Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman David Irving will report to the team Sunday after failing to do so Friday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.Irving, who will serve a four-game suspension for PEDs to open the season, was a no-show as players reported for physicals and conditioning tests.Players who fail to report on time are subject to a $40,000 fine.Cowboys wideout Dez Bryant also missed his conditioning test Friday, though Bryant reported three hours late.It's possible both Irving and Bryant decided they needed a little extra time to get in shape before taking the conditioning test. It certainly wouldn't be unprecedented if that were the case.The Cowboys travel to Oxnard, Calif., on Saturday for the official start of camp.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Documents related to the NFL's investigation into allegations that Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott committed domestic violence reveal some sort of deal between the league and the National District Attorneys Association regarding the sharing of information.Emails obtained by Deadspin's Diana Moskovitz and Lauren Theisen appear to show an NFL investigator citing a "Memorandum of Understanding" between the NFL and NADA "to aid the League with respect to our investigative efforts regarding allegations of violations of the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy" as a means of pressuring a prosecutor to share information related to Elliott's alleged victim.

Tiger Woods' love of the Oakland Raiders runs deep.The golf legend tweeted Friday to show off his newly felted pool table, which features the Raiders logo in the middle and comes complete with a set of silver and black billiard balls.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2017 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.Bye weeks shouldn't be a major concern when selecting a fantasy quarterback, but they are something to keep in mind so you aren't left empty-handed when your QB1 is unavailable.Consider this a preseason cheat sheet. It shows which quarterbacks you should target on the waiver wire in the weeks leading up to your starter's bye. We left out anyone in the top 20, assuming they will be owned in the majority of leagues.When creating the lists, we took into account how the potential replacements should fare this season, how defenses performed against fantasy quarterbacks last year, and how those defenses may have improved heading into 2017.You can also view our complete fantasy quarterback rankings here.Week 5ByeTop ReplacementsDrew Brees - NOSam Bradford at CHIMatt Ryan - ATLBrian Hoyer at INDKirk Cousins - WASBlake Bortles at PITPaxton Lynch - DENJoe Flacco at OAKRyan Tannehill vs. TENWeek 6ByeTop ReplacementsRussell Wilson - SEASam Bradford vs. GBDak Prescott - DALBrian Hoyer at WASTyrod Taylor - BUFRyan Tannehill at ATLAndy Dalton - CINDeshaun Watson vs. CLEAlex Smith vs. PITBlake Bortles vs. LARWeek 7ByeTop ReplacementsMatthew Stafford - DETBlake Bortles at INDDeshaun Watson - HOUBrian Hoyer vs. DALRyan Tannehill vs. NYJSam Bradford vs. BALAlex Smith at OAKWeek 8ByeTop ReplacementsAaron Rodgers - GBSam Bradford at CLEMarcus Mariota - TENJoe Flacco vs. MIAEli Manning - NYGRyan Tannehill at BALCarson Palmer - ARIMike Glennon at NOBlake Bortles - JACBrian Hoyer at PHIJared Goff - LARWeek 9ByeTop ReplacementsTom Brady - NEJoe Flacco at TENBen Roethlisberger - PITAlex Smith at DALPhilip Rivers - LACDeshaun Watson vs. INDSam Bradford - MINRyan Tannehill vs. OAKMike Glennon - CHIBlake Bortles vs. CINCody Kessler - CLEPaxton Lynch at PHIWeek 10ByeTop ReplacementsDerek Carr - OAKSam Bradford at WASCarson Wentz - PHIMike Glennon vs. GBJoe Flacco - BALCody Kessler at DETAlex Smith - KCBlake Bortles vs. LACDeshaun Watson at LARWeek 11ByeTop ReplacementsAndrew Luck - INDJoe Flacco at GBJameis Winston - TBBlake Bortles at CLECam Newton - CARMike Glennon vs. DETRyan Tannehill - MIASam Bradford vs. LARBrian Hoyer - SFJosh McCown - NYJCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams legend Eric Dickerson has another hot take about his former team to share.The Hall of Fame running back, who criticized former Rams head coach Jeff Fisher last year and then claimed he was banned from the sideline at games, trashed sophomore quarterback Jared Goff during a Friday appearance on "The Herd.""The offense was terrible. The offense looked like a high-school offense," Dickerson said of the 2016 Rams. "My guy that I would start the season with would be (backup quarterback) Sean Mannion. I've been saying that since last year. Give him a shot."Mannion is a former third-round pick who has attempted 13 passes in his career for nine completions, 50 yards, and one interception.Goff, of course, was last year's first overall pick."I was at practice early last year, before I got kicked off the sidelines, and I was standing next to some of the guys. I said, 'Man, he can throw,'" Dickerson said of Mannion. "He said, 'He can throw it. He can really throw it.' I said, 'Why won't they play him?' He said, 'You know. The money. We've got a No. 1 draft pick. We've got all this money to him.'"Despite Dickerson's desires, Goff will start for the Rams this season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Landon Collins' All-Pro year in 2016 wasn't enough to push the Giants past the Cowboys, but the star safety is confident New York can dethrone Dallas this upcoming season.Responding to Dak Prescott's proclamation at the ESPYS that the Cowboys are gonna win the NFC East, Collins emphasized his confidence that the Giants will end the year on top, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan."I commented right underneath his picture. I said, 'I highly doubt that.' They do not control the (NFC) East. It's over with. We're going to have a run for it. I mean, they're not going to win, I can tell you that much. We're definitely going to take over."Collins and the Giants are likely buoyed by the fact that, despite Dallas winning the division, New York was victorious in the two head-to-head matchups."Coming from the program I came from, the team that I came from, the kind of player that I am, I'm not afraid to say any of those words," Collins said. "My team, my guys and our organization backs it up every time."The NFC East's history backs Collins' assertion. No team has won back-to-back division titles since the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004, and the Cowboys haven't achieved the feat since 1995-96."I'm ready to get back. It has been too long," Collins said. "I'm ready to put some shoulder pads in some people. Knock some heads off."Collins won't have to wait long to get his shot at Dallas. The Giants and the Cowboys face off in Week 1 on Sept. 10.