While the Ravens' front office appears conflicted about the possibility of signing Colin Kaepernick, weighing the off-field ramifications of such a move, some Baltimore players have no such hangups.Veteran pass-rusher Terrell Suggs said Sunday that Kaepernick would be welcomed into the locker room."Hell yeah, if he's going to help us win," Suggs told ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "We have no issues. Not in the locker room. Hell yeah, we want him."Steve Bisciotti said Sunday the Ravens have been in "direct discussions" with Kaepernick following the news of Joe Flacco's back injury.Bisciotti also admitted his team is torn on Kaepernick, and is seeking outside counsel on the matter, even consulting former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis."We're very sensitive to it, and we're monitoring it, and we're trying to figure out what's the right tact," Bisciotti said, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. "So pray for us."While some fans may take issue with the signing of Kaepernick, Suggs isn't the only Raven on board with bringing him in."I would love to have him to come challenge some other quarterbacks," defensive back Lardarius Webb said. "We all know Joe is our guy. We love Mallett. But yeah, we all would like competition around here to make everyone better.""This locker room is one where everybody has a respect for other people when they don't have the same point of view," tight end Ben Watson said. "There are a lot of strong personalities. One thing I noticed before I got to the Ravens, I heard the Ravens organization would allow you to be yourself. That's the culture that's here.""Colin can play," safety Tony Jefferson said. "The guy can make plays. He's fast. He has a great arm. I would love to have him."Kaepernick has met with one team this offseason, the Seahawks, but Seattle signed Austin Davis instead.The former San Francisco 49ers pivot's continued unemployment has led some to suggest he's being blackballed by the NFL for his national anthem protests last season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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

Findings from the investigation into rape accusations leveled at Oakland Raiders cornerback Gareon Conley have been sent to a grand jury to determine whether charges will be filed, Cleveland police confirmed to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero on Monday.Ed Gallet of FOX8 News reported Friday that if Conley's case did go to a grand jury, a decision could come "in days."The rookie is accused of raping a woman in a Cleveland hotel on April 9. He has vehemently denied the allegations.Conley - who signed his rookie deal Friday - can't be disciplined by the NFL, regardless of the investigation's outcome, as the incident occurred prior to the draft.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL season is right around the corner. Every team is now full-go with training camp. Before you know it, the Hall of Fame Game will kick off the NFL preseason as new inductees are celebrated and welcomed into the shrine in Canton, Ohio. But how about the players who are eligible for induction, belong in the Hall, but haven't received the stamp of approval?Here are three great former players, and one coach, who deserve nomination.Don CoryellWhen you revolutionize the NFL passing game, there should be a bust waiting for you in the Hall of Fame. Coryell began his NFL career in 1974 as the St. Louis Cardinals' head coach, a post he held for three years. During that time, St. Louis won the division twice. Prior to Coryell's arrival, the organization hadn’t seen the postseason in 26 years. But Coryell left his biggest mark with the Chargers after changing franchises in '78. “Air Coryell” was what the offense was all about, and San Diego won three straight division titles from 1979-81. Of course Coryell had fantastic offensive weapons, with Dan Fouts throwing to Kellen Winslow, Charlie Joiner, John Jefferson, and Wes Chandler. But his system was unlike anything seen before in the NFL … and, wow, did it work well. His Chargers led the NFL in passing in seven of his eight years as head coach.Coryell’s influence is greatly felt even today. There are really only three offensive systems being run: West Coast, Coryell, and Erhardt-Perkins. Mike Martz’s “Greatest Show on Turf” was taken from Coryell, who also had a profound impact on John Madden and Joe Gibbs, both Hall of Famers. The system uses numbering from the route tree instead of long verbiage to communicate, and pre-snap motion (a Coryell innovation). It has begun to fall out of favor in the NFL, but the system has had a profound effect on the league for many years. For this reason, as well as the sheer success he had coaching offense, Coryell is an easy Hall of Famer.Alan FanecaThe road to Canton can be difficult for offensive linemen - even more so for guards. The case for Faneca might not be as long as others here, but Faneca was an elite guard after being drafted by Pittsburgh in the first round of the 1998 draft. Along with Steve Hutchinson, Faneca was the best guard in football for much of his 12-year career in which he went to nine Pro Bowls, was All Pro eight times, and won Super Bowl XL with the Steelers. In protection, few guards were in his class and he even bumped out to left tackle in emergency situations. Faneca was fun to watch pulling in the run game, often leading the way for Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis. With the Steelers' great defense of that time, Faneca was the ideal guy to pave the way for "The Bus" and put the opponent away.Edgerrin JamesJames is a more deserving Hall of Famer than Terrell Davis, who is about to be enshrined. Davis had a great three-year stretch, but he wasn’t nearly the receiving weapon James was and “Edge” had nine highly productive years when he ranked among the best running backs in football. James seems to be overlooked because he played alongside Peyton Manning and with great wide receivers like Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. Actually, it isn’t crazy to think all four of the fantastic Colts should be enshrined. Many were shocked when Indianapolis selected James fourth overall ahead of Ricky Williams in the 1999 draft. It was the right choice, especially for a Manning-led offense.James played in 65 games during his first five NFL seasons, catching 261 passes. He was ahead of his time in this area of the game and was by no means a small, scatback-type (he rushed for over 1,700 yards in his second year). James elevated his rushing production in 2004, although he'd already averaged 95 yards on the ground per game to that point. James was at his best on the ground over the 2004 and 2005 campaigns, racking up over 3,000 yards and scoring 23 touchdowns. Reaching the end zone was something James did with regularity, finding pay dirt 17 times as a rookie while winning Offensive