The highly anticipated Super Bowl rematch between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs will take place in Week 7 on Oct. 20 at 4:25 p.m. ET, reports Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report.Fox Sports will reportedly air the matchup from Levi's Stadium with Tom Brady in the broadcast booth. Brady - who grew up in the Bay Area as a 49ers fan - defeated Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the Super Bowl in 2021.Kansas City won its second straight Super Bowl title this past season by defeating San Francisco 25-22 in overtime thanks to a Mecole Hardman walk-off touchdown grab. It was the second time in five years that the 49ers and Chiefs met in a Super Bowl; Mahomes lifted the Lombardi Trophy for the first time with a triumph over the Niners in February 2020.Mahomes has posted a 2-0 record with six touchdown passes to one interception in two regular-season meetings with San Francisco. The teams' last non-Super Bowl bout came in October 2022 when the Chiefs claimed a 44-23 victory.NFL teams will officially release their 2024 schedules Wednesday. The league, however, has already announced multiple high-profile matchups.The Chiefs kick off the regular season Sept. 5 against the Baltimore Ravens. Aaron Rodgers will make his return from an Achilles injury at Levi's Stadium in Week 1 as the 49ers host the New York Jets in the campaign's Monday Night Football opener.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Given the rate at which injuries strike the running back position, knowing who's next in line for carries is critical for fantasy owners.Not all backup rushers are created equal. And though the league-winning potential of a player like Zach Charbonnet appears obvious, many second-string ball carriers don't get the respect they deserve in fantasy drafts.Here's how we rank the top reserve tailbacks, broken down into tiers and based on their fantasy value:Co-starter/Overqualified backupRkBackupTeam1David MontgomeryDET2Raheem MostertMIA

Cleveland Browns safety Rodney McLeod says the 2024 season will be his final campaign in the NFL after returning to the franchise on a one-year deal this offseason."This is the last lap for me. It's been a long career," McLeod said on NFL Network, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk."I'm looking forward to rocking out with my teammates this year, giving it all, and hopefully ending up where we want to be, which is the last dance at the end of the year."The St. Louis Rams signed McLeod as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He ultimately became a key pillar of the Rams' defense in his second season and started 48 straight games from 2013-2015.McLeod signed a five-year, $35-million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2016 and helped the club defeat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. After spending six campaigns in Philadelphia, he played one year with the Indianapolis Colts before landing with the Browns in 2023.The 33-year-old played in 10 games last year, including five starts, and tallied 29 tackles."This year is finishing unfinished business," McLeod said.McLeod boasts 61 passes defended, 18 interceptions, and 718 tackles in 166 career games.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Plenty of speculation surrounded the Washington Commanders and what they'd do with the No. 2 pick in this year's draft, but wide receiver Jahan Dotson is happy the team landed quarterback Jayden Daniels."He's great," Dotson said Tuesday. "I don't know if I can say this, but that's the quarterback that I wanted. I was happy when we drafted him. I'm really looking forward to building a relationship with him - furthering our relationship, as I've known him in the past. ... He has big things coming for him."Dotson and Daniels worked out together during their college careers.Daniels, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, was the second quarterback off the board in 2024 after Caleb Williams, the class' top prospect whom the Chicago Bears drafted at No. 1. Williams and Daniels headlined a strong group of QB prospects that also featured Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy, and Bo Nix. A record six signal-callers were selected in the top 12.With Daniels in town, the Commanders kick off a new era in 2024 after posting a 4-13 record last year. Washington also hired Dan Quinn as its new head coach, and the 53-year-old assembled a new coaching staff that includes offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr."It has been a completely different energy," Dotson said Tuesday, according to John Keim of ESPN. "From the second we kind of walked into the first team meeting, coach Quinn really emphasized that we're really a team. It's been really good energy, really good vibes around the building."The quarterback position has been Washington's biggest issue in recent years. Sam Howell, who started all 17 games last year, was traded to the Seattle Seahawks this offseason. Howell passed for 21 touchdowns with a league-high 21 interceptions in 2023.A first-round pick in 2022, Dotson has played with four quarterbacks in two campaigns with the Commanders. The 24-year-old caught 49 passes for 518 yards and four touchdowns last season. He's posted 11 TD receptions since entering the league.Terry McLaurin - a four-time 1,000-yard receiver - has led Washington in receiving in each of the last five seasons.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Star pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson expressed his commitment to the Bengals on Tuesday, saying he hopes to play for Cincinnati for years despite requesting a trade in late April."That's a no-brainer," Hendrickson said, according to ESPN's Ben Baby. "I mean, I love this team. I'm in great shape. It's good to see the guys."Hendrickson has two years left on his contract and attempted to negotiate a long-term extension with Cincinnati this offseason. The two sides failed to agree to terms, however, which resulted in the 29-year-old requesting a trade on April 24. The Bengals said they have no intention to move their top edge rusher.The three-time Pro Bowler has a base salary of $14.8 million in 2024, but his contract doesn't include any guaranteed money over the next two seasons, according to Over The Cap."You kind of hope for the best," Hendrickson added. "(In), football, you get what you earn in some ways and in other ways, there's a business side of it.""This is where separating business and the team is difficult," Hendrickson recently told team reporter Geoff Hobson. "At what point am I contradicting what I want? Long term, winning games, all those things are what I want to do here in Cincinnati, and removing myself from the team doesn't help the team."Hendrickson attended the Bengals' voluntary workouts this week.

