Life as a football fan can be tough.We all know about the emotional roller coasters our teams can send us on every week of the season, but one Bills supporter got an incredibly raw deal on Friday afternoon.

A long-awaited return to glory for America's Team may have to wait.The hype generated by the Cowboys during a magical 2016 season was, in more ways than not, well-warranted. One of the most exciting young teams in recent memory, Dallas appeared to have the makings of a perennial contender.And perhaps that will still be the case down the road. But after a league announcement that Ezekiel Elliott will be suspended for six games, those plans could very well be pushed back a year.Elliott receiving a ban on the heels of a lengthy investigation into domestic violence allegations at least tentatively sidelines one of the league's top playmakers for a month-and-a-half starting Week 1.With apologies to Dak Prescott, who put together a sensational rookie year of his own in 2016, Elliott wasted no time emerging as the unquestioned centerpiece for the Cowboys. A nine-win year-over-year improvement to finish the season at 13-3 simply doesn't happen if the front office doesn't make the unconventional move to select the running back at No. 4 overall.Elliott returning for the final 10 games of the upcoming season would, of course, provide a major boost for the Cowboys as they set out in search of their first back-to-back playoff appearances since 2006-07. Six games is a long time in the NFL, though.Not only is there no guarantee that he will hit the ground running after such a lengthy absence from all team activities, but there's also a real possibility that the Cowboys will have dug themselves far too big of a hole by that point, anyway.Week Opponent1vs. Giants2@ Broncos3@ Cardinals4vs. Rams5vs. Packers6BYE7@49ersAn already difficult six-game stretch that features matchups against the Giants, Broncos, Cardinals, and Packers becomes all the more challenging without the services of Elliott, whose workhorse role last season took pressure off a rookie quarterback and masked the deficiencies of a defense with its fair share of problem areas.With November meetings with the Chiefs, Falcons, and Chargers, then the Giants, Raiders, and Seahawks in December, a 2-4 start could very well sewer the Cowboys' season.More pressure now falls on Prescott and the defense to avoid stumbling to such a low without their star playmaker.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The repercussions of Ezekiel Elliott's six-game suspension continue to mount, as Ian Rapoport of NFL Network is reporting that the Dallas Cowboys running back will also have over $8 million in guaranteed money on his contract voided as a result of the ban.The NFL announced Elliott's suspension Friday after an investigation that spanned more than a year, citing a violation of its personal conduct policy. With all guaranteed money voided, the Cowboys could release the second-year back at any time, should they choose to, without owing him another cent.Related: Ezekiel Elliott suspended 6 gamesThe NFL's investigation determined that despite never being charged with a crime, Elliott likely used physical force causing injuries to an Ohio woman whom he was in a relationship with at the time.A separate incident involving Elliott pulling a woman's shirt down at a St. Patrick's Day parade in March was also part of the investigation, but ultimately didn't factor into the ruling despite a letter to Elliott from the NFL scolding him for actions that "reflected a lack of respect for women."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills are rebuilding.That became crystal clear when the team made two shocking trades Friday, sending Sammy Watkins to the Los Angeles Rams and Ronald Darby to the Philadelphia Eagles.The proof is in what the Bills got in return. From the Rams, it's a second-round pick and cornerback E.J. Gaines for Watkins and a sixth-round selection. From the Eagles, it's wideout Jordan Matthews and a third-round pick for Darby.Add that haul to what the Bills did during April's draft, when the team traded back from the 10th overall pick to No. 27, receiving the Kansas City Chiefs' third-round selection in 2017 and first-round pick next year as compensation.Those trades leave the Bills stocked with two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and two third-round picks in the 2018 draft.That's not a bad way to kick-start a rebuilding process.It's now clear new Bills general manager Brandon Beane and new head coach Sean McDermott plan to do exactly that.Moving forward, no Bills player should feel safe.Tyrod Taylor, in particular, will likely question whether he's viewed by the new regime as more than a one-year solution at quarterback. It seems almost inevitable the Bills will draft Taylor's replacement next spring, particularly in light of how reluctant the team has been to commit to him in recent seasons.Perhaps LeSean McCoy is also near the end of his time in Western New York. The 29-year-old tailback has a potential out in his five-year, $40-million contract signed in 2015 that would leave the Bills with only $5.25 million in dead money if he is released after the 2017 season.Any defensive player who doesn't fit McDermott's scheme could also be on the chopping block. Linebacker Reggie Ragland, a 2016 second-round pick, stands out as one such player and it would not be a shock if he's traded in the coming days.The Bills will eventually end their drought and return to the playoffs. It's possible the moves made Friday will help make it happen.But in the immediate aftermath of two of the most shocking deals in recent NFL history, the Bills are certainly further from January football than they were yesterday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The landscape of the Buffalo Bills' roster shifted Friday, as the team announced it has acquired wide receiver Jordan Matthews from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for cornerback Ronald Darby.A third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft will also be heading to the Bills in the deal.The trade came at nearly the exact same time as the Bills announced that they sent wide receiver Sammy Watkins and a sixth-round pick in 2018 to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for cornerback E.J. Gaines and a second-round pick in 2018.Matthews comes to the Bills after spending the previous three seasons with the Eagles. The 25-year-old appeared in 14 games last season and caught 73 passes for 804 yards and three touchdowns.Darby heads the other way to the Eagles after two years in Buffalo, the latter of which saw him appear in 14 games with 69 total tackles.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sammy Watkins' time in Buffalo has come to a shocking end.Taking the entire NFL world by surprise on an already eventful Friday afternoon, the Bills announced that the club has traded Watkins and a sixth-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams for cornerback E.J. Gaines and a second-round pick.In a corresponding move, immediately addressing the need created at wide receiver, Buffalo acquired Jordan Matthews and a third-round pick from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for cornerback Ronald Darby.Watkins, a high-upside playmaker who's been hampered by foot problems over the past two seasons, gets sent packing just months after the Bills elected to decline his fifth-year option and make the 2017 campaign his contract year.The former first-round pick now heads out to the West Coast, where he'll reunite with former Bills teammate Robert Woods in providing second-year quarterback Jared Goff with a much-needed talent infusion at receiver.Matthews should immediately emerge as a top target alongside Anquan Boldin and second-round rookie Zay Jones.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL says its investigation into the off-field actions of Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott turned up compelling evidence that Elliott was physically violent with ex-girlfriend Tiffany Thompson on multiple occasions.Elliott was handed a six-game suspension Friday.In a statement, the NFL said it interviewed more than a dozen witnesses and consulted with experts. The league said its team of four expert advisers "were of the view that there is substantial and persuasive evidence supporting a finding that (Elliott) engaged in physical violence against Ms. Thompson on multiple occasions during the week of July 16, 2016."The full statement is below:

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is thought to be "furious" with the NFL's decision to suspend running back Ezekiel Elliott for six games, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing a source.Jones had stated in recent weeks that he didn't anticipate any sort of suspension for Elliott, and that the incident leading to a lengthy league investigation had "not one thing" to do with domestic violence.Elliott is expected to file an appeal.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As momentum continues to mount for DeShone Kizer, the Cleveland Browns are making a clear effort to avoid rushing their second-round rookie.Head coach Hue Jackson indicated following Thursday's preseason opener that, despite a strong debut, the young quarterback still has a long way to go."I think it's way too early to talk about that," Jackson said, according to Tony Grossi of ESPN. "Let's see it for what it was: the guy made some plays at the end to give us a chance to win, but there's still things he needs to do better. I'm sure he's the first to tell there's so many things to clean up. He's got a lot of work to do, but a night like tonight will give him confidence."Following up the promising reports from training camp, Kizer finished his first NFL action with completions on 11-of-18 attempts for 184 yards and one touchdown. The lone score ended up being the difference in the victory over the New Orleans Saints, as he found Jordan Payton from 45 yards out with less than two minutes to play.Cleveland presumably won't make a decision on the starting quarterback job anytime soon, and Kizer may well have entered the summer as an underdog to both Brock Osweiler and Cody Kessler.The Notre Dame product is certainly off to a good start, though, and how he performs from this point forward will make for one of the league's most intriguing preseason storylines.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL handed Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott a six-game suspension on Friday for violating its personal conduct policy.Elliott is expected to appeal the ruling and must do so within three business days, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.The NFL's investigation into Elliott's off-field actions stretches back over a year, before Elliott had taken a snap in the NFL. In July 2016, an Ohio woman accused Elliott of assault. It later came to light that the same woman called police and accused Elliott of assault in February 2016.Elliott hasn't been charged with a crime, but four external advisors assisting commissioner Roger Goodell in evaluating whether Elliot violated NFL policy believed there was "substantial and persuasive" evidence that the running back engaged in physical violence against his accuser.In the ensuing months after the July 2016 accusation, Elliot drew the ire of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones when he was spotted visiting a marijuana dispensary in Seattle. He also exposed a woman's breast at a St. Patrick's Day parade, but those incidents didn't factor into the six-game ban, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

An MRI confirmed Miami Dolphins linebacker Raekwon McMillan suffered a torn ACL in Thursday's preseason game, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.McMillan, the Dolphins' second-round pick this spring, will presumably miss his entire rookie season.McMillan was in the midst of an impressive camp and was slated to start at strong-side linebacker.It's unclear how the Dolphins will proceed at the position now. The team is perilously thin on the depth chart after Kiko Alonso and Lawrence Timmons and may look to trade for reinforcements.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.It's impossible not to let emotions get involved in your fantasy decision-making. If a player let you down last year, it's almost guaranteed that you'll pass on drafting them this season, but that's not always a wise choice. Here are eight players coming off disappointing campaigns who we expect to rebound in 2017.Average draft position (ADP) data courtesy of FantasyPros and is based on 12-team leagues with standard scoring.Eli Manning, QB, GiantsIs 36-year-old Eli Manning rapidly declining or was his weak 2016 campaign simply a result of a porous offensive line and a lack of weapons? The Giants addressed the latter by signing Brandon Marshall and drafting Evan Engram, a big-bodied receiver posing as a tight end. Improvements to the line rest with the addition of former first-rounder D.J. Fluker mixed with another year of development for their young blockers. Father Time is coming, but he won't prevent Manning from bouncing back with much better numbers this season.Bounce-back Potential: ★★★★☆

Promising as his preseason debut may have been, one game won't be enough for Mitchell Trubisky to challenge for the lead job.Chicago Bears head coach John Fox explained as much following Thursday's loss to the Denver Broncos, indicating Mike Glennon remains the unquestioned starter at quarterback."Our depth chart is not going to change after one game," Fox said, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN. "That's a really good defense our first unit went against, probably one of the top three defenses in the league. You have to look at a lot of different things. I can understand how you guys might think (we could make a change), but we're not going to change a whole lot after one game."After signing a three-year, $45-million contract in free agency, Glennon will presumably be given every opportunity to sit atop the depth chart for the better part of the upcoming season.But the early returns on both new quarterbacks at least make the conversation a little more interesting as the exhibition slate moves forward.Glennon threw a pick-6 to Chris Harris Jr. on the first drive of Thursday night's game, and he'd go on to finish his brief appearance with completions on just 2-of-8 attempts for 20 yards.Trubisky, who Chicago traded up one spot to select at No. 2 overall in April, fared far better during the extended work that followed Mark Sanchez's departure in the second quarter.The former North Carolina standout completed 18-of-25 passes for 166 yards and one touchdown, adding 38 rushing yards on three attempts.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Leonard Fournette doesn't seem to think the whole NFL running back thing is all that hard.The No. 4 overall pick in the 2017 draft exuded confidence during his postgame comments following his professional debut for the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, a 31-24 win over the New England Patriots.Certain rookies can be prone to getting swept up by the nerves of playing at the highest level in the sport, but as Fournette told James Palmer of NFL.com, that simply wasn't the case for him."It's a lot slower than I really thought," Fournette said. "That's how I've been since I first got into the NFL. A lot of people were like, 'It's going to be fast.' But by me playing in the SEC, that kind of helped me a lot."I think, to me, it was really easy."Fournette posted a respectable line of 31 yards on nine carries, including a 1-yard touchdown run. While those numbers may not be earth-shattering, his presence on the field was certainly enough to grab the attention of his head coach."I think you can see he is a powerful kid, powerful running back, and I just wanted to make sure about ball security," Jaguars bench boss Doug Marrone said. "Things like you don't see when you are at this level, you want to see, obviously it is a physical game, and you want to see how he reacts to it, and he had no issue with that at all."Fournette currently sits atop the Jaguars' depth chart in the backfield, but does have a history of injuries that plagued the final stages of his college career at LSU. If he can prove this season that those issues are behind him, the rookie could become a game-changing force on the ground in 2017.