Jerry Jones had plenty of people to thank in his Hall of Fame induction speech Saturday, but he made sure to share his appreciation for his veteran leader.Jason Witten was one of many current Dallas Cowboys players in attendance for Jones' ceremony. During the 45-minute speech, the franchise owner, president, and GM took the time to address his captain and tell everyone about the pride Witten brings the Cowboys on and off the field."Jason is right there at the top five of all the men, owners, commissioners, players that I've met in the NFL - not players, people," Jones said. "He exudes character and class. And Jason, I've never been prouder."Last year, when we opened our training camp, and there you were, with all the survivors of those brave policemen that are dead, and there you were with all of them recognizing what they had done for the city of Dallas ... Thank you, Jason."Witten has played his entire 15-year career with the Cowboys, setting team records, league records, and becoming one of the most respected leaders in the NFL.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Antonio Gates wasn't going to miss out on the opportunity to see LaDainian Tomlinson officially become football royalty.After several days of uncertainty about whether Gates would be at his former teammate's Hall of Fame induction ceremony Saturday - uncertainty that started after a report suggested the Chargers wouldn't let Gates and Philip Rivers miss training camp to attend - the veteran tight end ultimately got the green light.But that's not to say he was really seeking permission. As Gates told Marty Caswell of Mighty 1090 before the ceremony got underway, he was prepared to make the trip to Canton, Ohio even if the Chargers fined him for a brief training-camp absence."Absolutely," Gates said. "I would've paid the fine twice to be here."Rivers didn't join Gates for Saturday night's induction ceremony, but the quarterback did pass along a congratulatory video message recorded from the end zone where Tomlinson broke the single-season touchdown record in 2006.The star trio combined to lead a stellar offense in that season and each of the three that followed, posting top-five scoring finishes and capturing AFC West titles in four straight years.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LaDainian Tomlinson paid his respects to his former coach, Marty Schottenheimer, during Saturday's Hall of Fame induction ceremony.Tomlinson, arguably the greatest player in Chargers history, lauded Schottenheimer as the greatest coach he had during his decorated career."I spent nine years with the San Diego Chargers. Head coach Marty Schottenheimer was the best coach I ever had, and we won five division titles," Tomlinson said. "Marty, would you and your wife, Pat, please stand to be acknowledged?"The crowd then broke out into a "MARTY!" chant to honor the 73-year-old. Schottenheimer, who is battling Alzheimer's, was visibly moved by Tomlinson's shout-out.It should be noted that three of the division titles Tomlinson referenced were won under the guidance of head coach Norv Turner.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Terrell Davis' career is one of the best underdog stories you will ever hear from an NFL player.From dealing with migraines and temporary blindness as a child to having his college team fold overnight to being a sixth-round pick to a Super Bowl MVP and to becoming a Hall of Famer, it's been a storied run.However, the story of Davis' first play is his best. As he was inducted as part of the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, Davis recalled the story - on the 22nd anniversary of his first game.Davis had been frustrated by his first NFL training camp and the lack of reps he was receiving as a running back with the Denver Broncos. His first preseason game was played in Tokyo, and on the night before the game he decided he was going to quit and go home. However, due to the language barrier, he could not arrange a flight.He sucked it up and suited up for the game. After not playing through the first half, the team had begun allowing players to eat on the sidelines and Davis assumed by that point that he wasn't going to be playing so he scarfed down a hot dog. Unfortunately for Davis, he was not done playing.Davis was called on the field for a kick off on special teams, and despite the hot dog in his stomach, crushed the returner with a monster tackle. That hit caught the coaches' attention enough to earn more reps at running back, and the rest is history.Here is Davis' account of that memorable night 22 years ago.