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys will be without David Irving for the first four games of the season due to a performance-enhancing drugs violation, and the defensive lineman appears to have further worsened his standing with his team thanks to an unexplained absence.Irving was a no-show for the start of the Cowboys' training camp, sources told ESPN's Todd Archer, missing the conditioning run and physicals that happen the day before players take the field.Players who miss the reporting date are subject to a $40,000 fine, according to the NFL's collective bargaining agreement.Irving wasn't the only Cowboy in trouble at the start of camp. Dez Bryant was reportedly three hours late and he too missed the physical.The Cowboys will fly to California on Saturday, and it remains to be seen whether Irving will join them.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On Thursday, Dallas Cowboys star receiver Dez Bryant spent the day feeding thousands of people in his hometown of Lufkin, Texas after throwing an impromptu barbecue.The following day, Bryant may have paid the price for his generosity, as he reported to training camp three hours late and missed his conditioning run, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Bryant told NFL Network's Jane Slater that he'd been fighting a sinus infection and headaches, and apologized to the Cowboys coaching staff and "took full responsibility" for his tardiness.The pass-catcher admitted to Slater he was wrong not to inform the Dallas staff earlier and said he's prepared for the consequences, though it's unknown if the Cowboys will take any disciplinary action.The 28-year-old has a long history of off-field issues such as this, with the Cowboys famously hiring handlers to curb Bryant's unreliability.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans running back D'Onta Foreman's attorney, Chip Lewis, said Friday his client tested negative for marijuana, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.Lewis said Foreman volunteered to take a urinalysis test at a Houston lab in order to prove he didn't smoke any marijuana. The results came back Friday."The lab has returned D'Onta's results," Lewis said. "He is crystal clean, everything negative for any illicit drugs, marijuana, absolutely nothing."The rookie was arrested in Austin last week on charges of marijuana and unlawful gun possession, but denied any wrongdoing, saying he owned the weapon legally and that the drugs were in the possession of a passenger."It illustrates what D'Onta has said since his arrest that he was not smoking marijuana. He did not possess marijuana." Lewis said. "It makes it clear that he was telling the truth. He was not using marijuana."Lewis expressed his confidence that Foreman's charges will be dropped after the results of the test.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's been nine seasons since the Jacksonville Jaguars last experienced playoff football, and they're one of 13 teams who've never raised the Lombardi Trophy.Jaguars star defensive tackle Malik Jackson believes both unenviable streaks will end very soon.Jackson told "The Simms and Lefkoe Podcast" that he's confident of adding another ring to his collection this campaign after winning the Super Bowl in 2015 with the Denver Broncos."That's what I believe and, until we lose, that's when I'll believe different," Jackson said, according to NFL.com's Marc Sessler."The Panthers did it. If the Panthers can do it after the season they had (going 7-8-1 in 2014) ... But we're going to win the Super Bowl. If they can do it, why can't we?"Jackson believes the Jaguars' positive changes will stem from improved leadership."I'm very confident. It truly feels different ... I think it's a lot of guys coming in here and coming to Jacksonville saying, 'I'm gonna change this. I'm gonna do this. I'm gonna do that,'" Jackson said. "We have leaders. We have a lot of great players. We just need to be consistent, and that's on all three sides of the ball: offense, defense, and special teams."He added: "I think having that and being who we all are, it should be a great year. After the Super Bowl, we're going 16-0, we're going all the way."The offseason lull before training camp is a time for optimism, with many players expressing their confidence that they'll enjoy a successful 2017 season.So while Jackson shouldn't be ridiculed for the prediction in a time when all players are feeling hopeful, the Jaguars need to prove there's substance to go along with the hype.Last offseason, after an impressive year for the offense and with the addition of Jackson, many expected the Jaguars to finally make good on their potential. Instead, the Jaguars finished 3-13.Another impressive draft and free agency have caused some to jump back on the bandwagon, but with questions about Blake Bortles' ability to be an effective NFL starter and how the defensive talent will gel, the Jaguars should probably learn how to walk before they take a run at a championship.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFC West used to be one of the most hotly contested divisions in football, but the Seattle Seahawks have pulled away from the rest of the pack in recent years.Seattle cruised to the NFC West title with a 10-5-1 record despite sporting arguably the NFL's worst offensive line and a rotating carousel at running back, while the rest of the division faltered miserably.For the first time during the Pete Carroll Era, the Seahawks caught a glimpse of their own mortality, with injuries to Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas revealing that the team's Super Bowl window may be closing quicker than anyone once imagined.The Seahawks still boast an impressive array of talent, but time is running out for the core of the club to capture their second Super Bowl ring. Can the rest of the NFC West knock the Seahawks off their perch?Arizona Cardinals The Cardinals entered last season as a trendy Super Bowl pick after losing to the Panthers in the 2015 NFC Championship Game but struggled through a miserable 2016 campaign. Everything that could've gone awry last year did, but now the Cardinals' talented roster is seeking redemption.Arizona still boasts plenty of offensive firepower, finishing sixth in scoring offense last season with 26.1 points per game. David Johnson was a revelation, scoring 20 touchdowns en route to Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors, while Larry Fitzgerald led the NFL with 107 receptions. John Brown and J.J. Nelson round out a group that ought to overwhelm opponents with their speed. If the Cardinals' offense is firing on all cylinders, they'll be tough to beat.Tyrann Mathieu returns after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury and when he plays unreservedly, there isn't a single safety in the league who can do what he can. Mathieu will rejoin a secondary that boasts