National anthem protests haven't gone away in the National Football League.During the first week of preseason, the Seattle Seahawks' Michael Bennett and Oakland Raiders' Marshawn Lynch took a seat during the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Asked about the form of protest, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stated, "people do have rights."Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson has a much firmer stance."I think everybody has a right to do, and I get it, but the national anthem means a lot to myself personally, the organization and our football team," Jackson said, according to Dan Labbe of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "I hope - again, I can't speak, I haven't really talked to our team about it - I would hope that we don't have those issues."Colin Kaepernick popularized the practice in the NFL, and it was picked up by a number of other players. No Browns player has participated, however."I understand there is a lot going on in the world. I like to just keep it here. What we deal with, we try to deal with as a team in our closed environment," Jackson explained. "We talk about things. Hopefully, that won't happen. I can't tell you it won't happen, but I just know our guys, and I don't think that is where our focus is."We hope the things that are going on in the world get ironed out, but I know right now we are doing everything we can to get our football team better."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots will once again enter the season as a favorite to challenge for the Super Bowl, but Tom Brady isn't taking anything for granted just yet.The five-time Super Bowl champion was anything but cocky during an interview Tuesday morning with WEEI's Kirk and Callahan, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN, downplaying any comparisons of this year's squad to Patriots teams of the past."It is really unfair to set expectations. To me, in my mind, it's really a setup," Brady said. "You're talking about some magical years that we've had that may never be duplicated again."Brady's response is somewhat diplomatic given the extent of his legacy with the franchise, however he did acknowledge that there are multiple areas in which the current version of his team needs to improve in order to accomplish its goals."For this team, we need to be focused on so many other things than what people may think about us or say about us. There is so much improvement we need to make," Brady said. "I love the guys I'm playing with this year. It's a totally different version of a team we've had. We'll have our own strengths and weaknesses, but how the season plays out will be determined by what happens moving forward.""This team will be able to write our own chapter, and hopefully it's a good one. But it's going to be determined by the work ethic that we do and the trust we have in one another."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler will make his preseason debut Thursday against the Baltimore Ravens, head coach Adam Gase announced Tuesday, according to Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post.Cutler participated in his first team practice Aug. 8. He was coaxed out of retirement with a one-year, $10-million contract to serve as 2017's replacement for the injured Ryan Tannehill.David Fales led the Dolphins' passing attack in their first preseason game, going 8-for-17 through the air for 184 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell spoke publicly about the six-game suspension handed to Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott on Monday night.Speaking at a season-ticket holder forum with Arizona Cardinals fans, Goodell was asked about beginning a second consecutive season with a star player suspended."Those things are dictated by circumstances," Goodell said, according to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss."We do everything we can to make sure we're enforcing our policies and holding standards to the highest level. That's an unfortunate part of that, but that is what you do."The league adopted a new policy in 2014 that would levy a baseline six-game suspension without pay for a domestic violence offense. Elliott's case was investigated for more than a year before the suspension was handed down on Friday.Elliott is expected to appeal the ban.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi has been cleared from the league's concussion protocol.Ajayi returned to practice Sunday after being diagnosed with a concussion Aug. 2. The 2016 breakout rusher played the final 15 regular-season games and lone playoff contest after being left at home for the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks.Backup running back Kenyan Drake, however, has been placed in the concussion protocol, reports Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald.Drake rushed four times for 21 yards in the Dolphins' first preseason game, against the Atlanta Falcons.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills have been the talk of the town since orchestrating two trades Friday, and most of that talk has centered on tanking.The Bills jettisoned receiver Sammy Watkins to the Los Angeles Rams for cornerback E.J. Gaines and traded corner Ronald Darby to the Philadelphia Eagles for wideout Jordan Matthews. The Bills also collected second- and third-round picks for next year's draft, but general manager Brandon Beane dispelled any notion of the team tanking in 2017."I was very annoyed," Beane said on PFT Live, according to Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith. "We would not have tried to get Anquan Boldin on our team if we were tanking. We would not have tried to get Jordan Matthews. ... We would not have tried to get E.J. Gaines. We would have just tried to get more draft capital if we weren't worried about 2017."We're going to compete our tails off for 2017."Beane's comments shouldn't come as a surprise. It's hard to tell a roster of professionals sweating it out during training camp that the upcoming season won't matter.But with a new GM and a new head coach in Sean McDermott, it will take some time for them to field the roster they envision will produce the most long-term success.