Each week, theScore will go division by division, highlighting which three players' performances will most impact their team's season in 2017.Taco CharltonThe Cowboys' recent gambles on pass-rushers of late haven't paid off. Randy Gregory's career appears to be over after he reportedly failed a seventh drug test, and David Irving is reportedly facing a four-game PED ban to start the season.In short, the Cowboys need a pass-rusher to emerge, and they need it now. Charlton is raw, but he'll need to adjust to the NFL quickly as Dallas doesn't have the depth to hide him on the bench.Charlton has all the athleticism in the world, and the Cowboys are in desperate need of some difference-makers on defense.Dez BryantEzekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott continuing their rookie form in 2017 is obviously vital to the Cowboys' success, but Dallas needs the other member of its star offensive trio to regain his All-Pro form.Bryant has missed 10 games over the past two seasons, and while the likes of Cole Beasley and Terrance Williams have emerged as legitimate threats in his absence, the Cowboys' passing game needs Bryant firing on all cylinders.The receiver has shown how dominant he can be, catching 88 passes for 1,320 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2014 - his third straight season of elite production before the injury problems of the last two years. A healthy and motivated Bryant should have the rest of the NFC East sweating.La'el CollinsFor the first time in recent memory, arguably the league's most dominant offensive line enters the season with concerns.Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, and Zack Martin remain among the best at their respective positions, but the line lost key veterans Doug Free and Ronald Leary this offseason. Collins is set to take over at right tackle, and there's sure to be some growing pains from the switch. Chaz Green is expected to slot in at left guard.Collins is supremely talented and could help extend the Cowboys' streak of dominance on the offensive line if he can fulfill his potential. But he could also weaken Dallas' main strength if the transition to right tackle is a difficult one.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Also from this series

Detroit Lions safety Tavon Wilson is being sued for over $2.5 million by his ex-girlfriend, Alanda Jackson, for allegedly punching her in the face during a nightclub altercation in May 2016, TMZ reports.Jackson dated Wilson from 2011-14 and is the mother of their 3-year-old child.Both parties were at a Washington, D.C., nightclub in May 2016, where Jackson engaged in a verbal spat with Wilson's girlfriend at the time, Simone Leach.Jackson claims that during the verbal feud, Wilson punched her in the face, breaking her nose and causing further injuries in the process, and she's now suing the defensive back for $2.5 million.Wilson's lawyer released the following statement to TMZ:"There's video of the incident that shows Ms. Leach is attacked. Mr. Wilson is a witness, Ms. Leach is the victim and Ms. Jackson is the defendant.""She's been charged criminally. Her civil claim is meritless and I think she will be convicted for this shortly."Jackson's friend who was with her at the time is also filing a separate lawsuit, claiming that one of Wilson's friends stabbed her during the melee.Wilson asked a judge to dismiss both Jackson and her friend's lawsuit.The Lions released the following statement via Pro Football Talk's Charean Williams:

Peyton Manning was adamant that his decision to retire from football in March 2016 was final, but he still fielded offers last season.The legendary quarterback spent most of the winter away from the public eye, but he's still atop many wishlists.Manning's father, Archie, revealed that Peyton received an offer to join the Miami Dolphins from head coach Adam Gase, after incumbent starter Ryan Tannehill suffered a season-ending knee injury in December."He said, 'Hey 18, Tannehill went down,'" Manning said of Gase's inquiry via Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune. "He said, 'I think he's going to miss some time. The first question I'm going to get at the press conference in the morning is if I'm going to try to bring you to Miami. What do you want me to tell them?'"The text message came back from Peyton, 'You tell them I could probably come play, but there's no way I can miss carpool the next two weeks.' So, he was done."It's hard to fault Gase for inquiring about a five-time MVP. Alas, it appears Manning isn't coming back anytime soon.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Lonzo Ball is the new face of the Los Angeles Lakers, for all intents and purposes, after being selected second overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. In fact, Ball's new club expects him to transcend the sport itself.Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka expressed as much during Ball's introductory press conference Friday, saying Ball will channel two of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history during his NBA career."In press conferences, I don’t like a lot of hyperbole and a whole bunch of words," Pelinka said, via ESPN's Baxter Holmes. "I like to tell stories. I think when this really into focus for us was, we knew the talent was transcendent. The way he passes the ball, you look at quarterbacks like Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, that just have a gift. There's clearly a gift, with what he’s been blessed with."It's a curious quote from Pelinka, namely because he went straight into hyperbolic terms regarding Ball mere seconds after vowing not to. In any event, Ball will face the loftiest of expectations as he's now expected to bring the Lakers back to their previous glory.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs dismissed general manager John Dorsey on Thursday, a shocking move that reverberated throughout league circles.Dorsey built one of the deepest rosters in the league during his four years as general manager, as evidenced by the Chiefs' consecutive playoff appearances.After Dorsey's surprising exit, here's a look at how he turned the Chiefs into a perennial playoff contender.2013 Round Pick Player Position 11Eric FisherOT363Travis KelceTE396Knile DavisRB499Nico JohnsonLB5134Sanders CommingsCB6170Eric KushC6204Braden WilsonFB7207Mike CatapanoDEFisher didn't develop into the All-Pro caliber left tackle his draft billing would suggest, but he's a capable starter for the Chiefs with above-average run-blocking ability. Through four seasons, it would be cruel to label Fisher as a bust after starting 59 games for one of the best teams in the AFC.Kelce is one of the NFL's best tight ends, operating as Alex Smith's safety valve while regularly burning linebackers and cornerbacks downfield. The 27-year-old has been named to back-to-back Pro Bowls and led the Chiefs in receiving yards last season.Davis was a sporadic contributor for the Chiefs over five seasons, Johnson is out of the league, Commins opted for a baseball career with the Atlanta Braves, Kush was waived in 2015 and signed a two-year extension with the Chicago Bears in February, while Wilson and Catapano did not make any impact with the team.2014 Round Pick Player Position123Dee FordDE387Phillip GainesCB4124De'Anthony ThomasRB/KR5163Aaron MurrayQB6193Zach FultonG6200Laurent Duvernay-TardifOTThere are few, if any, teams better than the Chiefs at drafting edge rushers, and Ford is a prime example. The 26-year-old had a breakout campaign in 2016, recording 10 sacks in 15 games and providing the club with another excellent pass-rushing threat.Gaines emerged as a key contributor to a loaded Chiefs' secondary and is coming off the best season of his career where he racked up 44 tackles, two forced fumbles, and an interception. Gaines may have been billed as a future star on many teams throughout the league.Thomas has worked primarily as a return specialist for the Chiefs after struggling to carve out a role as a wide receiver. With the team's emphasis on groundbreaking speed, Thomas' job isn't in jeopardy.Duvernay-Tardif is arguably the most impressive player from the Chiefs' 2014 haul, making 27 starts over the course of his career. A relative unknown prior to the draft due to his collegiate career at Canadian academic powerhouse McGill, Duvernay-Tardif earned a five-year, $41.25 million extension in February.Fulton has made 34 starts at fullback and works exclusively as a blocker for the team's running back rotation.Murray is the lone blemish on the 2014 class, failing to make an impact for the Chiefs or any other club.2015 RoundPickPlayerPosition118Marcus PetersCB249Mitch MorseG/C376Chris ConleyWR398Steven NelsonCB4118Ramik WilsonLB5172D.J. AlexanderLB5173James O'ShaughnessyTE6217Rakeem Nunez-RochesDT7233Da'Ron BrownWRPeters was a star from the second he took the field, recording an interception on his first NFL snap. The cornerback was named to consecutive Pro Bowls, earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2016. Simply, Peters is one of the NFL's best cornerbacks and this was a massive victory for Dorsey and his staff.Morse started 31 games through his first two seasons and is entrenched at center for the foreseeable future, improving in both pass and run-blocking schemes in 2016.Conley's blazing speed endeared him to the Chiefs' management group and he compiled a solid sophomore campaign, catching 44 passes for 530 yards last season. After the Chiefs released Jeremy Maclin in June, Conley will be given a larger role in the passing game.Nelson is an increasingly important part of the secondary, racking up 65 tackles and 16 pass deflections in 2016. Only eight cornerbacks in the NFL played more snaps than Nelson did last season.Wilson recorded 76 tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception in 11 games last year. Like Nelson, Wilson could see a larger role in 2017.Alexander is a special teams wizard for the Chiefs and was named to the Pro Bowl last season. It's likely he'll remain on special teams exclusively.Nunez-Roches cracked the Chiefs' loaded interior rotation last year and is continuing to improve. At 23, Nunez-Roches is just scratching the surface of his potential.O'Shaughnessy was traded to New England in April, while Brown bounced around the league, signing a futures contract with the Chargers in January.2016 Round Pick Player Position237Chris JonesDT374KeiVarae RussellCB4105Parker EhingerG4106Eric MurrayCB4126Demarcus RobinsonWR5162Kevin HoganQB5165Tyreek HillWR6178D.J. WhiteCB6203Dadi NicolasLBHill was the steal of the 2016 NFL Draft and will be one of the hallmarks of Dorsey's legacy with the Chiefs. Possessing world-class speed, Hill dominated defenders in all facets of the game, as a receiver, running back, and kick returner, earning Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors. After Maclin's release, Hill could emerge as a bonafide star in 2017.Jones also appears to be a star in the making, gaining 11 starts on a vaunted defensive line, collecting 28 tackles and two sacks. Pro Football Focus graded Jones as the 13th-best interior lineman in 2016, and he is a breakout candidate entering the fall.Russell struggled miserably during training camp last summer and was released by the Chiefs. The cornerback promptly signed with the Bengals.Ehinger made four starts before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Like most players in this class, the jury is still out.Robinson and Nicolas did not play last season, White recorded 11 tackles and an interception, while Hogan was released and played sparingly for the Browns.2017 Round Pick Player Position110Patrick Mahomes IIQB259Tanoh KpassagnonDE386Kareem HuntRB4139Jehu ChessonWR5183Ukeme EligweLB6218Leon McQuay IIISNone of these players have played an NFL snap, so it's far too early to make an evaluation. Mahomes could develop into a future star, but will be glued to the bench during his rookie year, while Hunt represents great value at running back. If the Chiefs remain a playoff contender well into the decade, Dorsey should be remembered for his final drafts with the team.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Creative Artists Agency (CAA) landed a major coup Friday, signing Green Bay Packers superstar Aaron Rodgers.CAA is a massive entity that represents athletes, actors, musicians, television hosts, directors, and others in the entertainment industry."I have always been interested in exploring ways to parlay the things I am most passionate about into new business endeavors,” Rodgers said via Daniel Holloway of Variety. "I am excited to partner with CAA, as I am confident that together we can create entrepreneurial opportunities that enable me to tell the stories I am eager to tell across a wide spectrum of mediums and platforms.""Beyond being a remarkable athlete and leader on the field, Aaron has a clear vision for growing his brand and business off the field," CAA Sports co-head Michael Levine said. “We are thrilled to work with Aaron during the prime of his career and look forward to partnering with key leaders across the agency to build a business portfolio that will enhance his existing and already impressive legacy and last well beyond his record-setting on field career."Rodgers, one of the most visible faces in the NFL, represents a major victory for CAA.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan is among the best players at his position, but he even he admits to having trouble taking down Cam Newton and Ben Roethlisberger."And when I say that, they're just physically imposing. No matter where you hit them or how you hit them, somehow they can always have the ability to get the ball off - and ruin my stats! Why you gotta ruin my sack? I need that," Jordan told NFL.com's Tyler Horka in a candid interview.The two-time Pro Bowler also doled out high praise to Von Miller for his athleticism and ability to attack the quarterback."His long-arm (move) is clearly tops, which allows him to be a 'super-finesser.' I like to say for every defensive end that has finesse, you want to also say he's also a speed-to-power guy," he said.Jordan is anchoring the Saints' front seven heading into the upcoming season, looking to lead the club back to the playoffs for the first time since 2013.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