Frank Gore Jr. is eager to prove NFL teams wrong after going undrafted.Gore, the son of former running back Frank Gore Sr., told reporters recently that being passed over in the 2024 NFL Draft has given him added motivation as he competes for a spot on the Buffalo Bills' roster."It pushed me a lot," Gore said. "I feel like there's no way 257 people are better than me in this draft, but now that process is over, I'm a Bill, and I'm here to compete. I'm here to push my teammates and push the running back room and try to get on special teams."Gore played four seasons at Southern Miss, rushing for 4,022 yards and 26 touchdowns on 759 carries in 47 games. He earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2022, second-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2020 and 2023, and was named the offensive MVP of the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl.The 22-year-old's dad also played in Buffalo, suiting up for the Bills during the 2019 season.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady admitted he underestimated the impact Netflix's "The Greatest Roast Of All Time: Tom Brady" comedy special would have on his family."I loved when the jokes were about me," Brady said during an appearance on The Pivot podcast. "I didn't like the way it affected my kids."He added: "It makes you, in some ways, a better parent going through it. ... When I signed up for that, I loved when people were making fun of me."Despite calling the event fun, Brady said he wouldn't do the roast again because of its effect on those closest to him. It appeared that the 46-year-old took exception during the special to comedian Jeff Ross' joke at New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.An all-star lineup of comedians, including Kevin Hart and Nikki Glaser, hurled jokes and insults at the three-time league MVP during the live broadcast earlier in May. Former teammates Randy Moss and Rob Gronkowski also shared their best material alongside former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.

Kirk Cousins was blindsided by the Falcons drafting Michael Penix Jr., but the veteran quarterback says there's no lingering bad blood with Atlanta about the team's shock decision."No, I don't think there can be," Cousins said on the "Bussin' With The Boys" podcast. "I don't think it's helpful. We're trying to win the Super Bowl, and it's hard enough. So let's all be on the same page, and let's go try to win the Super Bowl."Cousins' agent, Mike McCartney, said on draft night that Penix's selection at No. 8 overall "was a big surprise," and that the Falcons didn't tell them about their plan until the team was on the clock.McCartney added that Cousins - who signed a four-year, $180-million deal with Atlanta in March after six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings - was disappointed Atlanta didn't use its first-round pick to help the team this season."You're reminded again that there are things you control, and there are a lot of things you don't control," Cousins said.Cousins also revealed that Minnesota warned him before the 2021 draft that the club was considering taking a quarterback in the first round. The Vikings ultimately didn't take a passer after five were selected in the first 15 picks, instead bringing in offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw at No. 23."This isn't like a foreign concept," Cousins said. "There's an awareness that this is the NFL. Anything can happen."The 35-year-old is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury, but Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said Friday the veteran signal-caller is "pretty much full go" in noncontact offseason workouts.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Francisco 49ers will host the New York Jets in the 2024 season's Monday Night Football opener on Sept. 9, the league announced Tuesday.The Jets played in last season's first Monday night contest and lost quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a season-ending Achilles injury in his debut for the team.After being traded to New York in a blockbuster move from the Green Bay Packers in the 2023 offseason, Rodgers suffered the injury on the Jets' fourth offensive play of the game.The four-time NFL MVP attempted an improbable late-season comeback, but the AFC East club shut down the signal-caller after getting knocked out of playoff contention.Rodgers grew up in the Bay Area and was famously passed over by San Francisco in favor of Alex Smith at the top of the 2005 NFL Draft.San Francisco is coming off its second Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in five seasons. The defending champions will play against the Baltimore Ravens in the season opener.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys will kick off their 2024 season on the road against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 8 at 4:25 p.m. ET, the teams announced Monday.The matchup will air on Fox and mark Tom Brady's broadcasting debut. The seven-time Super Bowl champion recently joined the TV network as its lead NFL analyst on a reported 10-year, $375-million contract."I love covering (the Cowboys)," Brady said. "I've been obviously going against them for a long time, and now I get to tell everyone how great they are."

Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on Spotify, Apple, and Google.In this episode, Boone discusses the biggest offseason risers and fallers for every AFC team.