six-time Pro Bowler Patrick Peterson, promising second-round pick Budda Baker, and an overall opportunistic and talented group that should keep the Seahawks and other contenders on their toes.The Cardinals' defense - and to a larger extent, their entire philosophy - relies on calculated aggression and blazing speed. If the they can punish teams with their ability to shrink the field, they could make a deep playoff run.Los Angeles RamsNo more parties in L.A.That should be the Rams' motto entering the team's second year in Los Angeles after a disastrous return under the bright lights last season. This campaign may come down to how Jared Goff progresses after struggling immensely during his rookie campaign. The Rams made marginal upgrades at wide receiver, but if Goff can't become a reasonable facsimile of a starting quarterback this fall, the Rams are doomed.The duality of Todd Gurley is another question that needs to be answered. Gurley starred during his rookie season but submitted a dreadful sophomore campaign. Which Gurley are the Rams going to get in 2017: the one who looked like the future face of the NFL, or the back that looked completely lost?Los Angeles sports a top-heavy defense led by Aaron Donald, who is the NFL's best defensive tackle by an increasingly wide margin. Donald alone cannot save the Rams from mediocrity though, and Robert Quinn, Alec Ogletree, and newly signed outside linebacker Connor Barwin will be counted on to steady the team's pass rush.Ultimately, the Rams have some star power but not enough depth to seriously challenge the Seahawks.San Francisco 49ers San Francisco will start the 2016 season under a new regime, with Kyle Shanahan taking over as head coach and John Lynch installed at general manager, while Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley will vie for the team's starting quarterback role. The 49ers could be the worst team in the NFL this year and it's not necessarily a bad thing.The 49ers are going through a drastic rebuild and their offense is downright woeful. Joe Staley is the last staple from the 49ers teams of yesteryear and will be expected to mentor a young offensive line, while rookie Joe Williams could usurp Carlos Hyde at running back. It would be a shock if this offense stays above water.San Francisco finished dead last in most defensive categories last year but the unit enters the season on a positive trajectory. DeForest Buckner showed glimpses of stardom last season, while the 49ers selected defensive end Solomon Thomas with the No. 3 pick in this spring's draft to shore up the line. NaVorro Bowman and Ahmad Brooks remain as solid veteran presences and first-rounder Reuben Foster could sneak under the radar as a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate.Gone are the days where the 49ers-Seahawks rivalry was among the NFL's best. The 49ers are rebuilding and still have a long way to go to catch their nemesis.Also from this series

Electronic Arts released a video Friday teasing some of the new features in the upcoming Madden NFL 18.Included in the clip are looks at what EA touts as improved target passing and blocking controls, as well as more control over coaching tactics.The video also promises three different game modes: arcade, simulation, and competitive.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent wide receiver Anquan Boldin will visit the Buffalo Bills on Monday, a source told ESPN's Dan Graziano.Boldin remains unsigned after spending the 2016 season with the Detroit Lions. The 36-year-old caught 67 passes for 584 yards and eight touchdowns.Buffalo lacks true depth at wide receiver outside of Sammy Watkins and second-round pick Zay Jones, so Boldin could be the piece the team has been searching for this summer.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is wrapping up its investigation into the off-field conduct of Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott and the players' union recently filed what it hopes is a final response to any lingering questions, sources told NFL.com's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.The year-long investigation into allegations of domestic violence committed by Elliott, and perhaps incidents in which Elliott exposed a woman's breast at a parade and visited a Seattle marijuana dispensary, could result in NFL discipline for 2016's rushing leader.A report sent to the NFLPA by the league made no recommendation one way or the other about whether Elliott is likely to be suspended, according to Rapoport and Pelissero.Elliott has not been arrested or charged with any crimes related to domestic violence.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam Jones has been suspended one game for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.The suspension stems from Jones' arrest on Jan. 3.Jones was accused of assaulting a man at a Cincinnati hotel, and refusing to obey police.He also faced felony charges of harassment with a bodily substance, after allegedly spitting on a nurse, but that charge was dismissed. Misdemeanor charges of assault and disorderly conduct were dropped in exchange for pleading guilty to one misdemeanor charge of obstructing police.Jones has three days to appeal the league's decision, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer.The NFL provided rationale for the suspension in a letter to Jones, obtained by Dehner:

Dez Bryant isn't worried about Ezekiel Elliott and the off-field drama currently surrounding him.As he prepares to enter his second season in the NFL, Elliott is reported to be in the league's crosshairs regarding a domestic violence accusation. It's believed he was also present for an altercation at a Dallas bar last weekend, and he's appealing a speeding conviction.Bryant thinks the 21-year-old running back will ultimately get past the distractions."It's just a steppingstone that he's gonna get over. Zeke's a young guy. I'm not blaming it on that. (But) freshman college to playing for America's team, it's kinda hard to deal with," Bryant told reporters Thursday at a barbecue in his hometown of Lufkin, Texas, according to ESPN.Bryant faced similar scrutiny early in his career, but, by all accounts, has matured over the years."You gotta give Zeke credit because he do deserve it, he do deserve to have fun. Because he put that work in to have fun. But, as the years pass, as he gets older, he's gonna mature and things are gonna get a lot smoother," Bryant said.Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said earlier in the week he would speak with Elliott on Friday before the start of training camp.