By all accounts, Bill O'Brien seems thrilled with what he's seen from first-round rookie DeShaun Watson.Speaking about his young quarterback in an interview with John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans head coach pointed to the maturity and intelligence that, among other things, earned Watson high grades ahead of this year's draft.But that's not to say the rookie is entering the conversation as a potential starter just yet, as O'Brien also said there's still plenty of work to do before Watson gets there."He's a very poised guy," O'Brien said. "I like the way he carries himself. I like the way he operates. He's a rookie, and he's not nearly where he needs to be to be a full-time starter in this league, but you can tell he's got a lot of qualities you like."For being a rookie, he's wise beyond his years. He asks great questions in the morning meeting, and you can tell he's studied the night before. Every practice isn't perfect. He knows he needs to get a lot better. And he did get better every day during the spring. It's no pads, of course. It's not real football, but he did improve in his knowledge of the offense."The Texans have been adamant that Tom Savage will enter the 2017 season as the starter despite the major move to trade up for Watson in April's draft. And that's not an uncommon strategy for teams looking to bring along their first-year quarterbacks slowly.But perhaps Watson's strong early impression can be taken as a sign that he'll have a chance to unseat Savage early in the season, if not at some point over the summer.Watson is making the jump to the NFL on the heels of a stellar college career. In leading Clemson to a national title as a junior - capped off with an impressive victory over Alabama - he finished the 2016 season with completions on 67 percent of passes for 4,593 yards and 41 touchdowns.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Selected four picks apart in the 2004 NFL Draft and promptly traded for each other, Philip Rivers and Eli Manning will forever be linked. As the veteran quarterbacks approach the end of their respective careers, assessing their value relative to each other is difficult.Does Rivers deserve Hall of Fame honors more than Manning?David P. Woods: It's called the Hall of Fame, which implies it's about more than just stats. Manning was never the best quarterback in the NFL, and interceptions were always an issue, but he has two of the signature wins in NFL history. No one but Manning can say he stood eye to eye with Tom Brady, the greatest ever to play the game, and vanquished him twice. Those wins alone merit enshrinement.Dan Wilkins: Rivers doesn't have the Super Bowl wins, and that ultimately may be what slots him behind Manning and others on future ballots. But that's just not the right way to look at it. Forget about the name - Hall of Famers should be the best players in their era. Constantly putting subpar teams on his back, Rivers has been, at worst, a top-10 quarterback for his entire career. Can we honestly say the same about Manning?Woods: Manning isn't like many of his more consistent franchise-passer peers because, though his highs were quite high, they were matched by some very low lows (like an NFL-worst 27 interceptions in 2013). But Manning deserves a little extra credit for playing much of his career without the benefit of an above-average offensive line, a star running back, or stable play at wideout. Look at who caught his most famous passes: David Tyree and Mario Manningham. Each was out of football shortly after. Manning elevated the players around him, particularly in his biggest games.Wilkins: The supporting cast on the other side of the ball is just as important to consider in these quarterback discussions. Rivers has never had the benefit of working in tandem with a defense like some of those Manning's played with in New York. While there's no doubt that Manning rose to a new level during those two playoff runs, he doesn't sniff a Lombardi Trophy if it wasn't for Giants pass-rushers doing the impossible and containing Brady. Are we talking about Joe Flacco as a surefire Hall of Famer if he finds more playoff magic and gets a second title? Not a chance. But are their careers really all that different?Woods: A decade from now, the way Flacco's viewed may be akin to how we see Jim McMahon today. He broke though for a ring and that can never be taken from him, but he only did it once. Eli has just as many rings as his brother Peyton and nothing will change that. Ultimately, I expect both Manning and Rivers will be enshrined, but rings still matter more than anything else. Manning's will get him in ahead of Rivers.Wilkins: Based on those rings and his last name, Manning will certainly get in first. And probably as a first-ballot enshrinee, at that. But that's just another flaw in the Hall of Fame process. The Chargers got the far better player as part of that blockbuster deal in the 2004 draft, and he's sustained his effectiveness, while Manning's beginning to tail off in a hurry. Rivers will remain one of the most underrated passers of his generation - mostly because his team couldn't put a capable group around him for any extended period of time.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One of the league's brightest young stars at the most important position on the field, Derek Carr was bound to get a record-breaking deal to secure his future with the Oakland Raiders.But that's not to say he's was only focused on getting his.Discussing his five-year, $125-million extension at a press conference Friday, Carr explained that he wanted the contract structured in a way that wouldn't hinder the Raiders' efforts to re-sign other key players over the next few years."How do we keep my teammates?" Carr recalled asking his agent, according to Michael Gehlken of The Las Vegas Review-Journal.Carr added: "Is this good for Gabe (Jackson)? Is this good for Khalil (Mack)? Is this good for (Amari Cooper)?"Jackson, a foundational piece on a stellar Raiders offensive line, will be up for an extension at some point before he has the opportunity to test free agency in March.Negotiations for Mack's eventual megadeal will presumably ramp up next offseason, as both sides will want to reach an agreement to keep him from playing out his fifth-year option. Cooper should be in the same situation the year after.More flexibility to retain other top players would, of course, go a long way toward maximizing the Raiders' ceiling with Carr at the helm.The former second-round pick had been in the midst of his most productive season before suffering a broken leg last December, leading the Raiders to 12 wins and their first playoff berth since 2002.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