Rookie of the Year. In his first seven seasons, the prime of James’ career and his entire tenure with the Colts, he scored 75 times in 96 games. James was a do-it-all back who would fit in well in today’s NFL.Terrell OwensThe argument can be made that Owens is the third-best wide receiver in the history of the NFL, behind only Jerry Rice and Randy Moss. Of everyone listed here, Owens has the best case for enshrinement. However, with a very outspoken personality, Owens had a reputation of dividing locker rooms, which is how such a special receiver can play for six NFL franchises over 16 years, including a 20-day stint in Seattle. But Owens was simply a great football player and one of the most difficult players to contain in the history of the sport. He had rare power and physicality to go along with prototypical size for his position. But he wasn’t short on speed or route running skills. Owens caught 1,078 passes for almost 16,00 yards and a whopping 153 touchdowns in his career. Owens caught at least 13 touchdown passes in an amazing seven different seasons. In four other years, he caught at least eight. Owens went over 1,000 receiving yards nine times and was over 900 on two other occasions.Owens might have been at his best in 2005 with the Eagles, when he appeared in only seven games but averaged well over 100 yards per contest and just under a touchdown per game. That was the year Owens returned for Super Bowl XXXIX against New England, and clearly wasn't 100 percent, but caught nine passes for 122 yards. In 2005, Owens averaged over 16 yards per reception, something he accomplished two other times despite often acting as his team’s deep threat as well as the possession receiver. On the field, Owens did it all. He is one of the very best wide receivers who ever lived.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn is blocking veterans Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates from attending the Aug. 5 Hall of Fame induction ceremony for their former teammate, LaDainian Tomlinson, sources told Alex Marvez of Sporting News.Lynn is insisting that Rivers and Gates participate in the Chargers' training camp session instead, adds Marvez, which will be their first at StubHub Center.Gates is still considering attending the ceremony despite Lynn's wishes, even if he's fined, one source told Marvez.Marvez notes that it's common for teams to grant exceptions for active players to attend Hall of Fame ceremonies for former teammates, pointing to the Arizona Cardinals allowing Larry Fitzgerald to miss practice for Kurt Warner's induction this weekend.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vanderbilt and the New England Patriots would seem to be worlds apart on the football spectrum, and Derek Mason found out just how much so in June.The Commodores head coach took a trip to Patriots minicamp in June and was overwhelmed by what he saw."You were just in awe of how forward-moving these practices were," Mason told Mike Reiss of ESPN. "I was trying to take in every moment, whether it was with a scout, the director of player personnel or Coach Belichick. There was so much information about culture, details, about the game itself, and how they play it - winning situational football - it sort of just overwhelms you."Mason added that it didn't just come from Bill Belichick, the entire organization shares the same vision."It's a special place," Mason said. "The culture that is in that building starts with ownership, and then it goes all the way down. It's about winning. It's about a culture of pride and discipline and understanding that you can't move forward looking in the rearview mirror."Mason is heading into his fourth year at Vanderbilt and is still looking for his first winning season. Perhaps spending time with an organization that's captured five Super Bowl titles will spark Mason and the Commodores in 2017.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

EA Sports has been releasing the five best ratings at each position over the past week and as of Monday, all of the top offensive players have been revealed.Unsurprisingly, New England Patriots quarterback and Madden 18 cover athlete Tom Brady was the highest-rated offensive player, garnering the only 99 score with Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers right behind him.Rob Gronkowski, Julio Jones, Le'Veon Bell, and Marshal Yanda led their respective position groups. While none of those names should be too shocking, Madden 18 appears to have some interesting evaluations of the NFL's elite point scorers.QB RatingTom Brady99Aaron Rodgers98Matt Ryan96Drew Brees92Ben Roethlisberger91RB RatingLe'Veon Bell97David Johnson94LeSean McCoy92DeMarco Murray91Ezekiel Elliott90WR RatingJulio Jones98Antonio Brown97A.J. Green94Odell Beckham Jr.93Dez Bryant91TE RatingRob Gronkowski98Travis Kelce94Jimmy Graham93Delanie Walker93Greg Olsen92OL RatingMarshal Yanda96Zack Martin95Trent Williams95Tyron Smith94Travis Frederick93Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars left tackle Branden Albert is retiring from the NFL after nine seasons, the team announced Monday.The two-time Pro Bowler joined the Jaguars via trade from the Miami Dolphins this offseason and was expected to earn the starting left tackle job."This is such a special league and it's been an honor and a privilege to play this sport professionally for the past nine years," Albert said in a statement. "I wish Coach (Doug) Marrone and my Jacksonville teammates the best of luck on their journey this season."During my short stint in Jacksonville, I quickly realized that they are working incredibly hard to turn the corner and I truly believe that they will find success in the coming years. I look forward to returning to Miami, the place that I now call 'home,' and running my businesses, while giving back to the community. While this chapter of my life is coming to an end, my story is still going and I hope you'll follow along. I will be furthering and finishing my education. God bless and Godspeed."With Albert out of the picture, second-rounder Cam Robinson will likely be tasked with protecting Blake Bortles' blindside.The 32-year-old Albert began his career with the Kansas City Chiefs as a first-round pick before joining the Dolphins in 2014 as a free agent. He started 118 of 120 career games and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2013 and 2015.