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Canadian fans without cable who want to watch NFL broadcasts this season can pay a monthly fee to stream games on a service that is being called the "Netflix of sports."The NFL has sold its streaming rights in Canada for the next five years to a London-based service called DAZN (pronounced "Da Zone," for some reason) and cable and satellite providers north of the border will no longer carry Sunday Ticket nor the NFL RedZone channel.Games will still be aired on cable TV in Canada, but fans can also stream games (supposedly without blackouts) via DAZN for $20 per month or $150 annually. The streaming package will also reportedly include the beloved RedZone channel.It's not hard to see the NFL's partnership with DAZN as the league testing the streaming waters before deciding on a strategy in the U.S.Currently, there is no legal way to stream most live NFL games in the U.S. The NFL-owned GamePass service is available, but games can only be streamed after they have completed.As millions of sports fans cut the cable cord every year, it appears the inevitable future of live sports is online streaming.Whether the NFL prefers to partner with a third-party streaming company like DAZN or launch its own "Neflix of football" remains to be seen, but the league will surely keep a very close eye on how its Canadian experiment goes.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A crowd of 3,000 responded when Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant offered to throw an impromptu barbecue and kickball game in his hometown of Lufkin, Texas.Bryant took part in the kickball game, took pictures with fans, and signed autographs at Thursday's event.

It's prediction season and Jason Pierre-Paul isn't about to miss out on the festivities.As NFL teams prepare for upcoming training camps, every team has a spotless record and reason for optimism. Yet, after the moves the New York Giants made over the offseason, Pierre-Paul believes his club has what it takes to be special."I feel like no spot is weak. I feel like with the players that we have, as long as we all work together, we'll be undefeated," Pierre-Paul said to Brian Heyman of Newsday. "Nobody can defeat you when you all are working together."The Giants went 11-5 last season and knocked off the division-champion Dallas Cowboys twice during the regular season. New York has since added receiver Brandon Marshall and tight end Evan Engram to its offense and brings back much of the defense that ranked 10th in the league."I think with the people that we added, I think a lot of people are like, 'Wow, they should be a team that goes to the Super Bowl.' But it's all about the hard work," Pierre-Paul said."I think we got a team that can be a lot better than last year. We can be as good as we want to be."The veteran defensive end re-signed during free agency for four years and $62 million to remain a part of what the Giants are building. Regardless of his belief of his club, however, he knows it's purely talk until the players take the field."You can't call it a Super Bowl team. Every team that goes into training camp thinks they're a Super Bowl contender," Pierre-Paul said.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jerry Jones, on his way to induction in the Pro Football Hall of Fame next month, is best known as the owner of the Dallas Cowboys.It’s not that it’s easy to forget that Jones also is the Cowboys’ general manager, but that self-appointment does obscure one thing: Jones is the NFL’s longest-tenured GM, with a 243-205 record, 10 NFC East titles, and three Super Bowls.That Jones is his own GM is a sign of what the former University of Arkansas offensive lineman thinks of himself, surely, but also connects to his philosophy about running a football team, which is an interesting one."The Cowboys have only had two general managers," Jones said Thursday on a conference call for the Hall of Fame festivities. "One was Tex Schramm, and he was president and general manager for 29 years. Then, when I bought the team, I became that."I saw that combination of the proximity between the president and GM, and the head coach, and the fewer people between those guys and, in my case, also the owner, the better I could see it functioning. … It’s about the communication, it’s about influence."When Jones took over, he made his old college teammate Jimmy Johnson the Cowboys’ head coach; Dallas made a swift progression from 1-15 the first year to 7-9, then 11-5, then 13-3 and the first of back-to-back Super Bowl triumphs. There is no questioning Johnson’s acumen as a coach, but it’s also doubtless that Jones’ tight structure, laced with familiarity, helped speed up the process.After Johnson, the Cowboys won another Super Bowl with Barry Switzer as coach, then shuffled through lean years with Chan Gailey, Dave Campo, and Hall of Famer Bill Parcells. Wade Phillips won two division titles in three seasons, but was replaced by Jason Garrett after a 1-7 start in 2010.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)When Jones and the Cowboys endured three straight 8-8 campaigns under Garrett, it was fair to wonder what the next spin of the coaching wheel would bring. Instead, Jones stuck with the man who was the Cowboys’ backup quarterback from 1992-99 and on the coaching staff since 2007.Garrett, who had been the NFL's highest-paid assistant coach, won his first division title as a head coach in 2014, then got a five-year, $30-million extension, as an investment that paid off was followed by further investment."I knew that ultimately, as owner, this is pro football, and every decision is about financials," Jones said. "You don’t make one that’s not financial. So, I knew that with the commitment I made - which at the time which was the largest that had ever been expended for any sports entity - I knew, with that commitment, I had to understand and manage everything."It was just a question of eliminating, but also following the lead of a very successful management structure that Tex Schramm and Tom Landry had under the previous owner."The other side of that very successful management structure is off the field - and that’s where Jones has been even more successful than the Cowboys have been on the gridiron. That comes from an understanding of the product honed long ago."When I first was buying the Dallas Cowboys, I asked for an appointment with a man named Dan Burke, and he was the chairman of Cap Cities, and they had just bought ESPN, and they owned ABC,” Jones said. “I got an appointment with him … and I was asking him about the future of television and the future of the NFL as it related to television."He said the huddles, the intermittent breaks in the continuity of the game, between the plays, the huddles give every opportunity to give the product on television exposure. He said that you could basically hire every producer there is in Hollywood, and they couldn’t come up with all the soap operas that go on, on and off the field, that you have with pro football. It’s the greatest television you could even dream of."Jones has taken that theory and run with it, with his bombastic approach keeping the Cowboys relevant all year round. The league, with plenty of help from its media partners, has followed suit, and the result has been the ballooning of the league’s commercial success that is as big a reason for Jones’ enshrinement as the performance of the team he owns.