By this stage of the NFL offseason, we're all left to patiently await the conclusion of summer vacations and the beginning of training camp schedules around the league.So here's something to argue about in the meantime.A recent study, conducted by professor Michael Lewis of Emory University, sought to rank the NFL's 32 fan bases with consideration to factors of "fan equity," "social media equity," and "road equity."With the Dallas Cowboys checking it at No. 1, and the Kansas City Chiefs all the way down at No. 32, here's a look at Lewis' full list.RankTeam1Cowboys2Patriots3Eagles4Giants5Steelers6Saints7Bears8Broncos9Packers1049ers11Colts12Ravens13Jets14Dolphins15Redskins16Bills17Panthers18Seahawks19Falcons20Raiders21Lions22Texans23Vikings24Chargers25Buccaneers26Browns27Cardinals28Bengals29Jaguars30Titans31Rams32ChiefsLewis explains in his analysis that the "fan equity" category weighs home revenues against the expected performance based on the team's performance and characteristics of the local market.The "social media equity" aims to account for the size of a fan base's online presence, acknowledging the fact that not all are able to pay prices associated with attending games."Road equity" evaluates how well fans turn out to support their teams when on the road, providing a sense of national appeal.A passionate group known for making Arrowhead Stadium one of the most hostile environments in professional sports, let alone football, it's safe to assume Chiefs fans will be among the many who will have something to say about these rankings.- With h/t to CBS SportsCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton is one of the NFL's best and most experienced backups, so his opinion on quarterback development carries weight.And Stanton doesn't like what he sees, particularly with respect to recent NFL rule changes like the recent move away from teams carrying a third active quarterback on game days."It's so hard to develop as a quarterback in this league nowadays," Stanton said, according to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss. "The NFL is, unfortunately, heading into a bad trend. When I first got in the league, you could be an inactive third on game day like I was when I was younger. That transitions into now, they're trying to save spots and get guys to the practice squad."Prior to 2011, NFL teams were permitted to carry a third quarterback on their game-day rosters who did not count toward the 45-man active roster. This rule was altered in 2011 with a move to a strict 46-man roster. Most teams elect to use the 46th spot on a non-quarterback.New York Jets sophomore passer Christian Hackenberg is a recent victim of this. The 2016 second-round pick was inactive for all but one game as a rookie, likely slowing his development.The Cardinals have four quarterbacks on their roster currently, with Carson Palmer atop the depth chart and Blaine Gabbert and rookie Trevor Knight behind Stanton. It seems unlikely Gabbert or Knight will make the roster and also be active on game days.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A teammate of Colin Kaepernick's last season says he has nothing but respect for Kaepernick and wishes people would ask him about his firsthand experience playing with the unsigned passer."I wish they would," San Francisco 49ers receiver Jeremy Kerley told Alex Marvez and Phil Savage on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "I would speak very highly of him."Kerley credited Kaepernick for having the bravery to stand up for what he believes."First, if you don't stand for something then you don't stand for nothing," Kerley said. "He spoke up about a subject at a time where maybe just the right people weren’t stepping up. He did it, he stood behind it. He made the sacrifice that maybe not a lot of guys would have made knowing that the consequences would be what they were."Kerley stopped short of saying that he or his 49ers teammates agreed with Kaepernick's famous anthem protests, however."Do I agree with it? Who's to say. Everybody goes about their business a different way. But do I have much, much respect for him? Hell yeah."Kaepernick remains a free agent. Barring an injury, it appears unlikely he will sign with an NFL team this season.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.Will the Patriots go undefeated?Arun Srinivasan: There's no margin of error here, but the Patriots possess a very good chance of becoming the first undefeated team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins. It's the lone accomplishment that has eluded Tom Brady, who came so close to reaching this feat in 2008, before being upset by the Giants in Super Bowl XLII. Look at it this way: A 14-2 Patriots team that won the Super Bowl just became significantly better during the offseason. The Patriots are completely locked in and operate in another tier right now, and will go unbeaten.Mitch Sanderson: I'll say no. It's certainly conceivable as they will be rightfully favored in every game they play this season, but the unpredictability of the NFL will take down the Patriots at least once. The Browns shouldn't have won any games last season, but they did. The Patriots play the Broncos, Raiders, and Steelers in the second half of the season, as well as two games against the Bills, who have been known to surprise New England from time to time. The Patriots also know that 16-0 is overrated if there's no Super Bowl attached.David P. Woods: Of course not. It's nearly impossible to go undefeated, as history has shown us, and despite their offseason additions the Patriots are far from a perfect team. The defense is suspect, with the pass-rush a potentially major weak point, and there are several teams on the Patriots' schedule capable of exploiting this. A 12-14 win season that earns the Patriots yet another first-round playoff bye is realistic, but 16-0 is not.Are the Titans the AFC South favorite?Sanderson: With the addition of Eric Decker, the Titans have become the most well-rounded offense in the division. They looked destined to take the AFC South last year before Marcus Mariota's injury. With the uncertainty of the Texans' quarterback position and the large amount of turnover on the Colts' roster, the Titans are ready to start hot and keep control as the new division favorites.Woods: It's hard to pick a favorite in a division that in recent years has featured some very poor play. The Titans look to have the best offense on paper (they might have the best offensive line, running backs, and receiving corps in the division - and is Marcus Mariota really so far behind Andrew Luck for the title of best passer?), but the Titans' defense is far from a lock to perform. Meanwhile, the Jaguars have built a defensive unit that has the chance to be elite, and the prospect of a healthy J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney on the field together for the Texans still looms.Srinivasan: In a matter of 17 months, the Titans have undergone a drastic renovation and are well-positioned to capture the AFC South. Mariota is poised for a true breakout campaign and should push Andrew Luck as the division's best quarterback. The Titans are well-balanced on both sides of the ball and made a number of quiet, astute upgrades. With the rest of the division sporting question marks of their own, the Titans may be the safest bet in the always-volatile AFC South.Was it too early to make Derek Carr the NFL's highest-paid player?Woods: Yes, but the Raiders had no choice but to do it anyhow. Carr is a tier below the NFL's elite quarterbacks and there is reason to believe he will never ascend to that level. Carr is still too loose with his mechanics and throws too many interceptable passes for someone with his level of elite blocking. But this is how quarterback contracts work; every subsequent top-12 quarterback who signs breaks the record. Carr won't stay on top for long with Matthew Stafford and Kirk Cousins both likely to get new deals in the near future.Srinivasan: It's not too early to make Carr the NFL's highest-paid player as the quarterback is directly responsible for the Raiders' turnaround from laughingstock to Super Bowl contender. At 26, Carr is just entering his prime and is positioned to lead the Raiders into the playoffs for several years to come. There's no point in alienating your foundational piece for no reason and general manager Reggie McKenzie should be lauded for being proactive, in giving Carr the deal he deserves.Sanderson: One winning season and one 30-touchdown campaign should not warrant the highest salary in the league for a fourth-year quarterback, but the current climate of the quarterback position in the NFL requires a deal gets done now. The Raiders were going to have to spend big on Carr at some point and if they waited much longer, the price would be higher. Matthew Stafford, Kirk Cousins, Drew Brees, and Matt Ryan could all drive the salary bar up in the next calendar year, so if the Raiders let Carr play out his deal and stick the franchise tag on him in 2018, they would need to spend even more to lock him up long term.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs could have an internal candidate in mind to replace former general manager John Dorsey after his shocking split with the team.The Chiefs will interview a number of candidates, but their co-director of player personnel, Brett Veach, is the name to watch, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Earlier this offseason, Veach was considered a candidate for the Buffalo Bills' general manager opening, a gig that was eventually filled by Brandon Beane.Veach joined the Chiefs in 2013 from the Philadelphia Eagles, where he worked as a scout, so he has plenty of familiarity with Andy Reid.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Three years ago, it was difficult to envision the Oakland Raiders as anything but the laughingstocks of the NFL. Mired in a decade-plus playoff drought, the Raiders lost the cache that once made them one of the marquee franchises.Related: Raiders, Carr finalize record-setting 5-year, $125M dealThe trajectory of a franchise can change drastically in three years, however, and the Raiders climbed out of the rubble when they selected Khalil Mack and Derek Carr with their first- and second-round picks in the 2014 NFL Draft.Carr was rewarded with a five-year, $125-million contract Thursday, making him the highest-paid player in the NFL. By extending him to a deal that makes him the envy of the league, the Raiders have officially established their renaissance era, and are bound to compete for Super Bowls through the end of the decade - a notion that seemed impossible not long ago.Related: Why Derek Carr should have no problem living up to monster extensionCarr was in the thick of the MVP race before suffering a season-ending broken fibula on Christmas Eve. The Raiders' season effectively ended when he went down, as they bowed out to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round with Connor Cook under center. Nonetheless, it became evident to any neutral observer that this wasn't just a one-off campaign from Carr, who is atop the vanguard of young quarterbacks, which includes Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, and Carson Wentz.Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie deserves a ton of credit for inking Carr to a lucrative extension before it became a distraction for a young team that has arguably the best shot at unseating New England in the AFC. It was under McKenzie's leadership that the Raiders drafted Mack and Carr in the first place, adding standout wide receiver Amari Cooper in 2015 and safety Karl Joseph in 2016. Carr, McKenzie, and head coach Jack Del Rio have cultivated the type of relationship that often leads to titles, and one would be remiss if the latter duo's contributions went unnoticed on a triumphant day for the organization.It was imperative the Raiders lock Carr in before the franchise relocates to Las Vegas, a city that lacks a true professional team sporting culture. With the QB secured long term, the team can waltz into Vegas' glitz and glamour with the quarterback's visage plastered all over billboards in The Entertainment Capital of the World. For the venture to be successful, the Raiders will need to be a Super Bowl contender, and establishing Carr as the team's franchise player goes a long way toward these mutual goals.Carr has been named to consecutive Pro Bowls, but he's never been content with individual honors. Armed with a wide receiver duo in Cooper and Michael Crabtree that rivals any in the league, a veteran running back in Marshawn Lynch, and an excellent offensive line, he's expected to lead the Raiders deep into the playoffs. Demanding a Lombardi Trophy within the decade is now a reasonable goal. In signing the most expensive contract in NFL history, the signal-caller represents everything the team aspires to be: a young, talented offense paired with a bruising defense that ought to contend with no end in sight. If there's any team suited to dethrone the Patriots as the AFC's dominant force, it's the Raiders, with Carr and Mack being the faces of the franchise.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