With the Pro Football Hall of Fame inducting six new players Saturday night, plenty will be said about what each of them accomplished on the field.But for those who didn't get to watch them in their primes or fans wondering what the members of this class would look like if they were playing this season, here are the active NFLers that offer the best comparisons for each Hall of Famer's talent.Kurt Warner - Russell WilsonThe ups and downs of Warner's career are difficult for anyone to go through and hold onto their NFL job, let alone end up in the Hall of Fame. Wilson, however, has taken a similar path through the first five years of his pro journey.Both quarterbacks quickly rose from relative obscurity, changing from team to team in hopes of better pro prospects, and achieved superstardom as part of championship squads. While Wilson surely hopes to avoid the five years of struggles that Warner experienced in the middle of his career, both went to two Super Bowls within their first three years as starters.LaDainian Tomlinson - David JohnsonFew have toted the rock as productively as LT, but the new wave of runners features some challengers to his throne. Wearing No. 21, Ezekiel Elliott resembles Tomlinson from time to time, but the receiving skills Johnson shows off make him most like the Chargers legend.Johnson's already topped Tomlinson's single-season mark for receiving yards, putting up 879 yards through the air in 2016. While LT owns the record for most rushing TDs in a season (28), Johnson also showed off a nose for the end zone, notching 20 total scores last season. It may be tough for Johnson to reach LT's rushing totals in today's NFL, but if Tomlinson were currently in his prime, his all-around game would likely look similar to that of the Cardinals' back.Jason Taylor - Danielle Hunter The best active comparison to Taylor may be Julius Peppers, considering their resumes, physical builds, and desire to return to their original clubs. However, since Peppers is a Hall of Famer in his own right, let's give 22-year-old Hunter the Taylor tag.Entering his third year with the Vikings, Hunter is one of the few young pass-rushers whose lengthy 6-foot-5 build resembles Taylor's stature, and his 12.5-sack breakout season suggests he could follow the Hall of Famer's trajectory. Chandler Jones and Jason Pierre-Paul could also be considered players in Taylor's mold.Terrell Davis - Marshawn LynchDavis leads the charge into Canton for great players whose careers were shortened by injury, as he played at least 14 games in just four seasons. While Lynch hasn't experienced such serious injury trouble, Beast Mode has only started 16 of 16 games once in his career.Aside from the "what could have been" factor, both backs are among the most physical runners the NFL has seen in the last 25 years - downhill rushers who seek contact and create destruction across opposing defenses. It's no wonder they've had injury issues.Morten Andersen - Sebastian JanikowskiThe easy answer would be Adam Vinatieri, the only kicker remotely within reach of Andersen's career numbers, but it's not easy to make the Hall of Fame, so it shouldn't be easy to make the comparables list.Andersen and Janikowski grew up as soccer players in Europe (Andersen in Denmark, Janikowski in Poland) and picked up American football in their late teens. Each garnered a rare kicker draft selection, did not win a Super Bowl, and holds a list of kicking records, though Janikowski's achievements mostly concern how far he can boot it.Kenny Easley - Kam Chancellor & Earl ThomasChancellor has taken on Easley's nickname "The Enforcer" as an homage to the former Seahawks safety, so he seems like an obvious candidate. However, when you turn on Easley's highlight tape, it's hard to ignore how closely his creativity, ball-hawking, and playmaking resemble Thomas' skill set.Seattle needs both safeties to check off all the boxes Easley did in his prime, which is no slight to Chancellor and Thomas - and it's a compliment to the original "Enforcer" that his former team thinks so highly of him and his play.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Malcolm Smith will miss the entire 2017 season after suffering a torn pectoral in training camp, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports, citing sources.An experienced veteran familiar with San Francisco's new defensive scheme, Smith landed a five-year, $26.5-million deal to join the 49ers as a free agent back in March.The big-money deal put the former Super Bowl MVP in line to start on the weak side, but he'll now spend his entire first season with the 49ers working through an injury rehab.That presumably clears a path for first-round rookie Reuben Foster to immediately take on a significant starting role alongside longtime defensive leader NaVorro Bowman.Foster, a former Alabama standout, was widely considered a top-10 talent heading into this year's draft. Concerns over the health of his shoulder pushed him down boards around the league, though, and the 49ers were able to trade back into the end of the first round and scoop him up at No. 31 overall.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

J.J. Watt's return seems to be going as well as could be expected.The Houston Texans' star defensive end will play in the club's preseason opener next week, head coach Bill O'Brien confirmed Saturday, according to John McClain of The Houston Chronicle.That will mark Watt's first live game action since September,Rosters for the first game of the exhibition slate are typically meaningless. Key players are often sidelined even if they aren't dealing with an injury in hopes of keeping everyone healthy for the regular season.But the fact Watt will be available for Wednesday's matchup with the Carolina Panthers, even if only for a few snaps, is a positive milestone in his recovery from the back injury that limited him to three games last season.The Texans' defense still finished atop the NFL rankings in his absence, and Watt will be a tremendous addition if he regains his All-Pro form in his return.The former first-round pick came away with Defensive Player of the Year honors in an incredible three of four seasons before suffering the first major injury of his pro career.