The New York Giants had an injury scare at Wednesday's training camp practice, where Sterling Shepard had to be carted off with an apparent ankle issue.Initial reports indicated that the promising young wide receiver was in tears during his departure, a detail many considered to be indicative of the potential severity.There appears to be some relative optimism as medical evaluations get underway, however, as head coach Ben McAdoo later told reporters that Shepard rolled his ankle, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The hope appears to be that he escaped with nothing more than a sprain.Any sort of significant absence for Shepard would certainly be a major blow to the New York passing game. But the early optimism can be taken as a positive sign until more information becomes available.Shepard is poised for a major role alongside Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall heading into his sophomore season. Making an immediate impact after landing with the Giants as a second-round pick last year, the former Oklahoma standout finished his rookie season with 65 receptions for 683 yards and eight touchdowns while starting all 16 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles don't take kindly to fans showing up to training camp in another team's jersey.Ed Kracz of GateHouse Media snapped this photo Tuesday of a Cowboys fan in a Dez Bryant jersey strolling into the Eagles' practice:

Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Jared Veldheer took a personal day away from the team to contemplate his future in the NFL after reading the results of a recent CTE study.The study, published in the medical journal JAMA, found evidence of CTE in 99 percent of the brains of deceased former NFL players donated."There was some stuff going on and I was just trying to process it all," Veldheer told Bob McManaman and Andrew Vailliencourt of AZCentral.com.Veldheer confirmed that the CTE study was the reason he needed to step away from football for the day."It wasn't really like, 'Oh my gosh! This is scary.' I wasn't going to … It was more complicated than that," he said. "Everyone kind of would like to know more about (CTE) just because that kind of stuff has only been brought up in the last five years or so really and there’s just a lot of stuff they need to do research-wise."Veldheer returned to practice the following day.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A lack of unity within the Baltimore Ravens could be preventing the team from adding Colin Kaepernick to its roster.Head coach John Harbaugh and general manager Ozzie Newsome support signing Kaepernick, but owner Steve Bisciotti is resisting the idea, ESPN's Dianna Russini reports, citing sources.Harbaugh's brother, Jim, was Kaepernick's coach with the San Francisco 49ers during Kaepernick's best years in the NFL.Russini notes that the Ravens aren't the first NFL team whose front office wants to sign Kaepernick but has been prevented from doing so due to ownership opposition.The Ravens have reportedly received backlash from fans who don't want the team to sign Kaepernick because of his highly publicized national anthem protests.There are also many fans across the nation who staunchly support Kaepernick - despite being a free agent, Kaepernick ranks in the top 50 players in the NFL for merchandise sales.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Dominique Easley will miss the 2017 season after an MRI revealed he tore his ACL, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The 25-year-old was carted off the practice field Tuesday, according to ESPN's Alden Gonzalez.Easley has a lengthy history of such injuries. In college at Florida, he suffered torn ligaments in both knees, and during his rookie year with the New England Patriots, he suffered a knee injury.The loss of Easley for the year is a significant blow, especially with star defensive tackle Aaron Donald engaged in a contract holdout and staying away from training camp.Easley joined the Rams last offseason, and while he didn't start a game in 2016, he appeared in all regular-season contests. In rotational duty, he racked up an impressive 35 total tackles and 3.5 sacks.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Barack Obama's presidency now over, Tennessee Titans wide receiver Rishard Matthews honored him and first lady Michelle Obama with a portrait tattoo of the couple on his right leg."The first president I voted for, first black president, first black first lady," he told Logan Murdock of the Tennessean. "Myself being African-American, they're obviously great role models and they let the black community and minorities, in general, know that the sky is the limit if you put your mind to it."

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict sparked a shoving match at training camp Tuesday after he hit teammate Giovani Bernard in the knees during a non-tackling drill, but Bernard doesn't seem upset about it.Bernard, who is returning from ACL surgery, told Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' website that there are no hard feelings."That's my man," Bernard said. "Tez is Tez. He's going to play the way he plays. That's my buddy. That's my dude. It's just early in camp getting some frustration out. That's football."Regardless of Bernard's good attitude about the play, Bengals coaches surely won't allow Burfict to continue taking shots at teammates."We don't want to take the backs to the ground and get somebody hurt," defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said of Burfict's hit. "When it's a live drill we can do that. It's a different story. We can't do it on Sundays so we shouldn't do it out here in my opinion."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi sustained a concussion in Monday's practice, the team confirmed Wednesday, according to ESPN's James Walker.The third-year pro will be forced to sit out at least one week of training camp, sources told Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald.Kenyan Drake and Damien Williams will likely split the first-team reps with Ajayi sidelined.While Ajayi should have plenty of time to recover prior to the start of the regular season, it remains to be seen whether the Dolphins limit his playing time over the preseason after this injury.Ajayi is key to the Dolphins' playoff hopes in 2017 after breaking out last season with a 1,272-yard campaign.