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns acquired linebacker Jamie Collins in a midseason trade last year, and after seeing what he could do in eight games, the team is excited about a full season with the former Pro Bowler."There's lots of things about his versatility that it's gonna be fun and challenging to find spots to cut him loose," new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said to Patrick Maks of ClevelandBrowns.com.After consummating the trade with the New England Patriots, the Browns signed Collins to a four-year deal reportedly worth $50 million. He's expected to guide and influence a young defense that now features the No. 1 overall pick in defensive end Myles Garrett and another first-round pick, safety Jabrill Peppers.In fact, Williams believes Collins is such a good athlete, he could fill in at both positions."He's begging me to play safety. And I'm not saying he couldn't be the best one out there right now," Williams said. "If he wanted to play defensive end, he could play defensive end."Collins had 68 total tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble with the Browns last season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

O.J. Simpson will soon be a free man after a Nevada board granted parole to the former NFL and movie star Thursday just nine years into his 33-year sentence for armed robbery.But Simpson's past - which includes being acquitted of murdering ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman, then later being found liable for their deaths in a civil suit - will never stop following him.And after the latest news that Simpson will go free, Goldman's family said they believe this is another example of the celebrity evading justice."For me the answer is yes, but then obviously we're a little biased," Goldman's father, Fred, told "CBS This Morning.""I'm troubled that he's out free getting a second chance. Something that Ron didn't get. I would prefer to see him back in jail. Simple as that. I don't think he is worthy of the right to be out among decent people."Fred also scoffed at Simpson's claim that he's led a "conflict-free life," pointing out that Simpson had a history of alleged domestic violence prior to the murders of Brown and Goldman.Goldman's sister, Kim, said her family has received "less than 1 percent" of the more than $20 million Simpson was ordered to pay them after the civil suit.Asked if he believes Simpson has been rehabilitated in prison, Fred dismissed the notion."I believe without a doubt he's the same person. I think he showed it clearly during the parole hearing. His snickering about things. The arrogant looks when they're reading things. The way he snapped at one of the commissioners on the parole board," Fred said."I think he's exactly who he always is."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

O.J. Simpson drew the attention, and ire, of many when he claimed to have led a "conflict-free life" during his parole hearing Thursday.Simpson was granted parole nine years into a 33-year sentence for armed robbery and kidnapping.The comment about living without conflict certainly caught the attention of the family of Nicole Brown, whom Simpson was acquitted of killing in 1995 but later found liable in a civil trial.Tanya Brown, younger sister of Nicole, called out Simpson for his history of domestic violence."Really? You beat my sister," Tanya told TMZ. "Regardless of murdering her and Ron (Goldman), the fact is that my sister has diary entries dating back to 1978 about abuse that was inflicted, and also there was that infamous 911 call that he mentioned."Tanya also told TMZ she is concerned by the anger Simpson showed toward one of the board members at his parole hearing.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

(Warning: Video contains coarse language)

3-Wide is a weekly feature in which theScore's NFL editors debate the hot topics around the league. Grab a cold towel and brace for hot takes.What's the most intriguing training camp battle?Michael McClymont: The most intriguing battle comes from the least likely position. Roberto Aguayo and Nick Folk will compete to be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' full-time kicker. Aguayo, the most successful kicker in college football history, had an abysmal first season after the Bucs traded up to take him in the second round of last year's draft. Tampa had to bring in a veteran presence and the competition will play out before our eyes on "Hard Knocks." Get your popcorn ready.Mitch Sanderson: Just the possibility of Brock Osweiler being the starting quarterback in Cleveland is fascinating to me. Everyone assumed Osweiler wouldn't be on the team very long after he was traded, and now he, the most laughed-at quarterback of 2016, might start for the Browns, the most laughed-at team of the past 20 years. With youngsters Cody Kessler and DeShone Kizer both also getting the chance to start, the Browns' quarterback race will provide daily entertainment for anyone curious.Arun Srinivasan: The battle between Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch could cement the direction of the Denver Broncos for the foreseeable future and therefore, it's by far the most intriguing battle. Siemian emerged victorious in last summer's battle but the Broncos' offense stalled under his guidance, missing the playoffs after winning the Super Bowl two years ago. If Siemian wins out again, the Broncos have effectively punted on a first-round pick in Lynch. It's a compelling battle for a team that is built to win now, especially on the defensive side of the ball.Should the Panthers keep Marty Hurney as full-time GM?Sanderson: No. It makes perfect sense why the Panthers would bring in Hurney with a week to go before training camp given his familiarity with the club, but once they have time to get someone acclimated, they should hire a new guy (or girl). Recently fired GMs Scot McCloughan and Jon Dorsey would be ideal replacements, and others may present themselves throughout the season. The timing of Dave Gettleman's firing didn't leave Carolina with many realistic options, so it would be logical practice to consider more candidates once the opportunity arises.Srinivasan: It's truly puzzling that the Panthers opted to bring back Hurney for a second stint, when Gettleman was credited with fixing the cap mess he created. Carolina already sported an in-house candidate in Brandon Beane, but elected to let him