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Doug Baldwin can be added to the long list of players frustrated by the lack of a market for Colin Kaepernick's services.Amending a previous stance on the controversial issue, where he suggested in June that Kaepernick's national anthem protests were merely a "minor" reason for his lengthy free-agent stint, the Seattle Seahawks wide receiver recently called out the NFL and its team owners."My original position was I thought that the situation last year with him taking a knee didn't have anything to do with it," Baldwin told Shiel Kapadia of ESPN. "After viewing what's going on, I've got to take that back. I definitely think that the league, the owners are trying to send a message of, 'Stay in between the lines.' It's frustrating because you want to have guys who are willing to speak out about things that they believe in, whether you agree with it or not. But I think that's definitely playing a role now more so than I thought it was going to."Baldwin's Seahawks are the only team to have brought Kaepernick in for a visit during the several months since he opted out of his contract with the division-rival San Francisco 49ers. The apparent interest seemingly indicated a strong possibility that he'd be brought in as the backup to Russell Wilson, thus solving a clear position of need looking ahead to 2017.Seattle would opt against making the move, though, instead picking up journeyman quarterback Austin Davis."If you take a step back and you look at the overall picture, there's a lot of teams in this league that could use a quarterback of Colin Kaepernick's ability," Baldwin said. "And why he doesn't have a job, it's very telling to me. He's a very capable player. There's a lot of teams out there that need quarterbacks - whether they're a starting quarterback or a backup-caliber quarterback. The fact that he hasn't been brought into camp yet is questionable."Kaepernick was one of the few bright spots for an otherwise anemic San Francisco offense last year. After working his way back from a series of offseason surgeries, he'd go on to throw for 2,241 yards, 16 touchdowns, and a mere four interceptions across 11 starts.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola is intent on helping his team maintain their dynasty for as long as possible.Amendola, who has battled knee and ankle injuries in consecutive seasons, wants to contribute to the Patriots' offense, even as he takes a lesser role behind Brandin Cooks, Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, and Malcolm Mitchell."I want to play football for some more time. I'm not done yet," Amendola said to ESPN's Mike Reiss. "Wherever that may be, whatever it is, wherever it is. I want to play football at a high level. This is where it's going to be, so I love it here. I'm going to try to make this team and try to fulfill my role, whatever that may be. Try to expand my role, whatever that may be. Try to be here for my teammates and try to win games. That's why I am here."Amendola joined the Patriots after spending four years with the Rams, where he never saw the playoffs, and has grown accustomed to winning after capturing two Super Bowls in four seasons. To little surprise, Amendola raved about his current organization and playing under legendary head coach Bill Belichick."I love playing for this city, I love playing for this team, I love the atmosphere Coach (Belichick) brings when we walk into the building every day," Amendola said. "I want to play good football, and I feel like this is the place where I'll be able to challenge myself and play the best football I can."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A group of fans who believe Colin Kaepernick is being blackballed by the NFL have launched a petition threatening to boycott the league if he isn't signed to a roster this season.The Change.org petition, titled #NoKaepernickNoNFL, has received more than 31,000 signatures as of Saturday afternoon."We understand (the) NFL is very important to you. We also understand the purpose of Colin Kaepernick's protest is FAR more important than any games you will ever watch," the petition reads. "Simply put, if things stay the same for the way America - where 'all men are created equal' - treats people of color, then your loved ones, friends, and children will eventually be affected as well."In addition to not watching any NFL games, the petition also asks supporters to avoid making social media comments about their favorite teams and not to purchase merchandise that represents the league or its teams until Kaepernick is signed.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Maybe we won't see Jay Cutler slinging passes on an NFL football field this fall, after all.The newly retired Cutler is still considering resuming his playing career and joining the Miami Dolphins, but is now leaning heavily toward staying retired, ESPN's Jeff Darlington reports.The Dolphins, whose head coach Adam Gase has worked with Cutler before, were the only team with a chance to lure Cutler out of retirement but it likely still won't be enough to convince him, Darlington adds.The Dolphins are believed to be on the hunt for a quarterback with Ryan Tannehill's season in jeopardy after he re-injured the knee that forced him to the sideline late last season.It's still unclear if Tannehill will need season-ending surgery.Unless Cutler comes out of retirement, he will spend the fall as a TV analyst for FOX.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marshall Faulk was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011 and received the same gold jacket as all previous members of the hallowed ranks.There was a problem with Faulk's jacket, however: his name was misspelled.

Jerry Jones spared no expense for his Hall of Fame party.The Dallas Cowboys owner reportedly dropped $16 million on Friday's bash, which featured a star-studded guest list, a performance by pop star Justin Timberlake, and video tributes from former U.S. presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton."Well, the idea of wanting to demonstrate or show just how much it meant to me and our family for me to get to go in the Hall of Fame will be clearly evident by the party tonight," Jones told Dave Moore of the Dallas Morning News prior to the event. "I'm not going to disappoint, I know that."See all the highlights below.