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's NFL Editors, including Jack Browne, Michael McClymont, Mitch Sanderson, and Arun Srinivasan.1. New England PatriotsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan 1st1st1st1stFor New England, it's really the pre-preseason. The regular season should be a formality for the Patriots, who are a lock for at least 12 wins and their ninth straight playoff appearance. - Browne2. Pittsburgh SteelersBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan2nd3rd2nd3rdLe'Veon Bell will be playing with a vengeance after failing to receive a long-term contract while the rest of the team is reeling from last year's AFC Championship Game loss. Loaded with arguably the most offensive talent in the NFL, the Steelers will be on the warpath trying to take down the Patriots and the rest of the AFC's elite. - Srinivasan3. Dallas CowboysBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan3rd4th4th4thThe Ezekiel Elliott investigation, which is reportedly nearing its conclusion, hangs over the Cowboys' preparations for the season. Dallas is talented, for sure, but they could be exposed if Elliott is hit with a significant suspension. - Browne4. Atlanta FalconsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan7th6th5th2ndThe potential for a Super Bowl hangover is real. The main concern for the Falcons' is their offensive coordinator making the leap from the college ranks. Aside from that, Atlanta's loaded. - McClymont5. Oakland RaidersBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan6th2nd6th6thOther than news that their team will be leaving Oakland, Raiders fans have nothing to complain about this offseason. It may be tough to live up to rocketing expectations, but the roster has definitely improved after a breakout 12-4 year. - Sanderson6. Green Bay PackersBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan5th8th3rd7thAaron Rodgers and the Packers must be seething after being routed by the Falcons in the NFC title game. Rodgers and Co. seeing red spells impending doom for the rest of the NFC North. - Srinivasan7. Seattle SeahawksBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan4th7th8th5thSame corps. Same great defense. Same terrible offensive line. Same offseason drama. Eventually, cap space and poor blocking will come back to bite the Seahawks, but the relatively tumultuous offseason should serve as motivation to keep the streak of success alive. - Sanderson8. New York GiantsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan8th5th7th8thMost are pegging the Giants to be a second-tier contender, but New York has the pieces to be the NFC's best if Eli Manning can pull together one final great season. - Browne9. Kansas City ChiefsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan9th13th9th9thThe Chiefs' starting lineup this season will look awfully similar to last year, only with added familiarity. It's just as tough to expect them to drop as it is for them to rise. - Sanderson10. Denver BroncosBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan11th10th11th11thIdeally, the loss of Wade Phillips on defense will be compensated by the return of Mike McCoy to the offense, but first the Broncos need to figure out if their quarterback is gunslinger Paxton Lynch or game manager Trevor Siemian. - Sanderson11. Arizona CardinalsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan12th11th10th10thThis season is either going to be a major bounce-back for the Cardinals or a total disappointment. After coming into 2016 with sky-high expectations, there is no in-between for Bruce Arians and Co. - Sanderson12. Tampa Bay BuccaneersBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan10th15th13th13thA popular pick to prosper in 2017, the Bucs will have to hope their flashy new pickups will overcome their questionable offensive line. - McClymont13. Tennessee TitansBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan 13th16th12th12thIt's all laid out, in a winnable division, for the Titans to make the leap into the contender category. - McClymont14. Houston TexansBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan14th9th19th15thJ.J. Watt's back, but so are the questions under center. Tom Savage is a QB without a TD pass, but Deshaun Watson may not be ready to lead a roster hoping to win now. - McClymont15. Carolina PanthersBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan19th17th15th14thThe Panthers hope the presence of some old vets will help the three corners who sank in Year 1. That secondary remains their Achilles' heel. - McClymont16. Detroit LionsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan16th14th18th20thThe Lions operated with an unsustainable formula, setting a record for fourth-quarter comeback wins in 2016. After playing with fire last year, the Lions will likely get burnt while regressing to the mean - Srinivasan17. Baltimore RavensBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan15th19th17th18thThe Ravens are no longer a perpetual Super Bowl contender, but there's ample reason to believe they can get back to the playoffs after making a number of astute signings this summer, though the rash of recent injuries is threatening to destroy that optimism - Srinivasan18. Indianapolis ColtsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan17th23rd14th19thThere's no timeline for Andrew Luck's return after offseason shoulder surgery, and that's bad news for Chuck Pagano, who appears up against the clock. - McClymont19. Miami DolphinsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan21st12th22nd21stAdam Gase worked wonders in his first year as Dolphins head coach, but can he elevate Miami - especially Ryan Tannehill and Jay Ajayi - once again? - Browne20. New Orleans Saints BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan18th20th16th22ndIt's been a rough offseason for the Saints, with Nick Fairley out and Terron Armstead injured. If Adrian Peterson is the AD of old, however ... - McClymont21. Washington RedskinsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan23rd24th23rd16thThe defining storyline of the preseason for the Redskins will be how well Cousins is meshing with his new targets. If Washington is to contend, the offense can't afford even the slightest drop-off. - Browne22. Philadelphia EaglesBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan22nd27th20th17thAll eyes will be on Carson Wentz, as he looks to make a sophomore leap with his new arsenal of weapons. But don't forget the other side of the ball: the Eagles' defensive line could wreak havoc all year long. - Browne23. Los Angeles ChargersBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan20th22nd21st25thIt's been tough sledding for the Chargers as they are stuck in the best division in the NFL while competing for local territory in L.A. with the Rams. They look to have a very competitive team if they can stay healthy, though the same thing could have been said last