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills hijacked the banal, monotonous tenor of the preseason by making a pair of seismic trades on Friday, sending wide receiver Sammy Watkins to the Los Angeles Rams and shipping Ronald Darby to the Philadelphia Eagles. During a frenetic half-hour window, the Bills effectively declared their intentions for the upcoming season, while mapping their long-term plans.Buffalo enters the 2017 campaign with a new regime that's hell-bent on eroding the last vestiges of the previous administration, and is focused on changing the trajectory of the NFL's most downtrodden franchise while implementing a long-term strategy to finally spell sustained success.Here's how the Bills can remain competitive while accelerating their rebuild.A new beginning While operating at a gradual pace that only a perpetually disorganized franchise like the Bills could muster, the team slowly ousted key figures from the Rex Ryan era. Buffalo installed Sean McDermott as its next head coach on Jan. 11, unceremoniously fired general manager Doug Whaley after the 2017 draft, and then hired McDermott confidante Brandon Beane as Whaley's replacement. The quiet, calculated approach laid out by McDermott and Beane has been in diametric opposition to Ryan's tempestuous - and often empty - rhetoric, and now the Bills can march forward with a new regime that's fully responsible.McDermott and Beane are intent on running the franchise the way they envisioned, and in doing so jettisoned the crown jewel of Whaley's tenure, Watkins, to Los Angeles. The idea of Watkins and his tantalizing potential outweighs the actual player at this juncture of his career. Deterred by lingering foot injuries, he hasn't played a full season since his rookie campaign in 2014, participating in just 21 games over the past two years. The decision to trade Watkins shouldn't have been too jarring after the Bills initially declined to extend his fifth-year option this spring.Watkins could develop into a superstar with the Rams and few would blink at the prospect, but it's more likely than not he'll be hampered by his injury issues for the duration of his career. By effectively trading Watkins for Jordan Matthews*, the Bills acquired a capable receiver who's a year older and can provide a very reasonable facsimile of the former's production. Matthews unfortunately suffered a chip fracture in his sternum on Sunday, but he's not a perpetual injury risk like Watkins.Wins above replacement are nearly impossible to determine in football because of the different functions of each position, but it's hard to imagine the Bills' ceiling becoming notably worse as a result of the Watkins deal.*Matthews was acquired by the Bills in exchange for Darby.Maintain a run-oriented offense Buffalo led the NFL in rushing over the past two seasons, not coincidentally linked to LeSean McCoy's arrival in March 2015. McCoy and Jonathan Williams will now be aided by new fullback signings Mike Tolbert and Patrick DiMarco, the latter of whom graded as the best run-blocker at his position in the NFL last year, according to Pro Football Focus. The Bills can quietly plan for the future while operating a run-heavy scheme that's been paramount to their identity over the past two years. Tolbert was groomed by the Panthers over the past five seasons and though he was signed under Whaley's watch, there's no way the Bills would've added him without McDermott's tacit approval.Tyrod Taylor can elect to opt out of his contract after the 2018 season and the Bills will need to make another fundamental decision that informs their future this winter. As currently presented, the Bills aren't bad enough to outright tank like the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, and San Francisco 49ers, so Taylor can keep the team afloat while management further articulates their long-term vision. "Blowing it up" is a concept popularized by the NBA writing community at-large, but in this case, it doesn't make sense for the Bills, who can actualize their-long term goals while remaining competitive.Continue to stockpile and leverage assets The final move of Whaley's tenure was acquiring a 2018 first-round selection from the Chiefs, trading 17 spots down to select the cornerback they wanted all along, Tre'Davious White. In doing so, Whaley tried to ensure that Buffalo wouldn't mortgage its future while acquiring the player that was atop its board during the pre-draft process.After a whirlwind afternoon Friday, the Bills emerged with the aforementioned Chiefs' first-round pick, a second-round selection from the Rams, and a third-round choice from the Eagles. Los Angeles is slated to be one of the worst teams in the NFL once again, spurring a key question: Is there really a line of demarcation between a first-round pick and an early second-rounder if the Rams finish among the worst five teams in the league? In all likelihood, there isn't, and the Bills have accrued numerous assets for what's shaping up to be one of the deepest drafts - especially at quarterback - in recent memory.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan faces the nearly insurmountable task of not allowing last season's collapse during Super Bowl LI affect him during the upcoming campaign. To Ryan's credit, he insists he's over the harrowing loss to the New England Patriots.For those who have somehow forgotten, the Falcons blew a 28-3 lead in the second half of the Super Bowl, succumbing to the Patriots in overtime. Ryan is now doing his best to use it as fuel for the rest of his career."That game is always going to be a part of who I am," Ryan said to Greg Bishop of Sports Illustrated. "It's always going to drive me, but it doesn't consume me. I won't let it consume me."Ryan would've had the best possible season imaginable if the Falcons held on, winning NFL MVP honors, shattering the ill-conceived notion that he wasn't among the league's best quarterbacks.Alas, there is no time for further reflection."We're pointed forward," Ryan said.Maintaining the nucleus of the NFL's highest-scoring offense from last season, the Falcons would do well to forget their nightmare end to the 2016 campaign.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dan Quinn has as much belief in his team as anyone, but even the Atlanta Falcons head coach had his doubts after an offseason of being reminded of his Super Bowl failures.Quinn says he had concerns about his team's state of mind coming into training camp under the cloud of a gut-wrenching Super Bowl loss, though it didn't take long for his doubts to subside."It probably took me until about the second day of training camp, and when I saw us going after it and battling against one another and making sure that part was in place, I knew we were in a good space," Quinn told SiriusXM NFL radio on Monday. "Over the summer I was certainly worried (about), 'How much work am I going to have to do?'"And then, once I got to about that second day of training camp and I saw the speed and the effort at which we were straining and battling against once another, I thought to myself, 'OK, end of those conversations. It's '17 and full speed ahead.' I haven't made one mention of anything in the past since training camp began."The Falcons must seem relieved to be back on the field after nothing but talk throughout the offseason, though a blown fourth-quarter lead in their first preseason game may have brought back sour memories.