The Minnesota Vikings have agreed to terms with defensive tackle Linval Joseph on a four-year extension worth $50 million, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.The deal includes $31.5 million in guarantees.Joseph's previous deal, signed in 2014, was for five years and $31.5 million in total, so this represents a nice raise.Joseph earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2016 and figures to be an essential piece of the Vikings' defensive line moving forward, particularly with fellow defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd's health still a major question mark.The Vikings also locked up Everson Griffen and Xavier Rhodes this offseason, setting the stage for what could be a top-five defense this season and in the coming years.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A report circulated Saturday indicating Jay Cutler decided not to sign with the Miami Dolphins.That report is bogus, according to Cutler's broadcast agent Mark Block:

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2017 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.Waiting on quarterbacks has become the norm for fantasy owners looking to maximize value on draft day, but you still need to hit on the right players for the strategy to be most effective.Last year in this article, we identified Kirk Cousins and Tyrod Taylor as the most undervalued passers in fantasy drafts. The pair went on to finish as QB5 and QB8, respectively, despite their 10th-round ADPs.Let's see if we can repeat that success by identifying this year's crop of quarterbacks who will outproduce expectations.Tyrod TaylorWelcome back, Tyrod. It might seem strange to see a player show up on this list for a second straight season, especially given his performance last year, but Taylor is actually going even later in drafts heading into 2017. It's beyond any rational explanation.As mentioned above, Taylor was a top-eight fantasy quarterback, even with his No. 1 receiver Sammy Watkins bouncing in and out of the lineup while playing at less than full strength. It's an impressive feat and should make fantasy owners even more optimistic about Taylor, since Watkins is expected to be healthier this year.Taylor averaged just under 40 rushing yards per game over the last two campaigns, which is the equivalent of an extra passing touchdown in most leagues. His propensity to run does add a little more injury risk to his portfolio, but he's appeared in 29 of 32 games during that time, and that includes when the Bills chose to hold him out of Week 17 last season.So why does Taylor's ADP have him being drafted as QB17? There will be a period of adjustment as Taylor gets used to his new coaching staff and offensive system, but we've seen more than enough from the 28-year-old to warrant selecting him as a low-end QB1 in fantasy.Sam BradfordThe former No. 1 overall pick, who's often viewed as a bust, hasn't been as bad as some people may believe.Bradford was put in a tough situation by getting traded to the Vikings late last preseason after Teddy Bridgewater was lost for the year. He went on to have a career year (not that his bar was particularly high), completing 71.6 percent of his passes for 3,877 yards and 20 touchdowns with just five interceptions.Much of that production came after the Vikings promoted Pat Shurmur to offensive coordinator in Week 9, which helped Bradford post the 12th-most fantasy points among quarterbacks over the second half of the season.His offensive line is still a work in progress, but Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, and Kyle Rudolph make up a quality pass-catching corps, and that's without mentioning the presence of former first-rounder Laquon Treadwell or the addition of rookie Dalvin Cook in the backfield. The Vikings' schedule should also help Bradford, as Minnesota faces one of the easiest slates for passing attacks.Bradford is being ranked outside of the top 25 by most analysts, and will almost certainly go undrafted in your league. But his situation should help him finish QB20 or better, with an outside chance at shocking the fantasy world with a low-end QB1 campaign.Don't push all your chips to the center of the table on Bradford, but using him as part of a committee could prove to be a wise investment.Carson PalmerThe veteran Cardinals quarterback will enter this season as a 37-year-old, but he might as well be 50 considering how he's being drafted.Palmer faded badly late in 2015 and got off to a slow start early last year, forcing us to ask whether the sun was setting on his career in the desert and causing many fantasy owners to give up on him.But there were other factors at play. John Brown's health and Michael Floyd's off-field problems derailed both their seasons and forced the Cardinals' offense to lean completely on David Johnson - that was, until Arizona's coaching staff realized they needed to scale back their aging passer's practice reps.From Week 10 on, Palmer was QB8 in fantasy, throwing for multiple touchdowns in six of the final eight outings. Now head coach Bruce Arians has a better regimen in place to limit his quarterback's practice work and teammates have praised Palmer's arm strength in the offseason.With Brown in better health, Palmer will have a chance to continue his late-season surge from 2016, or even restore his value from two years ago when he was a top-five fantasy quarterback. Don't be surprised if Palmer vastly outproduces his ADP of QB20.Deep ShotsDeshaun Watson - If the Texans' first-round pick can beat out pedestrian passer Tom Savage, which is a safe bet, he'll inherit an offense with plenty of weapons. Even with the injury to Will Fuller, the Texans still boast an abundance of talent at the skill positions. Watson's biggest hurdle might be staying upright behind an offensive line that's dropped off considerably. We've seen rookie quarterbacks quickly become fantasy relevant, and Watson could be the latest on that list.Mike Glennon - The former Buccaneers backup is getting a fresh start with the Bears, but no one is talking about him as a potential fantasy option. Perhaps that's because his own team decided to draft his replacement before he even took the field in Chicago. Regardless, the Bears seem intent on letting Mitchell Trubisky redshirt for a year while Glennon leads the offense. They surprisingly finished in the middle of the pack as a passing offense in 2016, and Glennon should represent an upgrade at the position. With the team likely trailing more often than not, Glennon could emerge as a streaming option.