season. - Sanderson24. Minnesota VikingsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan24th18th25th24thCan the Vikings weather a second consecutive season without Teddy Bridgewater, as he continues to rehab from a gruesome leg injury? This question will determine the team's entire season. - Srinivasan25. Buffalo BillsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan25th26th24th23rdIt's rare that a receiver holds so much value, but the health of Sammy Watkins could be the difference between a wild-card spot and another season hovering around .500 for Buffalo. - Browne26. Cincinnati BengalsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan26th21st26th26thFor all intents and purposes, the Andy Dalton Era has reached its expiry date. While the rest of the division made subtle improvements, the Bengals are free falling. - Srinivasan27. Jacksonville JaguarsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan27th25th27th27thThe additions the Jaguars made this offseason have some players talking Super Bowl, yet they're not even a favorite to win their division. The focus should be on avoiding a 10-year playoff drought. - McClymont28. San Francisco 49ersBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan30th28th28th28thFour different head coaches in four years seem to have sparked the 49ers to stop embarrassing themselves and take pride in their impressive history, but how much can Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch really fix in one offseason? - Sanderson29. Cleveland BrownsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan28th31st29th29thThe good news: Cleveland is on an upward trajectory, acing the draft, while garnering an array of talent across the board in free agency. The bad news: The Browns are still rebuilding and it could be another long season. - Srinivasan30. Los Angeles RamsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan31st29th30th30thWith two straight seasons with a league-worst offense, the Rams have nowhere to go but up under head coach prodigy Sean McVay, but the bar for improvement is pretty low. - Sanderson31. Chicago BearsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan29th30th31st31stThe Bears created a needless quarterback controversy, trading up to select Mitchell Trubisky No. 2 overall after signing Mike Glennon to a three-year deal. Barring a drastic turnaround, this could be John Fox's last year with the team. - Srinivasan32. New York JetsBrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan32nd32nd32nd32ndIs it the 2018 season yet? - BrowneCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

T.Y. Hilton led the NFL in receiving yards last season, but the Indianapolis Colts star believes he still hasn't gained the recognition he deserves.Despite his accomplishments, Hilton was left off the All-Pro team. Although he takes umbrage with his critics, he insists winning is all that matters."I don’t know, man," Hilton said to Stephen Holder of The Indianapolis Star after practice Tuesday. "They still don't see me as a top-five receiver, but I’m going to leave that where it’s at. At the end of the day, my stats speak for themselves. For me, I just want to get back to winning, get back in the playoffs."Hilton was named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl, but appeared to take issue with a number of lists that rated him below stars such as Julio Jones and Odell Beckham Jr. The 27-year-old is known for his top-end speed and acceleration but believes that characteristic has allowed critics to overlook the rest of his game."Just a speed guy." Hilton said. "If you look at my yards inside and outside, I'm pretty much dominating in both of them. You can't really prepare for me one way, thinking I'm just going to play outside."If Hilton can replicate his 2016 season this fall, it'll be difficult to find anyone who won't rate him among the NFL's elite.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant vows he's a changed man after being banned for the entire 2016 season due to a violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy.Bryant was an avid marijuana user and spoke about his withdrawal symptoms while the Steelers carried on without him."I would get frustrated," Bryant said to Jacob Feldman of Sports Illustrated. "I'd yell, 'Why can't I sleep!?'"Bryant has been conditionally reinstated for the upcoming season and is awaiting full reinstatement from the NFL.The wide receiver was forced to attend league-mandated drug counseling as a provision of his suspension, and said he learned from the dire experiences of others around him."Seeing other people’s situations, I saw mine wasn’t as bad as I thought," Bryant said. "Two people in my rehab died this year. One lady was at home using heroin and didn't wake up - in front of her daughter."Bryant appears to be thriving during training camp and the Steelers are hoping he's put his past behind him as the team gears up for another deep playoff run.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets safety Jamal Adams explained that his much publicized comments about wishing to die on the field were merely to illustrate his passion for football.Adams spoke Monday at a panel where he was asked about player health and safety, and the rookie responded with a controversial statement that drew national attention."Literally, if I had a perfect place to die, I would die on the field," Adams said Monday.The Jets' rookie offered a detailed explanation for his comments Tuesday."Honestly I really did not see it getting that far," Adams said via Daniel Popper of the New York Daily News. "I was speaking about being passionate about the game that I love. And I understand that some families were affected by this disease, and I definitely didn’t mean (to offend them in) any type of way."Many skeptics opined that Adams was making light of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease which has afflicted numerous football players that can only be diagnosed posthumously.Adams rejected that notion entirely Tuesday."My comments were simply for passion, nothing else," Adams said. "Not one time did I say anything about CTE, didn’t say anything negative. I respect it. I understand what’s the outcome of it, and I know there’s families that are affected. But at the same time, everything’s about passion (with) what I said."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis provided Colin Kaepernick with some unsolicited guidance Tuesday, amid the quarterback's political activism.Kaepernick remains a free agent after opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers on March 3, while a bevy of sub-par passers inked deals throughout the summer.

