Get ready for your season with theScore's 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.More in this series

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera admitted his comments about offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy's coaching style weren't as clear as he intended.Rivera, who said Tuesday that Bieniemy's intense style left some players "concerned," met with his new offensive coordinator to clear the air."I basically told him I put my foot in my mouth," Rivera said, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com. "I think what I said wasn't as clear as it needed to be. I think the understanding of it is just the fact that I think everybody's making, in my opinion, a little bit more than needs to be made of this. Because again, the results are what you're looking for on the field, and so far, the last couple days have been outstanding."He added: "I think Eric has done a great job of communicating his message now that guys have opened up, talked with him; he's opened up to them."Rivera also said he encouraged players to speak to Bieniemy, which he believes has already started to pay off with on-field results."Since those conversations took place with Eric and the players, I've seen the improvements, and I can honestly say the last couple of practices probably have been the best of training camp, which I think is great," he added. "To me, that displays the team is beginning to embrace the message and approach to how he does things and how we want things done."Bieniemy also defended his coaching methods Tuesday, stating: "I'm going to be their biggest and harshest critic, but also understand, I'm going to be their No. 1 fan because I support them at all times."The former Kansas City Chiefs coordinator joined the Commanders this offseason.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent running back Kareem Hunt will visit the Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday after completing a visit with the New Orleans Saints, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The Colts offered Hunt more money before he worked out for the Saints, a source told Dianna Russini of ESPN. He was advised to leave New Orleans and visit Indianapolis.New Orleans is looking to bolster its running back corps with Alvin Kamara suspended for the first three games of the season. The Saints signed Jamaal Williams to a three-year deal this offseason and drafted Kendre Miller in the third round, though the TCU product is nursing a knee injury.Indianapolis is also seeking additions to its running back room. Jonathan Taylor is rehabbing from an ankle injury and is embroiled in a public feud with owner Jim Irsay over his contract situation. Meanwhile, Zack Moss is out for six weeks with a broken arm.Hunt spent the last four years with the Cleveland Browns. He has 1,106 touches for 5,831 yards in 76 career games.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Vikings owner Mark Wilf wouldn't commit to signing quarterback Kirk Cousins after the season."We'll leave that to Kwesi (general manager) and coach (Kevin O'Connell) to work through those discussions," Wilf said Tuesday, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN. "There's always conversations on that. But our real focus is 100% on 2023 and getting where we need to be and where I know we can be."Cousins has signed two extensions since inking a three-year, $84-million fully guaranteed deal in 2018. His contract has a no-trade clause for this season, according to Over The Cap, and the signal-caller is scheduled to hit free agency in 2024.The 35-year-old led the Vikings to the playoffs in two of his five seasons with the team. Minnesota lost to the New York Giants in the wild-card round after going 13-4 in the regular season last campaign."We feel great about the quarterback situation," Wilf said.He added: "Kirk is an outstanding leader. He's led this team incredibly these past few years, and we're looking for great things from him in 2023."Cousins has compiled a 46-33-1 record with the Vikings, racking up 20,934 passing yards with 153 touchdowns and 50 interceptions.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens running back Melvin Gordon expressed his frustration with the current market for his position."We're kind of screwed, I feel like, for the next couple years," Gordon said Tuesday, alluding to the issue continuing until the NFL's collective bargaining agreement expires in 2030, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. "The only thing we could do is just kind of stack it and just ball out."Rushers Saquon Barkley, Tony Pollard, and Josh Jacobs received the franchise tag this offseason. None of them signed long-term contracts with their clubs, and Barkley was the only one to get a raise, agreeing to an amended franchise-tag deal worth up to $11 million over one year.Pollard ultimately signed the franchise tag, and Josh Jacobs is currently holding out of training camp as he looks for a new deal. The 25-year-old led the league in scrimmage yards last season.Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is also in a contract feud with his team. The 2021 leading rusher reportedly requested a trade and is on the PUP list recovering from an ankle injury."At the end of the day, the talking and this and that is not going to get anything done," Gordon said. "I think we just have to shine in the brightest moments when we get to the playoffs. The backs that are on that team got to take initiative to be like - you know what - I'm going to take over."He added: "The league is changing, and it sucks to say it's a passing league. But you still need a great run game. Let's not get away from that."Gordon signed a one-year $1.1-million contract with the Ravens in July. The two-time Pro Bowler has recorded 6,462 rushing yards and 55 touchdowns in 108 career games.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on Spotify, Apple, Google, and Stitcher.In this episode, JJ Zachariason of LateRound.com joins Boone to discuss how to approach receivers in this year's fantasy drafts.

We've looked at the betting outlook for every team in the NFL, making a point to emphasize a key idea: The most important starting point for success in sports betting is understanding how the numbers you're betting into were created. If you're baffled by how one team is favored by a certain amount over another, then you're in big trouble.NFL oddsmakers don't just make point spreads out of thin air each week. Even on Sunday nights, the first crack at the lines for the next week's games is just an adjustment from the lookahead lines that were widely available just days before. Before those, many sportsbooks had advanced "Game of the Year" lines for some or all of the season's games.To come up with these point spreads, they used their ratings for each team and applied those numbers to a formula, then adjusted for an estimated home-field advantage. Sprinkle in a little logic about bettors' general preferences, and they can make final tweaks.Once their best number is ready, they'll make it available for betting, at which point the market weighs in. If a lot of money - or well-respected accounts - favor one side early, oddsmakers shift the point spread until that one-sided betting subsides. Over the week, bet limits will increase closer to game time, and oddsmakers will get more information on their number's fairness.As kickoff approaches, bettors get their last chance to weigh in, but oddsmakers should've found a number they can work with - either by having equal money bet on either side or by being willing to take their chances with exposure on the side they don't think will cover.Throughout thousands of games, sportsbooks hope to profit thanks to the vig (or commission) that bettors are paying to make a safe and regulated wager - most often at -110. Sportsbooks make money on evenly bet games because they get 10% of all action, and they also make money by winning 50% of games when willfully exposed against the heavily wagered side.Finding an edge on the marketBettors can get the edge by beating the closing line. If a game we bet at -6.5 closes Cowboys -7, what would be a push on a Dallas 7-point win becomes a win for us. Those close wins help achieve our goal of winning at least 52.3% (the breakeven point on -110) of our bets.How do we beat the market to valuable numbers? By having a good idea of what a point spread should be before it gets bet to that number, using past information from the betting market to determine what we expect the next point spreads to be. A simple rating system and a slightly more complicated formula is the easiest way to project that.NFL team ratingsA rating system out of 100 points is a universally simple format. You're welcome to adjust your ratings in whatever way you evaluate teams. Do it by rating punters, for all I care.However, we have a summer's worth of the market weighing in on how it values each team, thanks to regular-season win totals and lookahead point spreads for every game. Why not use that information to create "market ratings" as a starting point?TEAMRATING (/100)Chiefs75Bengals74Eagles71Bills6849ers64Ravens62Cowboys61Chargers59Jets59Dolphins58Lions58Browns58Jaguars55Steelers55Saints53Giants51Vikings50Broncos50Seahawks50Falcons49Patriots48Packers45Bears45Panthers45Titans42Raiders41Commanders37Colts37Rams36Buccaneers36Texans32Cardinals26Point spread valuation/calculationFirst, what's the longest possible point spread for an NFL game? The league that prides itself on parity averages about 10 possessions for each team, and even the biggest early blowouts usually have the leading team take the air out of the ball. In 2013, Peyton Manning led a historically potent offense against the notably terrible Jaguars. As a result, the Broncos were 28-point favorites - the longest spread in modern NFL history. They didn't cover, winning easily but not that easily, 35-19.Until a team successfully covers a four-touchdown spread, we'll cap the largest possible point spread at just under that number, at 27 points.From there, we'll take a team's rating out of 100 and multiply that percentage by 27 to give it a point rating. For example, the Chiefs' estimated rating of 75/100 from their offseason preview would give them 20.25 points. In the season opener, they face the Lions. Detroit's 58/100 rating makes it worth 15.66 points. That's a 4.59 difference between the two teams. However, the matchup is being played in Kansas City, and a 2-point home-field advantage would create a reasonable opening line of Chiefs -6.5.TEAM (Rating) RATING x 27 DIFFERENCE W/ HFALions (58/100)15.66Chiefs (75/100)20.25-4.59-6.59Some sportsbooks opened with that line, while others had an idea of what usually happens when the Chiefs play - they get bet. Moving the line to Chiefs -7 is a risk-free proposition. Either no one bets it anymore, and they've stopped the influx of Chiefs money coming in at -6.5, or they get enough money on the Lions to even it out. If they want to come off the key number of -7, they can do so replete with market information.Whether it's your ratings, these market ratings, or my ratings, the goal is to be informed and ready for when a team's rating rises or drops after a high-profile win or loss.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Some members of the Washington Commanders haven't had the easiest time adjusting to new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy's coaching style, according to head coach Ron Rivera.Rivera said Tuesday that players were a "little concerned" with Bieniemy's intensity, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post."I had a number of guys come to me, and I said, 'Hey, just go talk to him.' I said, 'Understand what he's trying to get across to you.' I think as they go and they talk and they listen to him, it's been enlightening for a lot of these guys," Rivera said.Bieniemy explained later Tuesday that he'll be the players' "biggest and harshest critic" but also their "No. 1 fan.""Yes, I am intense, and I would be afraid, too, at the start if I didn't know it. ... I expect us to be the team that we're supposed to be. It's not going to be easy, but everybody's not going to like the process," Bieniemy said."I'm always going to be loud, and I'm always going to be vocal," he added. "I'm always going to demand from our leaders. ... I want our guys to clearly understand that we're not taking anything for granted."Prior to joining Washington, Bieniemy spent five seasons as the Kansas City Chiefs' offensive coordinator. The Chiefs won two Super Bowls and ranked in the top five in scoring on four occasions under Bieniemy.