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL's investigation into the actions of Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is centered around allegations of domestic violence, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently stated the exact opposite."I have reviewed everything and there is absolutely nothing - not one thing - that had anything to do with domestic violence," Jones said, according to Schefter's colleague Todd Archer.Jones also later said that he does not expect Elliott, the NFL's leading rusher in 2016, to be suspended.That runs counter to a report Thursday night from Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, who cited league sources as saying Elliott is likely to be suspended - perhaps as soon as Friday.As Schefter notes, the NFL's policy is to suspend players six games for domestic violence violations, though the league reserves the right to increase or decrease the ban depending on circumstances.Elliott has not been charged with a crime.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.One Cook in the kitchenThe Vikings used a second-round pick on Dalvin Cook, and it's becoming clear that they plan to get the most out of their investment.Cook had the ball in his hands on four of the first five plays Thursday night, and finished his debut preseason game with 43 yards on nine touches, inflicting most of his damage as a pass-catcher. Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon, who were held out of the game, are watching Cook firmly establish himself as the lead back.Cook didn't appear particularly explosive, but it seems like he'll see plenty of volume as a rookie, making him an intriguing pick in the fourth round.Please stay healthy, SammyThe Bills may not have picked up his fifth-year option, but they're giving Sammy Watkins a chance to earn it. Watkins looked the part of a No. 1 receiver as he caught four passes for 39 yards, including three straight to open the game. If he stays healthy, Watkins could be a top-five fantasy receiver. He's a player worth taking a chance on in 2017.Buffalo avoided catastrophe as Tyrod Taylor briefly left the game with what appeared to be a leg injury, but returned, allowing fans to exhale. Taylor and Watkins will be an interesting stack in redraft and daily fantasy.Jonathan Williams looked outstanding, taking advantage of big holes and getting downfield for several long runs, but suffered a hamstring injury in the process. He averaged an absurd 9.8 yards per carry on four carries and will certainly be the backup to LeSean McCoy. Williams is an excellent high-upside running back to stash on your bench, as long as the injury doesn't sideline him for an extended period.Dropping the ball?Ty Montgomery has been anointed the Packers' lead back and is trying to prove he's capable of fulfilling all the duties that come along with that role. Fumbling early in the first preseason game of the year did not help his cause.The former receiver served up zero yards on three carries to go with the aforementioned fumble, while adding one reception for 8 yards. At the moment, Montgomery has a fairly strong hold on the starting job, but rookie Jamaal Williams could cut into his touches if Montgomery fails to impress in August.Williams didn't blow anyone away with his four-carry, 14-yard night, but he's distancing himself from teammate Aaron Jones in the battle for the No. 2 spot. Jones gained no yards on his three touches.Montgomery remains a risky selection in the fourth round, while Williams has a lot of upside as a late-round pick who could carve out a role early with his steady all-round play.Wentz flying highThe sophomore jinx can be real, as defensive coordinators take advantage of getting an entire offseason to scheme against you. Carson Wentz is hoping to avoid that, and a near-perfect performance against a Packers defense that got a ton of pressure on him was a good place to start. Wentz completed all four of his passes for 56 yards and a score, looking the part of a second-year quarterback ready to take the next step.Wentz's chemistry with Jordan Matthews was on full display too. The veteran receiver hauled in three passes and reminded everyone he's still the top option in the Eagles' receiving corps until someone takes it away from him. It's still the preseason, but Matthews' fantasy decline may have been slightly overstated.The offseason and early-camp buzz around Nelson Agholor was put on trial Thursday night, and the verdict was the same as it's been the last two seasons: Agholor struggles to make plays when the lights come on. He rushed once for minus-1 yard and dropped a potential two-point conversion. Unless Matthews gets traded, Agholor is still off the fantasy radar.Instant Impressions

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is expected to be suspended following a personal conduct investigation that's dragged on for more than a year, league sources told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.Though Florio was describing the general feeling around the NFL about the case's outcome, one source told him Elliott's suspension is "definite."A decision could be announced as soon as Friday, according to an earlier report.Elliott, 22, was accused of committing domestic violence in five incidents that occurred during July 2016. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, however, has suggested Elliott could be suspended for different offenses. The running back was caught on video pulling down a woman's top at a Saint Patrick's Day parade. He was also ticketed for speeding and was allegedly involved in a nightclub brawl this summer.Jones said in early August that he does not expect a suspension for Elliott, though reports suggest the running back will receive a one-to-two game ban at minimum.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mitch Trubisky went from eventual starter to the Chicago Bears' best quarterback in a matter of hours Thursday.Entering the game without very high expectations, as Mike Glennon was named the Bears starter weeks ago, the second overall pick had a very impressive preseason debut - particularly compared to his competition.QB Completions Attempts Compl. % Yards TDs INTsTrubisky182572%16610Glennon2825%2001Glennon threw a pick-6 on the first series of the game, lost a fumble on a botched snap, and finished with a 0.0 passer rating, while Trubisky started by completing his first seven pass attempts and leading the game in passing yards against the Denver Broncos. Trubisky also out-rushed Glennon with 38 yards on three attempts, while the veteran had one rush for no yards.Having started training camp as the third-string quarterback, Trubisky is making up ground on Glennon in a hurry. However, after the game Bears coach John Fox said that his quarterback depth chart would not be altered despite the play of Trubisky."Our depth chart is not going to change after one game," Fox said, according to ESPN's Jeff Dickerson. "That's a really good defense our first unit went against, probably one of the top three defenses in the league. You have to look at a lot of different things. I can understand how you guys might think (we could make a change), but we're not going to change a whole lot after one game."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It may only be the preseason, but Thursday featured plenty of entertaining plays from the first night of multiple exhibition games in the NFL.With 14 teams getting their first in-game action of the 2017 season, here's the best that each team had to offer.Vikings 17, Bills 10Vikings: Taylor Heinicke and Rodney Adams showed off their athleticism on a roll-out TD.

Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins will continue protesting against police brutality and racial inequality during the 2017 season.Jenkins joined Colin Kaepernick's protest by raising his fist during the national anthem last season and also met with Congress to speak about criminal justice reform during the offseason.Jenkins is the most vocal active player in trying to combat racial inequality, police brutality, and oppression towards African-Americans, releasing a statement Thursday to confirm his intentions, per ESPN's Tim McManus:

Indianapolis Colts center Ryan Kelly is expected to miss a few weeks after suffering a foot injury during Thursday's practice, a source told Mike Chappell of CBS4/FOX59.Kelly was seen on crutches after practice, but is expected to be back in time for the Colts' regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 10.The 2016 first-round pick started all 16 games for the Colts last season and is expected to anchor their offensive line in 2017 and beyond.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell entered his personal house of horrors Thursday when he arrived at Gillette Stadium to watch the New England Patriots take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in preseason action.It's Goodell's first appearance in New England since the "Deflategate" saga after the 2014 AFC Championship Game, which culminated in a four-game suspension for Tom Brady to begin the 2016 season, a forfeiture of the Patriots' 2016 first-round and 2017 fourth-round picks, along with a $1-million fine.Here's a low-resolution photo of Goodell hanging out with Patriots owner Robert Kraft before kickoff:

After an offseason when Richard Sherman was placed on the trade block, Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider has refuted the notion of a deteriorating relationship between the club and their star cornerback.Sherman earned his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl nod, but his season was marred by controversy. He openly ripped into head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell for their playcalling during a Dec. 15 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Sherman then threatened to revoke a reporter's credential when he asked Sherman about the incident.It didn't stop there, however. In May, Sherman emerged as the central component of a bombshell story that alleged he'd thrown numerous tantrums since losing Super Bowl XLIX and hurled expletives at Russell Wilson in practice.Sherman, Michael Bennett, and a handful of Seahawks denied the veracity of the story."We were never, ever in a bad place," Schneider said on 710 ESPN Seattle, per Bob Condotta from the Seattle Times.Both parties have moved on, focusing on the upcoming season, although recent history suggests Schneider may not be altogether truthful regarding Sherman.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the first full night of NFL preseason action, the Denver Broncos' contest against the Chicago Bears will have a more significant impact than the rest of Thursday's slate.Many opening preseason games will barely affect any starting lineups, but in a league driven by quarterbacks, Bears-Broncos will feature four pass-throwers who are competing for starting spots - either immediate or eventual.Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, Mike Glennon, and Mitchell Trubisky will all split some of the most important snaps on Thursday, though the Broncos and Bears are at different stages of their quarterback competitions. Glennon has been named the Week 1 starter for Chicago, while the battle between Siemian and Lynch in Denver is still undecided.Each passer has their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as individual expectations to meet in their first game action of 2017. Here's a quick look at where each quarterback stands.Trevor SiemianThe 25-year-old is the incumbent in Denver and the current reported leader in the Broncos' quarterback battle as the team welcomes back offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and his system.Siemian put up modest numbers as a breakout starter in 2016. This week, he told the Denver Post's Nicki Jhabvala that things have been "clicking" for him recently, adding, "I got a big-picture thought of how we're trying to attack scheme and defenses." The former seventh-rounder was perceived as a game-manager of sorts last season, but could turn over a new leaf in McCoy's high-octane offense.If Siemian can succeed as a more aggressive passer with Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas to throw to, he could take a commanding lead over his main competitor.Paxton LynchIf Siemian is the game-manager, Lynch is the gunslinger - or at least that's how Sanders has characterized the two quarterbacks.The 26th overall pick in 2016 appeared very raw in his first training camp, preseason, and regular season, completing 49-of-83 passes for 497 yards with two touchdowns and a pick. Many assumed the coaches and front office would favor Lynch after selecting him in the first round, but Siemian's reportedly outplayed him through the bulk of training camp and OTAs.Unfortunately for the 23-year-old, the Broncos do not have a deep set of weapons on offense, so his stats Thursday may not say much about his development. The Broncos already know Lynch is an above-average athlete with a big arm - he needs to show them he can run the offense.Mike GlennonThough Glennon's Week 1 job is safe, this is his first appearance as a starter since 2014. The 6-foot-6 passer signed a three-year, $45-million contract with the Bears before they drafted Trubisky. Thursday is his first chance to show he can help Chicago improve on its franchise-worst 3-13 record from 2016.It's not clear who will be part of the offense that Glennon commands, as the Bears have overhauled their receiver corps in an effort to replace Alshon Jeffery. Cameron Meredith will presumably be part of the first-team unit, while the likes of Kevin White, Markus Wheaton, Kendall Wright, Rueben Randle, and Victor Cruz will probably cycle between catching passes from Glennon and his eventual successor.Mitchell TrubiskyAfter infamously starting just 13 games in his final college season, the Bears have deemed Trubisky too inexperienced to be a starter by Week 1 - but as a second overall pick, it's only a matter of time before he gets the call. Thursday's game will give the public its first indication of how long that wait will be.As mentioned above, Trubisky will likely get a chance to work with several other players who are also competing to crack the starting lineup. He's reportedly been less than impressive in practice, and the 22-year-old could have a rough night in his first taste of NFL action. The measuring sticks that Trubisky should focus on, however, are his game-to-game development and how his performance compares to Glennon's.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oakland Raiders cornerback Gareon Conley denied he suffered shin splints Thursday, contrasting a statement made by general manager Reggie McKenzie, who said Conley could miss "a few days" with the ailment."He's got shin splints, so it could be a few days, I don't know in particular, but once he starts running... It shouldn’t take that long. We're just gonna give him some time to heal up and we’ll get him out there," McKenzie said, via Levi Damien of Silver and Black Pride.Conley denied McKenzie's assertion outright Thursday:

After the domestic violence case against former San Francisco 49ers cornerback Tramaine Brock was dismissed Wednesday, his accuser released a statement Thursday saying the altercation between the two was verbal, not physical.The mother of two of Brock's children confirmed that she elected not to testify. The case was dismissed based on a lack of evidence.

