New York Jets tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins appears to be taking his second chance in professional football quite seriously.Seferian-Jenkins was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last September following a DUI charge and was claimed off waivers by the Jets. The incident also saw him suspended for the first two games of the upcoming season for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.Related: Jets' Seferian-Jenkins sober for 129 days: 'It's been a transformation'However, Seferian-Jenkins has been on a transformation, losing 30 pounds and opting for sobriety. The 24-year-old is intent on capitalizing on his second professional stint."I feel like a different person on and off the field,” Seferian-Jenkins said via the Jets' official website. "The weight loss has been tremendous and I'm just really happy I have the opportunity to show the Jets taking a chance on me is going to pay off. I'm just trying to work every single day on the team like everybody else."Seferian-Jenkins excelled during offseason workouts, and credited both his weight loss and teammates for his strong showing."I think a lot of that has to do with the weight loss and I think that’s kudos to Josh McCown, Christian Hackenberg, Bryce Petty and (offensive coordinator) John Morton," Seferian-Jenkins said. "Coach Morton has definitely made an emphasis to use the tight end and it’s on the tight end room to make sure we do the best we can to take full advantage of those opportunities."The Jets are widely projected to struggle in the upcoming season, but at least Seferian-Jenkins has been presented with a real opportunity for redemption.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady's new self-help book won't be published until September, but it's already an Amazon bestseller.The New England Patriots quarterback announced Thursday he was writing "The TB12 Method: How to Achieve a Lifetime of Sustained Peak Performance," and by Friday afternoon, it had moved to the No. 2 spot on Amazon's bestselling books list.The book will be available in hardcover, e-book, and audio editions.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Denver Broncos have owned the league's best pass defense for two years running. Defensive backs Aqib Talib, Chris Harris Jr., and T.J. Ward get much of the credit for the ranking, but one other member of the secondary is often overlooked. He isn't taking his exclusion from the spotlight as a slight, though."I kind of like people giving me no credit of being in 'No Fly,'" Broncos cornerback Bradley Roby told Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post, referring to the unit's "No Fly Zone" nickname."Because I'm like, 'Well, you see me out here making plays, so you have to mention my name.' Just because you're not a starter, doesn't mean you can't be a top player in this league."In his third year out of college, Roby contributed 39 tackles and two interceptions, taking both picks back for scores.He only started four games, but played in all 16 contests, aiding the Broncos as they shut down opposing aerial assaults."Roby is a young corner that could be really, really special," new Broncos head coach Vance Joseph told Jhabvala. "He's playing behind two Pro Bowl guys. From time to time, he has to push himself to continue to become what they are. That's tough, because on most teams, he would be a starter."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If it were up to Demaryius Thomas, the Denver Broncos' quarterback competition would be decided before the team plays its second preseason game.Speaking at his football camp Friday, Thomas said he wants new Broncos head coach Vance Joseph to name a starter "about a week and a half into camp," before their game against the San Francisco 49ers, according to 9News' Mike Klis.Thomas also echoed a report from a few weeks ago, saying sophomore passer Paxton Lynch came on strong late at minicamp and closed the gap on 2016 starter Trevor Siemian."The last couple of weeks, (Lynch) was just out there lighting it up," he said.The veteran wideout also commended Siemian for his consistent play at spring practice.The Broncos surely want Lynch to win the job, as they invested a 2016 first-round pick to draft him, but considering they have a Super Bowl-caliber defense, it's unlikely they'll force the young passer into the starting role unless he truly earns it.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson is seeking to join rarefied company after recording 20 touchdowns in 2016.Johnson emerged as the NFL's most dynamic all-around threat last season, rushing for 1,239 yards and 16 touchdowns, while adding 80 receptions for 879 yards and four scores, earning Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro honors.Ahead of the upcoming season, Johnson is looking to cement his place in history as one of the NFL's greatest offensive threats."That's my No. 1 goal - to have 1,000 receiving and 1,000 rushing - just because two guys have done it and also because I was so close last year," Johnson said on CBS Sports Radio's Tiki and Tierney. "Unfortunately with the injury, I wasn't able to do it. I felt like I would have had a chance to do it. I was feeling good that game. I was having a good game until the injury. But I know for a fact that's one of my main goals."Johnson suffered an MCL sprain in the final game of the season, barring him from joining Marshall Faulk and Roger Craig as the only players to record both 1,000 yards receiving and rushing in a single season.Although the Cardinals boast many offensive weapons, including Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown and J.J. Nelson, Johnson is once again expected to serve as the fulcrum of the team's scheme, and could be in line to join a selective club next winter.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Whoever is running the Carolina Panthers' Twitter account has too much time on their hands. Or maybe just the right amount.The account posted this curious tweet Friday morning:

Gary Barnidge has read the news clips.The former Pro Bowl tight end was released by the Cleveland Browns in April. Since then, he has watched as the Baltimore Ravens lost tight ends Dennis Pitta to a career-threatening hip injury and Darren Waller to a year-long suspension. Meanwhile, their fellow Ravens tight ends Benjamin Watson and Maxx Williams are also recovering from season-ending injuries.The fit appears obvious for Barnidge to join a former AFC North rival, but the pairing hasn't formed just yet."They know who to contact, who to call," Barnidge said on a radio show, according to Callie Caplan of the Baltimore Sun. "I just know we haven't heard anything yet, which is fine."Barnidge has paid a free-agent visit to the Buffalo Bills, but remains on the open market, which is OK with him."I'm in no hurry," he said. "I'm staying in shape. I'll be ready when that call comes, so I'm in no rush right now."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The deadline for teams to sign franchise-tagged players to long-term deals is July 17. With that in mind, here are the cases for and against the Pittsburgh Steelers inking running back Le'Veon Bell to a multi-year deal:ForProductionThe arguments for the Steelers extending Bell are obvious. If he's not the best running back in the league, he's at least among the top three. His combination of size, speed, and patience is unmatched. Last season, he finished fifth in rushing yards despite playing in just 12 games.Over the past two years, Bell averaged a shade under 5 yards per carry. When he's handed the ball out of the backfield, he averages halfway to a first down. That kind of dependability puts him in the top tier at his position, and makes him an indispensable cog in Pittsburgh's lineup.Steelers' record without BellIncluding the 2016 conference title game, in which Bell carried the ball just six times before succumbing to injury, Pittsburgh's record without him is 11-10.The Steelers had to open three of the past four seasons without Bell in the lineup. His absence is most felt in the postseason, however. Pittsburgh was eliminated in its lone playoff game in 2014, lost in the divisional round in 2015, and dropped the only 2016 playoff game Bell was unable to make an impact in: the AFC Championship Game against the Patriots.Steelers' record with BellBell played in the postseason for the first time this past season and immediately set an NFL record for most rushing yards in a player's first two playoff games. Behind his 29-carry, 167-yard performance, the Steelers won their wild-card matchup with the Dolphins, then rode him to 30 carries and 170 yards in a divisional-round defeat of the Chiefs.In his four-year career, Pittsburgh has a 32-17 record when he's on the field. When he's available, Bell makes a difference.The promise of a full seasonAll of this is to say that one full season of Bell could be a special one.He rushed for 1,268 yards in 12 games last campaign, averaging 105 yards on the ground per game. Those numbers projected out for a 16-game season would have netted him a 1,690-yard year, which would have topped Ezekiel Elliott for the rushing title. Take into account the team's record without Bell in the postseason, and he has proven to be the ultimate difference-maker.AgainstSuspension historyOf course, the reason the Steelers have had to start so many campaigns without Bell in the lineup is his suspension history. He was banned for the first three games of 2016 for missing multiple drug tests, and was suspended for the first two games of 2015 after being arrested for marijuana possession and driving under the influence.Though he's reliable on the field, his drug history has likely given the team pause when considering making a rich long-term investment in the 25-year-old.Injury historyWhile suspensions can be avoided, injuries are part of the game, and they sapped Pittsburgh of its marquee back for the final eight games of 2015 and four of its last six playoff games.If Bell can't play in the most important games, what good does it do the franchise to make him one of the highest-paid running backs?Paying running backsBell is only 25 and is either still in or set to enter his prime, but it still goes against conventional football wisdom to heap an exorbitant amount of money on a running back. He may just be worth going against conventional thinking, as he has just one full 16-game season under his belt, but the soft tissue injuries that have dotted his career should be warning signs.The top deal for an RB belongs to LeSean McCoy, who inked a five-year, $40-million contract in 2015. It is, however, only the 120th-richest contract in the league. That's as clear a sign as any of how teams view the running back position. An extension for Bell would, without question, exceed McCoy's.Roethlisberger's impending retirementThere's an argument that the eventual retirement of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger should lead the Steelers to pay to keep Bell around long term. What Big Ben's flirting with retirement should remind the Pittsburgh faithful of is that their championship window is closing rapidly.The moment Roethlisberger hangs up his cleats, Landry Jones or Joshua Dobbs will have to step in to fill his large shoes. Both quarterbacks require more development in order to lead the team to championship contention.So, if Big Ben retires in the next year or two, what good does it do the Steelers to have both the highest-paid receiver (Antonio Brown, $16 million per year until 2022) and running back in the game?ConclusionIn the end, it's likely the Steelers will find Bell too rare a talent to relinquish. A long-term deal won't cost the team as much as it would for a premium player at another position. He may have to play the 2017 season under the franchise tag in order to earn it, however.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A group of current and former NFL players has made a large investment in a startup founded by 12-year-old entrepreneur Mikaila Ulmer, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.The company is called Me & The Bees Lemonade and its preteen founder Ulmer has appeared on "Shark Tank." The product? Ulmer's great-grandmother's wildflower honey and flaxseed lemonade, which is now sold in stores like Whole Foods.The company, and its mission to save the bees, caught the attention of former Houston Texans running back Arian Foster, who spends some of his time these days making investments.Foster, Texans offensive tackle Duane Brown, former Texans running back Jonathan Grimes, Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner, Detroit Lions safety Glover Quin, Lions cornerback Darius Slay, and other NFL players have combined to invest a total of $810,000."It's awesome that I get to work with and around these two," Ulmer said of Foster and Quin. "They're very smart. I learned a lot from them in the past couple of hours. I'm very happy that I'm able to work with them and they invested in my company and them helping us and mentoring us and believing in our mission. I think we have a better chance of achieving our goals. That keeps me pumped and excited every day."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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.Which remaining unsigned player can make the biggest on-field impact?Dan Wilkins: Anquan Boldin once again sitting unsigned in the weeks leading up to training camp is particularly surprising. Though his yardage numbers continued to dwindle last season in Detroit, falling to a career-low mark of 584, the eight touchdowns he posted was his highest since 2008. Boldin is still the perfect big-slot type who can work the middle of the field, make things happen in the red zone, and contribute as a run-blocker. He'll turn 37 in October, but there are plenty of offenses who could use a savvy veteran with that kind of ability on a short-term deal.Michael McClymont: DeAngelo Williams has proven he can still get the job done even into his 30s. He started in place of Le'Veon Bell to begin last season and opened the year with a 143-yard, two-touchdown performance. In the season prior, he started 10 times and finished the campaign with 11 touchdowns. There are far too many teams getting poor production at the running back position for Williams to remain jobless.Arun Srinivasan: It's hard to believe that Sen'Derrick Marks remains on the open market, as the former Jaguars defensive lineman represents a low-risk, high-reward opportunity for a team in need of help on the interior. Marks may have lost some explosiveness, but he would be an asset in rotational pass-rush duties. It wasn't long ago that Marks was among the NFL's best defensive tackles, and a title contender ought to offer him a one-year deal.Should the NFL put speakers in every player's helmet?Srinivasan: Former Indianapolis Colts tackle Tarik Glenn revealed that his team installed a de facto hearing aid in helmets to circumvent crowd noise on the road. While it'd be illegal under current NFL rules, the league should adopt an amendment for teams to implement speakers in player's helmets. The on-field product would be positively affected by greater communication, and if there are no safety risks involved in installing speakers, the NFL ought to seriously consider it.Wilkins: If we're already using speakers for one designated player on each side of the ball, why not do it for all? Speed up the play-calling process and allow players to get the message delivered directly to them rather than relayed by someone else in a huddle. It could certainly help eliminate on-field miscommunication issues.McClymont: Speakers in every player's helmet would eliminate the need for a huddle. While that would do much for the pace of the game, it also eliminates one of its staples. It would also all but dull the impact of crowd noise and make stadiums little more than cookie-cutter mausoleums. There's no immediate need to have a speaker in every helmet.Which NFL player should write a tell-all memoir?McClymont: Colin Kaepernick. From his upbringing as an adopted child and his relationship with both his biological and adopted parents, to his sudden rise to fame after being thrust into the starting position for the 49ers, to his decision to kneel for the national anthem and the backlash he incurred, Kaepernick's story is a compelling one. And it's still being written. He recently made a trip to Ghana to learn more about his heritage. This is a man of many layers, and at 29, he's still discovering himself.Srinivasan: Terrelle Pryor was once the nation's top-ranked recruit, then rendered college football analysts aghast by signing with Ohio State more than a month after national signing day. Pryor was implicated in a scandal that led to Jim Tressel's dismissal at Ohio State and bounced around the NFL as a fringe-level quarterback before emerging as a 1,000-yard plus receiver last season. Entering his latest chapter with Washington, Pryor's turbulent career would make for an excellent memoir.Wilkins: Marshawn Lynch is far and away one of the most entertaining players this league has even seen. The few candid moments we have gotten from the star running back, when he isn't avoiding the media at all costs, have been great. What NFL fan wouldn't want more of that? Lynch's story would be a must-read.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Only a pair of NFL prospects will be eligible for selection in this year's supplemental draft.The two young talents hoping to generate some interest from teams next week are Georgia Military College defensive end Tavares Bingham and Western New Mexico running back Marques Rodgers, according to Rob Rang of NFL Draft Scout.Bingham, who's listed at 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds on the GMC website, recorded three sacks and 12 tackles after transferring from Mississippi Gulf Coast.Rodgers racked up over 1,200 rushing yards and 16 total touchdowns across a two-year stretch before being ruled academically ineligible to play in 2016.First implemented back in 1977, the supplemental draft provides an opportunity for young players who did not enter April's NFL draft but have since had their eligibility change.Isaiah Battle, a fifth-round pick of the now-former St. Louis Rams in 2015, was the last player selected in the supplemental draft. Other notable picks in recent history include Terrelle Pryor and Josh Gordon.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NFL player De'Von Hall is the accused suspect in the brutal murder of his mother, Alecia Benson.A feature from Nathan Fenno of The Los Angeles Times shed some light on the downward spiral of Hall's life and the alleged beating that led to Benson's death.At the forefront of Hall's story is his apparent battle with mental illness. While some former teammates have a theory that a party incident during his NFL days resulted in a drug addiction, family members believe a head injury suffered in 2009 led to changes in his personality."The NFL, in my opinion, should've done a better job in making sure they took care of this kid," uncle Tony Benson told The Times.Hall's lone experience on an NFL roster came in 2009, where he appeared in four games for the Indianapolis Colts.Currently in jail on a $1-million bail, the 29-year-old pleaded not guilty. Criminal proceedings have been suspended while a mental evaluation is ordered for Hall.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Video contains coarse language