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said Jonathan Taylor's absence from the practice field Tuesday has nothing to do with the recent drama between the team and the star running back.Taylor, who is on the PUP list, hasn't been practicing but has usually watched the training camp sessions from the sideline, according to Mike Chappell of Fox59. He wasn't spotted Tuesday, but Steichen told reporters after the session that Taylor was not there because he was rehabbing his ankle."This is part of his rehab process. If you guys don't see him out here, it's part of his rehab," Steichen said, according to Dave Calabro of WTHR.Taylor and the Colts have been locked in a public spat for the last month that culminated in the player reportedly requesting a trade. Taylor also reportedly suffered a back injury while away from the team this offseason, which could lead the Colts to place him on the non-football injury list, though Taylor denied that report.Steichen said Tuesday that Taylor is currently recovering from an ankle injury."He's rehabbing his ankle and, like I said, once the medical staff clears him and he's 100%, he'll be out at practice," Steichen noted.Taylor is away from the facility to do his rehab and is expected to be absent for "a bit," NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports. Steichen declined to confirm whether the running back was in the building.The Colts coach added that he thinks Taylor is in a "good spot" with his recovery and would like to see him on the field at some point during training camp.The conflict between Taylor and the Colts franchise started when owner Jim Irsay tweeted that agents were selling "bad faith" regarding the running back market. Taylor's agent responded: "Bad faith is not paying your top offensive player."The 24-year-old back is in the last year of his rookie contract and is scheduled to earn a base salary of $4.3 million, per Spotrac. Taylor has produced 3,841 rushing yards across three seasons.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs have no intention of trading away star defensive tackle Chris Jones amid his ongoing holdout for a new extension."I think for all parties, I think the best resolution would be for him to end his career as a Chief - and get that financial security - and for us to do what we had set out to do, and that's to work through last offseason with this offseason in mind and get some young guys, which we did that, and then focus on this year and getting Chris done," Veach said, according to the Kansas City Star's Jesse Newell."Hopefully, we get this resolved, but we have no intentions of making a trade," he added.The four-time Pro Bowler has stayed away from Chiefs camp as the two sides attempt to hammer out a lucrative new deal. Jones was reportedly seeking a deal that would earn him $30 million per season. Aaron Donald remains the highest-paid defensive tackle with an average annual salary of $31.6 million, according to Over the Cap.Jones is entering the final year of a four-year, $80 million contract signed in July 2020 and will earn around $20 million in 2023. However, Jones has been subject to $50,000 fines for each day he's missed during training camp.Veach is adamant that Kansas City is not considering moving on from Jones, even though the team traded Tyreek Hill in March of 2022 after the two sides failed to agree to a new contract."You have to keep in mind that when we did make that move with Tyreek, one of the determining factors was because there was an expected Chris Jones deal," Veach said.The Chiefs' general manager also noted that the team's salary cap was in a better position after trading Hill away for multiple draft picks. Veach also said that the team "wouldn't be as good without" Jones and his goal during negotiations is to have him on the team for the foreseeable future.The league saw plenty of defensive tackles cash in during the offseason. Quinnen Williams, Jeffery Simmons, and Daron Payne were just some of the positional players to secure lucrative extensions.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes secured the No. 1 spot in the NFL Top 100 rankings, beating out Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson.Mahomes was named the league MVP in 2022 and led the Chiefs to a win in Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles, earning his second career Super Bowl MVP.

The Detroit Lions are signing quarterback Teddy Bridgewater after hosting the 30-year-old on a visit in late July, sources told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport.Bridgewater will reunite with Lions head coach Dan Campbell. The pair spent the 2018-19 season together on the New Orleans Saints.The 2014 first-round pick provides additional experience under center behind starter Jared Goff. Detroit also has Nate Sudfeld and rookie Adrian Martinez on its quarterback depth chart. 2023 third-round pick Hendon Hooker is on the non-football injury list as he rehabs from a torn ACL suffered in college.Bridgewater backed up Tua Tagovailoa as a member of the Miami Dolphins last season. The Louisville product passed for 683 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions in five games. He earned two starts and finished the year with a 62% completion rate.The Lions will be Bridgewater's sixth NFL club. He also had stints with the Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, and Denver Broncos.The veteran sports 33-32 record as a starter to go along with 15,120 yards, 75 touchdowns, and a 90.5 career passer rating."I've got a lot of respect for Teddy Bridgewater because I think he's a winner in this league," Campbell said in 2021, according to The Detroit News' Justin Rogers.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Devin White said he's content with his current situation despite requesting a trade earlier this offseason."I just wanted to be the guy here for a long time," White said, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times."After just sitting down with coach (Todd) Bowles and (general manager) Jason Licht and just understanding their plans for me ... we all came to a good agreement, and that's why I'm here, just focusing on the season now."White requested a trade in April. He's scheduled to make $11.7 million this season after the Bucs picked up the fifth-year option on his deal, according to Over The Cap.White wants to be the highest-paid linebacker in the league, and the Buccaneers are refusing to meet his demands, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.The Baltimore Ravens made Roquan Smith the highest-paid linebacker in the league last October, signing him to a five-year, $100 million contract extension."I don't think it's no regrets," White said regarding his trade request, according to Pewter Report. "I don't think it's just about being paid. It's just about being a guy who was drafted here and doing a lot for this program. I just want to be the long-term guy."He added: "We just didn't make it happen when I wanted it to. And that's why I got a little selfish. Even knowing I still had the fifth-year option and that was the thing in play."White is the only NFL player to record 120 tackles and 15 quarterback hits in a single campaign over the last three years.The 25-year-old has 483 tackles and 20.5 sacks in 62 career games.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the Hall of Fame Game in the books, we'll recap and analyze the biggest storylines ahead of the first full week of preseason action.The Jonathan Taylor saga continues Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe standoff between the Indianapolis Colts and star running back Jonathan Taylor has intensified.First, Taylor reportedly requested a trade last weekend over not receiving an extension following a private meeting with Colts owner Jim Irsay. Then, Irsay vehemently shut down any possibility of the star halfback being dealt.It seemed inevitable that Taylor would earn a lucrative new deal after leading the league and setting a franchise single-season record with 1,811 rushing yards during the 2021 campaign. Even despite his career-low 861 yards in 2022, the Wisconsin product has rushed for 3,841 yards and 33 touchdowns while averaging 5.1 yards per carry through three seasons.Yet, with the 24-year-old tailback entering the final year of his rookie contract that'll see him earn $4.3 million, per Over the Cap, the Colts don't have immediate plans to sign him to a contract extension.Now, Taylor is on the physically unable to play list to begin training camp. Head coach Shane Steichen didn't specify the injury that's preventing the starting tailback from participating in practice. However, there were reports that the rusher suffered a back injury while away from the team this offseason.As a result, Indianapolis was apparently considering moving Taylor to the non-football injury list, although he quickly refuted the reports. The Colts wouldn't have to pay Taylor's salary for the 2023 season if they placed him on the NFI list, and they could potentially prevent him from becoming an unrestricted free agent.Although the Colts have indicated that they won't entertain offers for Taylor, there are teams willing to give the star the kind of contract he desires, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Indianapolis also signed Kenyan Drake on Friday amid the uncertainty, and after Zack Moss underwent arm surgery.Taylor's impasse with the Colts is emblematic of the devaluation of running backs across the league. Similar to most clubs, Indy seemingly doesn't feel compelled to pay its star rusher.Jets' hype flight reaches new elevation Rich Schultz / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe New York Jets have been enjoying the spotlight since the start of training camp. Off the field, quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw shots at Denver coach Sean Payton for calling Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett's 2022 Broncos tenure one of "the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL." Hackett said Payton broke the coaches' code. Seems like there'll be plenty of inspiration when the two sides meet in Week 5.On the field, the Jets hosted four-time Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook, but a deal has yet to be reached. However, the rusher said the odds are pretty high that he'll sign a deal with New York. The addition of a tailback that's rushed for 1,000-plus yards in each of the past four seasons would further elevate the expectations around Florham Park.Plus, second-year starter Breece Hall is continuing to ramp up his workload after his rookie campaign ended due to a torn ACL. A combination of Cook and Hall, who averaged 5.8 yards per rush and scored four touchdowns in seven games in 2022, would create one of the league's most formidable backfields. If the Jets don't add Cook, Michael Carter, Israel Abanikanda, and Zonovan "Bam" Knight are each jockeying for the RB2 spot.And if that wasn't enough Jets content for you, you'll be pleased to know that the season premiere of HBO's "Hard Knocks" is set to take place Aug. 8.Pro Football Hall of Fame GameFor the first time in what felt like ages, we finally got to see actual football during an exhibition contest between the Jets and Cleveland Browns. Aaron Rodgers, Deshaun Watson, and most of the notable starters for each team didn't suit up, but seeing live action was a welcome sight.