A decision on the investigation into Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott could be delivered by Friday, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The NFL is investigating a domestic violence allegation involving Elliott, and he could face a suspension ahead of the regular season.It was reported on July 31 that commissioner Roger Goodell was waiting on an outside panel of advisers who attended meetings with Elliott to finish their work on the case, before coming to a decision.Elliott reportedly met with Goodell in late June as part of the investigation, NBC's Michele Tafoya reported last Thursday.Cowboys executive vice president and CEO Stephen Jones called the league out for their inefficiency during the Elliott investigation Monday.Elliott has been vehemently backed by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones throughout the case, believing the running back did not commit any wrongdoing. Jones once again voiced his support for Elliott on Friday, and doesn't anticipate a suspension for the All-Pro.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It never hurts to have a respected veteran and future Hall of Famer in your corner when you join a new team.That's the situation Cardale Jones finds himself in at Los Angeles Chargers training camp, where Antonio Gates couldn't help but praise the quarterback's athleticism."The ceiling is unlimited for him," Gates said, according to Tom Krasovic of The San Diego Union-Tribune. "Whether or not he gets there all depends on the ability to process things - on the ability to work hard and to make these sacrifices that he needs to make in the classroom and on the field. And, he’s been doing a great job at that so far."Jones had a difficult time cracking the field with the Buffalo Bills and it figures to be another uphill battle in Los Angeles behind Philip Rivers and Kellen Clemens. That said, Jones owns a plethora of big-game experience from his time with Ohio State and with Rivers turning 36 later this season, perhaps he'll be a future option for Anthony Lynn behind center.- With h/t to Around the NFLCopyright © 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.Gambling with your fantasy picks can be stressful, but it can also be exhilarating. If you're willing to take some chances, here are 8 players who could deliver league-winning performances in 2017 - as long as they don't sink your team first.Average draft position (ADP) data courtesy of FantasyPros and is based on 12-team leagues with standard scoring.Ben Roethlisberger, QB, SteelersWas Roethlisberger crying wolf when he spoke of retirement this offseason? Or was he revealing something football fans should have noticed a while ago: he's breaking down. Roethlisberger has played all 16 games just twice in the last eight years and has frequently rushed back from injuries, perhaps without allowing them to fully heal. When healthy, and when his formidable arsenal of receiving weapons are too, Roethlisberger should be one of fantasy's top passers. But can owners really count on him being available when it matters?Risk Factor: ☢☢☢☢

Unless the Cincinnati Bengals get an incredible haul for AJ McCarron, it appears their backup quarterback won't be going anywhere.On the heels of the Denver Broncos denying any interest in dealing for the signal-caller, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated indicated Thursday the Bengals could have gotten a second-round pick for McCarron earlier in the offseason but passed.The news shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, since reports in April noted Cincy wanted at least a first-round pick for McCarron.A capable backup quarterback is never a bad thing to have, and McCarron carried himself admirably in 2015 when he was called into action for four starts in place of the injured Andy Dalton.McCarron is entering the final year of his rookie deal and it appears he may have to wait until he becomes a free agent to try his luck at being a starter somewhere else, though it remains unclear when that will be. The 26-year-old spent 13 games on the non-football injury list as a rookie, so the Bengals contend he should not be an unrestricted free agent until 2018.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One of the most memorable sketches to come out of Comedy Central's Key & Peele is the East-West Bowl, in which the duo portrays football players with ridiculous names.The inspiration behind it, as Keegan-Michael Key explained during an appearance on "The Dan Patrick Show," came to Jordan Peele while he was playing a game of Madden."He said, 'Keegan, did you know that there is an offensive lineman who plays for the New York Jets and his name is D'Brickashaw Ferguson?!'" Key recalled Peele telling him.Ferguson, who retired following the 2015 season, appeared in one of the East-West Bowl sketches: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."The Pittsburgh Steelers are an excellent football team. They advanced to the AFC Championship Game a year ago despite numerous injuries, and while they didn’t do much to improve in the short term this past offseason, they have one of the best rosters in football. This is clearly a stable and successful franchise all the way around.The Steelers feature a Hall of Fame quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger who's still playing at a high level. They also possess the league’s best and deepest offensive line, and quite possibly the NFL's top running back and wide receiver.Pittsburgh even has one of the league's truly elite receiver talents in Martavis Bryant returning from suspension, as part of an extremely deep group at the position after drafting JuJu Smith-Schuster in the second round.Last year - and this was especially true in the AFC Championship Game after Le’Veon Bell was injured - teams focused their pass-defense game plans around slowing down Antonio Brown. As a result, Brown saw heavy coverages leaning in his direction. That will be more difficult for Pittsburgh’s opponents to pull off now, assuming the team isn’t hit hard by injuries.As for the defense, Pittsburgh has used a bevy of early draft picks to bolster that side of the ball. There's good reason to believe the unit is primed for a big step forward as its young players come into their own and mature together.The defensive line now goes four deep following the signing of Tyson Alualu. Javon Hargrave should be an even bigger contributor in his second season, while Cameron Heyward is already established as an upper-tier player and one of the top leaders on this team. His loss to injury last year had bigger ramifications than most realize.Meanwhile, Stephon Tuitt is even more gifted than Heyward and very much primed to take a substantial step forward. This foursome should provide better internal pressure than what Pittsburgh had a year ago.The edge pressure should also be improved. James Harrison refuses to age and remains a force, while Bud Dupree has gotten better and better and looks to be living up to his first-round billing. Pittsburgh then added another first-round edge player in T.J. Watt, who's adapted quickly and should be playing quality snaps quicker than most anticipate.Pittsburgh isn’t real deep at inside linebacker and could play a higher percentage of what looks like a 5-1-5 defense in 2017 with Ryan Shazier as the only true second-level player on the field. His talent level is off the charts, but he also has an extensive injury history.Shazier is the defensive player Pittsburgh can least afford to lose, and much of the team's fate on that side of the ball rests on his availability and potential excellence.