The Washington Redskins may not be shedding the stench of dysfunction any time soon.Former quarterback Jason Campbell became the latest in a long line to offer up some not-so-glamorous details about the curious ways in which the club has gone about its business.In an interview with Deron Snyder of The Washington Times, Campbell provided a particularly odd example from back in 2009.Sherman Lewis, a former assistant coach who'd been retired since 2004, was brought on as an offensive consultant in Week 5. Just two games later, he was already calling the plays."That was really weird," Campbell said. "He didn't even know all the plays. It was just crazy. You could feel the animosity on the field. Lewis told me in all his years in football he had never seen a quarterback deal with so much chaos going on around him. It was a hard position for me to be in."Campbell, a first-round pick in 2005, played the first four years of his career in Washington. Though he says there was plenty to love about that stay, the level of distraction carried significant weight."The hard thing is the Redskins have a really big fan base and you fall in love with people in the D.C. area," Campbell said. "That's the part that makes you want to be there. Then there's the football side of it. You have a good relationship with the guys who played before you. But the flip side is when you realize there's a whole bunch of crazy going on."Campbell showed some flashes of potential across his four seasons in Washington. His most productive year, despite the aforementioned play-calling structure, was a 3,618-yard, 20-touchdown effort in 2009.But he was never truly able to settle in amid the constant changes. And moving on didn't help, either.Campbell would bounce around the league following his departure from Washington, spending time with the Oakland Raiders, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, and Cincinnati Bengals across a five-season stretch before calling it a career in 2015.- With h/t to Pro Football TalkCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

David Johnson is hoping to send a pair veteran teammates out with an accomplishment that has eluded them to this point in their otherwise successful NFL careers.Making an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Thursday, the Arizona Cardinals running back detailed his motivation to help Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald get that ever-elusive ring."I don't know as far as the team, but for me, I feel like definitely (it's a goal to win for them)," Johnson said, via Kevin Patra of NFL.com. "Because Carson, especially Carson and Larry, those two guys have taught me so much in these last two years that helped me so much with the playbook."Learning how to run a route effectively, it's not all about speed, it's also about technique and stuff. So I really want to do it for those guys. Especially since they're such - not just great athletes, but great people off the field. So I feel like there's a little pressure on me to do as much as I can to get that ring for those two."The Cardinals were widely considered to be a Super Bowl favorite heading into 2016, boasting one of the league's most talented and well-balanced rosters on both sides of the ball.Things didn't exactly work out as planned, though, with some frustrating inconsistencies leading to a 7-8-1 finish. Now that Palmer and Fitzgerald have put off retirement for at least another year, Arizona will give it another go with their longtime leaders in the mix.Johnson will, of course, have a major impact on the club's chances of accomplishing the lofty goal.The 2015 third-round pick has quickly demonstrated an ability to single-handedly carry an offense. In a breakout sophomore campaign last year, Johnson compiled an impressive stat line of 1,239 rushing yards, 879 receiving yards, and 20 total touchdowns.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady is writing a book called "The TB12 Method: How to Achieve a Lifetime of Sustained Peak Performance," and you'll be able to buy it this fall, if that sort of thing interests you.While it sounds like the book will just be a guide to the ways Brady has remained an elite athlete in his late 30s (spoiler: he eats healthy and stretches a lot), we're hoping he'll embrace the opportunity to truly open up to his fans in his own words.Here are five topics we'd love to see Brady write about in-depth:The time he played with swollen testiclesMost NFL fans remember the torn ACL that cost Brady all but one game in 2008, but did you know that it wasn't necessarily the most painful injury of his career?Late in the 2005 season, Brady played through a sports hernia that reportedly caused his testicles to swell to three times their normal size. Yikes! Perhaps not coincidentally, that's the year Brady lost his first playoff game.(Insert joke about inflated balls here.)Who is really running his social media accountsBrady is prolific on Facebook, regularly posting the sort of goofy content moms and dads crave.The account is under Brady's name, and posts are written in the first person, but it's awfully hard to believe he's sitting at home during the season and photoshopping himself into the "Top Gun" poster to troll the New York Jets:Or into a game of table tennis, for no apparent reason:So who's running the account? Is it Gisele? Is it a team of interns Brady employs?And what does he have to gain from all of this? He's a multimillionaire, multi-time Super Bowl winner who's married to a supermodel. Does he crave Facebook likes that much?Where he learned to danceWe need an explanation for this:

The NFL will be making a prime-time appearance sooner than anticipated.A handful of current football players will be competing against a set of retired players in an episode of "Celebrity Family Feud" set to air on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.The "NFLPA All Stars" team features Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell, Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson, Houston Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson, and Cleveland Browns fan favorite Joe Thomas.They will compete against "NFLPA Legends" Marshall Faulk, Andre Reed, Anthony Munoz, Rod Woodson, and Derrick Brooks.Both sides will be competing to win $25,000 for the Professional Athletes Foundation or Active Minds charities.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A firework took out a block of seats inside Nissan Stadium - the home of the Tennessee Titans - during Fourth of July celebrations on Tuesday.Related: Fireworks damage Titans' stadiumNewsChannel5.com captured footage of the display. Skip to the 33-minute mark to see the firework that went off inside the stadium.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams may be without star defensive tackle Aaron Donald when training camp gets underway.Donald has let it be known he's interested in a new, much richer deal, and hinted that a holdout may be possible if he can't come to terms with the Rams in the near future.Related: Rams' Donald on contract negotiations: 'We'll see what happens'If he does opt to hold out, it appears his teammates won't hold it against him."We support Aaron in any decision he makes," fellow defensive tackle Michael Brockers said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "We respect him and he deserves a big deal. He wows me every day."In three seasons, Donald finds himself among the best at his position. He's a player the Rams can ill afford to be without as they hope to build on their 4-12 showing a year ago.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns and spent 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast."What if you were to build the ideal player at every position? We decided to do exactly that by taking the head, eyes, arm/hands, body, and feet of a great player and assembling the ideal specimen. We also decided that you could only use one aspect of each player and that we could not double-dip. We conclude the series with defensive backs.McCourty is the unsung hero of Bill Belichick's defense. A former first-round pick, McCourty came into the league as a cornerback prospect, but quickly switched to safety. The reality is that McCourty can do both very well.He can play man coverage in the slot. He can play deep center field. He can play near the line of scrimmage. McCourty is certainly talented, but his head for the game is what endears him to Belichick and allows the Patriots to use him effectively in so many ways. He is the glue to this defense.Like Ed Reed before him, Thomas patrols the deep middle of the field like no other in the game right now. He is the great eraser of mistakes made by those in front of him in Seattle's defense and this unit clearly was not the same at the end of the 2017 campaign while Thomas was sidelined.He is a special player on a Hall of Fame career path and quite possibly the most important player on the historic run this Seahawks' defense is currently on. Thomas is a striker and has great range, but his vision of the entire field and ability to read the quarterback are what makes Thomas truly great.A wide receiver in college, Sherman's ball skills are very apparent and throwing his way often results in a negative play for the offense. He has long arms and soft, but strong, hands, that he uses very well to jam receivers, especially when the ball is in the air.Having a great pass rush in front of him and Thomas behind him for almost the entirety of Sherman's career has allowed him to take more chances than many cornerbacks, but Sherman is obviously a terrific player in his own right and a very dangerous cover man to attack.Ramsey is on the verge of stardom. It will be very interesting to see if A.J. Bouye or Ramsey are targeted more in 2017 in what should be an excellent Jaguars' defense. Ramsey is clearly athletic enough to excel as a cornerback, but also has the size to play safety. Coming out of Florida State, there was much discussion as to how to best utilize Ramsey's wealth of talents.Jacksonville has not employed this young man in a wide variety of ways yet, but Ramsey is certainly capable. While the talent here is overwhelming, it's Ramsey's size that stands out most and separates him from other talented early round picks at the cornerback position. Few noticed because it was with the Jaguars, but Ramsey finished up his rookie season extremely strong. It might not be long at all before he is the best cornerback in all of football.Few cornerbacks excel like Harris does both in the slot and on the perimeter.If you think about it, the responsibilities between those two alignments are very different, as is the type of receiver Harris has to cover week to week. Unlike most top cornerbacks, Harris didn't enter the league billed as a physical freak or as an early round selection. But Harris is a master technician with great tenacity and competitiveness.His greatest physical asset though is very sweet feet. He plants his foot in the ground and drives extremely well. Harris is also very light on his feet in terms of changing direction, while usually staying in the hip pocket of his receiver. He's a great player.Other entries in the series:

Indianapolis Colts rookie linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. was finally able to make good on a promise he made to his father 11 years ago.On Wednesday, Walker purchased a new Lexus for his dad and shared a photo of the heartwarming moment on Twitter:

Simon & Schuster will publish "The TB12 Method: How to Achieve a Lifetime of Sustained Peak Performance" in September, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The book's author is Tom Brady."I am excited to share this with you, the culmination of what I have been working on for the past 12 years of my career - something that I know can benefit ALL people regardless of age, athletic level, or stage of life," Brady wrote on Instagram after news of the impending book broke."So many people ask me, 'What do I do to maintain my motivation and commitment to my sport? How is it possible to keep playing football at 40 years old?' So for anyone who's ever wondered why I feel better today than when I was 25, I've got something for you. Whether you’re a high school, college, or pro athlete, a coach, a farmer, an executive, a teacher, a doctor, a student, a parent, a graphic designer, ANYONE - I know the methods in this book can be a blueprint to better understanding how to maintain peak mental and physical fitness for the rest of your life. I call it the TB12 Method and it's coming soon."Based on Brady's description, it's a safe bet that the book will focus on Brady's strict diet and workout regimen, rather than specific advice on how to win Super Bowls.Brady has several highly specific beliefs about food (he has never eaten a strawberry, nor tried coffee, and says he never wants to), and he also endorses a special line of pajamas he says helps heal the body while you sleep, so the book might be more interesting than a typical "eat healthy and exercise" screed.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Indianapolis Colts will unveil a statue of Peyton Manning on Oct. 7, but his former coach Jim Mora won't be there.Mora, Manning's head coach for the first four years of his career, revealed Wednesday that his former quarterback invited him to the event, but that he turned down the invitation."I told him I wasn't going to come," Mora said on WNDE radio's "Query & Schultz" show, according to Dakota Crawford of the Indianapolis Star."I had reasons. I would love to come back there, but because of the way I left the Colts, my relationship with (former Colts general manager Bill) Polian, I don't know. I just wouldn't feel that I would feel comfortable being there."Mora coached Indianapolis for four seasons, going 32-32 while leading the team to the playoffs twice, where it went 0-2. Yet, it was a staffing dispute that led to his departure from the team, as he was fired for refusing to cut ties with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio."That's exactly true," Mora said. "It was either fire Vic of fire me. I was asked by Bill Polian - I was told by Bill Polian - he wanted me to fire Vic Fangio. I said, 'Well, he doesn't deserve to be fired. He's an outstanding coach, was then and he still is.' So we had talks with (owner) Jim Irsay, it came down and I wouldn't do it ..."I couldn't fire a friend or a coach that I felt was very qualified that didn't deserve to be fired. So I got fired. That was it."It was Mora's last coaching job in the NFL. He was replaced in Indianapolis by Tony Dungy, and Manning ultimately finished his tenure in Indy being coached by Jim Caldwell.- With h/t to Pro Football TalkCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Forget taking the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back to the playoffs and winning a Super Bowl, Jameis Winston has much loftier goals.The Bucs' franchise quarterback is expected by many to ascend to the top echelon at his position in his third season. That's no more daunting than the pressure Winston puts on himself, however."Ultimately, I want to be the greatest of all time one day. That has to be your goal," Winston said in an interview with NFL Network.

DeForest Buckner has quickly earned the respect of a division rival.After being one of the San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman's workout partners for the past two years, Seattle Seahawks veteran Michael Bennett thinks the sky's the limit for Buckner as he enters his second season."DeForest, I'm lucky to be working with a guy like that," Bennett told Sam Spangler of KHON2 on Tuesday. "I think DeForest will eventually be a Defensive Player of the Year. I think he has the talent to be able to do that. I keep telling him there's nobody like him. He's not normal. His physique, his speed, it's not normal - so when you're not normal, you can do not-normal things, and winning the defensive MVP is not normal for most people."The 49ers' surplus of defensive-line talent caused many to wonder whether they would trade one of their recent first-round picks in order to bolster the roster as a whole.Hanging on to both Buckner and Arik Armstead, despite the fact the new management regime doesn't have ties to either, seems to indicate that both remain key parts of the franchise's plan.Buckner started all 15 appearances after joining the 49ers as the No. 7 overall pick in last year's draft, recording 73 tackles and tying for a team high with six sacks.He and Armstead, the No. 17 overall pick in 2015, are now joined by first-round rookie Solomon Thomas. The versatile trio will be counted on to lead the way in a much-needed turnaround on the defensive side of the ball.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Russell Wilson wants to provide some wisdom to aspiring signal-callers who hope to be in his position one day.The Seattle Seahawks superstar, in partnership with former NFL quarterback Jake Heaps, announced Wednesday that he's opening the Russell Wilson Quarterback Academy to provide "elite training" for young passers.

A fireworks mishap during a Fourth of July celebration damaged Nissan Stadium on Tuesday night.Rather than going off in the air, one of the firework shells landed in the upper deck of the stadium before exploding. Some concrete and some seats were blown out, according to Terry McCormick of Titans Insider."It took place toward the end of the show," said Lansden Hill, owner of Pyro Shows, which was responsible for the fireworks. "The shells are supposed to go off in the air, but this one came back down and didn't go off until it landed in the upper deck."It was just one of those things that will occasionally happen. That's why the fire code requires that we keep the crowd a certain area away from it. We know out of every 1,000 shells, not all of them are going to work right."Monica Fawknotson, the director of Metro Sports Authority, said there were no injuries and upcoming events aren't expected to be impacted. She confirmed that Pyro Shows is responsible for the cost of the repairs.The Titans' first home game of the year is set for Aug. 19, a Week 2 preseason matchup with the Carolina Panthers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Now having concluded his brief stint in the world of wrestling, DeAngelo Williams intends to continue his NFL career.A 34-year-old running back typically needs to be patient and remain open to all opportunities, and for the most part, Williams is doing that - with a caveat.The veteran ball-carrier is confident a team will look his way when injuries strike, telling ESPN's Adam Schefter, "Whether it's the Pittsburgh Steelers, whether it's somebody else, I know that there's 28 teams out there that could use my services."Asked to clarify, Williams reiterated that he's open to re-signing with the Steelers, but has already crossed four teams off his list."I'm not ruling it out," he said. "But I did rule out four other teams."Williams declined to identify the quartet of clubs, but agreed to reveal his "automatic no" teams after a poll is posted on ESPN allowing fans to make their guesses.Injuries and a healthy Le'Veon Bell significantly limited Williams' usage and production last season, with less-than-ideal effects on his value on the open market.Interested teams may be encouraged by his promising output the year prior, however. He finished the 2015 campaign with 907 rushing yards, 367 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns across 16 games.That impressive rushing total was Williams' best since 2009, his fourth season after initially landing with the Carolina Panthers as a first-round pick."Me, considering myself a reliable football player - I'm not going to say a reliable running back, I'm going to say a reliable football player - I know that somebody out there feels as if they can depend on me," Williams said.- With h/t to CBS SportsCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The football legends set to receive the game's highest honor have officially selected their presenters for their upcoming enshrinement ceremony.The Pro Football Hall of Fame confirmed Wednesday the finalized list of presenters for each of the seven inductees in the 2017 class.