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Leave it to Martellus Bennett to make a song about Cap'n Crunch.The Green Bay Packers tight end, who released an EP in March titled "I'm not a Rapper but Some of my Friends Are...," rapped about his favorite cereal during an appearance on the latest episode of Snoop Dogg's "GGN" show. He also spoke about what it was like to play with Tom Brady and making Forbes' 30 Under 30 list.Longtime fans of Bennett may remember this video he uploaded to YouTube in 2009, also about his love for Cap'n Crunch:- With h/t to UproxxCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer could be moving up in the pecking order after an impressive first week of camp."Absolutely, I will (look into shuffling the QBs)," Browns head coach Hue Jackson said of his team's passing competition, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. "I have to. We have a game next Thursday. (But) it doesn't mean whichever road we decide to travel for next Thursday ... that is the starter for the season.''Kizer has reportedly split first-team reps with Cody Kessler as well as handled the third-team reps, so the Browns appear to want to put as much on their second-round pick's plate as he can handle.Brock Osweiler is also part of the competition and has a shot to start Week 1, though he has mostly taken reps with the second stringers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Usually a player's first NFL training camp is an eye-opening experience, but Ryan Anderson seems comfortable with the physicality thus far.The Washington Redskins rookie linebacker came from an intense college program in Alabama, which, as Anderson describes it, eased the transition to his initial NFL camp."Practices there are a little bit rougher than here," Anderson said Friday, according to Michelle R. Martinelli of For The Win. "We do a lot of banging around there, so it definitely prepared me physically and mentally for this grind that I’m doing now."That being said, the 2017 second-round pick made sure to point out the talent level is night and day from college to the pros."I ain’t taking no reps against no freshman that just coming in from high school," Anderson said. "All these guys are good, and they’ve got families to feed. So you’re gonna have to go hard every play out there, you know, just try to get your foot in the door."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Morten Andersen will become only the second kicker in history to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend. You'd think that honor would be enough for the NFL's video production team to know who he is.You would be wrong. In the video honoring Andersen played at the NFL's Gold Jacket Dinner on Friday, a photo of someone who is decidedly not Andersen was used.The moment occurs at the 0:40 mark in this video. It highlights a photo of Roar Strand, a retired Norwegian soccer player, seated alongside other members of the Norwegian national team:

Colin Kaepernick may possibly be out of a job as a result of his on-field political protests, but at least one owner believes things would be different if he played another sport.Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban thinks the free-agent quarterback's protest of "The Star-Spangled Banner" would've been embraced if he played in the NBA, saying that many basketball players have been supported by the league when voicing their political views."I don’t know what his status is in the NFL, but I’m glad the NBA doesn’t have a politician litmus test for our players," Cuban told Rick Maese of The Washington Post. "I’d like to think we encourage our players to exercise their constitutional rights."A number of NBA teams staged their own protests during last year's preseason, linking arms with one another in solidarity during the American national anthem.Related: LeBron supports Kaepernick, but will stand during anthem"The NBA is such a global game," Cuban wrote in an email, as quoted by Maese. "I think our players exposure to different political systems among their teammates may help them appreciate our country even more and encourage their participation."While NBA commissioner Adam Silver has often been supportive when his players take public stands on social issues, he said prior to last year's regular season that standing for the national anthem was "the appropriate thing to do."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles fans will have their beer tabs covered if the team wins the Super Bowl.Offensive tackle Lane Johnson told ESPN's Tim McManus he plans to buy "everybody" a beer if the Eagles hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy."I have a lot to prove to this city," Johnson said. "I think if we have a few big years and make the playoffs, if we win a Super Bowl, I'm giving out beer to everybody."Johnson's comments caught the attention of Bud Light, who responded with a very generous offer.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame moved one step closer to adding another seven esteemed members Friday night in Canton, Ohio.In one of the final events before Saturday's induction ceremony, members of the star-studded incoming group received their gold jackets as part of the enshrinees' dinner.Here's a look at the class of 2017 receiving its football royalty threads.LaDainian TomlinsonKurt WarnerJason TaylorTerrell DavisJerry JonesKenny EasleyMorten Andersen(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Count Terrell Davis among the many former football players who are understandably uneasy about the long-term impact the sport may have on their lives.The former Denver Broncos running back detailed the widespread concerns during an interview with the Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post ahead of this weekend's Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony."I can't lie, we're all scared," Davis said. "We're concerned because we don't know what the future holds. When I'm at home and I do something, if I forget something I have to stop to think, 'Is this because I'm getting older or I'm just not using my brain, or is this an effect of playing football? I don't know that.'"The comments from Davis come just one week after a study published findings that chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease believed to be caused by repeated blows to the head, was discovered in 99 percent of brains of deceased players.With the new-age information on brain injuries in mind, Davis recalled a well-documented story about him playing through a migraine during a Super Bowl XXXII victory over the Green Bay Packers."I think about that moment a lot because if they had the rules in place then, I don't go back into that game," Davis said. "And that changes a lot. Am I here? Thank God it didn't happen like that."Davis, who will be inducted alongside the greatest players in football history Saturday night, played seven seasons in the NFL from 1995-2001, all of which with the Broncos.