President Donald Trump will nominate New York Jets owner Woody Johnson to become the U.S. Ambassador to Britain, the White House confirmed Thursday.Trump will need confirmation from the U.S. Senate before Johnson's appointment can become official.

If the Kansas City Chiefs experience either a precipitous decline or a rapid ascent through the AFC playoff field this season, mark June 22, 2017 as a seminal date in team history.In a matter of hours, the Chiefs drastically overhauled their upper-management structure for the foreseeable future by signing head coach Andy Reid to an extension, only to dismiss general manager John Dorsey hours later. By doing so, the Chiefs put the finishing touches on what's been a turbulent offseason as the vaunted AFC West once again enters an uncertain arms race.The timing of Dorsey's dismissal - or mutual departure, as the Chiefs tried to frame it - is very curious, given the team's consecutive playoff appearances. Kansas City also had an in-house, tailor-made successor for Dorsey waiting in the wings, as Chris Ballard was lauded for his work as the team's director of football operations. With Dorsey ostensibly in place for the foreseeable future, Ballard was hired as the general manager of the Indianapolis Colts in January, with no contest from the Chiefs. The current regime was well-regarded, so Dorsey's dismissal could up Pandora's box for a team that was on stable ground ahead of the summer.

A group of NFL players is helping a youth team in Texas play football this season, and preserve their right to protest.Members of the Beaumont Bulls decided to take a knee during the national anthem last season, and their coach, Rah Rah Barber, was suspended as a result. After players stayed away in solidarity with their coach, they saw the rest of their season canceled and decided to form a new team - the Southeast Texas Oilers - to join a different league.The NFL group - headed by Malcolm Jenkins and Torrey Smith of the Philadelphia Eagles, Devin McCourty of the New England Patriots, and free agent Anquan Boldin - has donated $20,000 to help finance the Oilers' inaugural season."We wanted to make sure that we sent those kids the message that it's OK to stand up for what you believe in," Jenkins told ESPN's Tim McManus. "We didn't want them to walk away from the season feeling punished for trying to do the right thing."We wanted to make sure that was rewarded and acknowledged and encouraged, so that was our main motivation for helping."The team made their demonstration in September and reportedly received death threats via social media. Oilers vice president April Parkerson, whose son approached Barber about protesting, said the kids "felt forgotten" after losing their team and attention from media, but the NFLers changed that course.The money donated will pay for helmets, shoulder pads, tackling dummies, blocking pads, a hydration station, field striking kit, down markers, and footballs. Parkerson estimated it would have taken a year and a half plus $10,000 of their own money to fund the upcoming season."They made it possible for my kids to play football," Barber said.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs and general manager John Dorsey have agreed to part ways, the team revealed in a statement Thursday.It was reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Chiefs dismissed Dorsey, and both parties did not agree to part ways, however.Chiefs CEO and chairman Clark Hunt released the following statement:

The Chiefs have rewarded Andy Reid for steering Kansas City to four straight winning seasons by giving the head coach a contract extension, the team announced Thursday.Reid was entering the final year of his current deal. The Chiefs didn't disclose the terms of the extension."My family and I have been very pleased by the success the franchise has sustained over the last four seasons under Coach Reid," Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said. "He has already established himself as one of the best coaches in the league, and he is well on his way to solidifying a place among the all-time greats. We are proud to have him leading our football team, and I look forward to working with him to bring a championship to Chiefs Kingdom."Within an hour of the Chiefs announcing Reid's extension, the team also announced they will part ways with general manager John Dorsey, who was hired about a week after the head coach in 2013. However, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Dorsey's departure was a firing rather than a mutual decision.The Chiefs won their first division title since 2010 last season, finishing with a 12-4 record before being bounced from the playoffs in the divisional round."We've made quite a bit of progress over the last four seasons, but we are not done yet. We are going to continue to work towards our ultimate goal of winning championships," Reid said.Reid is entering his 19th season as an NFL head coach after spending the first 14 years of his career in charge of the Philadelphia Eagles. He currently sits 10th in all-time wins and trails only Bill Belichick in victories for active head coaches.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For as much controversy as Odell Beckham Jr. may create, the New York Giants are well aware of the rare talent they have at wide receiver.Asked about his star pass-catcher in a radio appearance Thursday, Giants co-owner John Mara had plenty of good things to say about Beckham."I wish we had another dozen players like him," Mara told Mike Francesa of WFAN, according to Dan Duggan of NJ Advance Media. "He knows that he's got to mature and learn to control his emotions better. He's working on that. But one thing about that kid is that when he shows up at work, nobody works harder than he does. He's so competitive, even in practice. He wants to win so badly."The latest distraction created by Beckham, regardless of whether the uproar was justified, stemmed from his decision to stay away from voluntary team workouts in the spring.It eventually proved to be much ado about nothing, as the three-time Pro Bowler was back in the mix by the time mandatory minicamp rolled around. Denying a report that his absence was related to his desire for a new contract, Beckham explained that he was never considering a holdout and simply wanted to focus on his training and self-reflection in Los Angeles.Either way, it's only a matter of time before Beckham receives a deal that puts him among or atop the NFL's list of highest-paid receivers.The 24-year-old enters the 2017 campaign looking to build upon three consecutive seasons of 90-plus catches, at least 1,300 yards, and double-digit touchdowns to open his career.His continued dominance at receiver - now complemented by the presence of free-agent addition Brandon Marshall - will undoubtedly have a significant impact on whether the Giants can emerge as a Super Bowl contender.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The public reaction to the NFL's most lucrative contracts is endlessly predictable.For as many as there are correctly applauding a player for getting his money, or a team for making what amounts to a straightforward, market-oriented move in locking up its star, there always seem to be a fair amount of skeptics.That trend continued Thursday when the Oakland Raiders finalized a highly anticipated megadeal for Derek Carr, handing out a new-money record extension worth $125 million over five years.How could a team reasonably justify paying such a hefty sum to a signal-caller whose lone winning season to this point in his career was cut short due to injury?Quite easily, actually.In the same way aging veterans with stellar resumes are unable to create any sort of leverage for themselves based on past accomplishments, these kinds of deals are handed out with an eye on the future. Players in the NFL, more so than any other sport, will always be paid based upon the value they are perceived to have looking forward.The Raiders have every reason to believe Carr will have no problem living up to these numbers.In fact, if his steady early-career ascent is to be taken as any indication, a deal that averages $21.02 million over the next six years (when tacked onto the remainder of his rookie contract) could even seem like a bargain sooner rather than later.Any argument that points to Carr still being outside the "elite" territory of quarterbacks is, of course, completely fair. A realistic evaluation of the current hierarchy would undoubtedly conclude that there's still a sizable gap between he and the likes of Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and Joe Flacco Andrew Luck.But considering the major improvements he's made in each of his first three seasons, including guiding the Raiders to their first playoff berth since 2002, the arrow remains pointed skyward.Let's recap.After a rookie year in which he took his lumps as part of an awful 3-13 team, Carr emerged as the unquestioned leader for an up-and-coming Raiders squad. Guiding the club to a 7-9 record as a sophomore, achieving its first semblance of relevance in years, Carr threw for 3,987 yards and 32 touchdowns.Then came the monumental leap of 2016.Before going down with a broken leg in Week 16, a devastating injury that would effectively end the Raiders' season right then and there, Carr had vaulted himself into the conversation for league MVP. Across 15 starts, he completed a career-best 63.8 percent of passes for 3,937 yards and 28 touchdowns.By all accounts - lack of postseason success aside - the totality of the opening three-year stretch makes it difficult to understand how he could have lasted until the second round of the 2014 draft in the first place.

On Thursday, Bovada released their odds for the 2017 NFL MVP award, naming Tom Brady (4-1), Aaron Rodgers (7-1), and Derek Carr (9-1) as the favorites to take home the hardware.With the MVP race being such a crapshoot from year to year, the favorites in June could very well be replaced by October, but you can still get some pretty solid odds on some potential candidates right now.Related: 5 underdog Super Bowl LII matchups worth placing a bet onHere are five wager-worthy MVP hopefuls who can give you the best bang for your buck.Drew Brees (25-1)Despite being the only quarterback to throw for over 5,000 yards multiple times and leading the league in passing on a yearly basis, Brees has never won an MVP award - and voters know this.Related: Why Drew Brees is the most under-appreciated player in NFL historyThe Saints bulked up their run game this offseason, which may lead to less-ridiculous passing numbers from Brees than we're used to seeing, but a balanced offense will enhance his overall performance without taking away from his role as team leader. Brees has produced MVP-caliber seasons in the past, but has always fallen short - all he needs is a lucky break.Matt Stafford (50-1)Stafford's chaotic comebacks last season moved him into the MVP conversation, but his statistics caused him to slide just below the strongest candidates.The Lions' offense has improved this offseason, with the team signing veteran blockers Rick Wagner and T.J. Lang and getting a healthy Ameer Abdullah in the backfield. Stafford would need to replicate something closer to the 5,038-yard, 41-touchdown campaign he had in 2011 to surpass the more reputed quarterback candidates, but at 50-1 odds, it's worth the risk.Jameis Winston (66-1)One of the biggest head-scratchers in the list of odds was the contrast in odds given to the 2015 draft's top two picks, Winston and Marcus Mariota, with the latter receiving 33-1 odds of becoming MVP.Despite currently sporting much longer odds at 66-1, Winston looks poised to break the 4,400-yard mark and the 30-touchdown barrier with Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, and O.J. Howard to throw to. Mariota could very well become an MVP candidate, but with the weapons at Winston's disposal and his team's greater affinity for passing the ball, he is the more likely winner.LeSean McCoy (100-1)A running back has been named MVP just three times in the 21st century, hence the long odds for the 29-year-old who's contributed over 1,100 yards from scrimmage in seven straight seasons.Tyrod Taylor seems to be taking on a bigger role with the Bills this spring, but McCoy is still the offensive leader. New offensive coordinator Rick Dennison likes to pound the ball and lean on his offensive line, which is good news for McCoy's production. If his rushing leads the Bills to their first playoff spot since 1999, his chances of winning MVP go way up.Marshawn Lynch (100-1)Yes, Lynch is 31 years old, and yes, he's coming off a year away from football, but he still has a chance to get this done.Lynch is motivated to win a championship for his city, and he's be running behind the best offensive line of his career in an offense that will likely give him all the red-zone carries he can handle. At 100-1, you don't need to wager much to get a nice payoff if Beast Mode comes back better than ever.Other candidates: Philip Rivers (50-1), Odell Beckham Jr. (66-1), Von Miller (100-1), Andy Dalton (100-1)(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Derek Carr was handsomely rewarded for an MVP-worthy campaign in 2016 when the Oakland Raiders handed their young quarterback the most lucrative deal in NFL history Thursday.The extension is reportedly worth $125 million over five years, just edging out Andrew Luck for the title of the league's highest-paid player.The football world reacted on Twitter:

The New England Patriots have a shot at adding some significant hardware to their already bulging collection.The Patriots have been nominated for six ESPYs at this year's awards, including Best Championship Performance and Best NFL Player nods for star quarterback Tom Brady.New England is also up for Best Team and Best Game for their historic comeback win against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI in which they erased a 28-3 deficit. Head coach Bill Belichick is nominated for Best Record-Breaking Performance, while Julian Edelman's Super Bowl catch is the No. 1 seed for Best Play.Brady will have to beat out 2016 MVP Matt Ryan as well as Ezekiel Elliott, Khalil Mack, and Aaron Rodgers to take home the award for the NFL's top player.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The usual suspects sit atop the oddsmakers' 2017 NFL MVP list.Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers - who boast four MVP awards between them - rank first and second with 4/1 and 7/1 odds respectively, according to Bovada via Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated.Derek Carr is expected to live up to his recently-signed historic new contract extension, coming in at third. Matt Ryan - 2016's winner - comes in at seventh, while Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has the best odds among non-quarterbacks.