walk. Instead, the Panthers should use Hurney as a stop-gap before promoting Don Gregory, the team's director of player personnel who is highly regarded in league circles.McClymont: His resume is pretty impressive. Though he had only been on the job for one year before the Panthers made their first Super Bowl appearance, Hurney proved his worth by hiring Ron Rivera and drafting such Carolina mainstays as Cam Newton, Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis, and Greg Olsen. The fact that it's been five years since he last held a GM role is concerning, but should the Panthers deem Hurney an ideal fit, they need only to add a salary cap expert to aid him with the numbers and allow their former GM of 10 years to handle the deal-making and evaluating.How much should Le'Veon Bell earn? Srinivasan: Bell hasn't signed his franchise tender and, as a result, he doesn't have to report to training camp. Under terms of the tender, Bell will be paid $12.1 million for the upcoming season, which makes him the highest-paid NFL running back by far. That amount ought to be enough for Bell, who feels otherwise. Bell is a superstar talent and is being paid handsomely for his efforts. It seems absurd he's not happy about his $12.1-million salary but it's the exact amount he deserves.McClymont: By accepting the franchise tag, Bell has already accomplished his stated goal of resetting the market for running backs. LeSean McCoy had been the highest earner at the position, making an average of $8 million. Realistically, Bell is among the best overall players in the league. Julio Jones makes an average of $14 million and J.J. Watt makes $16.6 million on average. Bell should slot in right between them.Sanderson: The NFL is stuck in this archaic way of thinking where players are only compared to other players at their positions. Given Bell's unreal versatility and mission to change how running backs use patience, he should be valued at his overall value rather than comparing him to other rushers, especially when the running back market is so low. Brock Osweiler and Sam Bradford each make $18 million a year and are definitely less effective than Bell. He's never going to make that much, but if we're in an ideal world, Bell should make at least $18 million.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ezekiel Elliott's recent off-field troubles have caught the attention of some legendary running backs, and they all want to help.Related: Dorsett advises Elliott to tighten his inner circleThe Dallas Cowboys running back's recent involvement in questionable situations isn't uncommon for young breakout stars, and Hall of Fame runners LaDainian Tomlinson and Jerome Bettis are telling Elliott to pay more attention to his actions and who he spends his time with."I would say that Ezekiel needs to really learn to manage his time a little better. He has to become a professional, that means doing things like a professional," Tomlinson told "NFL No Huddle" on Thursday, according to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. "For example, there are times when you can't go hang out. There are times you can go hang out and there are times that you should be studying and preparing for a game rather than going out."Being a professional means knowing the difference, knowing when to do that. That's all that means. Being a professional, a lot of times, guys think they made it to the league, so I'm a professional. Yes, you made it to the league and you're considered a professional, but you're not a pro because you don't learn to adjust and act like a true professional. It becomes a job. ... Talk to Tony Romo more. Dez Bryant has done a great job of late of taking care of himself."Related - Romo confident Elliott will learn to handle stardom: 'He's figuring it out'While Tomlinson advised Elliott to talk to his teammates more, Bettis believes that without Romo to lead the locker room, the Cowboys are lacking experienced leadership. However, his advice was similar to Tomlinson's."I would just tell him to keep your head down, buddy," Bettis told "The Rich Eisen Show," according to Lorenzo Reyes of USA TODAY. "You'll have plenty of time to enjoy yourself in a year."You need to keep your head down, stay in the house, and don't get into any more trouble."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Four first-round picks from the 2017 NFL Draft have yet to sign their rookie contracts.Time is running out for the players to agree to terms, as a handful of teams have had rookies report to camp this week, while all 32 teams will have started training camp by July 29.San Francisco 49ers defensive end Solomon Thomas, Tennessee Titans receiver Corey Davis, Oakland Raiders cornerback Gareon Conley, and Cleveland Browns safety Jabrill Peppers have yet to sign with their teams.Each player's contract value is already determined based on draft position, making the timing of the payout the only thing to negotiate. Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa caused a stir last offseason when he held out until late in training camp to get his desired contract structure.Thomas has until July 27 to agree to terms before 49ers rookies are required to report. Davis has until July 28, Conley until July 24, and Peppers July 23.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It didn't take long for Carolina Panthers interim general manager Marty Hurney to get to work in his new position.One day after being re-hired to the Panthers' front office, Hurney negotiated a four-year contract extension for guard Trai Turner and cut ties with offensive tackle Michael Oher.Serving as Carolina's GM from 2002 to 2012, Hurney seems comfortable pulling the trigger on important decisions. With that in mind, here are five more moves for Hurney to make before the 2017 season gets underway.Extend Davis, OlsenHurney doesn't need to give veterans Thomas Davis and Greg Olsen megadeals like the ones that ultimately got him fired in 2012, but the two longtime Panthers are central to the team's culture and shouldn't be lost.Related - Report: Panthers prioritizing Davis extension; no talks with OlsenDavis, a 34-year-old former Walter Payton Man of the Year, is coming off his fifth consecutive 100-tackle season, while Olsen, 32, became the first tight end to notch three straight 1,000-yard campaigns. Even if their skills decline, both will be heavily depended on as locker room leaders who Hurney doesn't want to make enemies out of.Reach out to Smith, Williams, BeasonOne thing was clear after the Panthers fired Dave Gettleman on Monday: he pissed off a lot of the franchise's best players.Steve Smith, the franchise's all-time leading receiver, DeAngelo Williams, the Panthers' all-time leading rusher, and Jon Beason, a former All-Pro and fan favorite, all expressed disdain for Gettleman after his dismissal.