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)The secondary should also be improved as players like Artie Burns and Sean Davis take steps forward. There are still questions on the back end of the defense and the coaching staff realizes it must transition to more of a man-coverage scheme, as Pittsburgh played more zone coverage than just about any team in the league last year.The Steelers do also employ a lot of matchup zone principles, which is basically zone that quickly distinguishes itself into man. An enhanced pass rush would certainly help the Steelers' coverage a great deal.An extremely strong case can be made that Pittsburgh is the second-best team in the NFL. But there's still a giant elephant in the room: New England.Not only did the Patriots dispose of Pittsburgh in last year’s playoffs and then go on to win the Super Bowl, but New England is also noticeably better now than when we last saw the team.Bell was injured very early in the AFC Championship Game and Pittsburgh was without Heyward, but the Patriots didn’t have Rob Gronkowski. The Steelers, as usual, didn’t make a big splash in free agency and kept the slow and steady approach of building through the draft (a philosophy that has treated them very well through the years by the way).Meanwhile, the Patriots were one of the most active teams this offseason, adding major pieces like Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore.The Steelers are an excellent football team and if they can remain healthier than they have been in recent playoff appearances, they can hang with any team in the NFL. However, the Patriots have had Pittsburgh’s (and just about everyone else’s) number during the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick era.Anything can happen and a lot can change throughout an NFL season, but as it stands right now, the safest bet is that it will remain status quo between these organizations once again in 2017. And that is unfortunate for the Steelers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LeSean McCoy believes Le'Veon Bell isn't helping the running back market by angling for a massive deal.McCoy spoke to Tyler Dunne of Bleacher Report about how he believes the Pittsburgh Steelers back would have been wise to accept the long-term contract he was reportedly offered this offseason."I would've taken it," McCoy said. "I know he talked about changing the market for running backs. That would've changed the market for running backs. Think about it. It's common sense."Bell was reportedly offered a deal at an average of $12 million per season, with $30 million coming in the first two years, though it's unclear how much guaranteed money that contained. Bell opted to play under the franchise tag of $12.12 million in 2017.McCoy is in the middle of a five-year, $40-million contract that was recently surpassed by Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman's deal, worth $41.25 million over five years.Bell is unquestionably one of the NFL's best at his craft due to his versatility, but given the way the majority of organizations value the running back position, it's hard to see him securing something significantly higher than the deal the Steelers reportedly offered.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL preseason gets into full swing Thursday night with seven games on the schedule, including the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots who will host the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars. We have betting notes for all 14 teams in action tonight.Washington Redskins at Baltimore Ravens (-1, 37)The Redskins will be missing some key members of their offensive unit as TE Jordan Reed, WR Josh Doctson, WR Jamison Crowder, and WR Kendal Thompson will all sit out Thursday with injuries. Running back Rob Kelley is dealing with a minor neck strain and, although he has not officially been ruled out, is also unlikely to play. If quarterback Kirk Cousins does set foot on the field it will only be for a series or two. The Skins know what they have in backup Colt McCoy so the bulk of the action is expected to go to No. 3 quarterback Nate Sudfeld.Ravens starting quarterback Joe Flacco is nursing a back injury and will not play Thursday night. The team is saying the ailment is relatively minor and he should be ready to play in Week 1 of the regular season, but he is unlikely to suit up at all during the preseason. Ryan Mallett will handle the starting quarterback responsibilities during the preseason and will likely play into the second quarter Thursday as the team works to get him as many starter reps as possible, just in case Flacco's injury lingers into the regular season.Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins (+1, 36)We get to see our first glimpse of the Steve Sarkisian edition of the Falcons' offense Thursday night in Miami. Now don’t expect too many changes considering the Falcons led the NFL in scoring (by a large margin) with 540 total points. Teams usually play their cards pretty close to the chest in the preseason, but we should get some insight into some of the new wrinkles Sarkisian will bring to the Atlanta attack. Unfortunately Julio Jones won’t be a part of that attack. The star wideout had a bunion removed this offseason and the Falcons won’t be pushing him into game action until at least Week 3.There has been a lot of talk out of Dolphins camp this week about the arrival of quarterback Jay Cutler and how his arm has looked pretty good. However, it is unlikely that he will suit up for Thursday’s game. That means look for incumbent backup Matt Moore to do all he can to prove he should still get a chance for this Dolphins team. Running back Jay Ajayi and lineman Laremy Tunsil are both expected to miss Thursday’s contest.New Orleans Saints at Cleveland Browns (-3, 38)Starting quarterback Drew Brees and newly acquired superstar running back Adrian Peterson will both sit out Thursday's game in Cleveland. The New Orleans offense should not be an issue this season as they ranked second in the NFL in scoring offense last season and first in passing offense. They will, however, put an emphasis on the defensive side of the ball during the preseason.Browns head coach Hue Jackson named Brock Osweiler the starting quarterback for preseason