Devonta Freeman is not short on confidence.Despite being a key contributor to the Atlanta Falcons' Super Bowl LI collapse, the running back, who expects to be "blessed" with a new contract in the near future, says he would have been the star of the game if he had been kept on the field throughout the fourth quarter."I'm just talking about from based off that game," Freeman told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Tuesday. "Let's say it like this, if I would have stayed in the game - I don't know why I got out the game, actually - but if I would have stayed in the game, I would have got MVP."I look at my stats and I see my numbers didn't lie. Look at my numbers."Freeman had 11 carries for 75 yards and one touchdown as well as two catches for 46 yards. His 121 scrimmage yards were the most by any Falcons player, though he recorded 20 yards and two touchdowns fewer than New England Patriots running back James White.The 25-year-old admitted that he doesn't think he'll ever move on from the Super Bowl loss.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 the last 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast."How would you build the ideal player? 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 at eight different positions. We also decided that you could only use one aspect of each player - no double dipping allowed. This edition covers tight ends.If you recall, this former first-round pick entered the league as an athletic receiving tight end, but not much of a blocker. He was traded from the Bears to the Panthers for peanuts when Mike Martz, who notoriously doesn’t utilize tight ends, became Chicago’s offensive coordinator. But Olsen's game has grown.He isn’t a monster in the run game but has improved a great deal due to his head for the game and work ethic. As a receiver, Olsen defines consistency and has an excellent understanding of where to be in order to be productive, consistent, and proficient.And of course, Cam Newton relies heavily upon Olsen, who has posted a remarkable three straight 1,000-yard seasons and has played in all 16 games nine years in a row.At this stage of his illustrious career, Witten certainly could have been selected in the "Head" category as well. He is a master craftsman at his position and has been for quite some time now. But his eyes may be even more outstanding.He sees blitzers and picks them up quite well as a blocker, or adjusts his route accordingly. He has a great feel for chipping a defensive end and then finding and reaching a linebacker at the second level in the run game. Most importantly, Witten sees the soft spots in coverage with eagle-eye precision.He clearly doesn’t move or stretch the field as he once did, but Witten sees it all and knows exactly how to get himself in position to receive the football no matter what the coverage or down and distance.Many took the drafting of O.J. Howard as a slight on Brate. That isn’t the case at all. It's more likely that the Buccaneers didn’t think there was any chance that Howard could fall to them in the draft and just pounced on the best prospect available. That is excellent work by the club.Howard can be used in many ways, but is more of an inline player than Brate, who is coming off an excellent season in which he clearly established himself as one of Jameis Winston's most trusted receivers. He's so trusted because Brate simply catches everything. He has very sure and sticky hands and can pluck the ball away from his frame.His role will not be diminishing anytime soon.We could have plugged Gronkowski's name into every highlighted body part. He's a complete player and, as many have already stated, is slated to go down as the best to ever play his position. While we love the entire package here, how could we not take Gronkowski’s body to build our perfect tight end?He is huge and strong with big powerful hands and is well-proportioned throughout his massive frame. His size (and much better technique than he gets credit for) allows him to do battle in the trenches as a capable blocker against NFL defensive linemen. He can also tangle with the league’s smaller and highly athletic defensive backs in the passing game.Gronkowski is a monster.Reed plays the tight end position like a wide receiver. That isn’t to say Reed doesn’t play with a physical edge through his route or with the ball in his hands; rather, because of his sweet feet, Reed runs routes better than any tight end in football.He is very sharp in this capacity and explodes out of his cuts. Reed is also one of the best players at his position when moving with the ball. Washington has had some good receiving options over the past few years and looks to have restocked its wide receiver position nicely for Kirk Cousins, but Reed is the straw that stirs the drink in the Redskins' passing game.Other entries in the series

It looks like Derek Carr will be left with the check for the foreseeable future after reportedly becoming the highest-paid player in NFL history Thursday.Shortly after the news broke, former NFL quarterback David Carr tweeted his congratulations to his brother in a typical sibling manner.

Derek Carr is now the highest-paid player the NFL has ever seen.The Oakland Raiders and their star quarterback have finalized a five-year extension worth $125 million, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports, citing sources.Carr's annual new-money average of $25 million - tacked on to the fourth and final year of his initial rookie contract - surpasses the previous record of $24.59 million set by Andrew Luck last offseason.The pact also includes $70 million in guarantees, $40 million of which is fully guaranteed at the signing, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today.News of the impending megadeal first surfaced Wednesday, when ESPN's Adam Schefter indicated the two sides were closing in on an agreement. Carr had taken to Twitter at that point in cautioning that there was still work to be done, adding that he'd provide an update when signed.Following through on that promise, he issued confirmation of a deal immediately after Rapoport's report.

New York Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson doesn't know what an NFL world looks like without Tom Brady and the New England Patriots atop the AFC East.The Patriots have won the division every season since Richardson was drafted in 2013 - and the three years before that, too - and have also taken home two Lombardi Trophies over that span.But Richardson doesn't want Brady to retire; well, not until he's taken the star quarterback down first."I've told him before I've left the field, 'Bro, don't retire till I beat you,'" Richardson told Darryl Slater of NJ.com last week. "He laughed it off and kept going. It's a pleasure to play against him. But he knows what I'm chasing, and he knows I'm trying to knock the king off his throne."Richardson's record against New England is 2-6. While the reigning Super Bowl champions improved their roster this offseason, the Jets shed the majority of their veteran talent and look primed for a rebuilding year. The veteran defensive tackle is facing an uphill battle to bring balance back to the rivalry.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tramon Williams has yet to find work since being cut by the Cleveland Browns early this offseason, but that's of no concern to the veteran cornerback.As it turns out, the February release followed a request from Williams himself, who wanted out of what he still considers a volatile situation."At the end of the day, those guys were just going in a different direction," Williams told SiriusXM NFL Radio. "From the start of training camp to the beginning of the season, they were going in a different direction. And it came a point during the season to where I wanted to be released. That's why we got released because it wasn't a stable spot. It’s not a stable spot."You don't know who's going to be the coaches from year to year, and I didn't know that, so I didn't want to be one of those veterans who is stuck in a spot and at the end of the day, I'm not going to be able to get a job because I was on a bad team. That's why I wanted to get out of there."In reality, the 34-year-old defensive back was a strong candidate for a release regardless of whether he asked for it. Cutting ties with Williams and veteran quarterback Josh McCown saved Cleveland $11.3 million total in salary-cap space.Williams started all 15 appearances after joining the Browns on a three-year deal as a free agent in 2015, racking up 69 tackles, one interception, and 10 passes defensed.A series of injuries limited him to 12 games the following year, and he'd begun to make the transition to safety toward the end of the season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Eli Manning may not be going to court any time soon.The trial for the lawsuit against the New York Giants quarterback, which claims he and the team fraudulently sold fake game-used memorabilia, has been delayed indefinitely by a Bergen County judge, according to a court filing obtained by Jim Baumbach of Newsday.Manning's trial was scheduled to begin Sept. 25. A new date has not been set, and there was no reason provided for the proceedings being pushed back.A deposition for Manning, initially set for June 28, will also be postponed. Judge James J. DeLuca's decision stated that all depositions will be held between August and September.Responding to the lawsuit back in April, Manning and the Giants organization filed a motion claiming that the representatives for the plaintiff, Steiner Sports, had omitted "relevant evidence" and "cherry-picked" emails to misrepresent the defendants.Manning has angrily denied the allegations, and the defense says "hundreds of pages of documents" will exonerate him.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There are 32 franchises in the NFL, each with a unique nickname. Or so you thought. You poor, gullible, ill-informed fan.You see, this whole time, two NFL teams have covertly shared a nickname. You may have rooted for one, and against the other, and this whole time you were unaware of your own hypocrisy.We at theScore are here to blow the whole thing wide open.Are you sitting down?There is no such species as a "panther." It is merely a term used to describe a melanistic (black) big cat. Jaguars can be spotted or black, or some combination of the two (like the photo above).When they are black, jaguars are called panthers.Therefore, the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars are basically named after the same animal.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Now, it's actually slightly more complicated than that. There are also cougars, which are the same thing as mountain lions, but not exactly the same as jaguars (confused yet?). And cougars can also be black, and when they are, they're also called panthers.Take a deep breath. Process what you've just learned.Because it gets worse.The NFL doesn't just have two teams that are named after what's essentially the same animal; it also let them both enter the league as expansion teams in the same year.It's unforgivable.One could have been the Jacksonville Jackhammers. The other could have been the Carolina Crawdads. They could have been anything other than the same thing.Instead, we got two teams, both admitted to the NFL in 1995 and headquartered a mere 383 miles apart, named after the same animal.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