New England Patriots pass-rusher Matthew Judon expressed gratitude to the team for re-working his contract.Judon will now earn $12 million more in fully guaranteed money during 2023. He could also make an additional $4 million in incentives."I think it represents that they want to keep me around here or keep me happy, or just they're representing they see what I did and they appreciate it for the organization," Judon said, according to Conor Roche of Boston.com."So, when you do something like that - because they didn't quite have to, if we're being quite frank. ... They didn't have to budge. They could've said, 'Sign this and this is what you're going to do.'"He added: "But they helped me out so I can help the team out."The 31-year-old signed a four-year, $54.5-million deal with the Patriots in 2021. He has a $16.1-million cap hit next year, according to Over The Cap.Judon has taken his game to the next level since joining the club. He has 28 sacks in two years with New England, tied for third most in the league since 2021, after failing to surpass the double-digit mark during his five-year tenure with the Baltimore Ravens."I'm happy. They're happy. We shook hands. And now, we're playing football," Judon said.The Grand Valley State product has 356 tackles and 62.5 sacks in 110 career games. New England opens its season Sept. 10 against the Philadelphia Eagles.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons doesn't just want to make the Hall of Fame one day - he wants to be considered one of the greatest players of all time."When you talk about great careers, (when) you talk about the Hall of Fame, I don't think I just want to make the Hall of Fame," Parsons said, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. "I just want to be known as one of the greatest Hall of Famers."Parsons has exploded onto the scene since being selected with the 12th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in his first campaign and has two first-team All-Pro nominations on his resume.Demarcus Ware, the Cowboys' all-time sack leader who entered the Hall of Fame on Saturday, has mentored Parsons in the past."Talk about a guy that set the standard. Twenty-sack seasons, a guy who's just outright dominated in his prime and went out in the right way," Parsons said.He added: "I thought he was a first-ballot guy. A guy that I looked up to. His IQ, bro, any time you just talk to him about football, when he just came in that one day, I just learned so much."Parsons has helped transform the Cowboys' defense into one of the best in the league over the last two seasons, ranking in the top 10 in points per game allowed in both campaigns.However, the strong defense has failed to translate to playoff success. The Cowboys haven't reached the Super Bowl since 1996."There are people that have had great careers, but without that Super Bowl, man. ... That Super Bowl carries so much weight," Parsons said.Parsons has 149 tackles and 26.5 sacks in 33 career starts. The Cowboys open their season on Sept. 10 against the New York Giants.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers reached an agreement on a one-year deal with veteran pass-rusher Justin Houston, the club announced Sunday.Houston's deal is worth up to $7 million with $6 million guaranteed, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.The 34-year-old collected 9.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, and 17 QB hits in 14 games with the Baltimore Ravens in 2022.Houston joins an edge rusher group that features Pro Bowler Brian Burns, Yetur Gross-Matos, and 2023 third-round pick DJ Johnson, among others.Carolina's pass-rushers combined for just 35 sacks in 2022, tied for seventh-fewest in the league. Burns alone accounted for 12.5 quarterback takedowns.The Panthers are transitioning from a 4-3 to a 3-4 base defense under new defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Houston's experience playing outside linebacker in similar schemes should prove valuable as the Panthers look to develop their young talent.The four-time Pro Bowler owns 111.5 career sacks over his 12-year career, including an NFL-best 22 in 2014.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles are signing free-agent linebackers Zach Cunningham and Myles Jack to one-year contracts, the team announced Sunday.Both contracts are worth up to $2.5 million, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Jack spent last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers after playing the previous six campaigns with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 27-year-old led Pittsburgh in tackles last season with 104.He has eclipsed 100 tackles in four of his last five seasons and was a second-round pick of the Jaguars in the 2016 NFL Draft.Cunningham played six games for the Tennessee Titans last season. He was placed on injured reserve in November and only played in one contest for the remainder of the year.The 27-year-old was claimed off waivers by the Titans in 2021. He spent the previous four seasons with the Houston Texans and had a spectacular 2020 campaign, racking up 164 tackles and seven tackles for loss. He was a second-round pick of the Texans in the 2017 draft.Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean has missed the last two practices with an ankle injury but is expected to be back soon, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Christian Elliss, Nicholas Morrow, Shaun Bradley, and Ben VanSumeren are the other linebackers on the Eagles' depth chart.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After signing a four-year contract extension worth up to $37.25 million, Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson hopes the team can retain its core players due for new deals."I still think that this contract allows them to get those things done with guys, and hopefully, we're able to keep them long term as well," Wilson said, according to Ben Baby of ESPN.Quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Tee Higgins will likely receive new contracts next. Burrow, Higgins, and Wilson were the Bengals' first three picks in the 2020 NFL Draft.The 26-year-old Burrow is expected to become the highest-paid signal-caller in the league when he agrees to a new contract. Leading quarterbacks Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, and Justin Herbert all signed lucrative deals over the past few months.Higgins is entering the final year of his rookie deal. He's been a critical pillar of Cincinnati's offense over the last three years, eclipsing 900 receiving yards and six touchdowns in each campaign.The Clemson product celebrated Wilson's extension on social media.

Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins believes he's next in line for a contract extension as one of the league's top interior defensive linemen."I definitely feel like I've done enough and done a lot to earn a new deal and a new contract," Wilkins said Saturday, per the team's media transcript. "But again, I'm just focusing on ball and improving every day and just giving my all to this organization and hopefully they'll give their all back to me."Wilkins is fresh off a 2023 campaign that saw him rack up 98 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. He also forced two fumbles and knocked down six passes.The 27-year-old will make $10,753,000 on his fifth-year option and is letting his representation take the wheel on negotiations."The biggest thing with that, all that stuff, I just try to focus as much on ball as possible and leave all that other stuff up to the organization and my representation and just control what I can control with my guys and with this team."Quinnen Williams of the New York Jets, Jeffery Simmons of the Tennessee Titans, and Daron Payne of the Washington Commanders all received lucrative extensions this offseason. The average annual value of their three deals is $23.3 million, per Over the Cap.Wilkins is happy that interior defensive linemen are getting big paydays. "I just love it for the evolution of the game and how far we've come as a position," he said.The 2019 first-rounder has 290 total tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and 17 pass deflections in 64 career games with the Dolphins.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals wideout Ja'Marr Chase would prefer to see quarterback Joe Burrow return when he's completely healthy instead of rushing back for the start of the regular season."I told him that, with all honesty, I don't want him there," Chase told NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano. "Same thing with me last year. ... I sat out an extra game just to let my hip all-the-way heal up. You don't want to cause no other problems later on in the season. I told him as long as you're there after Week 5 and on, we're good, brother."Burrow is currently being held out of practice after suffering a calf injury last week. His status for the team's season opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 10 remains up in the air. Head coach Zac Taylor initially said Burrow wouldn't be able to return for several weeks.Chase said Burrow didn't give an exact timeline on when he thinks he'll be ready to play again. Trevor Siemian or Jake Browning could start Week 1 if Burrow isn't ready.Chase also confirmed he wants Burrow to take his time to ensure the team's postseason success rather than a hot start to the season. The Bengals started 2-3 last season before finishing 12-4 and appearing in the AFC Championship Game. In 2021, Cincinnati earned a trip to Super Bowl LVI before losing in the big game.Missing preseason competition isn't new for Burrow. The Pro Bowl passer didn't play in exhibition games during his rookie campaign in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He took just a few snaps in 2021 as he worked his way back from an ACL/MCL injury. Last preseason, he missed time in camp after having an appendectomy.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers linebacker De'Vondre Campbell stood up for teammate Jordan Love after the quarterback received some harsh criticism from CBS Sports Network host Adam Schein."Ain't no way you just got on here with that baggy-ass Steve Harvey suit and them thick-ass Dollar Tree glasses and disrespected my QB by saying he can't play football," Campbell tweeted. "He only has one career start, let him play at least half a season before you open your big dumbass mouth."Schein ripped into Love's performance during the early portion of training camp and questioned the 24-year-old's chances of being a productive passer."I loathe Love. Despise Love. I mean, everyone looks great during preseason practices except, apparently, for Jordan Love, who by his own admission has struggled," Schein said Friday."This is going to be a predictable disaster with Jordan Love in Green Bay," he added.With plenty of young players expected to contribute and Love's lack of experience, the Packers' offense has struggled during camp.Love, who's set to take over as the team's full-time starter following the departure of Aaron Rodgers, said he's tuning out the naysayers."A lot of it is staying off social media right now. It's training camp so it's not like we have a lot of time anyways," Love said Tuesday, according to WBAY's Adriana Torres.Love has limited experience through the first three seasons of his career. The former first-rounder has passed for 606 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions while earning just one career start while backing up Rodgers.