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For a few brief moments ahead of Friday night's practice, it appeared as though Martavis Bryant was set to make his long-awaited training camp debut.But the lengthy delay in the wide receiver's reinstatement from suspension will evidently roll on.As Pittsburgh Steelers players filed into the practice facility, multiple reports indicated Bryant was among those carrying pads and perhaps ready to practice. That's when general manager Kevin Colbert had to step in and apparently let the wide receiver know that he still isn't permitted to take part.The below video appears to show the exchange that preceded Bryant's pads being taken away.

Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Corey Davis will spend some time on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury in training camp this week.Asked about the No. 5 overall pick Friday, head coach Mike Mularkey indicated Davis is expected to be out for upward of one week."We're just going to play it by ear and see how it is," Mularkey said, according to Jim Wyatt of the team's official website. "He'll be out at least a week, maybe longer."That initial timeline seems to suggest Davis will still have every opportunity to get healthy and get some preseason snaps under his belt before Week 1.He'd have some catching up to do upon his return, though, as training camp is an important part of a young receiver getting on the same page as their new quarterbacks and acclimating to the pro game.Davis can be expected to challenge for a role as Marcus Mariota's No. 1 receiver if he does return to the practice field sooner rather than later. For the time being, Eric Decker and third-round rookie Taywan Taylor should see an increased workload alongside Rishard Matthews.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Momentum for a Jay Cutler return continues to pick up in a hurry.Just hours after it was reported Friday that the Dolphins have already reached out to the veteran quarterback, a source told Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post that Cutler indeed wants to resume his NFL career and reunite with Miami head coach Adam Gase.NFL Network's Ian Rapoport adds that the Dolphins have discussed a potential deal with representatives for Cutler, who is the top choice for any addition made under center.The connection between player and team began to take shape when the Dolphins lost Ryan Tannehill to a potentially significant knee injury in Thursday's training camp practice.Related - Report: Dolphins fear Tannehill needs season-ending surgeryCutler announced his retirement from football in May, repeatedly stating over the following weeks that he was content to move on to broadcasting without looking back.The Dolphins may present the perfect situation for Cutler's quick return to the field, though, since he's familiar with Gase's offensive system and would be joining a team with its sights set on another playoff berth.In Gase's lone season as offensive coordinator with the Chicago Bears, Cutler played at what may have been the most efficient level of his career. Despite his No. 1 receiver being forced in and out of the lineup due to injury, the Vanderbilt product connected on 64.4 percent of passes for 3,659 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens have waived/injured tight end Crockett Gillmore, the team announced Friday.At least temporarily parting ways by sending Gillmore to the waiver wire allows the Ravens to clear a roster spot for Austin Howard, the veteran offensive lineman who now joins the club on previously reported three-year deal.If unclaimed on waivers, Gillmore would revert back to the Ravens' injured reserve list.The 25-year-old had entered training camp as one of the many tight ends competing for an increased role following the loss of Dennis Pitta to another hip injury and the eventual decision to retire. After suffering a knee injury last week, however, Gillmore will be forced to miss the entire 2017 season.Gillmore has struggled to stay healthy since flashing his potential with 33 receptions for 412 yards and four touchdowns across just 10 games in 2015. Baltimore's once-crowded tight end group will now be led by Benjamin Watson, Maxx Williams, and recent free-agent addition Larry Donnell.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets claimed former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Bruce Ellington off waivers Friday. Someone should probably tell the Jets' social media team who that is.Because the player pictured in the Jets' tweet here is most certainly not Bruce Ellington:That's Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Brittan Golden.So the Jets got the player wrong, the team wrong, and even the position wrong (they listed Ellington as a running back, but he's a receiver).Does it get any more Jets-y than this?Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Evaluations of Joe Flacco's back issue continue to yield relatively promising results.After Baltimore Ravens officials conveyed optimism about the veteran quarterback's condition over the past week, a recent second medical opinion confirmed that Flacco is dealing with a minor injury, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports.The player's workload is "gradually being ramped up," La Canfora adds, which falls in line with head coach John Harbaugh's expectation that Flacco will soon return to practice.The Ravens initially responded to the back injury by weighing their options regarding a potential quarterback addition on the open market. While they could still make such a move, perhaps to provide competition for Ryan Mallett at the backup spot, it looks like their longtime starter will be ready long before the season begins.Flacco started all 16 games for the Ravens in 2016, completing 64.9 percent of his passes for 4,317 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed head coach Mike Tomlin to a contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2020 season."Mike continues to prove he is one of the top head coaches in the National Football League," Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement announcing the deal Friday. "We appreciate the leadership that Mike has provided over the last 10 seasons, and we are confident and excited to have him continue to lead our team as we focus on winning another championship."Tomlin has coached the Steelers for the past 10 years and boasts a 103-57 regular season record and one Super Bowl title.The coach expressed his gratitude in a video:

Wideout DeAndre Hopkins is in Tom Savage's corner - not fellow Clemson alum Deshaun Watson - as far as the Houston Texans' quarterback competition goes."If anybody should be a judge of quarterbacks, I've played with the most quarterbacks in NFL history throughout my first four years," Hopkins said Friday, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano. "So I put the stamp on Savage, and I think that's all that needs to be said about that."Savage is attempting to hold off Watson, a player the Texans invested two first-round picks to acquire. It is inevitable that Watson will eventually start for the team.But Savage is trying to delay that time. The 27-year-old was mildly impressive after taking the starting job from Brock Osweiler late last season, but was injured and ceded the starting job back to Osweiler for the Texans' brief playoff run.Despite their limited time playing together, Hopkins said he knows Savage can help the Texans win."I've played with at least 10 quarterbacks," Hopkins said. "So because of what (Savage) does well, and what he can do for this team, I know he can help us win what we want to win. He does everything well. He's a student of the game, from just being on the bench, watching and learning from other people's mistakes, seeing what they've done wrong. He can put the ball in any place. He has a strong arm. He has a knowledge of this offense. He's been in this offense his whole career."Hopkins is seeking a new contract, so it's possible he has an ulterior motive when choosing which quarterback he thinks is best. While Watson might be best in the long term, it's likely Savage will do the most to inflate Hopkins' stats in the short term.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jerry Jones does not anticipate the NFL's year-long investigation into the off-field actions of Ezekiel Elliott will result in a suspension.The Dallas Cowboys owner was clear and succinct when describing his expectation Friday, telling reporters at his Hall of Fame news conference, "I do not anticipate a suspension," according to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News.Jones said during Thursday's Hall of Fame Game broadcast that he doesn't believe allegations of domestic violence are part of the NFL's investigation."The domestic violence is not an issue. Zeke has had some other things that have been looked at," Jones said, according to Will Brinson of CBS Sports.Since entering the NFL in 2016, Elliott has visited a marijuana dispensary in Seattle, pulled down a woman's shirt to expose her breast at a St. Patrick's Day parade, and been pulled over for driving 100 mph in a 70-mph zone.It's possible the NFL will look at the sum of Elliott's behavior and issue a short suspension for violating the personal conduct policy, but apparently Jones doesn't believe it's likely.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins reportedly continue to prepare for the worst-case scenario in relation to Ryan Tannehill's knee injury.The Dolphins have reached out to multiple veteran quarterbacks, including retired pivot Jay Cutler, the Miami Herald's Armando Salguero reports.Cutler is reportedly open to delaying his broadcast career at FOX to join Miami.Dolphins head coach Adam Gase, Cutler's offensive coordinator with the Chicago Bears in 2015, has been in contact with his former quarterback over the past two days.Cutler hung up his cleats this offseason, but his production and experience in Gase's system mean he could be a solid stopgap if Tannehill misses significant time - though his injury history, penchant for turnovers, and retirement rust should concern Miami.Cutler isn't the only big name the Dolphins are considering, as they reportedly internally discussed the possibility of signing Colin Kaepernick.Tannehill went down Thursday with a non-contact knee injury, and the Dolphins allegedly fear he will need season-ending surgery, though no decision has been made.Gase confirmed Friday that the Dolphins are exploring every avenue for Tannehill."Everything is on the table right now," Gase said. "We are going to talk to a lot of people."Matt Moore sits atop the Dolphins' depth chart with Tannehill sidelined, and Gase said Moore was the team's quarterback "right now."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy says Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Martavis Bryant isn't eligible to practice and play in the preseason because he hasn't done everything the league requires of him, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.Bryant was conditionally reinstated from a year-long suspension for drug violations earlier this year, but finds himself in an unusual limbo where he is not yet allowed to practice or play with the Steelers and it's not entirely clear why."He would be permitted to participate in all preseason activities, including practices and games, once he satisfies requirements," McCarthy said in an email.McCarthy didn't specify what those requirements are, but some have speculated it has to with setting up arrangements for "clinical resources" in Pittsburgh.Until fully cleared to return, Bryant can only work on the side at Steelers camp.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If you thought the 28-3 jokes made at the expense of the Atlanta Falcons were done, think again.New Orleans T-shirt company Dirty Coast has launched a campaign to fund a billboard in Atlanta - based on its shirt design - displaying the 28-3 third-quarter score from Super Bowl LI between the Falcons and the New England Patriots.