Training camp is off to a incredibly rough start in Baltimore.Becoming the latest Ravens player lost to injury within the first few days of the summer practice schedule, fourth-round rookie guard Nico Siragusa suffered tears to the ACL, MCL, and PCL in his knee, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports, citing sources.Siragusa's injury, which almost certainly puts him out for the entire season, comes with running back Kenneth Dixon and tight end Crockett Gillmore already lost for the year and quarterback Joe Flacco working through a back issue.A three-year starter at San Diego State, Siragusa was in line to challenge for a first-team role as a rookie.He's instead forced into a major rehab just days into his first training camp, and the Ravens are now forced to test the depth on what was already a thin offensive line.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo played as well as possible when thrust into the starting role last season, and by no fault of his own, he found himself back on the bench.Such is life when you're the backup for Tom Brady. Despite Garoppolo's performance, he was relegated to the sidelines once the legendary quarterback returned from suspension last year.Garoppolo revealed a desire to eventually become a starter but denied being upset in his current position."I wouldn't say frustrated is the word,” Garoppolo said to Albert Breer of The MMQB. "I'm happy. I think everything that happens, happens for a reason. I'm happy being here, I've gotten two Super Bowl rings. So I wouldn't say I'm frustrated. Eager to play is probably a better way to put it. I'm just not used to being a backup. I want to be a starter, and compete to be a starter. That's how I look at it."Garoppolo is in a tough position. After completing 68.3 percent of his passes for four touchdowns with no interceptions last season, many believe he would be a starter on numerous other teams. However, Garoppolo has been mentored by arguably the greatest player of all time in Brady, and is well-groomed to take over the franchise when the reigning Super Bowl MVP eventually retires.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers will be allowing at least one player to attend LaDainian Tomlinson's Hall of Fame induction ceremony.Although Philip Rivers is remaining with the team over the weekend, veteran tight end Antonio Gates will be excused to support his former teammate, head coach Anthony Lynn confirmed Tuesday, according to Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times.The Chargers created a bit of a stir Monday when it was reported that the club wasn't letting either player miss a training camp practice to attend.Lynn later claimed that no such direction was issued by the team, and Gates planning to make the trip at least somewhat supports his denial, but Rivers missing out is still notable.Rivers had taken over as the starting quarterback for each of Tomlinson's final four seasons in San Diego, the first of which being a 2006 campaign that remains among the best a running back has ever put together.Taking 348 carries that season, Tomlinson racked up 1,815 rushing yards and an NFL-record 28 rushing touchdowns. He also added 56 receptions for 508 yards and another three scores out of the backfield.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Deshaun Watson is turning heads in his rookie training camp.The expectation, as had been laid out by the team on multiple occasions, was that the Houston Texans' first-round pick would start off as a backup to Tom Savage. While that may still be the plan, it's clear that Bill O'Brien has been impressed with his new signal-caller."Deshaun is ahead of any rookie quarterback I've ever been around," the Texans head coach said Tuesday.For reference, O'Brien hasn't exactly been around any rookies who've set the league on fire. Going back to his time with the Patriots, the most notable young talent he's worked with at quarterback is probably Ryan Mallett.The point still stands, though.Perhaps Watson continuing on this path, demonstrating the kind of poise and intelligence that earned him high grades from many draft analysts, will see him push Savage for the starting job sooner rather than later.Last year's Texans team, which posted a 9-7 record en route to a division title, was thought by many to be a quarterback away from Super Bowl contention. A quick development from Watson could certainly go a long way toward shaking up the AFC playoff picture.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jared Lorenzen is ready to shed the "Hefty Lefty" nickname.The former NFL quarterback, who last played for the Northern Kentucky River Monsters of the Continental Indoor Football League in 2014, has always been on the heavier side, but since ballooning to over 500 pounds last year he's decided to start taking his health more seriously. He'll be documenting his weight-loss journey through "The Jared Lorenzen Project," and shared a preview Friday on Facebook."Right now, if I didn't wake up tomorrow, it wouldn't be a shock to many people," Lorenzen says in the video. "'Well, yeah, well look how big he is. Damn.'""The Jared Lorenzen Project" will go live on the Now Lets Get Fit Foundation website beginning Sept. 18.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Does this look like Tom Brady to you?

Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed is visiting a specialist regarding his injured toe, head coach Jay Gruden announced Tuesday.There's no timetable for Reed's return.The oft-injured tight end is almost certainly visiting Dr. Robert Anderson, a name that ranks behind perhaps only Dr. James Andrews as one sports fans dread hearing.There is no indication Reed's toe injury will hold him out during the regular season, but the fact he's seeking another opinion suggests the Redskins don't know how long it will hold him out.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jayro Ponce, the 9-year old boy who was visited by New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. last month, died Monday after battling a rare form of cancer.Beckham confirmed the sad news in an Instagram post Tuesday, saying he was "crushed, hurt, upset" and that Jayro "taught me more than (you) could have imagined."