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame class officially inducted, it's time to turn our attention to the hopeful former NFL stars looking to get immortalized next year.Here's the rundown on what the 2024 ballot could look like:First-year eligible players Stephen Dunn / Getty Images Sport / GettyThough there's no guarantee that any of them will get in, there are a ton of intriguing first-year eligible candidates for 2024, including Julius Peppers and Andrew Luck, among others. Below are some of the most notable former players eligible for the Hall of Fame for the first time.Julius Peppers: The Carolina Panthers legend probably has the best shot to make it to Canton out of the first-year eligible players. A member of the All-Decade teams for the 2000s and 2010s, Peppers' 159.5 career sacks rank fourth in NFL history.Antonio Gates: Despite not playing any college football, Gates carved out one of the greatest careers for a tight end ever. A hoops-to-football convert, Gates used his size and athleticism to bring a new edge to the position, recording 955 receptions for 11,841 receiving yards and 116 touchdowns. If it's not 2024, it feels inevitable Gates will one day get into the Hall of Fame considering he ranks 17th in receptions, 30th in receiving yards, and seventh in receiving touchdowns all time.Eric Berry: At his peak, Berry was among the top safeties of this era. A member of the All-Decade team for the 2010s, he collected five Pro Bowls, three first-team All-Pro nods, and 14 career interceptions. However, Berry earned arguably his biggest feat by winning Comeback Player of the Year in 2015 after missing most of the previous season due to Hodgkin's lymphoma.Haloti Ngata: Playing nose tackle is often a thankless position due to the lack of visible stats in the box score, but Ngata was one of the best of his time. During his nine years in Baltimore, the Ravens ranked in the top five against the run on seven occasions. A five-time Pro Bowler, Ngata also grabbed a Super Bowl championship with the Ravens.Andrew Luck: There's a slim to none chance Luck will ever reach the Hall of Fame, but it's worth remembering his short yet productive career. Luck was one of the most naturally talented passers to enter the NFL in recent times, throwing for 171 touchdowns and 23,671 yards during his short stay with the Indianapolis Colts before shockingly retiring due to injuries.Best of 2023 modern-era finalists Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Sport / GettyUnfortunately, not every player cracks the Hall of Fame immediately. The 2023 ballot left off a ton of high-profile modern-era superstars who were among the biggest game-changers when they played. Will those listed below get an invite to Canton in 2024? Time will tell, but all these athletes deserve consideration.Dwight Freeney: Freeney is 18th all time in sacks with 125.5. The longtime Colts pass-rusher was a pure disruptor during the 2000s. Freeney recorded 10-plus sacks in seven of his first nine seasons. His partnership with edge rusher Robert Mathis was a very important but overlooked aspect of the Colts' dominance over the first decade of this century.Devin Hester: Role players don't usually get inducted into the Hall of Fame. But there probably should be an exception for Hester after he revolutionized the return game. He still holds the NFL record for most career return touchdowns with 20 (14 punts, five kickoffs, one missed field goal). Nothing may be more memorable than his 2006 season when he scored seven total return touchdowns, including one in the Super Bowl.Jared Allen: Allen twice led the league in sacks, including a near record-breaking 22 in 2011. The former edge rusher, who spent most of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings, shares the NFL record for most consecutive games with at least a half-sack after doing it in 11 straight contests. Allen's 136 sacks are also the 12th most ever.Reggie Wayne: Wayne is trying to join his former Colts teammate Marvin Harrison in Canton. Their numbers are quite comparable. Wayne recorded 1,070 catches for 14,345 yards, while Harrison grabbed 1,102 receptions for 14,580 yards. Wayne also posted seven straight 1,000-plus yard campaigns from 2004-10.Torry Holt: Holt is the only member from the main cast of "The Greatest Show on Turf" not to make the Hall of Fame. He's been up for consideration four times but hasn't cracked the entry list. A seven-time Pro Bowler, Holt twice led the NFL in receiving yards and racked up over 13,000 receiving yards across an 11-year career.Patrick Willis: Injuries forced Willis to end his career after just eight seasons. Perhaps that was a consequence of how much he gave to the sport because it's hard to think of a better all-around linebacker during his time. Willis led the league in tackles as a rookie and then continued to dominate the line of scrimmage, racking up seven Pro Bowls and five first-team All-Pro selections.Willie Anderson: Anderson missed the cut-off for the Hall of Fame in each of the last two years, but perhaps 2024 is his time. He was a standout right tackle for the Bengals from 1996-2007 and earned three first-team All-Pro nods in Cincinnati before spending his final year with the Ravens.Andre Johnson: Johnson is the only player in NFL history to record four seasons of 100-plus receptions and 1,400-plus yards. The Houston Texans legend owns many of the club's franchise records. His 14,185 career receiving yards ranks just outside the top 10 all time.Darren Woodson: While the safety position has evolved massively in recent years, Woodson was one of the most versatile safeties of his era. Opposing quarterbacks and offensive coordinators always had to account for him. A true field general, Woodson ended his career with 23 interceptions and 967 tackles.Seniors James Biever Photography LLC / Getty Images Sport / GettyTwelve player candidates have been selected for the Seniors category of the 2024 Hall of Fame class. The biggest names among the group include Sterling Sharpe, Ken Anderson, Roger Craig, and Eddie Meador, among others. None of the players listed in the Senior category played later than the 1998 season. The committee can choose up to three candidates to be considered for the 2024 ballot, where they'll need 80% of the vote to be enshrined.

We conclude our summer NFL team-by-team previews with an example of how thin the line is between love and hate. Last season, the Commanders were separated between respect and ill-repute by a couple of brief moments.With the Giants leading the Commanders during a pivotal Week 15 Sunday Night Football game despite being outgained 408-228, New York sacked Taylor Heinicke to force a Washington field goal that would cut the hosts' deficit to two. But someone on the Giants noticed that Heinicke fumbled, and a subsequent challenge gave New York the ball.Then, after a Giants field goal, the Commanders drove the field and seemingly scored a touchdown that would set them up to tie the game. However, the points were taken off the board after they were flagged for illegal formation.This close loss, in which they were 4-point favorites and coming off a bye, was the death knell to the Commanders' season. It was the difference between them being 8-5-1 with a playoff spot in sight and 7-6-1 with the Giants in the driver's seat. Afterward, Washington was quickly forgotten.2023 season oddsMARKETODDS(O/U)Win total6.5 (+110/-130)Division+1600Conference+5000Super Bowl+7500Estimated rating37/100The Commanders - 8-8-1 straight up and against the spread last season - were largely forgettable, but they weren't bad. A 6.5 win total with plus money on the over suggests a team that's on the level of the Colts or Buccaneers, but Washington was rated higher than that during the end of last season.Schedule outlookWEEKOPPONENTLOOKAHEAD LINE1ARIWSH -62@DENDEN -3.53BUFBUF -4.54@PHIPHI -75CHIWSH -1.56@ATLATL -2.57@NYGNYG -2.58PHIPHI -49@NENE -3.510@SEASEA -411NYGNYG -1.512@DALDAL -613MIAMIA -3.515@LARLAR -116@NYJNYJ -5.517SFSF -3.518DALDAL -3Despite their poor rating, the Commanders open the season -6 at home to the Cardinals, the first of just two times they're projected favorites. With an estimated -27 being the highest-possible point spread in the modern NFL, the Commanders' 37/100 rating gives them 10 out of 27 points on that scale.The Cardinals - deemed the NFL's worst team - are worth 6.8 for a 3.2-point difference on a neutral field. Washington appears to be getting 2.8 points of home-field advantage, but Arizona's rating is based on a season win total that accounts for Kyler Murray returning at some point. If the Cardinals start Clayton Tune in Week 1, who knows how bad they might actually be?What's to like about the CommandersIt's impossible to quantify, but, by all reports, the energy around Washington is infinitely better after Dan Snyder sold the team. It was hard to assign any home-field advantage to the Commanders, but they might have a beneficial environment.Between the lines, Washington's defense was top 10 in yards per play allowed and sixth in sack percentage thanks to one of the league's scariest defensive lines with Chase Young, Daron Payne, Montez Sweat, and Jonathan Allen. The Commanders made a point to improve the secondary by using their first- and second-round picks on defensive backs.What's not to like about the CommandersSam Howell is as much an uncertainty as there is at the quarterback position this season. Once thought to be a first-round talent, Howell's wild play at North Carolina made him a fifth-round pick. He's playing behind an offensive line that's shaky at best. However, Howell has mobility, and Washington hired Eric Bieniemy as its new offensive coordinator. Bieniemy has experience with moving Patrick Mahomes behind mediocre Chiefs offensive lines.Other notable betting marketsPLAYERMARKETODDSSam HowellMVP+10000Most passing yards+10000Most passing TD+6500Brian RobinsonMost rushing yards+6500Most rushing TD+3500Terry McLaurinOffensive POTY+7500Most receptions+7500Most receiving yards+5000Most receiving TD+5000Chase YoungDefensive POTY+5000Comeback POTY+5000Most sacks+7500Jonathan AllenDefensive POTY+20000Daron PayneDefensive POTY+20000Most sacks+7500Montez SweatDefensive POTY+20000Most sacks+5000Emmanuel ForbesDefensive ROTY+2000Ron RiveraCoach of the Year+3500Terry McLaurin is used to questionable quarterback play, but until he has someone reliable throwing him the ball, there's a ceiling on his production.If all four-star defensive linemen are causing opponents havoc, how do you pick which one would be the prime Defensive Player of the Year candidate?After a 7.5-sack rookie campaign, Young had just 1.5 sacks before tearing up his knee in 2021. The idea that he'd return better than ever is something of a leap of faith. However, Young's entering a contract year, and it's not like opponents can risk shifting protection to account for him only. A big season would also put Young squarely in the mix for Comeback Player of the Year.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted nine new members during Saturday's enshrinement ceremony in Canton, Ohio.The Class of 2023 features DeMarcus Ware, Darrelle Revis, Zach Thomas, Joe Thomas, and Ronde Barber, as well as Joe Klecko, Ken Riley, and Chuck Howley in the seniors category and Don Coryell in the coaching category.Revis, Ware, Zach Thomas, and Joe Thomas all donned their gold jackets before revealing their busts that will be immortalized inside the Hall of Fame. Here are some highlights from Saturday's event:Joe ThomasOffensive tackle; Cleveland Browns; 2007-17