Dorial Green-Beckham will be seeking his next landing spot as an unrestricted free agent.The young wide receiver, who was cut by the Philadelphia Eagles last week, went unclaimed off waivers, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing a source.Teams passing up the opportunity to scoop up a former second-round pick under the relatively inexpensive terms of his original rookie deal is indicative of the way Green-Beckham has been unable to translate his gaudy physical skills into on-filed production over his two NFL seasons.After first landing with the Tennessee Titans in the 2015 draft, the 6-foot-5, 237-pound pass-catcher recorded 32 receptions for 549 yards and four touchdowns across 16 games.The underwhelming and inconsistent rookie campaign was enough for the Titans to give up on Green-Beckham and trade him to the Eagles in exchange for backup offensive lineman Dennis Kelly. He'd manage just 36 catches for 392 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his lone season in Philadelphia before being waived.Green-Beckham will presumably now have to settle for some sort of "prove it" deal if he's to catch on elsewhere and get another chance to make good on his potential.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Details of Dallas Cowboys linebacker Damien Wilson's arrest for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon have emerged.Amanda Guerra of KRLD reports an altercation in the parking lot at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas on Tuesday night led to Wilson's arrest. The third-year pro allegedly got into an argument with a group of tailgaters who were taking up several parking spaces, and hit a woman with his truck as he attempted to back into a space, adds Guerra.Wilson also produced a gun "at some point" during the incident.The 24-year-old was taken to a Frisco jail and has since been released on a $20,000 bond.Both the NFL and the Cowboys have said they're aware of the incident and are looking into the matter.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Russell Wilson spent the Fourth of July weekend shooting a round of golf with NBA legend Michael Jordan.The Seattle Seahawks quarterback shared an Instagram photo of him posing with Jordan while holding his 3-year-old stepson, Future Jr.

The Scam for Sam could be over before any NFL teams even have a chance to tank.Sam Darnold, touted as one of the top quarterback prospects in the country, is reportedly no lock to leave USC for the NFL after the upcoming season. Several sources close to Darnold told NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah they wouldn't be surprised if the star pivot stays in college for two more years.With the 2018 NFL Draft 10 months away, it's probably premature to speculate on what any of the top prospects will opt to do at the end of the season.And while it's possible the redshirt sophomore holds off on taking the next step in his career, he could cement himself as a top-five pick with another solid season - a prospect that will be hard to turn down.Darnold threw for over 3,000 yards and 31 touchdowns in his first season as USC's starter and headlines a quarterback class that could also boast the likes of UCLA's Josh Rosen, Louisville's Lamar Jackson, and Wyoming's Josh Allen.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

To end his career on the best possible note, Darrelle Revis will have to do the one thing he never has: forget about the money.No player in NFL history has maximized his monetary value better than the seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback. Revis has held out, forced a trade, signed with a hated rival, and essentially done everything in his power to milk every penny out of his labor. It has made him a very rich man.Now, Revis Island is adrift in uncharted waters. Without a team since his release by the New York Jets in late February, the soon-to-be 32-year-old Revis probably won't earn a single penny for playing in 2017.He'll still get paid. The Jets still owe him $6 million fully guaranteed this season even after cutting him. But that money has offset language, which means if Revis signs with a new team, every dollar he earns from that team will be subtracted from what the Jets owe him.That means $6 million is almost certainly the maximum Revis will earn from the NFL this year, regardless of whether he plays. Why would any team pay him $1 million, or anything under $6 million, when that team could just pay him $0 and let the Jets foot the bill?So, if Revis wants to play, he'll probably have to do so for free (or close).And to a player who has always commanded top dollar for his services, that can't feel right. But it also presents Revis with an opportunity.He has his Super Bowl ring, earned as a mercenary with the New England Patriots in 2014. But what he doesn't have is a proper end to his career.It was downright sad to see a former shutdown corner, someone whose rare skills earned him his own metaphorical island, torched by players like Marquise Goodwin and Kenny Britt last season. A lack of surrounding talent likely hurt Revis, as did the ways the Jets insisted on using him, but perhaps his own loss of motivation hurt most. The Jets were a very bad team and that seemed to sap any competitive fire Revis had left.We can no longer view Revis as a shutdown defender, but it's hard to imagine he has nothing at all to offer a Super Bowl contender. In the right role, which likely means playing a subset of snaps, Revis could be a useful piece.If he is, it could forever alter the way we think of him. Already a likely Hall of Famer, Revis could cement his induction into Canton as a first-ballot player with one final season of high-end play. He could write a new ending to his career arc, one that isn't a middling wideout blowing by him for a long touchdown.Most importantly, by playing for free, Revis could destroy the notion that money is the only thing that matters to him, not a desire to win.Of course, none of this matters if Revis believes he's washed up. His film from last season certainly suggests that's a possibility.But could it be that Revis is waiting for the call from the right team? Perhaps a reunion with the Patriots, or maybe a veteran team like the Pittsburgh Steelers or Seattle Seahawks, or any contender that can convince Revis there's a role for him?Playing for free isn't the way any player imagines his career's conclusion, but for Revis it could be a perfect ending.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A memorabilia company is accusing Dak Prescott of using a machine to sign his autograph on trading cards instead of signing himself, reports ESPN's Darren Rovell.Beckett Grading Services has refused to verify the Dallas Cowboys quarterback's signature from Panini's 2016 Prizm set after evaluating five autographed cards from collectors."They had a very machine-like feel," Steve Grad, principal authenticator at Beckett, said. "You could see the starts and stops."

Jerry Jones has followed Kurt Warner's lead and will have his other half introduce him for next month's Hall of Fame induction speech.The Dallas Cowboys owner will be presented by his wife, Gene Jones, before he officially enters Canton as part of the 2017 class."Any recognition that I may have received throughout our years in the NFL has been the result of a group effort involving all of my family," said Jerry, according to Nick Eatman of the Cowboys' official site. "Gene is the backbone of our family, and her influence guides and inspires all of us. She is my closest advisor, my best friend, and it is only fitting that she present me, and represent our entire family, at this very special time."Jerry and Gene have been married for 54 years and met while attending the University of Arkansas.It's fitting that a member of Jerry's family will introduce him, as the Cowboys and the Jones family have been synonymous ever since the eccentric 74-year-old bought the franchise 27 years ago. All three of the couple's children, Stephen Jones, Charlotte Jones Anderson, and Jerry Jones, Jr., hold executive positions with the Cowboys.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

Donte Moncrief was a prime candidate to break out in 2016. And in 2015, too. But a combination of injuries and slower-than-expected development has meant the Indianapolis Colts wide receiver has yet to live up to expectations.With T.Y. Hilton and Phillip Dorsett nursing injuries, Moncrief was one of the Colts' standout players during minicamp, perhaps due to the fourth-year pro dropping from 223 to 214 pounds this offseason."Last year I had some injuries," Moncrief said, according to Kevin Bowen of the Colts' official site. "This year I'm going to be injury-free and just come out and play ball. I'm in the best shape, in the best condition, and I'm ready to come out and help (Luck) and (Hilton)."He added: "I feel better, faster, and lighter."Moncrief teased his potential with a 733-yard, six-touchdown season in 2015, but many expected more from the former third-rounder, especially with Andrew Luck under center.The wideout's 2016 campaign was a forgettable one. He was limited to just nine appearances and seven starts last season due to shoulder and hamstring injuries, finishing the year with a career-low 307 receiving yards.Now 100 percent healthy and entering a contract season, Moncrief's recent efforts have caught the attention of new Colts general manager Chris Ballard."I thought Donte Moncrief had an outstanding, outstanding offseason," Ballard said. "I want to see it continue into camp and into the season.