Joe Flacco's back injury indeed appears to be minor.Asked about his veteran quarterback Tuesday, Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh told ESPN's Dianna Russini that he expects Flacco to start practicing soon and "definitely" be available during the preseason.Flacco's ailment - which was diagnosed last week - was initially expected to sideline him from one-to-six weeks based on varying reports.While there's still no clear date set for a return, Harbaugh's comments support the team's stated belief that Flacco won't be forced to miss any significant time.A major storyline that developed as a result of Flacco's injury was the Ravens weighing the possibility of signing Colin Kaepernick. All indications are that such a move is still on the table, so perhaps Baltimore is simply deciding whether to upgrade on Ryan Mallett at the backup spot.ESPN's Jamison Hensley reported last week that Mallett "looked awful" in his first practice filling in for Flacco with the first-team offense, throwing at least five interceptions and coming close on a pair of other throws.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 KitAt its core, fantasy football is a simple game. Figure out which NFL teams will score the most points and draft players on those teams.It's not always quite that simple when drafting receivers, though. Target-hog receivers on bad teams can sometimes produce elite fantasy totals, just as multiple members of a deep receiving corps can eat into each others' targets and value. But generally, the fantasy teams left standing at the end of the season are the ones with the most shares in the NFL's best passing attacks.Below are five passing offenses we expect to produce multiple pass-catchers worth drafting:Saints2016 passing attempts: 674 (2nd in NFL)

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians previously said Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald would sit out Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against the Dallas Cowboys.On Tuesday, Arians announced that the pair of veterans will be joined on the sidelines by every other Cardinals starter, saying none will play any snaps in the preseason opener.Arians added that Blaine Gabbert will get the start at quarterback, while undrafted rookie Trevor Knight will play the entire second half.The Cowboys haven't announced if they will play any starters in the game, but if they do it's probably a safe bet they'll last just one or two series.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A Cuyahoga County grand jury announced Monday that Oakland Raiders first-round pick Gareon Conley will not be charged in connection to sexual assault allegations brought against him prior to this year's draft.In his first public comments since the decision, the rookie cornerback expressed both a sense of relief and his gratitude to law enforcement, the Raiders, and his representation.From ESPN's Adam Schefter:

Free-agent offensive tackle Ryan Clady announced Tuesday that he's retiring from the NFL after nine seasons.Originally a first-round pick of the Broncos, selected No. 12 overall in the 2008 draft, Clady spent eight years in Denver before moving on to join the New York Jets for the 2016 campaign.The 30-year-old hit the open market this offseason when the Jets declined to exercise his contract option, but recently decided to walk away rather than sign elsewhere."Despite having several teams who are currently interested in signing me, I have made a very difficult decision to retire from my NFL playing career," Clady wrote on his official Twitter page. "I have deliberated on this decision thoroughly until now because I wanted to see if the beginning of NFL training camps would inspire the passion that I need to perform at the standards that I established for myself during my nine-year NFL career."Clady was one of the NFL's premier pass-protectors before dealing with injury issues during his time in Denver, starting all 98 appearances and earning four Pro Bowl appearances.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tempers flared at New England Patriots training camp Tuesday as receiver Julian Edelman and cornerback Stephon Gilmore engaged in a wrestling match on the ground.

The Tennessee Titans will have a substantially different look when they take the field in 2018.The team previously announced it was at work with Nike designing new uniforms, and now team owner Amy Adams Strunk is promising big changes.“It’s not minor. It’s not a total color change or anything like that. I think everybody is going to be very pleased with where it went," Strunk told NFL reporter Paul Kuharsky."Like with a lot of changes around here, we were due a change. We’ll roll it out before the season, they’ll get to see it. I’m not sure for what yet, or when. … It’s going to be so fun.""It’s going to be totally updated. I think the fans are going to be excited. I’m not seeing other teams have anything close to what we will have."Nike has assisted in redesigning several NFL uniforms since the company took over as the league's official jersey provider in 2012. However, several of those uniforms - including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Cleveland Browns - were very poorly received and continue to find their way onto "ugliest uniforms in sports" rankings.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kam Chancellor finally got his pay day.The Seattle Seahawks signed their star safety to a multi-year contract extension, the team announced Tuesday. Terms were not disclosed, but it's reportedly a three-year, $36-million extension that includes $25 million in guarantees, according to ESPN's Josina Anderson.A new-money average of $12 million per season, presumably tacked on to the final year of his current deal, puts the 29-year-old second only to Eric Berry among the NFL's highest-paid players at the position.Chancellor had long been seeking a raise on the four-year extension he signed in 2013, even going as far as to stage a holdout that stretched into the 2015 regular season.The two sides managed to avoid a dispute last season, but it only made sense for a big-money deal to be worked out ahead of the upcoming contract year.Alongside Earl Thomas' $10 million and Richard Sherman's $14 million annual averages, locking up Chancellor further widens the gap for the "Legion of Boom" as the NFL's highest-earning secondary.Chancellor enters his eighth season as one of the more integral pieces on a loaded Seahawks defense. Maintaining a high level of production despite missing four games to injury last year, the four-time Pro Bowler racked up 85 tackles, two interceptions, and eight passes defensed.