There's no greater recipe for winning Coach of the Year than going 9-7-1 to make the playoffs with a shaky quarterback, all in the biggest pro sports market on the continent. Brian Daboll pulled it off while the betting market refused to catch up. The Giants went 13-4 against the spread without ever having to turn to a backup quarterback - a situation that often artificially lowers a team's rating.Can the Giants repeat this feat? That cover rate isn't likely, but despite committing to Daniel Jones and avoiding full-on distraction by getting Saquon Barkley signed and into camp, the Giants have gone from an expectation of seven wins up to just 7.5.2023 season oddsMARKETODDS(O/U)Win total7.5 (-105/-115)Division+900Conference+3000Super Bowl+6000Estimated rating45/100Despite a season that gave the New York fanbase hope for the future, the Giants have seen their season win total bet down from 8.5 in May to 7.5, which has taken their estimated market rating from right around league-average down to where they're not expected to make the playoffs. With both the Eagles and Cowboys in their way, +900 to win the division still might not be long enough, but the Giants could again be dangerous if they prove last year's wild card was no fluke.Schedule outlookWEEKOPPONENTLOOKAHEAD LINE1DALDAL -32@ARINYG -43@SFSF -64SEANYG -15@MIAMIA -4.56@BUFBUF -77WSHNYG -2.58NYJNYJ -1.59@LVLV -1.510@DALDAL -5.511@WSHNYG -1.512NENYG -1.514GBNYG -2.515@NONO -2.516@PHIPHI -717LARNYG -318PHIPHI -3One of the big moves in Week 1 point spreads this offseason is the move off of three points in Cowboys-Giants. Dallas is now -3.5, meaning either its rating went up or the Giants' rating went down. Look no further than New York's win total drop to get your answer. It's a prime example of how those two markets are tied together with team ratings as the root.The Giants face the Eagles twice in the last three weeks of the season. Whether you think there's value on one side or the other, it's pretty clear that home-field advantage is valued at two points each way when a key number isn't being fully crossed.What's to like about the GiantsThe Giants are building continuity, with Jones getting a second season to work with both Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka behind an offensive line with two recent first-round hits at offensive tackle. The same goes for the defense, with coordinator Wink Martindale in his second season.In the context of betting, we're always looking for teams, units, or players that the general public doesn't think that much of. Jones' 15 touchdowns last year don't exactly jump off the page, but that only means there's room for improvement, something he's shown in ball protection - lowering his turnover totals in each of his first four seasons.What's not to like about the GiantsNew York made a few tweaks to a defensive group that was 24th in opponent yards per play and whose leader in sacks was nose tackle Dexter Lawrence with 7.5. Pressure will be on Kayvon Thibodeaux - drafted to have more than just four sacks - and a healthy Azeez Ojulari, who played in just seven games last season. While there's room for improvement there, we'll have to see it to believe it.Jones' 15 touchdowns can be attributed to a lack of downfield playmakers. While adding Darren Waller is exciting, and rookie Jalin Hyatt ran roughly a billion go-routes at Tennessee, the pass-catching group is rife with slot receivers and underneath options.Other notable betting marketsPLAYERMARKETODDSDaniel JonesMVP+5000Most passing yards+6500Most passing TD+10000Saquon BarkleyOffensive POTY+5000Most rushing yards+1500Most rushing TD+2000Darren WallerComeback POTY+7500Most receptions+6500Most receiving yards+15000Most receiving TD+10000Jalin HyattOffensive ROTY+4000Most rookie receiving yards+2500Deonte BanksDefensive ROTY+3000Kayvon ThibodeauxDefensive POTY+5500Most sacks+10000Brian DabollCoach of the Year+3500The Giants are going to score somehow, but if you just look at their awards and statistical leaders markets, you might doubt that. If the offense is going to run through Barkley, his odds for the rushing title should probably be shorter.It's telling that the market thinks the Giants' best chance for pass-catching excellence is their tight end. If that's the case, and Waller sees the most looks from Jones, an outlier season where he's the prime red-zone target makes him an interesting long shot to score the most touchdowns in the league.Winning back-to-back Coach of the Year awards might be among the hardest things to do in sports. In a league full of annual surprises, getting credit for surpassing expectations in two consecutive years - above 31 other teams - is almost impossible. But it helps that the market is still tepid, with the Giants' 7.5 win total.Sauce Gardner won Defensive Rookie of the Year on two interceptions. His league-leading 20 passes defensed and the New York spotlight got him the award. Deonte Banks could do the same, especially with the presumption that teams will test the rookie early, just as they did with Gardner - who had 12 PD in his first seven games.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cincinnati Bengals and linebacker Logan Wilson agreed to terms Friday on a four-year deal worth up to $37.25 million, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Wilson had 123 total tackles, one interception, and 2.5 sacks in 15 regular-season games last year.The 6-foot-2 defender has been a productive member of the Bengals' recent postseason success. He's accounted for at least six total tackles and played 100% of the defensive snaps in each of Cincinnati's last seven playoff tilts.Wilson headlines a linebacker group that also includes Germaine Pratt and Akeem Davis-Gaither.The 27-year-old was selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He's compiled 256 total tackles, seven interceptions, and 4.5 sacks through 40 career games.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story includes graphic detail about suicide.Johnny Manziel revealed in a new Netflix documentary that he attempted suicide after the Cleveland Browns cut him in 2016."I had planned to do everything I wanted to do at that point in my life, spend as much money as I possibly could, and then my plan was to take my life," Manziel said, according to ESPN's Jake Trotter. "I wanted to get as bad as humanly possible to where it made sense, and it made it seem like an excuse and an out for me."The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner said in "Untold: Johnny Football" - which is scheduled for release Aug. 8 - that he suffered significant weight loss and started using OxyContin and cocaine daily following the 2015 NFL season.Manziel said he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and refused to enter rehab. He added that he began self-sabotaging at one point, eventually going on a "$5-million bender" before attempting suicide with a gun.However, the 30-year-old said that the weapon malfunctioned when he pulled the trigger."Still to this day, (I) don't know what happened. But the gun just clicked on me," he said.Manziel appeared Friday on "The Pat McAfee Show" to talk about the new documentary."This was something that I was excited to do, excited to tell my story. ... I'm extremely satisfied," Manziel said. "It's kind of the way that I wanted to tell the story. I wanted to reflect well on College Station, well on my time at (Texas) A&M because those times were legendary."

The NFL announced Friday that it suspended New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara for three games for his role in a fight outside a Las Vegas nightclub in 2022, according to Albert Breer of TheMMQB.Kamara reached a plea agreement in July and no longer faces a felony charge for the incident that took place before the Pro Bowl in February 2022.The 28-year-old addressed the incident to the media on Friday before the suspension was announced."I was completely wrong. I embarrassed the Saints, I embarrassed my family and my mother. I embarrassed myself, embarrassed the city, and the shield, obviously, embarrassed the NFL," Kamara said, according to NFL.com.The 2017 Offensive Rookie of the Year, Kamara has earned five Pro Bowl berths and two second-team All-Pro nods since New Orleans drafted him in the third round. He's topped 1,300 scrimmage yards each year in the NFL. The Tennessee product has racked up 5,135 yards (4.5 per carry) and 49 touchdowns rushing to go along with 430 receptions for 3,753 yards and 22 TDs in 88 career games.The Saints will face the Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers, and Green Bay Packers in their first three games of the season. Kamara will be eligible to make his 2023 debut at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 1.With Kamara unavailable to start the campaign, the Saints are expected to rely on veteran running back Jamaal Williams, who joined the club this offseason, and third-round rookie Kendre Miller. New Orleans is 3-7 in games without Kamara over the course of his career.Cornerback Chris Lammons, who was involved in the incident with Kamara, was also suspended for three games. Lammons signed with the Indianapolis Colts last week.