It turns out the parole board member who strangely wore a Kansas City Chiefs tie to O.J. Simpson's hearing Thursday didn't just have nothing else to wear, but planned the whole thing.Adam Endel contacted the hosts of "Fescoe in the Morning" on 610 Sports Radio in Kansas City earlier in the week to brag about his upcoming hearing, telling the hosts he'd be residing on the board of Simpson's hearing, and adding that he's a big fan of the Chiefs.He also scheduled a radio interview for himself Friday, and bragged about what he was planning to wear to the local hosts."It'll be after the parole hearing, so there's no conflict of interest or anything. Because the first thing I thought of was like, 'Can he come on? He's gonna be on the parole board,'" said host Mike Welch on Monday, according to For The Win's Andrew Joseph. "But, he can come on Friday after the hearing and after they make the decision from the parole board, he can come on and discuss that."He's going to wear his Chiefs tie while he's on that board. So, on Friday, we will have somebody on the O.J. Simpson parole hearing board right here on the show."Enjoy your 15 minutes of fame, Chiefs Tie Guy.

While Roger Goodell is reportedly still upset at New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia wearing a shirt mocking him after Super Bowl LI, defensive end Rob Ninkovich brought up a solid point in his coach's defense.People need to wear clothes.Ninkovich and the Patriots clearly don't seem worried about any potential repercussions from Goodell as the veteran defensive end spoke fairly comically about the shirt."Everyone has the right to wear whatever shirt they want," Ninkovich said, according to the Boston Herald. "Everyone has to wear a shirt, right? You can't just wear no shirt."I think someone threw it at (Patricia), and he said, 'All right, nice shirt, it's cool, it's blue, so I'll put it on.' I thought it was a funny shirt."Patricia wore a T-shirt depicting Goodell as a clown that was seen on television as the Patriots got off their flight back from Houston after the Super Bowl.

Between domestic violence allegations, questionable public behavior, and legal troubles, Ezekiel Elliott is still figuring out how to manage constantly be in the public eye, but as someone who has been there before, Tony Romo believes his former teammate will find his way.The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback appeared on 105.3 The Fan on Thursday to back up the confidence shown by head coach Jason Garrett in Elliott.Related - Jones: Elliott still learning how to deal with fame"Zeke, he's a friend. I know that he's a good kid. He's just trying to find his way," Romo said, according to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. "He's in a position that he's always going to be in a spot where people are going to take a photo, they're going to talk about him."We all get these little times in our career where you can go two different directions. He's figuring it out. He's obviously made some choices he'll reflect back and wish he done a little different."Romo notes that Elliott, at age 21, has had a lot thrown at him for someone so young, but that his strong character will eventually shine through."But at the same time, just not a whole lot of people are really thrust into this spotlight, this soon, at that age," said Romo. "Really - even in the National Football League - there's only a few of them. I always want to give people a little grace period and a little time."The fact the I know him and I know his personality and how much good he does off the field, how good he is with people, I think he's going to figure it out and be fine. But like we say, you always got to take responsibility and try to improve in all facets of life."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Josh McCown's level of self belief is truly admirable.While most assume the New York Jets will be lucky to rattle off multiple wins next season, McCown believes his team is on the right track."I think the future is bright for our team," McCown said on ESPN, according to Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk. "We've got a good mix of the right guys who are willing to help the young guys learn but (are) also committed to moving forward this year."McCown cited the professionalism of Matt Forte and Muhammad Wilkerson as great examples for young players learning how to make it in the NFL. Top draft pick Jamal Adams has impressed him through offseason sessions as well.While he has high hopes for his team's future, the journeyman quarterback also acknowledged that the Jets were the only team to offer him a chance to start."I'm a competitor, but I want to go down playing, go down competing, so when somebody says 'You've got a chance to compete' wherever it is, I'm like, 'Sign me up for that,'" McCown said. "I'm going to go out and play the best ball I've ever played in my career and as a team we're going to come together and maybe buck a lot of people's expectations."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers have released offensive tackle Michael Oher, the team announced, citing a failed physical.Oher had been diagnosed with a concussion in November and had not been cleared from concussion protocol prior to his release. Oher played three games for the Panthers in 2016 and started all 16 games during their 15-1 season in 2015.The 31-year-old reported to minicamp in June not long after posting then deleting a photo of pill bottles with the caption "All for the brain smh."The eight-year veteran had some legal trouble this spring, being accused of attacking an Uber driver in Tennessee in April.Oher, who rose to fame as the subject of the movie "The Blind Side," also came to the defense of former GM Dave Gettleman after his firing on Monday. The Panthers named Marty Hurney as interim GM on Wednesday. The team also signed guard Trai Turner to a four-year extension Thursday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While the Los Angeles Chargers may be without one receiver in 2017, Philip Rivers is fully confident in the return of another.After Keenan Allen went down with an ACL tear in his season opener last year, the Chargers quarterback says his top target will be back to old form in the near future."He looks like himself," Rivers told "The Rich Eisen Show," according to NFL.com's Chris Wesseling. "... I really think he looks just as good as before he got hurt."Allen participated in May and June offseason practices, and though he wasn't back to 100 percent, Rivers expects Allen to be ready to go by the start of the season."He practiced with us all offseason," said Rivers. "I spoke to him the other day, and he's so fired up to be out there with us. I don't think you'll see a difference. You'll see the same guy trot out there as last September."Allen has struggled with injuries over the last two seasons, missing eight games in 2015 with a kidney issue. He was projected to be a star after racking up 1,046 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie in 2013, but poor health has muddied the evaluation of his skills since.