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sage Rosenfels is a former 12-year NFL quarterback who writes, does radio, and podcasts about the NFL and college football.My former teammate, Jason Taylor, is going to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame this week. I spent four years with Taylor in Miami, from 2002-05, as well as a quick two-week stint in 2011. I find myself extremely lucky to have played alongside Taylor, as well as the other great players on those Dolphins defenses of the early 2000s. This defense was loaded with talent at all three levels - defensive line, linebackers, and the secondary. We had six Pro Bowlers on defense in 2002, and four in 2003. Though he didn’t make the Pro Bowl in Miami, Junior Seau was still a destructive, playmaking force during those seasons as well. I always spoke with opposing teams’ quarterbacks before games, and no offense wanted to play against our defense.The leaders of those defenses were Taylor and middle linebacker Zach Thomas. I played with a handful of defensive Hall of Famers during the course of my career, and I’d pick Thomas as a teammate and leader over any of them. He was the heart and soul of those Dolphin teams. If he never makes the NFL Hall of Fame, they should start an under-6-foot HOF and name it after him. The guy was a nitty-gritty superstar who treated everyone he met with the utmost respect.Taylor was a consummate defensive end.His ridiculous athleticism, quickness, ability to create leverage, and competitive spirit shined in that defensive scheme. This is what I’d like to discuss: the Dolphins' “Double Switch” defense of that era. If you are a football Xs-and-Os geek, you may like where this goes.Going back to the Dallas Cowboys of the '90s, Dave Wannstedt used a style of defense which had a ton of success in the NFL. He and Jimmy Johnson brought that defense to the Dolphins in the late '90s and early 2000s. Jim Bates, who was a vastly underrated NFL defensive coordinator, ran the defense once Wannstedt became head coach.The scheme’s foundation was the defensive line, and its first job was to stop the run. In the middle was Tim Bowens, the strongest player on the roster, and probably in the NFL. If it weren’t for back issues which ended his career early, Bowens could have been headed to the Hall of Fame as well. I believe I saw him bench press 405 pounds about a dozen times on a team testing day. Oddly, I don’t remember him benching all that much during my time in the weight room. Generally he was drinking coffee and chatting it up with other players. Teams couldn’t block Bowens, so many times their center and guard would end up double-teaming him. Thomas made almost 1,100 tackles over the course of his career. He was great, but many of those tackles were because of Bowens.The other defensive tackle was Larry Chester, a squatty 350-pounder who was also stout against the run. At left defensive end was Adewale Ogunleye. Since most teams set their tight end to the right, Ogunleye had to be stout against the run, but also athletic enough to harass a quarterback. He made the Pro Bowl in 2003.Because of the dominance of our defensive front, our linebackers were small and quick. They had to be big enough to play the run, but more importantly, cover the other team’s skill position players man to man. The reason for this is that in the “Double Switch” defensive scheme, the two safeties played deep. The only time they came down near the line of scrimmage was on the very rare occasion we struggled to stop the run. For the most part, their job was to play over top the linebackers and corners to double offensive threats in the passing game.The corners also played man to man. Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain had very different styles, but both could chase all day after pestering receivers at the line of scrimmage. Random fact of the day: Surtain’s son, Patrick Surtain Jr., is the top high school corner in the country headed into his senior year.As stated earlier, stopping the run was the priority on this defense. Because of the front seven, and the secondary’s ability to eliminate quick throws with their in-your-face technique, quarterbacks we faced had to hold onto the ball longer than they were used to, and that's when Taylor did his thing at right defensive end. Teams in the AFC East actually began drafting extra slot receivers, hoping to pick on whoever was our third-best corner.If you look at the vast majority of defensive ends who have recently entered, or who will some day enter, the NFL’s Hall of Fame, many of them played in some sort of two-deep safety defense. Julius Peppers, Jared Allen, DeMarcus Ware, Dwight Freeney, John Abraham, Simeon Rice, and Robert Mathis are all on the NFL’s career top 20 sack list. For the majority of their careers, each of these defensive ends played in a Tampa 2, Double Switch, or other two-deep safety defenses.To be successful in these two-deep schemes, teams must stop the run first. Consequently, they faced a lot of third-and-long situations. This is when defensive ends like Taylor, Allen, and Abraham feasted on opposing teams’ quarterbacks. Once the dirty work had been done on first and second down, they were paid to get to the quarterback on third down.Not many in NFL history were better at getting to the quarterback than Taylor. Though he wasn’t a dominant force against the run, he held his own. But his real talent was rushing the passer. Taylor was built more like a basketball player who spent extra time in the weight room, than other Hall of Fame defensive ends like Reggie White or Kevin Greene. Not only was he quick and relentless, but he used his long arms as leverage to get around, or through, the offensive tackles.Taylor also had great endurance. He was just as quick off the ball on the first possession as he was on the last. As the heat of South Florida wore down the majority of tackles Taylor faced, the fourth quarter was his time to shine.Some athletes don’t know how to rise to the occasion when it really counts. Similar to his friend Michael Jordan (Taylor was one of the few "Jordan” athletes), Taylor had an ability to play his best at crunch time. When the Dolphins needed one final stop to seal the game, Taylor regularly came through with a key hurry, sack, forced fumble, or his specialty: the sack/forced fumble/recovered fumble/return for a touchdown. He is seventh all-time in sacks but holds the NFL record for touchdowns by a defensive lineman with nine scores. No doubt, Taylor was a playmaker.As the scout-team quarterback on those Dolphins teams, I was lucky to compete against that defense. The windows, if there were any, were tight. Every throw was contested. Taylor made mincemeat of our backup linemen, but always ran past me, allowing me to still attempt my passes. If he would have grabbed me, which he could have done hundreds of times, the players and coaches wouldn’t have gotten to see if the rest of our defense could make a play on the ball, or if their third-string quarterback had any sort of accuracy. Taylor was such a good team player that he allowed others around him to improve as well.Congratulations to the best Dolphins player to wear the aqua and orange since the retirement of Dan Marino. Taylor was an unbelievable talent with the competitive drive to be the very best. He will be forever recognized in Canton as one of the greatest to ever wear the NFL shield. I wanted to make sure that those who didn’t follow the Dolphins during his tenure know it was a team effort on defense. I have no doubt Taylor will spend a lot of time in his speech passing out praise to Thomas, Seau, Surtain, Madison, Bowens, Chester, Ogunleye, and the others on those defenses. Football is the greatest team game in the world, and Taylor is one of the all-time great players as well as one of my all-time favorite teammates.Cheers!Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oakland Raiders aren't just hoping Marshawn Lynch will add some punch to their rushing attack. They hope Lynch will transform the entire roster's mentality."One of the reasons we brought him here was the toughness," general manager Reggie McKenzie told The MMQB's Peter King. "That weighed heavily. The mentality. The presence. That toughness. We didn’t want just him to be Beast Mode; we wanted this entire team to be Beast Mode."Lynch's hard-nosed running style is legendary, as is his eclectic personality off the field. While McKenzie probably doesn't want a team of players who are unwilling to speak to the media, as Lynch famously is, the overall point is clear.The Raiders are ready to take the next step and become the sort of team that wins tough playoff games. Lynch is the sort of player who can help push them over that hump.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL has formally reached out to the NFLPA to offer to jointly study marijuana's potential use as a pain management drug, Mark Maske of The Washington Post reports.The NFL has taken a hard-line stance against marijuana over the years, including stricter testing thresholds and longer suspensions for positive tests than exist in other sports.Now, a source told Maske that the NFL has written a letter to the players' union asking if there's interest in mutually working on research into marijuana's potential to manage chronic and acute pain.Previously, the union has pushed for the NFL to take a less punitive approach to marijuana use among players, and has suggested the union is already involved in research regarding marijuana as a pain relief method.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Lions defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive lineman Caleb Benenoch are being sued for the remaining $5,332 of a $9,332 nightclub tab accrued in March.Richard James Harrington hosted both players at Hyde Sunset Kitchen and Cocktails in Hollywood, where Robinson and Benenoch ran up a $9,332 tab. When it was time to pay the bill, both Robinson's and Benenoch's credit cards were declined.Harrington paid the bill on the condition that both players pay him back for their expenses. It's stated in the lawsuit that Harrington received $4,000, but the duo is refusing to pay the remainder.Benenoch believes they met their responsibilities, however."We did our part," Benenoch said via ESPN's Jenna Laine and Michael Rothstein."This is all I'm really going to say on it - I'm focused on football. I'm not really worried about what they've got going on. The legal system is going to play itself out. I'm focused on what we've got going on here."Robinson declined to comment when asked by ESPN.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Melvin Ingram isn't lacking confidence after signing a four-year, $66-million contract in June.Ingram recorded 60 tackles, eight sacks, and four forced fumbles in 2016, spearheading the Chargers' pass rush alongside Joey Bosa, who captured Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.Now that the ink has dried from his new deal, Ingram holds himself and Bosa in the highest regard possible."We don't feel like we have a chance to be best duo. We feel like we are the best duo. Point Blank. Period," Ingram told NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal.It's a contentious statement, but it's hard to fault Ingram for believing so after he and Bosa both finished among the top 25 players in sacks last season. With another year of experience, don't be surprised if Ingram and Bosa sneakily ascend through the national radar.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageGreen Bay Packers tight end Martellus Bennett sent a direct message to the NFL's younger players Monday: There's more to life than football.Earlier in the day, New York Jets rookie safety Jamal Adams said he would be at peace with dying on the field, when asked about the risks concerning player safety and CTE."Literally, if I had a perfect place to die, I would die on the field. I would be at peace. Literally. That's not a lie," Adams said via The Associated Press.Adams drew applause from the room, and his sentiment didn't sit well with Bennett.

Indianapolis Colts running back Frank Gore revealed his disappointment with his team after sputtering to 8-8 in consecutive seasons.Gore signed with the Colts in March 2015 after spending the first 10 years of his career with the San Francisco 49ers, believing he'd propel the Colts to the Super Bowl.The Colts were routed during the 2014 AFC Championship Game by the New England Patriots and haven't returned to the playoffs since."I thought I was one of the missing pieces they needed to get them over the top," Gore said to Mike Chappell of CBS 4."It didn't happen and, yeah, it was frustrating. It's a team game. Coming in and what it was and going backwards, that's tough."Gore hasn't missed a game during his two seasons with the Colts, rushing for 1,025 yards and four touchdowns in 2016.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie directly addressed Donald Penn's holdout Monday, imploring the left tackle to return to training camp.Penn did not report Saturday and wants a new contract ahead of the season.Although McKenzie clearly wants the Pro Bowl tackle to rejoin the Raiders as soon as possible, it doesn't appear likely that he'll budge from his position."I want him in camp. He has a deal," McKenzie said via Jimmy Durkin of the Bay Area News Group.Penn was named to the Pro Bowl for the second time in his career, starring for one of the NFL's premier offensive lines.The 34-year-old is owed $5.8 million for the upcoming season with a $7.15-million cap hit, and is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2017 season."Donald's my guy. ... I'd love to have him. If you guys can go down to L.A. and drive him up I'd appreciate it," McKenzie said.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oakland Raiders first-round pick Gareon Conley has been cleared of rape allegations made against him before the draft, his attorney Kevin Spellacy told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Conley's case was brought before a grand jury where it was dismissed with no charges. The Cuyahoga County prosecutor released a statement on the decision Monday.