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers are taking an extra step to tell their fans that the move from San Diego is permanent.On Tuesday, the Chargers are offering to pay for any team-themed tattoos at the Shamrock Social Club in West Hollywood from 1:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. PT as a gesture to their new fan base."It's just one way to show our appreciation for the fans, and to let them know that we're always thinking creatively about how they can put their hand up and say they love the Chargers," Chargers special advisor Jeffrey Pollack told Sam farmer of the Los Angeles Times.Pollack clarified that the team will not foot the bill for removal of any other teams' tattoos.- With h/t to NFL.comCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While many have commended NFL players for using their platform to push the agenda on social issues, former tight end Jermichael Finley is not buying into the protests of players like Marshawn Lynch and Michael Bennett.After Lynch and Bennett sat out the national anthem over the weekend, the ex-Green Bay Packer took to Twitter on Monday to share a rather unpopular opinion.

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott filed an official incident report, alleging that he was harassed by his ex-girlfriend on Sept. 5, 2016, documents obtained by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport revealed.Elliott was suspended six games for a violation of the league's personal conduct policy and will file his appeal either Tuesday or Wednesday, Rapoport reports.The running back stated that he received over 50 phone calls from his ex-girlfriend over an eight-hour span, and police were sent to his house as a result.Elliott was accused of domestic violence by his ex-girlfriend, which led to his suspension, despite never being charged.After being suspended, Elliott is now attempting to prove that the NFL did not account for his ex-girlfriend's alleged lack of credibility.Elliott's father, Stacy, tweeted Monday that his son's legal team is "ready to fight."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Odell Beckham Jr. sees big things in the near future for the New York Giants.Feeling even more confident after an unceremonious playoff defeat that ended his first career postseason, Beckham predicts that the Giants will be adding another Lombardi Trophy to their history after improving the team this offseason."See that banner? That's all I care about. Honestly, there's one, two, three, four (championship banners) in here," said Beckham on Monday. "I don't know where they'd put the fifth one, but they're going to have to make room because we need it."Related: 5 reasons why the Giants can be the NFC's best teamAfter fielding one of the league's best defenses last year, Beckham believes that the addition of Brandon Marshall and development of Sterling Shepard will give the opposition nightmares."We're just going to be the very best, I'm going to be the very best me that I can be, Brandon is going to be the best him, Shep's going to be the best and the rest of the receivers in our room," said Beckham. "Obviously, the goal at the end of the day is to be the best. I feel like you want to write the best story, I want to make the best, everything is supposed to be the best."If you're not doing it to be the best, I don't know why you're doing it."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Eric Reid knelt for the national anthem last season alongside quarterback Colin Kaepernick, but the San Francisco 49ers safety isn't happy with how the protests turned out."I think for me, the anthem thing went so sideways - it kills me that it went the way it went because that's not how we intended it to be," Reid said Monday, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. "You guys know what we were trying to get accomplished with that, but I think for me personally, (I'll) just keep talking about it, whether that's social media or you guys talking to me or whatever events I can make it out to during the season just to keep raising awareness on different topics to hopefully make that change that we're talking about."The 25-year-old added he isn't planning to kneel for the anthem this season and no one on the 49ers knelt during the first preseason game Friday against the Kansas City Chiefs.When it comes to Kaepernick, Reid doesn't understand why the signal-caller doesn't have a contract and feels he shouldn't have to make his case for one."I think that's ridiculous," Reid said. "What does he need to say to prove that he wants to be in the NFL? He's training every day. He's been to the Super Bowl. He has the tape. What is coming out and saying, 'I want to play in the NFL' do? It's obvious. I think it's just a diversion, along with all the other false narratives that are out there about him. It's just something to deflect away from why he's not (in the league). They're trying to put the blame on him for not being in the NFL."While Reid praised Kaepernick's talent and offseason training, he also pointed to the financial benefits of bringing the quarterback into an organization."I would say that their bottom line would go higher with him on the team," Reid said. "His jersey sales were No. 1 in the league last year during the protest, so I think that speaks for itself."