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Donald is making a business decision by staying away from Los Angeles Rams training camp to leverage a new contract, but that doesn't mean it was an easy choice for the star defensive tackle."Oh yeah, it's killing him right now," teammate Michael Brockers said Sunday, according to Rich Hammond of The Los Angeles Daily News. "I know it is. He cannot wait until this contract thing is over. ... You text him just to check in, and he lets us know that he's still working and stuff like that. We know he's not letting off in any way. We know he's going to come back in shape and be the same Aaron he was before."Rams general manager Les Snead admitted in March that Donald "deserves a raise" after producing back-to-back All-Pro seasons, but there appears to have been little progress in negotiations since.Donald's rapid ascension to the top tier of defenders means L.A. will likely have to make him one of the - if not the - highest-paid defensive players in the league.And while the Rams' players are missing Donald's presence, they are backing his decision to hold out."It's hard to not do that when a guy has put in so much work," Brockers said. "He has worked so hard and been tremendous for this team. It's hard not to want that for him. So yeah, we're right with him and we support him. We're just waiting for him to get back."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams is expected to sit out the entirety of training camp due to a back injury.And while the Chargers are optimistic their first-round pick won't require surgery, head coach Anthony Lynn was noncommittal when asked if Williams' injury will cost him his rookie year."I'm hopeful that it's not, but who knows? It could be," Lynn said Sunday, according to Dan Woike the Los Angeles Times.While the loss of Williams for training camp - and possibly the season - is a significant blow for L.A., it has the depth at receiver to survive, with the returning Keenan Allen heading up a group that also includes Travis Benjamin, Tyrell Williams, and Dontrelle Inman."We're excited about Mike. I was super excited when we drafted him," quarterback Philip Rivers said. "He's big, tall, and can run … I say that to say I'm really thankful for the guys we already have in the receiver room. It's really a good group.... Thankfully, it's not a position where you're drafting a guy No. 7 and he has to be our guy. When he's out there, yes, it'll enhance that group. But so far, we have enough pieces to feel like we're in good shape."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals and free-agent defensive back Tramon Williams have agreed to terms on a one-year contract, the team announced Sunday.Williams became a free agent in February after being granted his release from the Cleveland Browns.The 34-year-old is best known for a successful run with the Green Bay Packers that included starts in 99 of 127 appearances from 2007-14. The most productive season of that stretch came in 2010, when he tallied six interceptions and 20 passes defensed en route to his first and only Pro Bowl nod.Although he made the transition to safety in his second and final season with the Browns, Arizona's need for depth at cornerback will presumably give him a chance to contribute at his original position.Either way, Williams' experience could be a valuable addition to the Cardinals' defensive backfield looking ahead to the 2017 campaign.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just hours after Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti revealed the club was considering hosting Robert Griffin III on a workout, a report from ESPN's Jamison Hensley indicates the free-agent signal-caller is no longer in play.The Ravens, as Hensley adds, will instead be focusing on Colin Kaepernick and other available players to potentially solve their need at the backup quarterback spot.Related: Ravens president says team has been in 'direct discussions' with KaepernickGriffin hasn't generated much interest since being released by the Cleveland Browns early this offseason, as his first known visit was to the Los Angeles Chargers this past week.The former No. 2 overall pick was largely ineffective across five starts last season, completing 59.2 percent of passes for 886 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants couldn't even get to their first padded practice of training camp before having a fight break out. And it wasn't even the typical offense versus defense scrap to arise in team drills, either.A minor altercation between a pair of defensive backs, Janoris Jenkins and Eric Pinkins, broke out at the end of Sunday's workout in East Rutherford.According to John Healy of The New York Daily News, Pinkins had finished out ahead of the rest of the defense in a sprint drill. That's when Jenkins chased down his teammate, pushing him to the ground, and unloaded a few punches.It's unclear exactly what led to the fisticuffs. Training camp fights are an annual tradition of sorts, and this tilt may already be a non-issue in the Giants' locker room.The Giants will be in pads for the first time this year during Tuesday's practice.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens are weighing the possibility of bringing free-agent quarterback Robert Griffin III in for a workout, owner Steve Bisciotti told reporters Sunday.Baltimore's apparent interest in RG3 comes just days after it was revealed Joe Flacco is dealing with a back issue.Colin Kaepernick was the first player connected to the Ravens, and team president Dick Cass said Sunday that the two sides have been in contact, but it would appear as though the organization is considering all options.Griffin, once a rookie sensation with the Washington Redskins, completed 59.2 percent of passes for 886 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions in five starts for the Cleveland Browns last season.Whether it's Griffin, Kaepernick, or any other available quarterback, the Ravens seem confident that any addition made will simply be a matter of upgrading depth. Both the team and Flacco himself have indicated that the quarterback isn't expected to miss a significant amount of time.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Might the most controversial free-agent case in recent memory soon be coming to an end?Further establishing the connection between the Baltimore Ravens and Colin Kaepernick, team president Dick Cass revealed the two sides have been in "direct discussions" about a possible signing, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun.Cass also expressed a belief of Kaepernick wanting to play, adding that the team is in the process of making a decision on the matter.The comments from a high-ranking team official, following up several days of the logical speculation that followed news of Joe Flacco's back injury, can only be considered a positive for Kaepernick's prospects.Or at least that appeared to be the case for a few moments.Perhaps slowing the apparent momentum established with Cass' comments, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said as part of the same media availability Sunday that he did not like Kaepernick's national anthem protests and isn't sure the quarterback would help his team win games.Head coach John Harbaugh initially indicated there was interest from the Ravens, but clarified Friday that decision-makers were still determining whether it was even necessary to make an addition in wake