To the surprise of many, the Detroit Lions emerged as one of the NFL's most entertaining teams last year, with seemingly every contest coming down to the wire.Matthew Stafford was in the MVP race until a disastrous stretch during the final four games took him out of the running, while a number of unheralded contributors played large roles for the Lions, who snuck into the playoffs at 9-7.Unfortunately for Lions fans, the club is a prime candidate to regress in 2017. Here are three reasons why:The cardiac kids are downright unsustainable Although the Lions were wildly entertaining last year, there wasn't a method to their madness. Detroit set an NFL record with eight fourth-quarter comeback victories, pushing its success to the theoretical limit. Many were quick to label Stafford "clutch" for the Lions' propensity to pull out wins at the last possible second, fueling his case for MVP consideration. While it's not entirely incorrect, it's far more accurate to deduce that the Lions were one of the biggest beneficiaries of sheer luck in recent memory.If the Lions can string together a series of wins in dramatic fashion, it'll translate to another endlessly fascinating product to watch. It's far more likely that the Lions split their share of close games next year and descend back toward the league average, instead of a playoff berth.A stagnant pass rush (Photo courtesy: Action Images)Detroit recorded a paltry 26 sacks last season, tied for 30th in the NFL. The Lions didn't place a single pass-rusher within the NFL's top 20 sack leaders, as Kerry Hyder led the team with eight. Next year's outlook doesn't appear to be much brighter.Ezekiel Ansah completely disappeared last season, recording 2.5 sacks after racking up 14.5 in 2015. Although the 28-year-old battled through an ankle injury for most of the year, it was a jarring decline in production and the Lions will have to determine whether Ansah is the genuine article after earning second-team All-Pro honors in 2015. If he fails to rebound from his down year, the Lions' pass rush could remain at the bottom of the league.The Lions drafted linebacker Jarrad Davis in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft but he's likely going to patrol the middle of the field instead of featuring as an edge rushing linebacker. Davis' speed and instincts should allow him to fit in seamlessly, but every rookie faces an adjustment period and the Lions did little else to address their pass-rushing woes. It could be a long season for the defense if the Lions' front seven fails to generate pressure once again.Stafford's downward trajectory in final quarterStafford played arguably the best football of his career during the first three quarters of the 2016 season and had begun to change the narrative surrounding his career - namely, that he was turning into an elite quarterback after eight seasons stuck in the NFL's median. It didn't hold up, as Stafford regressed to the mean, submitting a horrific final stretch. Although Stafford suffered a hand injury in December, he didn't miss a game and failed to remain among the NFL's best quarterbacks.During the Lions' last four regular season games, Stafford completed 60.2 percent of his passes for three touchdowns against five interceptions. The Lions lost their final three games, before being bounced unceremoniously in a 26-6 playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks.Is there anything predictive from Stafford's campaign? There's reason to believe that his poor end to the year won't play out over a 16-game stretch, but it's also possible he won't replicate one of the best starts of his career. It's on Stafford to elevate the Lions once again and earn the second Pro Bowl nomination of his career.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is looking to become an international sensation during the course of his career.While Carr's contract negotiations - he's reportedly finalizing a new deal with the Raiders that would pay him approximately $25 million annually - are the talk of the league, he's also apparently enthralled by the idea of suiting up during the Olympics.

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott submitted one of the all-time great rookie seasons last year. For an encore, Elliott is seeking to emulate one of the best running backs in NFL history.Elliott won the rushing title, scampering for 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns as Dallas secured the top seed in the NFC with a 13-3 record. The Cowboys' standout also recorded 32 receptions for 363 yards and another score, earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors.Ahead of his second season, Elliott is trying to encapsulate the best of Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk, comparing himself and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott to Faulk and his then-Rams QB Kurt Warner."One of the guys I looked up to growing up playing football was Marshall Faulk. You hear stories about him about how he was kind of like a second quarterback back there with Kurt Warner," Elliott said on "The Doomsday Podcast." "So this offseason, I’ve just been focusing on kind of learning the offense outside of roles. I’m just kind of being able to be back there and be helpful to Dak (Prescott) and just kind of … learning what everyone else is doing and how I fit into my job."There's certainly room for Elliott to improve as a receiver and he plans to embody Faulk's all-around game next year."Just when you follow Marshall Faulk’s career you see in his earlier career he was definitely involved in the passing game, but he was more of a guy who kind of got grinded down. He had a lot of carries and really rushed for great numbers when he was in Indianapolis, and then kind of as he got older, he grew more as a player. I just like the fact that he was a guy who was great in all aspects of the game."It'll be difficult for Elliott to best his excellent rookie season, but the 21-year-old is singularly focused on becoming the best running back of his generation.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was among a select group of individuals to meet with Pope Francis this week at the Vatican.