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Commissioner Roger Goodell offered tacit support toward Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch, after he drew scrutiny for sitting during the national anthem ahead of Saturday's preseason game versus the Arizona Cardinals.Lynch, who sat out during the 2016 season, only to unretire this spring, joins Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins in his protest against racial inequality and police brutality. Colin Kaepernick made headlines for his protest during the anthem last season, but has yet to be signed upon opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in March."We have to understand there are people with different viewpoints. The national anthem is a special moment to me. It's a point of pride. That is a really important moment. But we also have to understand the other side. People do have rights and we want to respect those," Goodell said during a fan event via Mike Jurecki of 98.7 The Blitz.It's certainly a surprising approach from Goodell, who publicly shied away from addressing protests during the anthem last season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears guard Kyle Long was ejected from practice Monday for fighting numerous teammates.The three-time Pro Bowler was involved in skirmishes with both offensive and defensive players Monday."There's a certain standard we have and it's something we weren't very pleased with," Bears head coach John Fox said, according to ESPN's Jeff Dickerson. "I haven't had a chance to visit with him yet, but it's something that we'll handle it internally."Fox refused to disclose why Long entered numerous scuffles Monday."I really can't answer that at this point, I'm sure obviously there was some frustration, again that's not how we operate," Fox said. "I didn't really see everything, just know that there was a disturbance and we don't need that. That's why he left the field."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Under the current NFL salary cap, teams have $167 million to spend on a roster of 53 players.But what if - by some unforeseen change in the owners' financial motivations - the NFL abolished its salary cap and let franchises spend as much (or as little) as they desired?The consequences would drastically affect the game, both on and off the field.Seahawks sign everyone they wantSeahawks owner Paul Allen, who co-founded a little company called Microsoft, has a net worth of $17.8 billion - over $10 billion more than the next richest NFL owner. Almost 90 percent of Allen's wealth comes from outside the Seahawks, giving him plenty of cash to spend on player contracts.So, if the Seahawks wanted a player in uncapped free agency, they'd have the funds to outbid the rest of the league. Imagine Alshon Jeffery, Calais Campbell, Dont'a Hightower, Kevin Zeitler, and A.J. Bouye all signing in Seattle this offseason.The Seahawks would also be able to clear the cloud of financial worry that's surrounded the roster since making a Super Bowl run in 2013. Stars like Russell Wilson, Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, and future draft gems that John Schneider uncovers could all be easily re-signed without a cap.Guaranteed contracts finally show upIt seems silly that the "Big 5" sport with the most injuries is also the only one without guaranteed contracts, but without a cap for dead money to count against, there aren't many reasons that can't change.Of course, teams would initially still be against the idea because owners like money and they don't want to be spending it on players who may not be playing.However, over time guaranteed contracts would become the norm. The prospect of offering lots of money would essentially be available to any team bidding on a free agent, so teams willing to offer guarantees would gain a strong upper hand over those that don't. With an owner as wealthy as Allen and players as outspoken as some of the Seahawks, you can bet they would be one of the first teams to get that ball rolling.Eventually, players would have the sense to only sign with teams willing to give out guaranteed deals, and one of the biggest problems with NFL contracts would be solved - but it's not the only issue.Players still won't get NBA moneyOne of the biggest storylines this offseason has been the comparison between what NBA players earn versus their NFL counterparts.Derek Carr's $25 million per season tops the NFL, but he'd only tie as the 21st-highest paid player in the NBA; Steph Curry leads the way at $40.23 million annually.That $40-million dollar mark might be met by the NFL's best quarterbacks in a world without a cap, but the average player still wouldn't see their salary reach NBA levels. Basketball does not require a player to be an All-Star or even have league-wide name recognition to make top dollar. If an NBAer is young enough, has the potential to be good, and has their previous contract expire at the right time, they can make huge money.That's not to say NBA players who haven't been named All-Stars don't have the potential to reach that level. But with six non-All-Stars making more than every player in NFL, there is clearly a difference in how the two sports compensate their athletes.NBA players without an ASG appearanceTeamAvg. SalaryMike ConleyGrizzlies$30.52MC.J. McCollumTrail Blazers$26.66MOtto Porter Jr.Wizards$26.63MRudy GobertJazz$25.5MBradley BealWizards$25.43MSteven AdamsThunder$25M(Salaries courtesy of Spotrac)Other than quarterbacks (who already get overpaid fairly easily), NFL players would still need to prove their worth to get the megabucks comparable to what the NBA is dishing out. Plus, the discrepancy between putting together a 12-man roster versus a 53-man unit is too much for the average NFL salary of $1.9 million to equate with the NBA's $6.88 million average.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's absolutely absurd how much of a favorite the New England Patriots are to win the AFC East division (-2,000). The Pats have won this division eight years in a row and 13 of the last 14 seasons. Covers Experts' Matt Fargo gives you a team-by-team breakdown, including season win total picks.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2017 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his fourth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition.Scroll down to see his updated rankings for 2017, including PPR leagues.Standard