of what's thought to be a minor injury to Flacco.Kaepernick, a longtime starter for the San Francisco 49ers, has remained unsigned for the entire offseason. The lack of interest in his services has sparked controversy about whether teams are staying away as a direct result of the protests Bisciotti referenced.Cass even confirmed that public perception may be a factor in the Ravens' decision, noting that they're reaching out to fans and sponsors about the matter.Kaepernick threw for 2,241 yards, 16 touchdowns, and just four interceptions across 11 starts in his final season with the 49ers last year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Capable of making an impact in all phases of the offensive game, as well as a return man on special teams, Christian McCaffrey was widely considered to be the ultimate weapon heading into this year's draft.It hasn't taken very long for the star rookie to back that up in training camp.Particularly impressed by his fellow running back's ability in the passing game, Carolina Panthers veteran Jonathan Stewart explained Sunday that opposing defenses are going to have difficulty matching up."He's pretty unstoppable as far as coming out of the backfield and running routes,'' Stewart said, according to David Newton of ESPN. "I can tell you now there's not going to be anybody in this league that can cover him 1-on-1. He's a special player.''McCaffrey's every-down skill set could very well prove to be the perfect fit for the modern NFL. While the tightly contested pre-draft debate between he and Leonard Fournette likely came down to a matter of preferred playing style, even the Panthers' leader seems to have seen the potential.A recent feature from Jonathan Jones of Sports Illustrated revealed that Cam Newton, encouraged by the new dynamics the Stanford product could bring to the Panthers offense, campaigned the organization to pick McCaffrey over Fournette.As things turned out, with Fournette going No. 4 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Panthers didn't have all that tough of a decision at No. 8.Early as it may still be, all indications are that McCaffrey is looking the part of an early first-round pick. Carolina will be hoping that his addition can help the unit to bounce back from a frustrating 2016 season and regain the top-ranked scoring form from the year prior.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

DeShone Kizer continues to draw rave reviews in the first training camp of his NFL career.Following up some high praise from head coach Hue Jackson, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Kenny Britt shared a belief Sunday that his young signal-caller is already on a path to greatness."I actually asked him yesterday if the offense has slowed down for him, and he said yes. And I was like 'I can tell.' He's looking at certain things, he's seeing defense before the snap count. And once he lines up, he knows certain things that he has to do," Britt said, via Pat McManamon of ESPN. "He's going to be one of the great ones."Britt seemingly supporting Jackson's notion, suggesting that Kizer is progressing far more quickly than anticipated, adds further intrigue to an already compelling quarterback competition.The second-round pick almost certainly enters training camp as an underdog to both Brock Osweiler and Cody Kessler, but he'll have every opportunity to establish himself as the quarterback of the future.His early impressions would appear to suggest that he's taking steps in that direction.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions signed safety Glover Quin to an extension through the 2019 season, the team announced Sunday.Quin, a Lion for the past four seasons, was set to become a free agent after the upcoming season. Terms of the contract were not disclosed."Glover is one of our team leaders, and throughout his career has been a consummate professional on and off the field," team general manager Bob Quinn said in a release. "We are thrilled that he will be a Lion for the next three seasons."Quin hasn't missed a game since 2009. He recorded 68 total tackles and two interceptions last season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks may be without second-round defensive lineman Malik McDowell in 2017 after he was involved in an offseason vehicular accident, according to a release from the team. He is not attending training camp.McDowell, the Seahawks' top pick in 2017, suffered a concussion and facial injuries in an ATV accident, sources told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and James Palmer.

Vance Joseph is already sick of the quarterback questions.Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch will battle it out to be the Denver Broncos' starting quarterback and their head coach has been asked to update the standings each day. No more."They both made plays and they both didn't make plays" Joseph said, according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN, when asked about the competition on Saturday. "It's tough to ride the roller coaster with those guys, who won the day, who didn't win the day, I'm not going to do that. It's going to be a collective evaluation over the course of weeks."Since Joseph announced he'd let the best man win the job, and subsequently stated he would alternate who would lead the first team during training camp, the storyline has dominated talk in the Rocky Mountains."It's not going to change daily. That's important because you don't want to leave here every day thinking Paxton is the guy, and tomorrow Trevor is the guy," Lynch said. "We can't do that. It has to be a collective evaluation over time. That's why time is a good thing because now we can have a full evaluation of both guys."Even the players are anxious for an answer, though. Receiver Demaryius Thomas has previously stated he wants to know who his quarterback will be sooner rather than later.