The Detroit Lions are signing quarterback Jared Goff to a four-year, $212-million extension that includes $170 million guaranteed, reports ESPN's Adam Schefter, citing sources.Goff is now signed through 2027, and his contract includes an option for 2028, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.The reported deal makes Goff the highest-paid player in Lions history. The 29-year-old's new $53-million average annual salary now ranks second among quarterbacks behind only Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals ($55 million).Goff helped turn Detroit into an NFC contender after the Lions acquired him as part of the Matthew Stafford trade in 2021. The three-time Pro Bowler posted a career single-season high 67.3% completion rate in 2023 to go along with 4,575 yards and 30 touchdowns against 12 interceptions.The 2016 No. 1 overall pick has passed for 78 touchdowns and 27 interceptions in 48 starts with the Lions, who won their first-ever NFC North title with a 12-5 record last year and reached the conference title game.Goff's contract is the latest lucrative long-term deal in what's been a busy offseason for the Lions. Detroit recently rewarded wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown with a four-year, $120-million extension and offensive tackle Penei Sewell with a four-year deal worth $112 million.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers and franchise-tagged safety Antoine Winfield Jr. agreed to a record four-year extension worth $84.1 million, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The contract's reported value makes Winfield the NFL's highest-paid defensive back and the first safety ever to hold that title. The 25-year-old also received $45 million in guarantees, a record for a safety, adds Schefter.The Buccaneers announced Winfield's extension Monday, the pact running through 2027.With his new deal, Winfield headlines a defensive back market dominated by cornerbacks.Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander previously earned the top annual salary for a defensive back at $21 million, with cornerbacks also holding the next seven spots, per Over The Cap. Los Angeles Chargers star Derwin James' $19 million per season ranked first for safeties and ninth among defensive backs.Winfield, the 2020 No. 45 pick, stuffed the stat sheet in 2023 with 122 tackles, six sacks, three interceptions, and six forced fumbles to earn his first first-team All-Pro honor.The Buccaneers prioritized re-signing their players this offseason, notably bringing back quarterback Baker Mayfield (three-year, $100-million deal), receiver Mike Evans (two-year, $41-million deal), and linebacker Lavonte David (one-year, $8.5-million deal).Winfield was one of nine players to be franchise-tagged this offseason and was set to earn $17.123 million in 2024. Seven other tagged players have also received extensions, with Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins the only one without a long-term deal.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets made legitimate attempts to hire someone to a senior position who would overrule offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett this offseason, SNY's Connor Hughes reports.New York didn't part ways with the 44-year-old despite the offense's struggles in 2023. The team ranked 31st in yardage (265.3 yards per game) and 29th in scoring (15.8 points per contest) with quarterback Aaron Rodgers sidelined for all but four snaps due to an Achilles tear.Hackett was Rodgers' offensive coordinator with the Green Bay Packers from 2019-21. Rodgers apparently changed Hackett's calls repeatedly during practices last summer.The club finished with a 7-10 record for the second consecutive season but retained head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas.Hackett has been heavily scrutinized over the last two seasons. He was fired after just 15 games as the Denver Broncos' head coach in 2022 and later publicly criticized by current Broncos coach Sean Payton. Rumors suggested the Jets would fire him following the 2023 season.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After an impressive showing at rookie minicamp, the Chicago Bears are crediting Caleb Williams' early development to his pre-draft prep.With Williams a lock to go No. 1 overall to the Bears, he asked Chicago to provide some footwork and cadence techniques to work on before the draft with his personal quarterbacks coach, Will Hewlett. The work has seemingly paid off for the rookie passer."Will did a great job with him of prepping him for what we're about to do now," Bears quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph said Monday, according to Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Chicago. "Coming into this minicamp, he was light years ahead of the information that he already had."The 2022 Heisman winner is entering the NFL with as much hype as any first pick in recent memory after a standout college career.Joseph said the star quarterback is doing everything possible to fulfill those sky-high expectations."He's one of those guys who want to know why," Joseph said. "You put something in, you put a play in, you talk about it, you give him the progressions, whether it's run or pass, he wants to know why. Last night, probably about 10:30 or 11 o'clock, he texts me, 'Hey, why are we doing this here? Why are we blocking it like that? Isn't that his guy to block?'"He just wants to know. He wants to know those answers. So, when you have a guy like that, he's hungry for it, and you love to know that because now he becomes a coach on the field for you. Once he gets it and learns this whole system, he'll become a coach on the field now."Unlike most quarterbacks picked at No. 1, Williams will join a loaded offense in Chicago, which went 7-10 last season but got the top selection as part of a 2023 trade with the Carolina Panthers.The Bears used the No. 9 pick to land receiver Rome Odunze and form a talented trio that includes DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, who was acquired in a March trade. Chicago also boasts Cole Kmet - who had the second-most touchdowns among tight ends in 2023 - and 1,000-yard rusher D'Andre Swift.As expected, Chicago wasted no time announcing Williams as its starter for the 2024 campaign.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A rematch of the AFC Championship Game will open the NFL regular season.The 2024 campaign kicks off with the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, Sept. 5, the NFL announced Monday. The matchup will begin at 8:20 p.m. ET, and NBC is broadcasting the contest.The highly anticipated matchup is the first of several marquee games announced ahead of Wednesday night's full 2024 schedule release.The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC title game in January to punch their ticket to Super Bowl LVIII. Baltimore entered the contest as the No. 1 seed, but its high-powered offense failed to score another touchdown following a first-quarter TD pass by Lamar Jackson.The Chiefs went on to win Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers.Patrick Mahomes holds the edge over Jackson in head-to-head matchups, with the Chiefs quarterback owning a 4-1 record (including playoffs) over the Ravens.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's safe to say Broncos head coach Sean Payton is very pleased with what he's seen from quarterback Bo Nix at Denver's rookie minicamp."It's almost like watching a good golfer," Payton said Saturday, according to NFL.com's Bobby Kownack. "Sometimes when you watch his game over two years, there's a patience to how he plays. The ball comes out and - I don't want to use the term boring, that's not the right term - but pretty good decisions with each play. The efficiency with how he's operating. All of that."Payton particularly mentioned Nix's precision when addressing why the first-year signal-caller stood out on the practice field Saturday."Location of throws. He had two or three down-the-field throws today," he added.