The Los Angeles Chargers may have to wait a while for the debut of last year's first-round pick Mike Williams, but the team appears to be remaining cautiously optimistic that a debut could happen sooner rather than later.Williams, who has been sidelined since the first day of rookie camp, is currently recovering from a herniated disc, however Ian Rapoport of NFL Network is reporting that the Chargers are eyeing a potential October debut for their top draft investment.According to Rapoport, Williams has been spotted sprinting on the treadmill as well as the practice field, and citing sources with direct knowledge of the situation, the goal for the Chargers is to have him on the field in two months time.The Chargers have until Sept. 2 to decide whether or not they want to place Williams on the PUP list, which would render him unavailable until Week 7.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Being a Russell Wilson fan comes with extra perks for those flying with Alaska Airlines.For the second consecutive year, the airline is allowing anyone wearing the Seahawks quarterback's jersey to board early on all flights departing from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The promotion kicked off Friday and runs through the end of the year, according to Kenny Ocker of the Tacoma News Tribune.Wilson has been a spokesman for the airline since 2013.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions will have to get used to life without Kerry Hyder on their defensive line.The Lions received the worst possible news Monday regarding last year's sack leader, as a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network that Hyder will miss the upcoming season after tearing his Achilles.The defensive end was carted off the field just one quarter into Sunday's preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts. Head coach Jim Caldwell stated after the game that the injury was "significant," but didn't offer further details.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's a rare talent and a rare highlight that can get a chorus of professional athletes to ooh and aah.Odell Beckham Jr. is that talent, and his latest one-handed grab - at a Monday morning practice, no less - had everyone in the NFL hitting repeat. Here's a sample of the responses from his peers and former NFLers.

Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn is eager to put Super Bow LI behind him - so much so that he hung a clock in his office that has the word "Now" in place of each hour.

Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman is in concussion protocol and will not play in the team's next preseason game Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, head coach Dan Quinn announced Monday.The lead running back suffered the injury during Sunday's practice, and ultimately exited the session.He had just one catch and a single carry in limited action during the team's first preseason game of the year Thursday against the Miami Dolphins.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns and spent 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast."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 AFC 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. Look for the NFC later in the week.Cleveland Browns DC Gregg WilliamsRemember "Bounty Gate"? Yup, that happened during Williams' time with New Orleans, resulting in him being suspended for the entire 2012 season. Since then, he has served as Jeff Fisher’s defensive coordinator with the Rams, and became available after that organization moved on from its longtime head coach.That could work in Cleveland's favor, as Williams will surely bring an attitude with him that this defense has missed for some time. He has been coaching at the NFL level for a long time, and actually learned much of his craft under Buddy Ryan, which explains his aggressive approach.Williams comes after quarterbacks and wants every member of his defense to play with an edge. The Browns were a 3-4 base defense last year under Ray Horton, but Williams is a 4-3 guy. That correlates very well with the drafting of super prospect Myles Garrett as a longtime fixture at defensive end. With the Rams, Williams utilized former safety Mark Barron as a linebacker.That also correlates well with another Browns first-round draft pick, Jabrill Peppers. Cleveland showcased one of the league’s worst defenses in 2016, but Williams now has more talent to work with than Horton did, and his addition alone could really make this young unit fun to watch. This Browns defense will be noticeably better than last year's version.Denver Broncos OC Mike McCoyMcCoy, the Chargers' head coach from 2013-2016, is another familiar name. His team lost a stunning number of close games in every way imaginable, and also suffered several injuries during his tenure.The wide receivers and offensive line were hit especially hard with injuries, and both positions were areas of concern last year. But McCoy is an excellent offensive mind. While with San Diego, he changed the way quarterback Philip Rivers played the game, and the scheme overall.Instead of having Rivers take deep drops and wait for long developing routes to unfold, McCoy took advantage of his quarterback's excellent pre-snap skills and mind for the game. Because of his thin supporting cast, Rivers still took a beating, but the philosophy was sound.The Broncos have no one at the most important position that even resembles Rivers, but McCoy has shown he's very much able to change his philosophy around his QB.In fact, McCoy was the Broncos' offensive coordinator for three seasons with the likes of Kyle Orton, Tim Tebow, and Peyton Manning as his quarterbacks. First-time head coach Vance Joseph would be wise to just hand the offensive side of the ball over to McCoy. It will be in good hands.Los Angeles Chargers DC Gus BradleyBradley went from being the Seahawks' defensive coordinator, where he was wildly successful, to the head coach at Jacksonville, where he was wildly unsuccessful, winning less than 23 percent of his games.There's no denying Jacksonville was a terrible football team under Bradley, but the defense started to take shape at the end of his tenure. As was the case in Jacksonville, he's transforming the Chargers' defense in the mirror image of his successful squad in Seattle. In some ways, that's an odd fit, especially at cornerback.Los Angeles has excellent cornerbacks that excel in man-to-man coverage in Jason Verrett and Casey Hayward. But while Bradley will employ a fair amount of man coverage, his scheme is rather zone-based, with Cover 3 principles at its foundation.Now, that isn't to say Hayward and Verrett won't excel in this new scheme, or that Bradley won't adjust to fit their great strengths, but, physically, these two certainly don't fit the Richard Sherman mold in terms of size that Seattle covets at the position.In the defensive front, Los Angeles should transition well. Joey Bosa is ideal for the Michael Bennett role and Melvin Ingram should excel being asked to do much of what was asked of Cliff Avril in Seattle.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Since the NFL handed Ezekiel Elliott a six-game suspension Friday, he's only publicly responded via a Twitter message and a statement from his attorneys.Elliott's father, Stacy, weighed in Monday, writing that his son's legal team is bracing for a fight as it appeals the decision.