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers first-round pick Mike Williams is expected to miss all of training camp to rehab and strengthen his injured back, the team announced Sunday via ESPN's Adam Schefter.The receiver was placed on the physically unable to perform list Saturday and could reportedly require season-ending surgery, though the team is hopeful he can recover via rehab. Williams has received two epidurals this offseason to help deal with the pain.The 22-year-old was the seventh overall pick in the 2017 draft and was expected to give the Chargers major red-zone help in the passing game. Having missed all of OTAs after suffering a herniated disk on the first day of minicamp, an extended training camp absence will undoubtedly impact how much Williams plays as a rookie once he's healthy enough to get on the field.The Chargers also had first-rounder Joey Bosa miss most of training camp due to a contract holdout last year, but he got up to speed fast enough to eventually win Defensive Rookie of the Year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Doug Martin knows he's lucky to still be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer.The running back signed a rich, five-year, $35.75-million extension with the team last March and then struggled, averaging 2.9 yards per carry during the 2016 season. He was also levied a four-game suspension late in the season that he attributed to Adderall use.Through it all, the Bucs could have moved on from Martin, but they expressed public support for their 2012 first-round draft pick and have kept him on the roster entering training camp.The Buccaneers also could have drafted a new No. 1 running back, but Martin remains in the mix entering the 2017 season."I've got a chip on my shoulder," Martin said, as captured by ESPN's Jenna Laine."I know this is going to be a big year for us and ... I've got a lot to owe to this team and I can't wait to get back out there."Martin has drawn rave reviews for his performance and effort during OTAs and minicamp, but his position as the team's bell-cow running back isn't assured, especially once he returns from a three-game suspension to begin the year.The Buccaneers also have Jacquizz Rodgers, Charles Sims, Peyton Barber, and 2017 fifth-round pick Jeremy McNichols in the backfield."We like the committee that we have for the first three games, and we'll see what happens," general manager Jason Licht said to Dan Graziano of ESPN. "You never know. Somebody can kind of jump out of there."Licht again commended Martin's showing in camp and suggested the extra motivation may do the player some good."He might be one of those guys that needs a carrot," he said. "And he's got a pretty big carrot in front of him right now, because there's no guarantees that he's going to be there. And he knows that. We've talked to him, and he's good with it."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Vikings announced the signing of Pro Bowl cornerback Xavier Rhodes to a contract extension Sunday. It's a six-year, $78.126-million contract extension, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The deal includes $41 million in guarantees and ties Rhodes to the Vikings through the 2022 season. Rhodes will make his scheduled $8.026 million from his rookie deal in 2017 and then $70 million over the following five years. His $14-million annual salary after 2017 will rank third among NFL cornerbacks.Rhodes is coming off his first Pro Bowl season, in which he made 52 tackles, 11 pass deflections, and five interceptions in 14 games.He was the Vikings' first-round pick in 2013 out of Florida State and has emerged as their premier shutdown corner over the past two seasons. The 27-year-old had one year left on his rookie contract heading into 2017.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones felt the team needed a veteran presence behind Dak Prescott at quarterback. Tony Romo is in the broadcast booth and Kellen Moore has less playing experience than Prescott, so he signed journeyman Luke McCown.With the signing, McCown joins his sixth NFL franchise and gets to continue his 13-year career. Jones said he chose McCown over free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick because of how he fits into the depth chart."We really have our guys set in a way that Luke fit what we wanted from our third quarterback," Jones said Saturday, according to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. "Dak is obviously No. 1. Moore is obviously No. 2, so we're looking more for somebody that we can evaluate and train and possibly be a quarterback of the future."It might sound odd to most that Jones considers a 36-year-old with 10 career starts a better long-term option than a 29-year-old with a Super Bowl appearance on his resume. Jones cited his depth chart as a further reason."We really are looking at our third quarterback," he said. "I said we're looking for a player that we can develop more. That's about all I'd say about it."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Longtime New England Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich retired Sunday.The 11-year veteran had been excused from camp due to personal reasons. He reportedly had been considering retirement in recent years."After 11 seasons, 19 years total playing football, it's time for me to walk away," Ninkovich said at a press conference Sunday afternoon.Ninkovich has featured in the middle of the Patriots' defense for the past eight seasons. In that time, he compiled 423 tackles, 46 sacks, and two Super Bowl rings.He was suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season for a banned substance and signed a one-year extension with the Patriots nine days later.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reiterated his position on the Ezekiel Elliott investigation, stating the league has all the information needed to make a decision regarding the domestic violence allegation involving the running back.Jones said he expected an imminent decision Thursday and defended Elliott, stating "there's no domestic violence involved here."After Saturday's practice session ended, Jones spoke candidly about the NFL's investigation of Elliott.Related: Jerry Jones expects decision on Elliott case 'imminently'"They have had their hearing and they have had all of the responses. Everything's in place to make a decision," Jones told reporters Saturday. "I think anything is discretionary. At any time you can ask for more meetings, whether it's the league or whether it's Zeke."Commissioner Roger Goodell reportedly hasn't been involved during the investigation, nor has he been present at any of the disciplinary hearings involving Elliott.When the league concludes its investigation, it's possible that Elliott could be suspended immediately ahead of the upcoming season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brandon Marshall was signed by the New York Giants to stabilize a young, talented receiving corps and he has no issue surrendering the limelight to his teammates.Marshall issued the highest praise imaginable to teammate Odell Beckham Jr., stating that the three-time Pro Bowler is the top player in the league."So, Odell obviously is the best player in the NFL," Marshall said to ESPN's Jordan Raanan. "He's going to get a lot of attention, on and off the field. As a teammate, you got to be there to support him and you have to be able to deal with that as well because he's a super ... he's not even a superstar, he's a rock star. It's something that the NFL has never seen before. This guy's a global icon already at the age of what, 24, 25?"Beckham recently said that he wants to become the NFL's highest-paid player and his goal hasn't gone unnoticed by both teammates and management."He deserves to get paid, we're going to pay him, it's just a question of when we enter into the contract, and I don't have a timetable on it right now," Giants owner John Mara said. "I just don't think there's any need to rush into it. He's going to end up getting paid at some point."Through three seasons, Beckham has emerged as one of the NFL's brightest young talents, recording several league records during his tenure with the Giants. It doesn't appear Beckham is slowing down any time soon and in due time, it won't be surprising if more people join Marshall in the chorus.