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Damien Wilson was arrested Tuesday night and charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, Frisco police confirmed to Drew Davidson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.The Cowboys are aware of Wilson's situation and are gathering information, and the NFL is "looking into the matter to understand the facts," league spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email to Davidson.The second-year pro's arrest took place at Toyota Stadium, and he has since been released from custody on a $20,000 bond. Frisco police have yet to reveal what kind of weapon was allegedly used.Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and carries a $10,000 fine, notes Davidson.Wilson, a 2015 fourth-round selection by the Cowboys, appeared in all 16 games last season, starting six.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As far as NFL scandals go, the Colts allegedly using illegal hearing aids was pretty benign. And now, as more information surfaces, it appears there may be nothing scandalous nothing at all.Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio stirred the pot when he wrote over the weekend that the Indianapolis Colts may have used an "illegal communication system" back in the Peyton Manning era.Florio's article was based on a quote from former Colts offensive tackle Tarik Glenn, who said in an interview with Clifton Brown of the Indianapolis Star that the Colts had special hearing aids for playing in loud stadiums."We were playing on the road, it might have been Peyton's rookie year, and it was really loud," Glenn said. "Peyton (Manning) hadn't mastered the silent count, so (former offensive line coach) Howard Mudd had us wearing these hearing aids that were supposed to muffle the crowd while projecting the quarterback's voice."As Florio notes, NFL rules prohibit players from using electronic hearing devices. Only the quarterback (and one defensive player) is permitted to wear a helmet with a speaker in it.But the Colts weren't transmitting play calls to their offensive linemen. At most, they were seeking to help their linemen better hear the quarterback.And upon further scrutiny, it seems Glenn might not have revealed anything scandalous at all.It's possible, if not likely, that Glenn is using the term "hearing aid" to describe non-electronic earplugs. These would help dull the roar of a loud crowd and are seemingly permitted under the NFL's current rules (though no passage in the rule book that specifically mentions earplugs can be found).Brett Favre wore noise reduction earplugs for the Minnesota Vikings' 2009 NFC title game against the New Orleans Saints, according to ESPN's Lisa Salters.Favre openly shared this information with Saints head coach Sean Payton, who later had Drew Brees and other Saints players wear earplugs for a noisy road playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks.Payton told Salters that the Saints "love them" - probably not something a coach would say if he were circumventing the rules.In neither instance did the NFL punish the teams using earplugs. Probably because they aren't illegal.It's unlikely the NFL will waste any time investigating whether the Colts used illegal hearing aids, as there remains no evidence that they did.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is how you spend the down period of the NFL offseason.Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari tweeted his thanks to his quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, for the gift of a jet ski on Tuesday ... and the attention it brought him while spending the day at the beach:

DeAngelo Williams isn't planning on embarking on a new career as a pro wrestler. Not yet, at least.After winning his debut in a tag team match at Impact Wrestling's Slammiversary XV, free-agent running back Williams told ESPN's Adam Schefter that he still wants to play football.Related: DeAngelo Williams wins pro wrestling debut despite awkward top-rope leap"I'm definitely playing football," Williams said. "I guess you could say I'm waiting on the phone call. I guess you could say that. I mean, not guess. You can say that. I'm waiting on the phone call with a GM or head coach or whoever decides they need my services. I'll be ready. You can rest assured of that. I work out every day. I keep in shape because I know once that phone call comes - when it comes, not if - I'll be ready to step up and deliver."Williams spent the last two seasons as Le'Veon Bell's backup for the Pittsburgh Steelers, producing 343 yards rushing and six total touchdowns in 2016.Now 34 years old, there's no guarantee any team will call Williams to inquire about his services as a running back.- With h/t to Pro Football TalkCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After leading the league in sacks last season, the validity of Vic Beasley's talents and his ability to repeat the performance were immediately called into question. The Atlanta Falcons linebacker went from being a disappointing rookie in 2015 to a quarterback-crushing star in 2016, a period of time that raised eyebrows around the league.As his team hopes to show that their 25-point implosion in Super Bowl LI was a fluke, Beasley will try to prove the opposite when it comes to his sack production in 2017.Is Beasley for real?The case for BeasleyWhile Beasley led the NFL in sacks last season, it was clear from his overall play that the second-year edge rusher still has work to do on his game, but that certainly doesn't mean he can't improve and keep up his sack pace.Much of Beasley's sudden rise in success was credited to his relationships with veteran teammate Dwight Freeney, who helped improve the Falcons' entire defensive line, and from Von Miller, who sees a lot of himself in Beasley. The 24-year-old won't have Freeney on his team next season, but the veteran's lessons have been spread throughout the locker room and Miller is still available as a mentor.Though there will be no Freeney back in the Falcons' lineup, Beasley might have even more room to work with next season. Dontari Poe's added presence in the middle will suck up some blockers, and rookie Takkarist McKinley could give Beasley a book end pass-rusher to work opposite from.Beasley's progression from four sacks as a rookie to 15.5 as a sophomore is the natural progression of a talented edge rusher learning the ropes and adding experience to his arsenal every week. Now that he has the NFL's attention, Beasley's numbers may not be league-leading in 2017, but he will continue to prove that 2016 was no fluke.- Mitch SandersonThe case against BeasleyIs Beasley a solid player and could he eventually be a very good one? Sure. But in five or six years' time, his 2016 season will be viewed as a dramatic outlier. And it's not a slight against Beasley, exactly, as there are only a handful of guys who consistently put up 15 sacks a season.Miller, who's significantly better than Beasley, has only put up more than 15 sacks once in his six-year career (18.5 in 2012). As argued above, Beasley will continue to develop and will benefit greatly from an improving supporting cast. However, his production this past season was undoubtedly a fluke.Beasley produced 56 total pressures in 2016, according to Pro Football Focus, meaning he sacked the quarterback on 27.68 percent of his pressures. PFF says the average pass-rusher converts at just over 15 percent, so it's logical that Beasley will regress toward the mean.The linebacker will likely be a much better player in 2017 and beyond, but he's far from a lock to ever better his 2016 numbers for the rest of his career.- Jack BrowneYou decideRelated:

It's not too often that a 25-year-old player fresh off second-team All-Pro honors becomes available on the open market this late in the offseason.To the delight of teams around the league, that's what happened last week when Zach Orr announced he's considering a return to the NFL just months after being forced to retire due to a spinal condition.Related: Zach Orr elaborates on what changed to inspire comebackGiven his 132-tackle, three-interception output for the Ravens last season, the market for Orr's services heated up in a hurry. Baltimore didn't extend him an offer as a restricted free agent because of his retirement, so he's free to sign anywhere.Here are five logical fits for Orr as he seeks an opportunity to restart his NFL career.RavensWhen he announced his attempted return to the NFL, Orr admitted that, although he'd weigh his options, rejoining the Ravens would be a "perfect scenario." That about sums it up from the team's perspective, too. After missing all of OTAs, a critical stretch for players settling in with new teams, going back to a defense he already knows would allow Orr to hit the ground running. He'd slide right back in alongside C.J. Mosley, giving Baltimore one of the league's top linebacker tandems and rounding out a stellar defense.ColtsThe Colts have already met with Orr, so it would appear as though they've got an early advantage in terms of reeling him in. What better way to continue patching up an underwhelming defense than capitalizing on the sudden availability of a second-team All-Pro linebacker? Orr represents a major upgrade to a starting spot on the interior, and the presence of former Ravens linebackers coach Ted Monachino as defensive coordinator would help smooth his transition.RaidersAdding a pair of defensive backs through the draft should help the Raiders finally turn things around on the defensive side. A better coverage unit on the back end, both at corner and safety, can finally provide a suitable complement to the pass-rush tandem of Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin up front. But the inside linebacker situation remains such a glaring weakness that it's fair to wonder whether this unit is still another year away. Scooping up Orr would be a major step in speeding up its development.SteelersThe football world is well aware of how dynamic the Steelers' offense can be. Boasting playmakers all over the field, this is the kind of high-powered scoring attack that can carry a team on a Super Bowl run by itself. Improving on the defensive side, of course, would provide that offense some room for error. While that first-round addition of T.J. Watt certainly helps, the free-agent departure of Lawrence Timmons left a significant void. Pittsburgh, a bitter AFC North rival of the Ravens, should know all about the upside Orr can bring to that spot.GiantsNew York passed up any and all opportunities to add to its linebacker corps in this year's draft. Though many mocks had the Giants addressing one of their most obvious roster needs early on, this seems to be yet another case of a team just not valuing linebackers all that highly. And that's fine. But even the Giants must be enticed by the potential value in picking up a young talent who would have been tendered with the highest possible restricted-free-agent tag were it not for his retirement.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the weeks and months leading up to his inevitable megadeal, Derek Carr says he checked in with his agent to make sure his payday didn't stop the Oakland Raiders from locking up other cornerstone players.Oakland maintaining some financial flexibility paid off just days after reaching an agreement with its star quarterback, as Gabe Jackson received a five-year, $56-million extension of his own last week.The standout guard is appreciative of Carr's efforts to that end."It means a lot," Jackson said in a conference call, according to the team's official website. "To be honest, I started smiling when I first heard him say that because, I mean, he always said that to me before, that he wants to make sure everybody else is good, it just goes to show you about his character, and how he is as a person. He's one of the most selfless people I know."While it's unclear whether Carr left any money on the table, his Year 1 cap hit of $15.7 million at the very least would have helped the Raiders get Jackson's big-money deal under the cap this offseason.Doing so with some sort of front-loaded structure could then clear the way for extensions for other young stars like Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper over the next few years.Jackson, a third-round pick in the same 2014 draft that saw Oakland come away with Carr and Mack, is a staple on one of the NFL's most dominant offensive lines.The new-money average of $11.2 million per season makes him the NFL's third highest-paid player at his position, behind only Kevin Zeitler and fellow Raiders guard Kelechi Osemele.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andy Reid may not have much of a say in the hiring of his next personnel czar.The veteran head coach has had "little to no role" in the interview process as the Kansas City Chiefs set out in search of their next general manager, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.Reports following the recent dismissal of John Dorsey indicated the surprise move was made at least in part as a result of ownership's concerns over communication style. La Canfora's latest item would appear to support the notion that the decision indeed came from the top of the organization.While it's unclear whether any issues in the general manager-head coach relationship also played a role in the decision, it's certainly not uncommon for a coach to be involved. Even Kyle Shanahan, despite his status as a first-time head coach, was afforded that luxury when it became clear he would get the lead job in San Francisco this offseason.Perhaps it's by design, with Reid continuing to focus solely on the on-field side of things. But for a coach of his stature, and one who's had exclusive personnel control in the past, to not have that input is at the very least notable.Reid and Dorsey led Kansas City to a a 43-21 record and three playoff appearances in four seasons after joining the club together in 2013.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Released by the New York Jets on the heels of a disastrous season, Darrelle Revis has been unable to generate much, if any, interest in nearly four months as a free agent.But the veteran cornerback doesn't yet seem to be considering walking away.Revis is training in South Florida and remains hopeful that he'll catch on with a new team for the 2017 campaign, Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reports.Naturally, after a year in which his physical abilities appeared to fall off a cliff, many wondered whether the future Hall of Famer was done. A drop-off in speed is, of course, difficult to overcome for aging defensive backs.The hope for Revis will be that losing some weight or making the switch to safety, or perhaps even both, would afford him the opportunity to extend his NFL career.What remains unclear is whether any teams, either with their current rosters or when injuries strike in training camp, have seen enough to be confident in what the 31-year-old can still bring to the table. And as Cole reiterates, there's little-to-no financial benefit for Revis to sign this year.Offset language involved in his Jets contract stipulates that the salary in any "prove it" deal is to be deducted from the $6 million he's earning from New York this season. In other words, unless a team offers up more than that total, he won't increase his earnings by playing.Revis managed just one interception and five passes defensed across 15 starts in 2016.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent quarterback Robert Griffin III and fiancee Grete Sadeiko welcomed a baby girl into the world on Sunday.The couple announced the birth of their daughter, Gloria Griffin, in separate Instagram posts. She came in at six pounds, 12 ounces, according to Sadeika.