The New Orleans Saints are shopping cornerback Delvin Breaux, Nick Underhill of the New Orleans Advocate reports.Breaux owns one of the more heartwarming stories in the NFL. A New Orleans native, he suffered a broken neck in high school and spent time in the CFL before landing a job with his hometown team.He started in every game he played during the 2014 and 2015 seasons, but battled injuries to only suit up for six games last year.The Saints are said to be frustrated with his injury history, according to Underhill.New Orleans was in the market for New England Patriots corner Malcolm Butler this offseason and added Marshon Lattimore through the draft.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colin Kaepernick appears to be nowhere in the Baltimore Ravens' plans.After publicly stating their interest in the free agent and former Super Bowl runner-up, the Ravens have instead signed no-name after no-name at the quarterback position. That trend continued Monday when the team brought aboard Thaddeus Lewis, who hasn't thrown a pass in four years.With starting quarterback Joe Flacco nursing a back injury that will shelve him for the preseason and backup Ryan Mallett struggling, the Ravens signed former arena-league quarterback David Olson in late July. They waived him and signed Josh Woodrum before reaching even further back in the unemployment line for Lewis.Kaepernick started 11 games last season. He threw for 2,241 yards, 16 touchdowns, and four interceptions on a two-win San Francisco 49ers club.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ever since Roberto Aguayo was selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht has received unending criticism amid Aguayo's poor performances.He believes his penance has now been paid.After releasing Aguayo on Friday, Licht admitted to Peter King of Sports Illustrated the decision to draft Aguayo in the first place was a "bold move," and that the decision to cut ties with the kicker was the final chapter in accepting responsibility for it."I'm owning up to it," Licht said. "I'm owning up to it by releasing him. It was a bold move and it didn't work out. I don't know what else to say. I know I have the support of my coach and my ownership."At the time, I was bound and determined to get the best kicker we possibly could. I thought Roberto had the chance to be a special kicker in the league for a long time. That’s a position that had been a rough spot for us. What did I learn from this? I’ve said this before, but when we took him, we essentially anointed him. If I could do it again, I would have gone back and brought in competition to challenge him."Aguayo's 71 percent rate on field goals last season was the worst among qualified kickers, making him one of the biggest busts in NFL history, but the personal impact that comes with being released isn't lost on the man who ultimately hit the eject button."You never feel good when you shatter someone’s dream," Licht said. "That is always tough, especially someone you had such high hopes for. You don’t have good feelings about that. It is a little bit of a sense of, I don’t want to say relief, but we’ve ripped off the band-aid, and we move on. We’re moving forward."Somewhat surprisingly, Aguayo's tenure on the open market only lasted one day, as the Chicago Bears claimed him off waivers Sunday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills receiver Jordan Matthews suffered an injury on his first day with his new team.Acquired via trade with the Philadelphia Eagles last week, Matthews sustained a chip fracture in his sternum at his first Bills practice and is considered week to week, the team announced Monday morning.The Bills traded cornerback Ronald Darby to Philadelphia to land Matthews after shipping off top receiver Sammy Watkins to the Los Angeles Rams in a corresponding move.Unfortunately for Matthews, it appears he will be unavailable for the Bills' second game of the preseason Thursday, when they visit the Eagles.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers middle linebacker Denzel Perryman will be out four-to-six weeks after suffering an ankle injury in Sunday night's preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Perryman appeared to suffer the injury while engaged with a blocker early in Sunday's contest, and was later deemed out for the game.The 2015 second-round pick has started in 20 games for the Chargers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Michael Bennett sat for the national anthem during the Seattle Seahawks' preseason opener Sunday, and the outspoken defensive end said after the game that he plans on continuing his protest throughout the 2017 campaign, according to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times.