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is off to a rocky start in training camp.Trubisky - selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft - submitted a miserable outing during Saturday's practice, fumbling three snaps during the session.The 22-year-old candidly reflected upon his performance afterwards."Yeah, it was frustrating because that was uncharacteristic of me, and I've just got to handle that," Trubisky said to ESPN's Jeff Dickerson. "They were just wasted plays, and I was kind of frustrated because I kind of wasted a team session right there, and I didn't allow myself or my teammates to get better. You've just got to block that out, bounce back. The other quarterbacks and the coach said something to me that allowed me to get back in rhythm and play football. It's the most critical part of the play. I've just got to take care of that and get better on my part."Bears head coach John Fox came to Trubisky's defense Saturday."He's learning a whole new offense," Fox said. "A whole different NFL coverage package that we see a little bit more extensive types of coverages. So I think the guy's done everything he can. He's improving every day. He's got a great work ethic. He learns quickly and works hard. You can't ask for much more."Trubisky will likely be relegated to the bench during his rookie year, as the Bears signed Mike Glennon to a three-year, $45-million contract prior to the draft. It's certainly not a definitive practice, but Trubisky isn't helping his odds of seeing the field after struggling under center Saturday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tensions were high at the UFC 214 weigh-ins Friday morning, as Jon Jones' brother, Arthur, briefly got into a verbal back and forth with members of Daniel Cormier's team.Nothing came of the exchange, and the Indianapolis Colts defensive lineman brushed it off as being blown out proportion by onlookers. Had it escalated in a physical manner, Arthur is confident that he would have taken care of things."I would have ragdolled all six of them - for the record," Arthur Jones told Marc Raimondi of MMAFighting.com.While Cormier himself wasn't involved in the would-be altercation, the elder Jones' brother doesn't seem like he would have been too worried about that, either."I'll slap his ass, too," he said.At long last, Cormier and Jones will go head-to-head for their highly-anticipated rematch Saturday night.Jones, returning to the Octagon after another lengthy layoff, is looking to recapture the light heavyweight title he once owned and defended on eight consecutive occasions before being stripped of it in April 2015.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr became the NFL's highest-paid player this summer and is one of the inextricable faces of the franchise's resurgence.Despite his team being projected to make a deep postseason run, the two-time Pro Bowler is befuddled by the lofty expectations projected upon himself and the Raiders ahead of the upcoming season, however."We didn’t even beat Kansas City twice last year, so I don’t know why everyone’s so excited," Carr said to Jimmy Durkin of the Bay Area News Group."I understand the excitement of the people we have, but I don’t understand the excitement of how we finished," Carr added.Carr was in the thick of the MVP race before his season ended in disaster, suffering a broken fibula in Week 16. The Raiders were eliminated by the Houston Texans in the wild-card round of the playoffs, as Carr watched helplessly.After adding Marshawn Lynch in the offseason to a young core of players entering their primes, the Raiders may be the biggest threat to unseat the defending champion New England Patriots. Although Carr wants to temper expectations, there's good reason why the Raiders are drawing national attention.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers have placed first-round wide receiver Mike Williams on the physically unable to perform list with a back injury ahead of the start of training camp, the team announced Saturday.Williams recently denied a report that said the back injury could force him to miss his rookie season, and the team announced it's hopeful the pass-catcher won't require surgery.The Chargers also placed star cornerback Jason Verrett and safety Darrell Stuckey on the PUP list.A player on the PUP list can be activated to return to practice at any time before final roster cuts.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Russell Wilson is one of the most transformative figures in the history of the Seattle Seahawks, and he's looking to explore uncharted territory.Wilson is entering his sixth season, but the three-time Pro Bowler believes he's still in the early chapters of his career."I want to play 25 years," Wilson told ESPN's Sheil Kapadia repeatedly.Since the AFL-NFL merger, no quarterback has come close to reaching the quarter-century career mark. The closest comparison of the modern era would be Brett Favre, who played 20 seasons before finally hanging up his cleats.Wilson hasn't missed a game through five seasons, fueling his belief in trying to accomplish the nearly impossible task at hand.New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has stated repeatedly that he plans to play well into his 40s, and Wilson is certainly taking note of the reigning Super Bowl MVP's resilience."Uh, yeah, I pay attention," Wilson told ESPN.com. "I'll say that. I pay attention. Something that I've observed and seen. He's a great example of longevity. He's a great example of being able to be mobile - a different mobility, but you know what I mean. Being able to seem like he's just getting better. That's what I always want to be. That's my focus."It's difficult to forecast how Wilson will fare in the latter stages of his career, but for the time being, there's little reason to dismiss his audacious goal.