Week 1, but made no guarantees moving forward. Jackson also publicly stated his desire to win this preseason. "I want to win them all if I can. We need to go out and play good in front of our fans and go win." Osweiler will play two or three series' and rookie DeShone Kizer is expected to play the entire second half. Rookie defensive end Myles Garrett and fellow rookie defender Jabrill Peppers are both looking to make a major impact in Thursday's contest.Minnesota Vikings at Buffalo Bills (+2, 36.5)Rookie running back Dalvin Cook has already been named the Vikings starter, according to their first official depth chart and he will be the featured back on Thursday. Offseason acquisition and former Raider Latavius Murray has been ruled out for this game. Expect to see Cook play for about a quarter in the Vikings first game.Bills fans will get a bit of a treat in their preseason opener, as head coach Sean McDermott told reporters that the team’s starters will play “about a quarter, give or take.” That is much more than the regular series or two most NFL starters play in a preseason opener. That includes wide receiver Sammy Watkins.Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots (-3.5, 40.5)The Branden Albert stuff in Jacksonville is just plain weird, but the Jaguars have questions to answer at offensive line, especially if they are truly changing their offensive philosophy in 2017. We should get a little bit of a glimpse of this Thursday night as first round pick Leonard Fournette is set to make his NFL debut. But it all comes down to Blake Bortles for the Jags, check to see if his footwork looks at all improved in their preseason opener. If not, it could be another long season in Jacksonville.Tell me if you guessed this, the Patriots do not care about the preseason. Reports heading into this game are that a number of key starters won’t play at all; including Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Brandin Cooks, Julian Edelman and Mike Gillislee. That means Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett will split the majority of the snaps Thursday. Both have starting experience due to the Brady suspension, but both need a strong showing after a rough start to camp. Keep an eye out for how the Pats use new tight end Dwayne Allen in this game.Denver Broncos at Chicago Bears (+1, 35.5)Denver travels to Chicago for their preseason opener to take on an Bears team led by former Broncos' head coach John Fox. The Broncos are strong at every position on the football field, except the most important one - quarterback. Denver has to figure out whether they are going to enter the season with Trevor Siemian or Paxton Lynch as their starter. Reports are that neither player has performed well at camp and both will see significant reps Thursday night.All three quarterbacks on the Bears' roster are newcomers to the team and they will all see some time on the field in order to get more familiar with Dowell Loggains' offensive system. Mike Glennon will likely play two or three series' followed by some combination of Mark Sanchez (listed as No. 2 on the team's depth chart) and first round draft pick Mitchell Trubisky for the remainder of the football game.Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers (-1, 38.5)The Eagles' starting offense is expected to play one or two series against the Packers in Green Bay on Thursday night. That "starting offense" will include quarterback Carson Wentz but will likely not include newly acquired wide receiver Alshon Jeffery who is nursing a sore shoulder. After Wentz is done the rest of the game will likely be shared by Matt McGloin and Dane Evans. The Eagles are looking for big things from rookie first round pick Derek Barnett at defensive end and expect him to get into the backfield several times in this game.Packers' starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers will not play Thursday night against the Eagles and the throwing duties will be shared by Brett Hundley, Joe Callahan, and undrafted rookie free agent Taysom Hill...in that order. Rodgers will be joined on the sidelines by wide receiver Jordy Nelson, who tore his ACL in a Packers' preseason game back in 2015 - no need to tempt fate there.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Deshaun Watson may not have earned the starting job for the Houston Texans just yet, but if his head coach's comments following his professional debut are any indication, the rookie got off to a solid start.Texans bench boss Bill O'Brien was quick to praise his team's first-round draft pick following a 27-17 preseason defeat to the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday, admiring both Watson's intelligence shown on the field and the way he handled pressure."He is a smart and distinctive player. First game out there I thought he did some big things," O'Brien told reporters following the game, according to Conor Orr of NFL.com."It is a big jump from college to the NFL. I thought he handled it pretty well. There are probably a couple of things that we could've done differently. He could've played a little bit better on certain plays, but overall I thought he handled himself pretty well for his first time out."Watson acknowledged the contrast between the college game and the NFL - in both speed and player ability - following his debut, but said his overall focus will remain the same."This is professional football," Watson said. "The highest level of this sport. It's a lot faster, bigger guys, smarter guys. At the same time, I am doing the same thing they're doing. I'm watching film, trying to play fast also. At the end of the day, it's still football. You have to go out there, operate, and do your job."Watson completed 15-of-25 passes for 179 yards in the game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints fans may get to see Adrian Peterson take the field sooner than expected.While Peterson reportedly won't suit up Thursday against the Cleveland Browns, the 32-year-old running back is considering playing at some point this preseason, according to ESPN's Dianna Russini.That would be a significant change in Peterson's preparations, as he hasn't appeared in a preseason game since 2013."In a sense, I do (find myself more eager to play). Maybe I'm itching a little more this offseason," Peterson said, according Mike Triplett of ESPN.Peterson is transitioning to a new offense after coming over from the Minnesota Vikings, where he spent the first 10 seasons of his career."It's more mentally, fully understanding the offense," Peterson said. "Because Drew Brees -- he's a general back there and he talks so fast when he calls plays. So that's more so what I mean, just locking that in. And that's the norm coming into a new system."After a disappointing 2017 campaign that saw him appear in only three games due to injuries, Peterson will be hoping to rebound with the Saints in an attempt to prove he's still one of the league's most formidable