With violence erupting from white supremacists rallies in Charlottesville, Va., this weekend, Chris and Kyle Long are voicing their disapproval of the events in their hometown.Chris, who currently plays for the Philadelphia Eagles, tweeted his frustration with the actions of Neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klan members, and other white supremacists in Charlottesville on Saturday. His brother and Chicago Bears guard spoke Sunday about being taken aback at seeing his hometown in this light."Coming from Charlottesville, it's a quiet town. The loudest it gets is on Saturdays at (University of Virginia's) Scott Stadium. I'd say it was shocking to see that, but, you know, there are bad things that happen all the time and, like I said, prayers to those who are involved," Long said, according to ESPN. "Hopefully we can continue to do the right thing as a whole."Obviously there's going to be people that don't follow the same suit. Don't be those folks."Long also said that he believes most protesters in Charlottesville are not locals."I haven't seen statistics, but I'd be willing to bet the vast majority of people voicing those white supremacist sentiments were from out of town," said Long. "The majority of the people that were defending our hometown against ideals like that were from Charlottesville, or students."It's disheartening, but I really think it's desperation for those folks to feel threatened by us doing the right thing."Long has been discouraged with how his hometown has been viewed and how he fears people will view him when they know he is a Charlottesville native."Don't let a few bad apples ruin what is really true about Charlottesville and that area - there's good folks there," said Long.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2017 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.Every game night during the preseason, theScore gets you caught up on the most important fantasy performances from around the league.Start-less in SeattleIt was only the first preseason game, but Eddie Lacy didn't get the start for his new team. That might not be a big deal, but it came after beat reporters suggested Thomas Rawls was consistently running ahead of Lacy in practice this week and appeared to be the Seahawks' top back.Rawls is an energized runner with good agility and a willingness to invite contact. The third-year back was bouncing down the field during his time with the starters. Meanwhile, Lacy looked slow and deliberate in his cuts, which may have contributed to him being stuffed on a 3rd-and-goal from the 2-yard line. At least the Seahawks were finally trying to run at the goal line.Neither back did much damage on the stat sheet, but Lacy didn't even see the field until Russell Wilson was out of the game. We'll continue to watch how their snaps are divided up over the next two preseason outings, but at the moment Lacy is an extremely risky pick in the middle rounds, while Rawls looks like an outstanding value late in drafts. C.J. Prosise remains a PPR stash.Fully chargedThe Chargers' first unit only played one series, but it looked sharp as Philip Rivers dissected the Seahawks on a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive over the opening seven minutes.Rivers completed 5-of-6 attempts for 56 yards and the score, spreading the ball around to Hunter Henry, Antonio Gates, and Travis Benjamin. When faced with a 3rd-and-goal at the 5-yard line, he found his favorite 37-year-old tight end, Gates, who fought off defenders to come down with the ball in the end zone. It's another reminder that Gates isn't going away this season and could put a damper on Henry's breakout potential.Benjamin was another interesting player to see step up Sunday. With rookie Mike Williams' availability this season in question due to a back injury, Benjamin is the player who could benefit most. He was limited by injuries last season, but could get his career back on track and has an outside chance at being fantasy relevant in 2017.Golladay's arrivalHello, Kenny Golladay! The rookie receiver rode his offseason hype train right into live game action and managed to pick up speed by scoring a pair of touchdowns, embarrassing the Colts' secondary in the process.Golladay looked like he belonged, making excellent adjustments on all three of his catches and outmaneuvering defenders while racking up 53 total yards to go with his two scores.The Lions, who selected Golladay in the third round of this year's draft, appear to have found a player capable of making an instant contribution. The rookie should start the season as the team's third receiver, playing on the outside with Marvin Jones while Golden Tate moves into the slot.It's easy to get excited by a performance like this, but at the moment Golladay is still way down the pecking order in the Lions' passing attack and is only worth a flier in deeper re-draft leagues.Instant Impressions

Michael Bennett sat alone on the Seattle Seahawks' bench during the national anthem while his teammates stood with locked arms before the preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times.