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms with rookie wide receiver Corey Davis, the team announced Saturday.Davis, selected fifth overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, was the last unsigned first-round pick from this year's cohort.The 22-year-old is expected to play a significant role in the Titans' passing game, joining a receiver corps that includes Rishard Matthews, Eric Decker, and Tajae Sharpe.Tennessee's offense is on an upward trajectory, and now Davis will need to work voraciously in his bid to capture Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A lot has been made of the recent changes made to the Carolina Panthers.They enter the 2017 season with a new general manager, Julius Peppers back in the fold on defense, and added weapons on the offensive side of the ball. What's most important for the Panthers to rebound from their rough 2016, is for quarterback Cam Newton to find that edge that made him the league's MVP."I'm just trying to basically get my swag back, get our swag back and just have fun," Newton said Thursday, according to David Newton of ESPN.When the Panthers were at the height of their powers, they were 15-1, taking team pictures mid-game, and dabbing on any and everybody. During the 6-10 campaign that followed, Newton spent much of his time sulking in postgame interviews and even had to defend not wearing a tie during a team flight.He plans to be back, smiling and handing footballs to Panthers fans in the crowd this season."If they didn't hear me, they damn sure going to hear me now," he said. "Let's just say that. I'm excited. I want my energy to be vibrant. I want people to see it, I want it to be contagious."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colin Kaepernick would love to play for the Baltimore Ravens, but the two sides have yet to discuss financial terms, NFL Network's Michael Silver reports.Kaepernick has been linked to the Ravens since news of Joe Flacco's back injury emerged. Flacco has insisted his injury is minor and his Week 1 status is not in doubt, but some reports suggest Flacco could miss more than a month of training camp.The connection between Kaepernick and the Ravens is obvious. Kaepernick enjoyed his best years in the NFL playing under former San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh, brother of Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.Kaepernick has generated very little interest on the open market since opting out of his deal with the 49ers earlier this year. He was briefly linked to the Seattle Seahawks, but nothing came to pass.The cause of Kaepernick's difficulty finding his next NFL job has been hotly debated, with some accusing teams of blackballing Kaepernick for his national anthem protests in 2016.Others have suggested Kaepernick wants to be paid as a starting quarterback and no team is willing to offer that, though Silver reports Kaepernick has not discussed money with any team.The Ravens added former Arena Football League quarterback David Olson on Friday, but Harbaugh said the move won't preclude the team from adding Kaepernick.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Malik Hooker's stay on the physically unable to perform list was a short one.The Indianapolis Colts announced Saturday that they've moved their first-round draft choice from the PUP list to the active roster. Hooker was initially designated on Tuesday after injuring his hamstring during a conditioning test.The safety was taken with the 15th overall pick in this year's draft.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Building on the momentum from the brilliant Fresh Prince tweet sequence, the Carolina Panthers' Twitter account scored another touchdown Friday.The team noticed a public criticism of quarterback Cam Newton and couldn't help but respond.

Jay Ajayi exploded onto the scene last year with a 1,272-yard, eight-touchdown season. But he could have had more.You see, the Miami Dolphins running back played in 15 games last season. The game he missed came in Week 1, when he was kept out of uniform for his response to being passed over for Arian Foster in the starting lineup."Week 1 made me who I am," Ajayi said Friday, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN. "It happened, and it kind of, I would say, maybe set a fire. Or just kind of reset in my mind, 'OK, what do you want to do?'"What he went on to do was compile three 200-yard games, including back-to-back performances in Weeks 6 and 7. He helped steer the Dolphins to the playoffs for the first time since 2008.Entering his third season, Ajayi will have no competition for the lead running back role.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrew Luck has a message for Indianapolis Colts fans: Chill.Yes, the franchise quarterback was placed on the physically unable to perform list at the start of training camp, but he emphasized there's no reason to be concerned about his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery or his availability for the upcoming season."I will be better than I was coming into this, I know that. I don't know what day it's going to be, I don't know what week, but I definitely will be and there's no reason to freak out," Luck said Saturday morning, according to Kevin Bowen of Colts.com.Related: Colts fans should stop panicking about Luck's shoulder injuryThe Colts opened training camp Saturday and anticipate their franchise quarterback won't be available for much of the preseason. Luck would like to be out there with teammates, but sees a greater goal in mind."I love practice and I would love to be out there for every practice, every week," he said. "I know that at some point I will be able to do that. No one wants to miss practice, miss training camp, but I'm confident that when the time is right for me and when I'm able to practice, whenever that is, that I'll be up to speed and productive enough in games to give this team my best."Colts fans have seen this before. Franchise great Peyton Manning required offseason neck surgery following the 2010 season. The injury ended up sapping him of the entire 2011 campaign and led to his departure from Indianapolis the following year.As for Luck, he revealed he's been throwing for two weeks and rehabbing 10 hours per day almost every day of the week. He anticipates a return, but will not set a timeline."We are not going to rush it, to rush it," he said. "I think that would be the worst thing we could do. The end game is for me to be better than I was before I was injured and I don't want to put a date on that."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Slowly, but surely, Eli Manning is creeping toward the age of 40.He's entering his 14th NFL season on a pitch count and the New York Giants drafted his possible successor in Davis Webb.Manning's illustrious career may be winding down, but he doesn't see his advancing age as a problem."I know how old I am. I don't think there's anything wrong with being 36," Manning said Friday. "I'm proud of it. Hey, I feel good. I can still make all the throws. I can still run around when I need to. So, it is what it is. But, I don't see myself slowing down at all and I feel like I still got great football ahead of me."Manning has been flanked by a young and talented roster as the organization hopes to take advantage of his final seasons.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Observers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp noticed starting quarterback Jameis Winston was walking with a limp Friday. By Saturday morning, the franchise was wearing a brace on his left knee.