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has beef with Aaron Rodgers over the New York Jets signal-caller's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am victory.Allen accused Rodgers of sandbagging at the February golf tournament during an appearance on the "Pardon My Take" podcast."He did," Allen said when asked if Rodgers cheated. "I love Aaron, but he did."Allen pointed out that Rodgers played with a handicap of 10 when, according to Golf Digest's Alex Myers, his usual handicap is 3."He may have gotten seven or eight strokes too many at Pebble Beach, or nine," Allen said. "Not from me, that's from what other sources are saying. I'm not saying that."Rodgers and his partner Ben Silverman finished at 26-under par to win the event by one shot. Allen and his partner, PGA TOUR player Keith Mitchell, finished fourth.Mitchell expressed his own doubts about the legitimacy of Rodgers' win back in February."I think Josh and I won. Aaron Rodgers doesn't count," Mitchell said. "His handicap was crap. I haven't looked. I think we were on 18, we might've been up there. But if we finish second to Aaron I consider us winning the trophy."Allen and Rodgers will face each other twice this season, beginning in Week 1 when the Jets host the Bills on Monday Night Football.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the second straight year, the Cowboys' season ended on an ignominious offensive play in a hotly-contested playoff game against the 49ers. At least Dallas got last year's final effort snapped in time. But, in both cases, the Cowboys' lost each game long before the final seconds ticked off the clock.In 2021, the Cowboys struggled with discipline. They had the most penalties and penalty yards. And, sure enough, 14 penalties for 89 yards burned them in the wild-card round. They cleaned that up last year, but Dak Prescott led the NFL in interceptions during the regular season, only to throw two more in the first half in San Francisco - the first setting up the 49ers for a field goal and the second quelling a Cowboys scoring drive.Dallas followed up a 13-4 season against the spread with another profitable 9-7-1 record. "America's Team" was still able to outperform the market's opinion of them.2023 season oddsMARKETODDS(O/U)Win total9.5 (-150/+135)Division+175Conference+600Super Bowl+1400Estimated rating63/100Dallas sees a little more action on the over at 9.5 wins and gets a bump in the estimated rating because the club plays in the NFC East. Getting 10 wins out of a division shared with Philadelphia and two other playoff contenders would be more impressive than 11 or 12 wins with another team's schedule.Schedule outlookWEEKOPPONENTLOOKAHEAD LINE1@NYGDAL -3.52NYJDAL -2.53@ARIDAL -74NEDAL -4.55@SFSF -2.56@LACLAC -18LARDAL -79@PHIPHI -310NYGDAL -5.511@CARDAL -3.512WASDAL -613SEADAL -3.514PHIDAL -115@BUFBUF -416@MIAMIA -1.517DETDAL -3.518@WSHDAL -3While crossover matchups with the AFC East and games against the Chargers, Lions, and 49ers are exciting, the Cowboys will measure themselves in Week 9 and Week 14 matchups against the Eagles. That's especially true if Prescott and Jalen Hurts are both healthy for those showdowns this time.With an estimation of -27 as the highest possible point spread in the modern NFL, the Cowboys' 63/100 rating gives them 17 out of 27 points on that scale. The Eagles - deemed the class of the NFC - are worth 19 for a two-point difference on a neutral field. Philadelphia is projected to be -3 at home in the first matchup as home-field advantage pushes them up, but not through, the key number of three. In the rematch in Dallas, the Cowboys are projected to be the small favorite.What's to like about the CowboysThe Cowboys are out from under Ezekiel Elliott's big contract and, other than Dalton Schultz, they didn't lose any top-end talent in their prime. That means Dallas's strong offensive line remains intact - assuming Zack Martin ends his holdout - which makes it easier to get the ball to outstanding playmakers Tony Pollard and CeeDee Lamb.Stephon Gilmore joins Trevon Diggs to load up an already stacked Cowboys defense. Oh, and we'd call Micah Parsons the best positional player in the league if we knew what specific position the do-everything/play-anywhere star played. Using a first-round pick on Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith only shores up the interior.What's not to like about the CowboysMike McCarthy won the Super Bowl in 2010 but hasn't been back despite coaching Aaron Rodgers and then this Cowboys roster. Now he's calling plays after Kellen Moore became the Chargers' offensive coordinator. An NFL team's offense is only as good as the plays they're calling, and any sort of miscommunication or discomfort isn't going to help Prescott lower his infamous interception total.Other notable betting marketsPLAYERMARKETODDSDak PrescottMVP+2500Offensive POTY+10000Most passing yards+1300Most passing TD+1600Most interceptions+1000CeeDee LambOffensive POTY+3500Most receptions+2000Most receiving yards+2200Most receiving TD+2500Tony PollardOffensive POTY+3500Most rushing yards+1600Most rushing TD+2500Micah ParsonsDefensive POTY+650Most sacks+750Mazi SmithDefensive ROTY+4000Mike McCarthyCoach of the Year+4000Parsons had 12 sacks in his first 11 games last season, a pace that put him in the mix for both the league lead and Defensive Player of the Year. However, he managed just 1.5 sacks in the final six games. Now in his third campaign, the 24-year-old is a prime candidate to win both with a stronger finish, but the odds reflect that.Speaking of 24-year-olds, a third consecutive jump of 200+ receiving yards would put Lamb in the same production tier as Justin Jefferson, Tyreek Hill, and Davante Adams, but with a better quarterback than all three.Most interestingly, Elliott's 12 touchdowns have to go somewhere, and Prescott doesn't move like he once did. Pollard had nine of his own last season so, at 25-1, he's an interesting bet to run the ball to pay the most this year.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the 2023 preseason officially underway following Thursday's Hall of Fame Game, let's look at active NFLers who could wear a gold jacket in Canton one day. Players who are unsigned or have fewer than two played seasons on their resumes weren't considered.QuarterbacksLocks: Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes

Veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis is finalizing a deal with the Chicago Bears, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.The 39-year-old played the last five years for the Green Bay Packers, catching 57 passes for 582 yards and six touchdowns in 81 appearances. He was a team captain in each of the last two campaigns.Lewis finished 2022 with 66 yards and two TDs on six receptions. He ranked 14th in pass blocking among tight ends last year, according to PFF.The upcoming season will be Lewis' 18th in the NFL, the most ever for a tight end.The UCLA product played his first 12 NFL seasons for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who drafted him 28th overall in 2006. He appeared in 170 games for the Jaguars and earned a Pro Bowl berth in 2010 after setting career highs with 58 catches, 700 yards, and 10 touchdowns.Lewis joins a Bears tight end depth chart that features Cole Kmet and Robert Tonyan, among others. Kmet led Chicago with 50 catches for 544 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022.The Bears host the Packers on Sept. 10 to kick off their 2023 regular season.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints and defensive end Cameron Jordan agreed to terms on a two-year extension worth $27.5 million guaranteed, his agents told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The agreement will keep the Saints' all-time sack leader with the franchise through the 2025 season.Jordan, 34, will likely end his career in a Saints uniform after signing his fourth multi-year contract with the franchise since being selected in the first round of the 2011 draft. The Cal product previously signed a three-year, $52.5-million extension with New Orleans in 2019. He was set to play out the final year of that deal this season.Jordan's 192 games in a Saints uniform is the fourth-highest total in franchise history, according to ESPN's Katherine Terrell. The veteran pass-rusher, who has played in at least 16 games in each of his 12 seasons, could climb to the No. 2 spot behind former quarterback Drew Brees this season."Luckily I don't think I'll ever have to see myself in anything but black and gold," Jordan said after signing his new deal, per NOF Network's Brooke Kirchhofer.Jordan has racked up 639 tackles, 150 tackles for loss, and 115.5 sacks in his career. He sits behind only Von Miller (123.5) for the most sacks by an active player.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2023 preseason officially began Thursday night with the Cleveland Browns defeating the New York Jets 21-16 in a hard-fought contest that featured a brief delay due to malfunctioning stadium lights.Down 13-0 early, the Browns outscored the Jets 21-3 the rest of the way to win the preseason opener. Cleveland held off a late attempt by New York to win by intercepting Chris Streveler deep in Browns territory.Fifth-round rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson led two scoring drives for Cleveland during the comeback. Thompson-Robinson completed eight of his 11 passes for 82 yards and one touchdown. He also added 36 yards on the ground.Aaron Rodgers did not make his Jets on-field debut during Thursday's action as Zach Wilson received the starting nod under center. Wilson, who was benched multiple times during a difficult 2022 campaign, led the Jets to a 6-0 lead and completed three of his five passes for 65 yards, including a 57-yard bomb to Malik Taylor.Deshaun Watson was among many Browns starters who did not suit up for the contest. Former 2021 third-round pick Kellen Mond started in his place. Mond had a mixed bag of results as he tossed one touchdown and one interception.Jets rookie running back Israel Abanikanda was responsible for the first touchdown of the 2023 preseason with a 10-yard scamper on a short drive that began as a result of the Mond interception. Abanikanda finished as the team's leading rusher with 27 yards on nine carries.Meanwhile, the Browns' rushing attack made its presence felt with 172 total yards on the ground. Demetric Felton Jr. led the way with 46 yards and a touchdown while John Kelly added 42 yards of his own. Kelly also found the end zone on a three-yard reception from Mond in the second quarter.First-round pick Will McDonald IV made his Jets debut, though he was held to just three tackles and one quarterback hit.The contest was briefly delayed at the start of the fourth quarter after some of the lights at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium went out.Members of the 2023 Hall of Fame class were honored prior to the start of Thursday's game. The 2023 inductees include the likes of Darrelle Revis, Ronde Barber, Joe Klecko, and DeMarcus Ware, among others.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Bears are signing free-agent pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue to a one-year, $10.5-million deal that includes $10 million guaranteed, his agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Ngakoue will bolster a Bears pass rush that struggled mightily in 2022. Chicago recorded a league-worst 20 total sacks in 2020 with safety Jaquan Brisker's four sacks being a team high.