The title of highest-paid player in the NFL is ever-changing, but Matthew Stafford has a chance to claim the ultimate financial status.The Detroit Lions quarterback is expected to get a new contract in the near future with his current deal set to expire after the 2017 season. Both player and team have openly expressed a desire to stay together, with Lions president Rod Wood admitting he's ready to do "whatever it takes" to get a deal done.The phrase should be music to the ears of Stafford's agent Tom Condon and the news out of Oakland on Wednesday likely plastered a smile across his face.The Raiders and Derek Carr are reportedly close to finalizing a contract that would pay the young quarterback around $25 million per season, which would make him the highest-paid player in the game - for now.With escalating contracts and salary caps, the highest-paid player in the league is a temporary status that Andrew Luck is expected to give up to Carr, who will in turn cede it to the next quarterback in line. In this case, Stafford.But making Stafford the next highest-paid player in the league would really just be another lucky break for the field general in his fortuitous career.As Stafford was the top player selected in the last draft that did not include pre-determined salary slots, the Lions passer got off to a great financial start to his career and has never looked back.According to Spotrac, Stafford has already earned over $110 million over his eight years in the NFL.YearSalaryTotal Earnings2009$3.1M$3.1M2010$395K$26.9M2011$525K$9.27M2012$615K$11.5M2013$4M$18.5M2014$2M$15M2015$9.5M$9.5M2016$17M$17MTotal$37.135M$110.778MIf we conservatively guess Stafford's next contract will be in the same range as Carr's at $25 million per season over the next five years, Stafford will have made more than $235 million by age 34.Despite putting up good-but-not-great statistics through most of his eight years, Stafford's earnings will surpass many of the current greats' total career earnings on his projected new contract.QuarterbackAgeTotal EarningsEli Manning36$205.78MTom Brady39$196.17MDrew Brees38$181.71MPhilip Rivers35$173.92MBen Roethlisberger35$158.29MCarson Palmer37$156.65MMatt Ryan32$133.7MAaron Rodgers33$123.83MWhether or not Stafford is worth this money is a separate conversation, but there's little denying the 29-year-old has been able to take advantage of the timing of his career and the skill set he possesses.You can't fault Stafford for accepting what's been offered to him, and having played through torn ligaments and dislocation in his finger, you can't say he's just taking the money and running. While he may never double the accomplishments of a Brady or a Manning on the field, Stafford may always have something to hold over their heads.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kawann Short promises he won't become complacent after receiving a five-year, $80-million contract in April.Short was selected by the Panthers in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, and quickly developed into one of the NFL's preeminent defensive tackles, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2015.Despite signing a lucrative new deal, he isn't planning on taking any shortcuts."I've still got to work like I'm still trying to earn one," Short told ESPN's Bob Pockrass. "I come out here every day. That's in the past now. I'm working like it's another rookie year for me."It's the same mentality (in camp) - to do what I've been doing and go at the offensive line and make each other get better."With his new contract finally inked, Short said he can place his singular focus on leading the Panthers back to the playoffs, after they missed out last year."I don't have to worry about what's next or what's that. I've just got to worry about coming out here and doing what I've been doing."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If you just listened to how Drew Brees is discussed in NFL circles, you may have no idea how much he's accomplished.The New Orleans Saints' franchise quarterback has been one of the most consistent, efficient, prolific players the NFL has even seen, but his trophy case is rather empty and his reputation is good, but not great.Stacking up his accomplishments next to his recognition, it's clear that Brees is the most under-appreciated player in NFL history.All-time passerTo date, only two men in the history of the NFL have passed for more yards or more touchdowns than Brees in their career - Peyton Manning and Brett Favre, both of whom played at least two more seasons than what the Saints quarterback has under his belt.Rank QBYardsTDs1Peyton Manning719405392Brett Favre718385083Drew Brees661114654Tom Brady615824565Dan Marino61361420Many have discounted Brees' numbers due to the era he plays in and the high number of attempts he's made, averaging the third-most per game in NFL history (37.6) behind Matthew Stafford and Andrew Luck. While those are not factors he can control as he does call his own plays, Brees has made the most of situations by setting a league record for highest career completion percentage (66.7).If he sticks anywhere close to his current pace, Brees will become the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards by mid-2018. As the 39-year-old has been adamant he plans to play well into his 40s, Brees will very likely retire as the NFL's passing leader with better year-to-year efficiency than the game has ever seen.Single-season successThe modern era of football has been very kind to quarterbacks, especially Brees.Since joining the Saints in 2006, Brees has led the league in passing seven times, throwing for over 5,000 yards five times. No other quarterback in NFL history has eclipsed that mark in more than one season.RankQBTeamYardsYear1Peyton ManningDEN547720132Drew BreesNO547620113Tom BradyNE523520114Drew BreesNO520820165Drew BreesNO517720166Drew BreesNO516220137Dan MarinoMIA508419848Drew BreesNO50692008Brees' trend of passing for more yards than any one else year in and year out has seemingly become normal and has allowed him to morph the identity of the organization he saved from infinite mediocrity.Changing a franchiseThe city of New Orleans and state of Louisiana is forever in debt to Brees and Sean Payton for the hope they provided in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2006.The Saints had one playoff appearance in the 13 years prior to signing Brees and had long been defined as the 'Aints, a team whose fans hid their faces under paper bags.Before Brees (1967-2005):

The NFL could have a new contract king.The Oakland Raiders and Derek Carr are close to finalizing an extension that will pay the star quarterback around $25 million a year, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Andrew Luck is currently the NFL's highest-paid player, earning just under $24.6 million a year on a contract the Indianapolis Colts quarterback signed last offseason.It's unclear if Carr will actually top Luck's numbers, but Schefter expects the Raiders' franchise player to be at or near the top of NFL's highest-paid players list.While the two parties are still ironing out some of the contract's language Wednesday, the deal could be announced as early as the end of the week, added Schefter.Carr tweeted shortly after the news broke to clarify that the deal wasn't done quite yet.

Former NFL lineman Ryan O'Callaghan revealed he was gay in a powerful in-depth piece on Outsports.com on Tuesday in which he described the emotional toll it took to keep his sexuality a secret during his playing days.But no other player will likely be forced to take that route, according to O'Callaghan, who said Wednesday he believes NFL teams and their players would now accept an openly gay player during an appearance on "The Dan Patrick Show.""I'm pretty positive now that teams would accept a gay player. There's enough guys in every locker room who truly understand and know that it's not a choice. In society as a whole, it's OK. I think there's enough guys that would rally around, I think some would even go out of their way just to make someone feel accepted," O'Callaghan said, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.Michael Sam was the first openly gay player to step onto an NFL field after he was drafted by the then-St. Louis Rams in the 2014 NFL Draft.However, Sam's career was a short one. After being cut by the Rams prior to the 2014 season, the pass-rusher caught on with the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad. Sam was then waived in October 2014 and hasn't been on another NFL team since.While Sam arguably wasn't the trailblazer some expected him to be, based on O'Callaghan's comments, it appears to be a matter of when, not if, that a gay active NFL player will break down the barrier for good.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Las Vegas' professional sports teams are playing nice.With the Vegas Golden Knights set to reveal their expansion-draft roster at the NHL Awards on Wednesday night, their soon-to-be NFL neighbors sent a letter wishing them all the best as they break ground in the desert.

Carolina Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman thinks his team is primed to shake off the effects of the Super Bowl loss in 2015 and the subsequent disappointment of missing the playoffs last season.Full of energy and bravado in the run to the top of the NFC in 2015, the Panthers lacked their signature swagger as they finished at the bottom of the NFC South with a 6-10 record in 2016.But Gettleman said his players are reinvigorated, displaying the same mindset they had in their spectacular 2015 campaign."Last year we were tired, and I think guys got carried away," Gettleman said, according to Max Henson of the Panthers' official site. "It's hard - I've seen a Super Bowl hangover after you win it and after you lose it, and it ain't pretty."There's a different attitude this year. I feel like this is 2015 all over again with this group."The Panthers, clearly realizing Cam Newton needed more weapons after he regressed from his 2015 MVP campaign, added running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Curtis Samuel in the draft.Whether this will be enough to help boost the offense back to its 2015 level remains to be seen, but with a core group of elite players like Newton, Luke Kuechly, Kawann Short, and Greg Olsen, the Panthers are prime bounce-back candidates for 2017.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The rich get richer.After coming away with yet another Lombardi Trophy, the fifth of the Brady-Belichick era, the New England Patriots were anything but complacent heading into the offseason.Retaining Dont'a Hightower and Malcolm Butler, as they did, would have been more than enough for the Patriots to remain a Super Bowl favorite in 2017. But with salary cap space to burn, the defending champs set out to load up. And that they did.Here's a look back at New England's insanely strong offseason haul following the most recent move, scooping up another defensive leader in former Jets linebacker David Harris.Stephon Gilmore, CB