LeGarrette Blount via free agency and rookies Donnel Pumphrey and Corey Clement through the draft. The unit also includes Darren Sproles, Wendell Smallwood, and Byron Marshall.Mathews, a former 12th overall draft pick by the then-San Diego Chargers in 2010, rushed for 661 yards and eight touchdowns last year with the Eagles."We want to thank Ryan for his contributions to the Philadelphia Eagles over the past two seasons," read a team statement. "We spoke today and had a productive conversation about his future and the direction of our team going forward. First and foremost, we are glad that Ryan is healthy and has been cleared to return to football activities, but given the current state of our running back position, we feel like it is best for both sides to go in a different direction."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans are fully expected to begin the 2017 season with fourth-year quarterback Tom Savage at the helm of their offense. He doesn't envision the depth chart changing after that."My mindset is that this is my team. And I'm not going to let anyone take it," Savage said, according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN.Texans head coach Bill O'Brien named Savage the 2017 Week 1 starter following the trade of 2016 starter Brock Osweiler. Savage started the Texans' first preseason game, going 9-for-11 for 69 yards, before giving way to rookie DeShaun Watson.Watson finished his first ever NFL game by going 15-for-25 and racking up 179 yards. He also rushed three times for 24 yards and a touchdown.The low level of competitiveness in Week 1 of NFL preseason led to veteran signal caller Brandon Weeden also receiving playing time. Once the Texans revert to the one quarterback strategy of the NFL's regular season, Savage is confident he'll be able to keep Watson (and Weeden) on the sideline."It's a pretty simple equation I think a lot of people overthink, especially in this league. If you go there and you win and you play well, they can't pull you. And if you go out there and you lose and the offense doesn't look good, they can pull you," Savage said.Savage started just two games last season before suffering an injury in Week 17 and missing both of the team's playoff contests. His season ended 46-for-73 on passing attempts, with 461 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.