A video of Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs and other defenders talking trash to quarterback Dak Prescott at training camp went viral earlier this week.On Thursday, Diggs downplayed the incident and said he has no issues with Prescott."I feel like it makes practice fun," Diggs said, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. "At the end of the day, that's my brother. I love Dak to death. There's nothing behind it. It's just competitiveness; it's just football."Videos showed Diggs telling Prescott to "shut your b---h ass up" after a play at camp.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell feels good about the team's running back position after adding Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery this offseason."I do see a two-headed monster here," Campbell told SiriusXM NFL Radio.The Lions revamped their running back depth chart this year, drafting Gibbs in the first round and signing Montgomery in free agency to replace D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams."I think you need a back that push comes to shove, he can carry a load," Campbell said. "You need ... somebody you feel like you can give the ball to 20-to-25 times a game potentially."And then you need that specialty guy - he's much more. He carries the scalpel, and he can slice you up. He can hurt you in the pass game, potentially. I'm talking about Gibbs, obviously. Get him out there and do a few more things because look, that's kind of what I know."Detroit selected Gibbs 12th overall this year - the team's highest-drafted RB since Barry Sanders was taken No. 3 in 1989. Meanwhile, Montgomery spent his first four NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears, averaging 228 carries, 902 rushing yards, and six touchdowns per year.Campbell, a former tight end, played for several teams during his career, including the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints. He was later part of New Orleans' coaching staff before becoming a head coach. Both the Giants and Saints rostered a solid duo of running backs at the time."You talk about backs, my best exposure was as a player under Sean Payton," Campbell said. "We had Ron Dayne, we had Tiki Barber. Tiki was that kind of change-up guy. He could do a lot of different things, and Ron was a heavy back."Campbell continued: "I get to New Orleans, and Mark Ingram was our A back; he was the guy who carried the load. And then (Alvin) Kamara did all the other stuff, and they could hurt you."With Swift and Williams carrying the load, the Lions ranked 11th in rushing yards and third in touchdowns on the ground in 2022. Swift was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in April, and Williams signed with the Saints.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon isn't concerned with how people are projecting his team to do in 2023, as they are expected to be one of the worst teams in the league."Like, I really couldn't care less," Gannon said, according to Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated.Gannon was hired to be Arizona's boss after the organization dismissed Kliff Kingsbury less than one year into a six-year contract extension signed in March 2022. Kingsbury finished his Cardinals tenure with a 28-37-1 record and one playoff appearance.The 40-year-old Gannon spent the previous two seasons as the defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles. He got off to a shaky start in 2021, as the Eagles finished 19th in points per game and lost 31-15 in the wild-card round to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Philadelphia added more defensive talent in 2022 to give Gannon a much-needed boost, and the team soared, becoming one of the best defenses in the NFL. The Eagles recorded a league-leading 70 sacks last season and finished first in yards per game allowed.Gannon was hired by new general manager Monti Ossenfort, who spent the previous two seasons as the director of player personnel of the Tennessee Titans.Gannon raved about his new relationship with Ossenfort."He's very open, honest, communicates very effectively and swiftly," Gannon said, per Manzano. "He doesn't have to say what he needs to say in three sentences. He says it in one and keeps us on the same page."The Cardinals will be without starting quarterback Kyler Murray to start the season, and it is unclear when he will return from a torn ACL suffered in December.Gannon stated he and Murray's tenure together is off to a good start."He's doing good," Gannon said. "I love to be around the guy. We got a good relationship."Arizona kicks off its season on Sep. 10 against the Washington Commanders.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on Spotify, Apple, Google, and Stitcher.In this episode, Ian Hartitz of Fantasy Life joins Boone to discuss how to approach running backs in this year's fantasy drafts.

One year after being diagnosed with leukemia and missing his entire rookie season, Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III admitted that he was unsure if he'd be able to resume his football career."I feel like at the beginning stages, of course, you don't know what's going to happen or what the future has in store for you," Metchie said, according to ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime. "Of course, (you) hope that you can overcome it and play football, but I will probably say, the beginning stages, there might have been some doubt.""You can only rely on your faith in those situations when you're faced with your own mortality," he added.Now, the 23-year-old is "grateful" as he's set to return to the field Aug. 10 for his first taste of game action since tearing his ACL in college in December 2021. Metchie credited family, faith, and a great support network for helping him through his battle with cancer.The wideout illustrated a knack for producing yards after the catch in his final two seasons at Alabama. He left the school having recorded 155 catches for 2,081 yards and 14 touchdowns.Despite Metchie's battle with cancer and ACL recovery, head coach DeMeco Ryans will look to the receiver to contribute in 2023."Whatever it is, whatever role it is for our team, hopefully, he can help us win games," Ryans said.Houston's wide receiving corps boasts plenty of veterans, including Robert Woods, Nico Collins, and Noah Brown. Metchie could compete for a significant role in the passing game alongside rookies Tank Dell and Xavier Hutchinson.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Quenton Nelson is thrilled with what he's seen from quarterback Anthony Richardson at training camp."His work ethic and his poise in the huddle, for a rookie, has impressed me a lot," Nelson said, according to Stephen Holder of ESPN.Richardson was selected fourth overall by the Colts in this year's draft with the hope that he would be the team's future signal-caller. The Colts signed quarterback Gardner Minshew to a one-year, $3.5-million contract this offseason with the expectation he would compete with Richardson for the starting job.Holder noted that Richardson took all of his reps with the first-team offense Tuesday after missing Monday's practice. He also took most of the first-team quarterback reps on Thursday, according to Holder. The Colts are giving Richardson every opportunity to win the starting role."The growth I've seen from OTAs til now, you could tell that in the offseason he was at home ... studying, he was working on calling the plays and the huddle," Nelson said, per Holder.He added: "I'm really happy with where he is at right now."Nelson has played for eight different starting quarterbacks since being selected sixth overall by the Colts in the 2018 NFL Draft. The three-time first-team All-Pro signed a four-year, $80-million contract extension with the club last fall.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones thinks the team already has enough offseason acquisitions to put its offense back on the right track after a disappointing 2022."We have a great group of guys already," Jones said Thursday when asked about potentially making a pitch for free agents who've been linked to the Patriots. "Coming together as an offense is really important for us. ... I'm happy with the guys we have in the room."He added: "I really do think we have enough, I think we have plenty enough. The offensive line looks really good right now, the skill players are doing great, and, like I said, the older guys are really setting the standard."Multiple unsigned players have been linked to New England lately, including running backs Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliott, who visited the team last week. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins also met with the Pats before recently signing with the Tennessee Titans.The Patriots, whose offense ranked 17th in total points in 2022, signed wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and tight end Mike Gesicki this offseason. New England also named Bill O'Brien its new offensive coordinator."There's still things that we need to work on, but I do think the rules and standards have been set, so we just have to meet that as players. I think the coaches have done a great job," said Jones, who also specifically praised O'Brien's system.A first-round pick in 2021, Jones had a solid rookie season but regressed last year. He finished the campaign with 14 touchdown passes against 11 interceptions in 14 games. As the Alabama product tries to bounce back in 2023, he's focused on having more fun out there."This offseason, I put a lot of thought into just enjoying the game, especially practice," Jones said. "It's good to have fun."He added: "To win, you have to do a lot of really good things consistently all the time. I feel like I need to do that better and just try to lead the team more so from the mental side and all that stuff."Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calvin Ridley is one of many Jacksonville Jaguars players who head into the 2023 season surrounded by high expectations, but the former All-Pro wide receiver isn't feeling any pressure."There's no pressure," Ridley said Thursday. "As soon as I was a high school player, everyone at my high school loved me, too. They were screaming my name the same way. As soon as I went to Alabama, there were people at the game waiting for me outside. There's no pressure. Football is what I do."He added: "I'm just here to help this team win games."Ridley joined the Jaguars as part of a trade from the Atlanta Falcons last year. As a member of the Falcons, the Alabama product racked up 3,342 yards and 28 touchdowns on 248 receptions in 49 appearances. The 2018 first-round pick earned a second-team All-Pro berth in 2020 after breaking out with 90 catches for 1,374 yards and nine scores. However, Ridley hasn't played since October 2021, as he was serving an indefinite suspension for violating the league's gambling policies.The 28-year-old doesn't think the time off will impact his performance, though."Everybody wants me to be rusty. Why?" Ridley said. "I can play football. ... I'm never going to think that I'm going to be rusty. If I drop a pass, that doesn't mean I'm rusty."Ridley recently battled a toe injury at training camp because of his new cleats. The wideout said he feels healthy now."I changed cleats, and I'm better. I'm good," he added.Ridley joins a Jaguars offense that ranked 10th in total points in 2022. Led by 2021 No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville earned its first playoff berth since 2017 last year.The Jaguars kick off their 2023 regular season on the road against the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 10.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young says he's fully healed from the torn ACL he suffered midway through the 2021 season."I don't really think about my knee anymore. I don't feel my knee anymore," Young told Kay Adams of FanDuel. "Just overall, I feel a lot stronger. I feel sturdy. I'm ready to go."Young has only played in 12 contests over the last two campaigns. The 24-year-old suited up in Washington's last three games in 2022, totaling five tackles, one quarterback hit, and zero sacks.Young is scheduled to hit free agency next offseason after the Commanders declined his fifth-year option. He's guaranteed $5.3 million in 2023, per Over The Cap.The pass-rusher emphasized he isn't worried about his contract status heading into 2023."I never really paid attention to the outside noise. ... Now that I'm healthy, let's see what happens," Young told Adams.He added: "At the end of the day, my job right now is to go out and do what's best for my team, and that's just go hard every day and try and lead as best I can. You know, try to get in that playoffs and go win a Super Bowl."The Ohio State product was selected second overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. He has 75 tackles and nine sacks in 27 career games.