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NFL MVP O.J. Simpson will come out of prison richer than when he entered.Simpson, who was granted parole Thursday after serving almost nine years in jail on robbery charges, could have made just over $600,000 while in the Lovelock Correctional Center in Nevada, ESPN's Darren Rovell reports. The money comes from his NFL pension. While he owes roughly $40 million to the families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald L. Goldman via a civil suit, his pension income is protected by state law.There's some uncertainty about Simpson's earnings because it's not clear when he started collecting his pension. He'd have made $423,570 if he started at age 55, according to Rovell, but if Simpson waited until age 65, the pension formula would have paid him $602,205.Simpson won't be released until October at the earliest.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals re-signed running back Chris Johnson to a one-year deal Thursday.Terms of the contract were not disclosed by the Cardinals.Johnson played sparingly last season, rushing for 95 yards and a touchdown in four games. The veteran running back will serve as David Johnson's backup.During the summer, Chris will compete against T.J. Logan for his place on the depth chart.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After spending almost nine years in a Nevada state prison, O.J. Simpson was granted parole Thursday.The 70-year-old former NFL star was serving a 33-year sentence for armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. He was expected to be given parole after keeping a clean record behind bars since being found guilty in October 2008.Simpson's official release won't come until October, when he meets the mandatory minimum of nine years in prison.The Hall of Fame running back was arrested in September 2007 after he and five men stole sports memorabilia from two dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room. Simpson claimed the memorabilia was originally stolen from him, but that argument didn't hold up in court.After infamously being found not guilty in the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, in 1995, Simpson found himself in legal trouble several times before being incarcerated. Following the criminal trial, he lost a civil suit that ordered him to pay a total of $33.5 million to the families of Brown Simpson and Goldman, forcing him to auction off much of his own memorabilia to contribute to the damages. He also picked up charges for battery, auto-burglary, and speeding between 2000 and 2002, had the FBI and DEA raid his house in 2001, and lost a civil suit to DirecTV in 2005.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers guard Trai Turner revealed he signed a four-year contract extension Thursday.Terms of the deal were not disclosed by the Panthers, but a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Turner signed a four-year extension worth $45 million with $20.5 million guaranteed.Turner has been named to the Pro Bowl in consecutive seasons.The 24-year-old is in the final year of his contract and is scheduled to earn $1.79 million in base salary for the upcoming season.He's emerged as one of the NFL's best guards since the Panthers selected him in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft.Panthers interim general manager Marty Hurney is apparently already working furiously after being appointed Wednesday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

O.J. Simpson's parole hearing Thursday captivated audiences, including current and former NFL players.Players tweeted as the former NFL MVP and five-time All Pro appealed for and was granted his early release from prison for an armed robbery after serving nine years in jail.Of the players, former defensive tackle Terrance Knighton was particularly invested.

O.J. Simpson couldn't avoid controversy during his parole hearing Thursday, delivering a statement that most people would certainly find patently false.Simpson spoke at length when questioned during the hearing, but submitted a dubious self-assessment."I've always felt that I've been pretty good with people and I've basically spent a conflict-free life," Simpson said.Simpson was acquitted of murdering his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, in 1995, though he was found guilty of the crime in civil court. The former running back spent the past eight years in jail for felony armed robbery and kidnapping.

Matt Ryan has watched the film on three separate occasions. He's at no risk of forgetting the most stinging loss of his career, a 34-28 overtime loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI.Over the offseason, the Atlanta Falcons quarterback has dissected how his team let go of a 25-point lead, and broke it down to Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com. Ryan said he would have liked to change some of the late plays called by then-offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, but was in no position to do so.Leading 28-20 with under five minutes to play, Ryan found star receiver Julio Jones for a 27-yard strike to the New England 22-yard line. Jones made an acrobatic catch along the sideline that put the Falcons in position to expand their lead to a two-score advantage."We made the play to win the Super Bowl to Julio," said Ryan.Of course, what followed was a stuffed run on first down, a sack on second down, a holding penalty, and an incomplete pass to put the ball back in the Patriots' hands. The Falcons have since been criticized for not running the ball in that circumstance and running out the clock."Kyle's play calls - he would take time to get stuff in," Ryan said. "As I was getting it, you're looking at the clock and you're talking 16 seconds before it cuts out. You don't have a lot of time to say, 'There's 16 seconds, no, no, no, we're not going to do that. Hey, guys, we're going to line up and run this.' You're talking about breaking the huddle at seven seconds if you do something along the lines."With the way Kyle's system was set up, he took more time to call plays and we shift and motion a lot more than we did with (former coordinator) Dirk (Koetter). You couldn't get out of stuff like that. We talk about being the most aggressive team in football. And I'm all for it. But there's also winning time. You're not being aggressive not running it there."Shanahan was named head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in February.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.