Tom Brady won't reveal whether he suffered a concussion last season because he doesn't believe it's anyone's business but his.Speaking to reporters at New England Patriots training camp Friday, Brady wouldn't discuss his health and said that type of information is personal, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss.The NFL, which requires players and teams to disclose concussions, would probably disagree.Brady's wife, supermodel Gisele Bundchen, said on "CBS This Morning" in May that Brady did indeed suffer a concussion in 2016."He had a concussion last year," Bundchen said. "I mean he has concussions pretty much ... we don't talk about it. But he does have concussions. I don't really think it's a healthy thing for your body to go through that kind of aggression all the time. That cannot be healthy for you, right? I'm planning on having him be healthy and do a lot of fun things when we're like 100, I hope."Brady appeared on the Patriots' injury report several times in 2016, but was never listed as having a concussion. In fact, he hasn't appeared on the injury report with a concussion in any of the past four seasons.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers wished first-round pick Mike Williams a happy birthday. The only problem: It's not his birthday.The rookie wideout responded on Twitter:

The Miami Dolphins were only ever going as far as Jay Ajayi could carry them in 2017, even before the franchise was rocked by Ryan Tannehill's knee injury Thursday.The Dolphins reportedly fear Tannehill needs season-ending surgery, though no decision has been made, and he could attempt to rest the injury instead.But whatever path the Dolphins and Tannehill take, the pivot is all but certain to miss the start of the regular season, which is less than five weeks away. That means Ajayi has no margin for error.Miami desperately needs its starting running back to hit the ground running - from the first second of the regular season - if the team is to have any chance of making the playoffs. Now, more than ever.Related: 5 options for Dolphins if Tannehill misses time with injuryAjayi's breakout season was one of the biggest - and most surprising - storylines of 2016. As a 23-year-old, he didn't even begin the year as the starter; in fact, he was left behind in Week 1 by head coach Adam Gase due to how he handled the team making Arian Foster the No. 1 back over him.But Foster dealt with injuries and retired at midseason, and Ajayi took full advantage of his newfound opportunity. He became just the fourth player in the Super Bowl era to post back-to-back 200-yard games in Weeks 5 and 6, and also produced a third 200-yard performance later in the season.In those games, Ajayi's sky-high potential was on full display. But while the running back recorded 1,200 rushing yards across 12 starts, he was also wildly inconsistent.If you remove his three 200-yard performances, Ajayi's per-game rushing average for 2016 drops to 63 yards - nowhere near the kind of production expected from a lead back with no real threat to his touches.Now, some of the blame has to be placed on the Dolphins' offensive line, which was ravaged by injuries, and consequently was unable to open up holes for Ajayi like earlier in the year.And when Ajayi gets holes, great things happen.

New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard is believed to be "in the clear" after rolling his ankle during practice Wednesday, a source told ESPN's Jordan Raanan.Shepard was carted off the field, seemingly in tears, leading many to expect his injury to be severe.However, the promising second-year wideout underwent an MRI on his ankle Thursday, which head coach Ben McAdoo described as "due diligence," according to Raanan.Shepard finished his rookie year with 65 receptions for 683 yards and eight touchdowns while starting all 16 games. He is expected to play an even larger part in the Giants' offense in 2017, even with the arrival of Brandon Marshall.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.