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One ill-timed grasp of a jersey in the line of sight of an official, and that was it for the Eagles' championship chances. The Chiefs ran down the clock in Super Bowl LVII, thwarting Philadelphia's hopes of winning a second somewhat surprising Lombardi Trophy in five years.The Eagles' 2022 schedule set them up nicely for a hot start, but an 8-0 and 13-1 beginning to the season was surprising, especially with the team lined at 9.5 wins and considered the second choice in the NFC East behind the Cowboys.Philadelphia cleared its win total by 4.5 with a joint-best 14-3 record, but the betting market caught on to its quality quickly. It finished the season 3-7 against the number for an overall spread betting record of 8-9. As often happens when it comes to good teams, if you were buying on the Eagles, you better have done it early.2023 season oddsMARKETODDS(O/U)Win total11.5 (+100/-120)Division-130Conference+250Super Bowl+750Estimated rating71/100Presumably out of respect for a tough schedule, oddsmakers opened the Eagles with a regular-season win total of 10.5 back in May. That's been deemed too low, as they're up to 11.5 with just minimal juice on the under. That pushes their estimated market rating up into the 70s, making them a championship favorite comparable to the Chiefs and Bengals - and putting them ahead of the 49ers, their most reputable competition in the NFC.Schedule outlookWEEKOPPONENTLOOKAHEAD LINE1@NEPHI -4.52MINPHI -73@TBPHI -74WSHPHI -75@LARPHI -6.56@NYJPHI -17MIAPHI -48@WSHPHI -49DALPHI -311@KCKC -312BUFPHI -2.513SFPHI -2.514@DALDAL -115@SEAPHI -216NYGPHI -717ARIPHI -1118@NYGPHI -3The Eagles are projected favorites in 15 of 17 games, and while they also have the most games lined at a touchdown or more, there are more challenging matchups on the schedule than last year. Let's look at one of the showdowns - an NFC Championship rematch with the 49ers - to see why power ratings are just a starting point for making a point spread.Using an estimation of 27 being the highest possible point spread in the modern NFL, the Eagles' 71/100 rating gives them 19.1 points. At 63/100, the 49ers are worth 17 points. That's a 2-point difference on a neutral field, but the point spread is 2.5. On the surface, that assigns Philadelphia just a half point of home-field advantage. However, oddsmakers will be slow to give bettors a chance to back a contending team like San Francisco getting a full field goal.What's to like about the EaglesJalen Hurts probably won't replicate the jump he made from his first full season as starter in 2021 to MVP favorite before he got hurt late in the 2022 season. But that doesn't mean he can't get better. His ability to convert short yardage plays for first downs shrinks the field for what's required on first and second down, giving the Eagles a natural advantage. Philadelphia also returns all but one starter on offense. Even the one change - swapping Miles Sanders for D'Andre Swift at running back - is arguably an improvement.The Eagles are so well-built that they use first-round picks just to fill depth. In 2022, they added mountainous defensive tackle Jordan Davis, only to need him for about 30% of snaps. They picked another Georgia star, Nolan Smith, at the end of this year's first round with no guarantee of starting him. That embarrassment of riches meant the Eagles could roll the dice on Jalen Carter with an earlier first-rounder, adding him to a defense that allowed the fewest yards per play and yards per pass attempt.What's not to like about the EaglesThis section should be brief. The schedule has regular high-end matchups, and the division is the toughest in the NFC. The Eagles' success came at the cost of both offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. However, even if Philadelphia somehow didn't win the NFC East or earn home-field advantage again because of an artificially depressed record, its personnel and plan are good enough to overcome a fair amount of adversity.Other notable betting marketsPLAYERMARKETODDSJalen HurtsMVP+1100Most passing yards+2800Most passing TD+6500Most rushing TD+1300D'Andre SwiftOffensive POTY+10000Comeback POTY+5000Most rushing yards+7000Most rushing TD+7500A.J. BrownOffensive POTY+4500Most receptions+5000Most receiving yards+2500Most receiving TD+1500DeVonta SmithOffensive POTY+10000Most receptions+5000Most receiving yards+4500Most receiving TD+2500Haason ReddickDefensive POTY+2500Most sacks+1800Darius SlayDefensive POTY+10000Jalen CarterDefensive POTY+18000Defensive ROTY+700Nolan SmithDefensive ROTY+2200Nick SirianniCoach of the Year+3500Sanders was fifth in the NFL in rushing last year, but Swift has the talent to surpass that if the Eagles let him. However, they're deep at tailback, too.Only Jamaal Williams had more rushing touchdowns than Hurts last year - and the Eagles quarterback missed two games.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the calendar flips to August, an abundance of "football is back" moments are on the horizon. There are none quite like the Hall of Fame Game, the first opportunity opposing teams have to collide since the Super Bowl in February.The helmets clashing, whistles blowing, and pads popping are the first true reminders that football - meaningful football - is just a few weeks away.This year's Hall of Fame Game pits the Jets against the Browns in Canton, Ohio. The rest of the preseason slate kicks off one week later on Thursday, Aug. 10.Jets (-1.5) vs. Browns, O/U 33.5The Jets announced their starters won't suit up in the preseason opener, which means fans will have to wait to see newly acquired quarterback Aaron Rodgers in action. Rodgers hasn't played a preseason game since 2018 and is unlikely to this year, either. Zach Wilson will thus take the reins under center.Despite Jets fans' disdain for Wilson after his struggles last season prevented New York from reaching its potential, the former second overall pick is a solid backup. He could even eventually return to starter status under Rodgers' guidance.Wilson also played a lot of meaningful football in his two years. Even though it was rarely pretty, that experience bodes well for him in a preseason setting with little pressure to perform.The Jets' third-string signal-caller is Tim Boyle. If you haven't heard of him, it's because he hasn't taken too many snaps in his four years bouncing around the NFL. However, he'll likely get playing time behind Wilson on Thursday.The Browns said both starting quarterback Deshaun Watson and backup Joshua Dobbs will be inactive. Kellen Mond will start the first half under center, and rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start the second. Cleveland hasn't made an official announcement about the rest of the roster, but most of the starters are expected to sit.The Jets and Browns will play a total of four preseason games, while other teams play three.It's important to remember this game is treated as more of an audition than an exhibition. The majority of the players playing won't take the field most Sundays when the regular season begins. Many are simply vying for a roster spot.It's hard to provide meaningful analysis of teams full of inexperienced players, especially when individual performance matters more than the final score.However, there has been telling line movement this week. The Browns opened as favorites, and the line climbed to as high as 2 on Monday. At that point, Jets coach Robert Saleh had made his plans clear for who was playing. The Browns' strategy was a bigger mystery.By Tuesday morning, the line flipped 3.5 points in favor of the Jets, who are now 1.5-point favorites. The line shift was likely due to the Browns' announcement of their quarterback plans.In a game between second and third-stringers, the market is saying it favors the Jets' depth more than the Browns'.I lean toward laying the Jets at -1.5 because quarterbacks are a good indicator of team success, even in the preseason, and I trust Wilson more than any Cleveland backup. Favorites are also 12-4 straight up in the Hall of Fame Game since 2005.If you're interested in taking a side on the total, I'd lean the under. The 33.5 number is one of the lowest anyone will see for a preseason or regular season game this year, but with virtually all bench players playing and limited practice time since training camp opened, points will be hard to come by.Seven of the last 10 Hall of Fame Games have gone under the total.Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter @soshtry for more betting coverage.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon says Super Bowl aspirations are what led to him taking a pay cut this offseason."I see the bigger picture. I see the task at hand and what we're trying to build, and in order to keep other players here and pieces here, sometimes you have to sacrifice," Mixon said, according to team reporter Geoff Hobson. "I felt like this year was the year to sacrifice on the Super Bowl team we can potentially be."Mixon's standing with the Bengals was frequently called into question during the offseason before he restructured his contract in July. Mixon's base salary reportedly dropped under $6 million, though his deal also includes incentives that can bring it back to $8 million.The 27-year-old noted that he's eager to reach those incentives."We agreed on a number with great compensation this year with the incentives," Mixon added. "Off my last deal, I feel like they allowed me to work to be able to make that money back. That's cool. I'll go work for it."Mixon saw a drop in production last season as he tallied 814 rushing yards and 3.9 yards per carry. However, he believes he'll return to his 2021 form when he played a big role in the Bengals making a Super Bowl appearance."Look at the year we went to the Super Bowl. That's literally what you'll see this year. If not more. You'll see more," he said. "But, I've always had a big role in this offense. That will never change. At least while I'm here. But at the same time, I'll just try to be the best player out there. To help my team win."Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and finished among the top seven each of his last seven years in the contest.In an effort to help you find trades that could improve your fantasy team, we present the Dynasty Trade Value Chart.You can use this chart to compare players and build realistic trade offers. Values are based on 12-team PPR leagues.Follow the links below to see the trade values for each position.Dynasty Rankings & Trade Values

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder is grateful owner Arthur Blank said the organization "feels pretty strongly that he's gonna be our quarterback in the future," according to Mike Rothstein of ESPN."That's comforting for me, obviously, knowing that Mr. Blank and everyone in the organization believes in me and my skill set," Ridder said Wednesday."At the end of the day, for myself, it's about putting a higher expectation than even what they have for myself and going out and trying to exceed that and be better."The 23-year-old enters training camp as Atlanta's clear-cut starting quarterback. The team signed former Washington Commanders signal-caller Taylor Heinicke to be his backup.Ridder started four games last season, completing 73 passes for 708 yards and two touchdowns with zero interceptions. His passer rating improved each game he started, finishing with a 108.2 rating in the Falcons' Week 18 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers."We saw him in critical moments, third down, fourth down, end of game, end to half. And he was able to produce in those moments," Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said.He added: "We saw him handle some adversity, and we saw him respond to it. So we believe in the makeup and the maturity, and then now we get into the offseason and it's about improvement as opposed to the immediate result."Ridder went 2-2 in his four starts last campaign.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.