The NFL is not expected to make a decision this week regarding the Ezekiel Elliott investigation, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Commissioner Roger Goodell is waiting upon four outside advisers who attended the league's meetings with Elliott to finish their work, before making a decision on whether or not the Dallas Cowboys running back will be suspended, Pelissero reports.Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Thursday he expected an imminent decision on the investigation. Jones has vehemently defended Elliott throughout the process, maintaining the running back did not participate in an act of domestic violence.Elliott was never arrested or charged.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski are both two of the best players at their respective positions, but their abilities to stay healthy are at opposite ends of the spectrum.After his fifth straight season marred by injury, Gronkowski is making a commitment to be more like his seemingly ageless quarterback. The star tight end is pledging to work with Brady's TB12 Sports Therapy Center to help preserve his career and body."Just looking at Tom, seeing what he does every day, what he eats, talking to him, personally one-on-one, just learning about the body with him, just seeing how flexible he is, how pliable he is, how loose he is all the time, every day and ready to go, I just felt like it was the time in my career where I needed to devote myself at all levels," Gronkowski told the Boston Herald's Kevin Guregian on Friday before a session at the facility.Gronkowski started just six games in 2016 due to injuries to his hamstring, chest, and back, but already feels the positive effects of Brady's training."I just felt like I had to add on to what I was doing. Find a way that my body will respond so I can perform every day. Be in prevention mode for injuries happening," said Gronkowski. "I definitely feel like a brand new guy just being able to do exercises here (at TB12). Exercises that help stabilize your core, exercises that help me and my whole body."Gronkowski famously has an aptitude for partying and a tendency to enjoy an alcoholic beverage from time to time, which is against Brady's general rules of health, but the tight end is ready to follow the quarterback's lead in the kitchen as well."Tom's my chef. I told him I'm only eating them if you have them ready for me," Gronkowski said. "And he said, 'Deal.'"Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor is optimistic about reaching a contract extension ahead of the upcoming season.Chancellor is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2017 season, but is seeking a long-term deal with the Seahawks before next summer."I think it's been positive on both ends," Chancellor said to ESPN's Sheil Kapadia. "Hopefully it'll get done any time now. Both sides have been very productive working together and just waiting to see what's happening."Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said Sunday that although both parties haven't reached an agreement, he believes a new deal for Chancellor could be coming soon."We have looked long and hard at that," Carroll said. "There is a lot of real positive stuff coming. We aren't quite there yet, but I think it's nothing but positive stuff. Hopefully we will be able to get stuff done soon."Chancellor is owed $6.8 million in base salary for the 2017 campaign, carrying an $8.04-million cap hit.The four-time Pro Bowler has been an integral part of the Seahawks' defense since joining the team in 2010 and many believe he's the NFL's most punishing open-field hitter.Chancellor recorded 85 tackles, two interceptions, and a forced fumble in 12 games last season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It cannot be denied that the Jacksonville Jaguars took significant steps to rebuild their roster over the past two offseason.After a multitude of signings and promising draft picks, Jacksonville now has the defensive linemen, running backs, defensive backs, receivers, and linebackers to get any fan base excited and provide faith that a playoff return is upcoming. Newly signed safety Barry Church even said the Jaguars have "a lot more talent" than the NFC-leading roster in Dallas where he played in 2016.It's true that Jacksonville has just as many above-average units as any playoff contender, but unfortunately, its weaknesses could undo all that good.Not that roster holes preclude teams from having success (see: the Seattle Seahawks and their perennially terrible offensive line), and in truth, being strong across the board is a feat that only the most elite clubs can manage.But in the Jaguars' case, their weaknesses are in the most important areas. Specifically, at quarterback, and with those who have to block for him.Related: Jaguars ask fans if they're pumped for season; they're notJaguars fans were recently dealt some concerning news on both of those fronts, as the franchise left tackle they traded for in March, Branden Albert, retired on Monday, and their starting quarterback, Blake Bortles, tossed five picks in Saturday evening's practice.The offensive line wasn't looking particularly strong even before Albert announced his retirement, but the former Pro Bowler's arrival had stirred up some optimism for the left side of the unit. His successor, Cam Robinson, was drafted in the second round this spring with hopes that he could be developed before needing to contribute, but the Alabama product now faces more pressure to be ready.Brandon Linder, who recently became the highest-paid center in the league, does give Jacksonville a reliable leader on its interior line, which is more than many teams can say, but the rest of the unit is questionable at best. Using the few offensive line statistics that are available, the Jaguars appear average at best and their No. 17 spot on theScore's Offensive Line Rankings is an optimistic reflection of 2016.

Roger Goodell isn't going to throw any team under the bus, particularly when speaking to that teams' season-ticket holders.The NFL commissioner went to New York Jets camp Monday to conduct a fan forum with season-ticket holders, visit practice, and talk to reporters. While many around the league assume the Jets are purposely putting together a losing team in 2017, he scoffed at the notion."I don't think any team tanks, I really don't," Goodell said, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini.He didn't try to argue that the Jets have a Super Bowl-caliber roster - unlike one of their players - and instead gave context to how a team goes through a rebuilding phase. The Jets had 11 contributing veteran leave the team this offseason, and made few attempts to replace them via free agency."I think teams, depending on where you are, go through transitions," said Goodell. "They are looking to sort of say, 'We need to build more talent here, we'll do it through the draft. Let's let some of our veteran players go and develop some of our younger players.'"That's always been part of football. That's always been part of sports. ... Every team does that differently."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Derek Carr will have his No. 4 jersey retired at Fresno State when the Bulldogs open their season against Incarnate Word, the school announced Monday. The Oakland Raiders' star quarterback owns numerous records at Fresno State, including career passing yards, career touchdowns, single-season passing yards, and single-season touchdowns. Carr garnered national attention in 2013 by throwing for a whopping 50 touchdowns and more than 5,000 yards.The 26-year-old's efforts propelled him to a second-round selection by the Raiders in the 2014 NFL Draft, and in June he became the highest-paid player in the league by signing a five-year, $125-million contract.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.