backs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If Vince Wilfork proved anything in his NFL career, it's that size doesn't always predicate athletic ability.Wilfork announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday, and his former longtime head coach revealed Wednesday that the five-time Pro Bowl lineman never once failed a weigh-in or conditioning test despite being one of the league's noticeably larger players."This is maybe surprising, but it's true. Vince never one time was fined for being overweight and never one time missed the conditioning test," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said, according to Phil Perry of CSNNE.com."The conditioning test honestly wasn't even close. Vince could run. That was never an issue. There were times when he would come in for the weigh-ins and we would say, like, 'Man, is he going to make it today?' But 11 years, never fined one time for being overweight."Belichick added the caveat that Wilfork wasn't necessarily playing at the ideal size despite passing every test."Now I’m not saying he was never overweight," he noted. "I’m not saying that. I’m saying at weigh-in, he made every weigh-in."Wilfork backed up his coach's comments, adding a little of his trademark humor to the mix."Yeah, I never missed a weigh-in," Wilfork said. "But catch me 30 minutes later and it might be a different story. That’s just being honest."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL's policy and stance on marijuana use has long been a hot topic, and former offensive lineman Ryan O'Callaghan believes the time is now for the league to make a progressive change.The 33-year-old O'Callaghan, who retired with a litany of injuries that have caused a considerable amount of damage to his body, is against the idea that marijuana is both addictive and performance enhancing to NFL players, and says the league knows full well that marijuana use isn't harming players, according to Josh Peters of USA TODAY Sports.“For people like me, marijuana is a godsend because you don’t want to take these pills,’’ O'Callaghan said. “Marijuana is not addicting. People who say that have never smoked it. I have an addictive personality. It’s not addictive."“They know it’s harmless, and it’s not performance enhancing. I’ve known guys who’ve played stoned. Absolutely."O'Callaghan confirmed that he currently has a medical marijuana card and uses that as well as Ibuprofen in order to make the pain of his injuries tolerable. He has a left shoulder that needs replacing after five different surgeries, and has undergone procedures on his right shoulder and left hand.O'Callaghan previously suffered from addiction to painkillers, something he sought treatment for after coming out as gay to his therapist. He publicly acknowledged his sexuality in June.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.A fantasy sleeper can be defined in many different ways, but we're aiming to find players flying under the radar who could emerge as significant fantasy assets in 2017.Average draft position (ADP) data courtesy of FantasyPros and is based on 12-team leagues with standard scoring.Deshaun Watson, QB, TexansThe third quarterback taken in this year's draft has the best chance to start in Week 1, as Watson joins a playoff-caliber team that's desperate to get even average play under center. The Texans are loaded with talent at the offensive skill positions, and Watson's rushing ability will give him a chance to succeed immediately in fantasy, assuming he beats out the incumbent, Tom Savage. Questions about Watson's arm strength remain, but he's a proven winner at the college level and has landed in a perfect spot, in both real life and fantasy.Overachiever Potential: ★★★★☆

Aaron Rodgers gained a vote of confidence from a previous mentor Wednesday.Brett Favre, who started for the Green Bay Packers during Rodgers' first three seasons, lauded the quarterback for carrying the franchise over the past decade, culminating in a Super Bowl victory in 2010."Obviously, Aaron has carried the team for a long time; that's not going to change," Favre said via ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "That in itself is not enough - at least it hasn't been, and it's been pretty good. As good as he is, I would've thought they would've won more than one by now. But I don't know if he can do anything else other than what he's done up to this point. It always seems like one piece of the puzzle is missing."Rodgers earned his sixth Pro Bowl nomination last year, is considered by some to be the NFL's best quarterback, and is routinely in the conversation for MVP. The two-time MVP turns 34 in December and Favre postulated that Rodgers could play until he's at least 40."Why stop at 40?" Favre said."He moves around as well as anyone in the game right now. That's big. The less you're hit, Tom Brady's a different player, but they protect him well enough. He's not going to scramble for much, but I see no decline in Tom other than he's getting older but he doesn't look like that. And I think Aaron, what is Aaron 33? I would think that barring any injury - and he knows how to protect himself - six or seven years from now is a long time to think that far down the road, but there's no reason to think he couldn't play and play at a high level until, I'm not going to say 43, 44. It's up to the individual and I don't see any decline in his game unless he doesn't want to play anymore."Barring unforeseen circumstances, Rodgers will continue to be the face of the franchise with no recourse in sight. As the season looms, Rodgers has the support of the only player who could rival him as the best in franchise history.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brock Osweiler's transition to the Cleveland Browns has been easy, in part because of the "first-class" atmosphere he walked into following his offseason trade."The culture that's been created here in this organization is incredible," the quarterback told ClevelandBrowns.com. "The Haslam family has just truly created a first-class organization. They give us every resource to be successful."Osweiler is looking to rebound from a nightmarish 2016 season with the Houston Texans, and is attempting to do so on a team that hasn't had a winning season since 2007. Even then, the Browns missed the playoffs, a place the organization hasn't visited since 2002, making them a perennial laughingstock.The 26-year-old is set to start the Browns' preseason opener Thursday versus the New Orleans Saints, and appears to hold an upper hand in the team's quarterback competition."I really can't say enough great things about this city, about this organization and I'm so thankful I’m here and have this opportunity," Osweiler added.In 15 games with Houston last season, Osweiler threw for 2,956 yards with 15 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, posting an ugly 72.2 passer rating along the way.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.