Buffalo Bills legend Jim Kelly called for the team's fan base to stay on board following Friday's shock trades of Sammy Watkins and Ronald Darby to the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively."I'm a former player," Kelly said during a visit to Sunday’s training camp practice, according to ESPN's Mike Rodak. "You want to win. You want to win now. I get it. I understand that. It's not always that way with all fans. But the ones who really do get it, understand it, that know the game of football - (they know) that sometimes these things take a little longer. Never would anyone of us expect 17 years not being able to see a January football game."Just got to keep your hope, stay on the wagon, hopefully it's sooner rather than later."For Watkins and Darby, the Bills came away with wideout Jordan Matthews, cornerback E.J. Gaines, the Rams' 2018 second-round pick, and the Eagles' 2018 third-round pick.And while Matthews is a solid receiver who's still improving, and Gaines is only a few years removed from an impressive rookie season, the Bills' trades were made with an eye toward competing in the future.Buffalo now owns two picks in each of the first three rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft, enough ammunition to rule the event.The price of that ammunition robbed Tyrod Taylor of his favorite target. And though Kelly admits it will be tough on the quarterback, he says Taylor must persevere."It would be like me losing Andre Reed, as far as me, that was my No. 1 receiver and (Watkins) was his No. 1 receiver," Kelly said. "It's not easy but you got to live with it, understand why they did and you have to go with it. That's your job. You have to lead the team down the field no matter who's in the huddle."Hopefully Matthews comes in and does what we all hope he will do and hopefully what they gave up will be enough to build something with what we got the next three-to-five years."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Lions defensive end Kerry Hyder was carted off during the first quarter of Sunday's preseason contest against the Indianapolis Colts, and Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said after the game he'd sustained a "significant Achilles injury," according to ESPN's Michael Rothstein.Asked if Hyder had torn his Achilles, Caldwell said, "It's significant. The doctors, that's the initial impression. When we have something certain, we'll release it. But I'll tell you, it's significant."While Caldwell refused to go into detail, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Lions fear Hyder tore his Achilles.Hyder almost single-handily kept the Lions' pass-rush alive in 2016, posting a team-high eight sacks in his second NFL season.If Hyder's injury is as serious as both Caldwell and Schefter suggested, Detroit's already weak depth on the defensive line could be stretched thin.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay provided a positive update Sunday on star quarterback Andrew Luck's recovery from surgery on his throwing shoulder."Can't say unequivocally that Luck will play in the Sept. 10 opener, but he'll be ready around the start of the season," said Irsay, according to the Indianapolis Star's Zak Keefer.Irsay added that Luck has resumed throwing, according to Keefer."I would say his progression could not be better," said Irsay, according to Keefer.Irsay said Luck is not yet throwing at full strength, as the team is waiting for the team doctors to sign off, according to George Bremer of The Herald Bulletin.With Luck ailing and journeyman Scott Tolzien atop the depth chart, Indy was expected to consider bringing in another arm. Irsay confirmed the Colts discussed signing a veteran free agent, but said they were ultimately turned off by the high price, according to Bremer.Irsay clarified the veteran quarterback they considered wasn't Colin Kaepernick, according to Bob Kravitz of WTHR.com.While it appears Luck's Week 1 status remains in doubt, Irsay's update is the biggest reason for optimism yet.Colts general manager Chris Ballard also commented on Luck's rehab Sunday, saying the pivot was stronger now than at any point last season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Indianapolis Colts haven't revealed much about Andrew Luck's rehab from surgery on his throwing shoulder, and concerns outside the building have begun to escalate due to the quarterback not yet practicing.However, general manager Chris Ballard offered a brief but optimistic appraisal of Luck's progress during a broadcast appearance of Indy's preseason game against the Detroit Lions."He's doing really well," Ballard said, according to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. "His strength levels are probably better than they were at any point last season."It's not known if Luck has resumed throwing with just four weeks until the season opener.Ballard said this week that he's confident his franchise player won't start the campaign on the physically unable to perform list, but wouldn't guarantee Luck will be under center in Week 1.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Francisco 49ers are expected to make Katie Sowers the second full-time female coach in NFL history, Cam Inman of The Mercury News reports.Sowers finished a coaching internship with the 49ers on Friday and is expected to stay on as a full-time staff member, though the details about her new position have not been finalized. Sowers, 31, shared news of her position on her personal Facebook page."It's groundbreaking and all that stuff, but the more normalized it is, the better it is," Sowers said last week about her intern role with the team. "As a female, the more someone can ask me what I do and I say 'I coach football,' the less shock on their faces will mean the better direction we're moving."Sowers also worked as a coaching intern for 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan in the 2016 preseason with the Atlanta Falcons, where Shanahan was offensive coordinator.Though she is the second female to be hired as full-time coach, Sowers will likely be the only active woman on a coaching staff this season. The Buffalo Bills hired Kathryn Smith as a quality-control coach last season, but she was not retained as part of Sean McDermott's new coaching staff.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Bears have claimed kicker Roberto Aguayo off of waivers, the team announced Sunday, a day after the former second-round pick was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.The Bucs cut ties with Aguayo following an underwhelming rookie season and a poor performance in Tampa Bay's first preseason game.While Aguayo's first shot in the NFL was a resounding failure, he was arguably one of the greatest college kickers of all time, and should be able to compete with Connor Barth for the starting job.Aguayo hit on just 71 percent of his attempts in 2016.In a corresponding move, the Bears placed wide receiver Rueben Randle on injured reserve.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.Fantasy owners who miss out on one of the top four tight ends often wait till much later in the draft to address the position, confident they'll find the next breakout star.It's a good plan, if you can pinpoint which tight ends will return value in the later rounds.Who will exceed expectations?

Markus Wheaton just can't escape the injury bug.The Chicago Bears receiver suffered a broken finger in practice Sunday, head coach John Fox revealed to Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune. Fox didn't have a time frame the injury would sideline Wheaton for."He's a great kid," Fox said. "He works really hard. He's a great teammate. He does have downfield speed that we saw earlier in the offseason, and hopefully we get to see it here pretty soon."Wheaton came to the Bears this offseason from the Pittsburgh Steelers, where his 2016 campaign was cut short due to a shoulder injury. The wideout had just returned to the field for the Bears in late July after undergoing an appendectomy.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.