Just two days into training camp, the Buffalo Bills have their first injury of significance.All-Pro defensive lineman Marcell Dareus tweaked his hamstring Friday and could miss time during camp, head coach Sean McDermott said Saturday morning."I'm staying positive. He's done a great job of being in shape at this point in camp," McDermott said.Still seven weeks away from their regular-season opener, the Bills will err on the side of caution and ensure their nose tackle will be right for when the game's matter.Dareus played in eight games last season, his fewest game total as a pro, and recorded 39 tackles and 3.5 sacks.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As training camps around the league officially get underway, there are once again a few notable names putting off their respective arrivals.Whether it's sitting out in search of an extension, or just biding one's time until having to play under the franchise tag, the reasons behind such absences are almost always contractual.This year's group includes Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell, Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald, Raiders left tackle Donald Penn, and Texans left tackle Duane Brown.Which holdout will last the longest? Let us know what you think in the poll below.Le'Veon BellBell is the standard case of a franchise-tagged player taking a pass on training camp after not receiving a long-term deal in advance of the July 17 deadline. Bell isn't technically holding out because he doesn't actually have a contract and his only option is to sign the one-year franchise tender. Sitting out isn't going to give the star running back any sort of leverage, but why should he be in any hurry to report? The fact that he's not under contract means he's not subject to daily absence fines, and staying fresh for the season and a possible playoff run would only be a plus, anyway. Bell could very well be content to sit out all of camp before rejoining the Steelers late in the summer.Aaron DonaldPlayers usually don't have much of a case when angling for a new contract with two years remaining on their initial rookie deals. As a generational talent and the key cog on the Rams' defense, however, Donald certainly finds himself in a good spot to be the exception. Los Angeles likely can't afford to have him sit the entire preseason and thus miss out on all-important practice reps amid a defensive scheme transition. Will the Rams simply accelerate the inevitable and make him the highest-paid defender in football to end this holdout quickly? They probably should.Donald PennA high-level pass-protector for each of his first three seasons in Oakland, Penn is justified in pushing for a spot within the top 10 highest-paid left tackles. The $7.1 million he's scheduled to make this year is absurdly low for a player of his caliber, and one so key to one of the NFL's best offensive lines. Penn's age, 34, also makes the deal a little less complex for the Raiders, as he'd only be in line for a short-term extension. Oakland's best course of action is to reward him and solve the issue as soon as possible. That said, it's also tough to predict when a team will dig in.Duane BrownBrown is absent from Texans camp after also sitting out OTAs during the spring. With no guaranteed money left on the final two years of his contract, the three-time Pro Bowler is understandably angling for a new deal. As is the case with the Raiders and Penn, the Texans should be doing everything they can to get their standout blindside protector into camp. That would be the logical move, at least. Can the lack of progress to this point be considered an indication of a hard-line stance from the front office?Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Count Joe Flacco among the many who would be happy to see the Baltimore Ravens give Colin Kaepernick the chance he's been waiting for.The longtime Ravens signal-caller is admittedly against the idea of Kaepernick stepping in as a starter in Baltimore, and understandably so. But as he told reporters Friday, he considers the potential arrangement to be a good fit otherwise."I would like to see Colin get back in (the NFL), and, at some point, maybe get another shot (to be a starter)," said Flacco, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. "I wouldn't like that to be here. I do not want him to get another shot (to be a starter) here, but yes, he can come here and have some fun. I think it would be a good spot for him."Talk of Kaepernick landing in Baltimore first began when news surfaced that Flacco would miss some time with a back injury. On Thursday, head coach John Harbaugh conceded there was some interest, and that he'd been in contact with the star free agent over the summer.Harbaugh then said Friday that the signing of former arena league quarterback David Olson wouldn't necessarily keep the team from signing Kaepernick, adding that the team will first gauge whether a significant addition is even necessary.Seemingly optimistic that Flacco won't miss much time, the Ravens could be content to have Ryan Mallett run the first-team offense in his absence.Related: Mallett looks 'awful' on 1st day in Flacco's steadAs Flacco himself concedes, though, Kaepernick could also be a strong backup option for a Ravens position group that lacks such a player. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback would be one of the league's top players in that role.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's that time of year again, folks.As players around the league report to training camp, no team is short on optimism. The Jacksonville Jaguars seem to have themselves an early and comfortable lead in that department.The latest rose-colored outlook comes from Barry Church. After joining the Jaguars as a free agent this offseason, ending a seven-year run with the Dallas Cowboys, the veteran safety believes he's now surrounded by more talent."I feel like the culture is pretty much the same. I mean, we have a real close group, like we did in Dallas," Church told reporters Friday, according to The Dallas Morning News. "We have a real close group here. We had a real close group (in Dallas). I was just a little bit younger when we were in Dallas. I feel like we have a lot more talent than we had over here, so we're just gonna keep plugging away and getting ready for that Week 1."Church's high praise for the Jaguars comes just days after both Malik Jackson and Calais Campbell predicted a Super Bowl title, the former going as far as to say that such an achievement would be reached with an undefeated season.In all fairness, the Jaguars do have some reason to be excited about what's ahead. The defense is stacked with young talent to complement the likes of Jackson, Campbell, and Church, and first-round rookie Leonard Fournette will look to spearhead a power running game that would take some pressure off Blake Bortles.But perhaps talk of a Super Bowl, and supremacy over one of the league's most promising teams, can be held off until we see how it all comes together on the field.Jacksonville is looking to move back in the right direction after a 3-13 showing in 2016 marked the club's sixth consecutive losing season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.