The Los Angeles Chargers are adding another veteran to their front seven.Pass-rusher Bud Dupree is joining Los Angeles on a two-year contract, his agency told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Dupree's contract is worth $6 million with a maximum value of $10 million, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.The 31-year-old visited the Chargers this past week and was also reportedly in contact with two of his former teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Falcons. Dupree strongly considered reuniting with the Steelers, but the idea of playing with Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa in L.A. impacted his final decision, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Dupree enjoyed a solid 2023 season with the Falcons, amassing 39 tackles (eight for loss), eight QB hits, and a team-high 6.5 sacks.A first-round pick in 2015, he played his first six seasons with Pittsburgh before joining the Tennessee Titans in 2021 on a five-year deal. Tennessee released him during the 2023 offseason, and the Kentucky product later signed with Atlanta.Dupree's best year so far came in 2019 when he had 17 quarterback hits, 16 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles. He was on track to post a second straight double-digit sack season in 2020, but a torn ACL ended his campaign in Week 12.The Chargers reworked Mack's and Bosa's contracts this offseason to keep the veteran edge rushers. Mack, an eight-time Pro Bowler, had a career-high 17 sacks in 2023, while Bosa battled injuries once again and finished the campaign with 6.5 sacks. The 28-year-old has played just 14 games since 2022.Los Angeles also rosters pass-rusher Tuli Tuipulotu, whom the team selected in the second round last year.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jason Kelce just can't stay away from the Philadelphia Eagles.Even though the longtime center retired from football in March, Eagles kicker Jake Elliott revealed Friday on NFL Network's "Total Access Live" that Kelce still regularly visits the team's facility."You see little little hints of them throughout the locker room now," Elliott said of Kelce and former Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, who also retired after last season. "They've made a huge impact that's gonna last a long time and those guys aren't gonna be far. I know Kelce's been in the building almost every day already, so they're always gonna be a big part of our organization."Kelce, a sixth-round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, spent his entire 13-year career in Philadelphia. He earned seven Pro Bowl selections and six first-team All-Pro nods and helped the Eagles win their first Super Bowl championship in February 2018.The 36-year-old is set to take on a new gig in broadcasting, joining ESPN's "Monday Night Countdown" crew for the upcoming NFL season.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo knows Drake Maye is a work in progress but is confident the rookie quarterback will do everything he can to get up to speed."He has a lot to work on, but I have no doubt that he'll put the time in," Mayo said Saturday, according to team reporter Tamara Brown."He was here all night trying to get on the same page as everyone else."Maye took part in the opening day of the Patriots' minicamp Saturday alongside his fellow first-year players.The No. 3 overall pick was criticized during the pre-draft process for his inconsistent footwork in college, which occasionally led to erratic play. Improving his mechanics will be a focal point of Maye's offseason work with offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt."It's been good. Kind of the first day, feeling it out and just getting more and more reps," Maye said, according to Mark Daniels of Mass Live. "That's all something new takes - getting more reps at it."There are some perks to the quick game, it's a lot quicker. Under center stance - I'm trying out two new stances that I'm getting used to. Just working it, repping it, and I felt pretty good here today. I just have to keep working."

The New England Patriots named Eliot Wolf executive vice president of player personnel Saturday.Wolf will act as New England's de facto general manager, overseeing the personnel department and controlling the 53-man roster.The 42-year-old led the team's personnel department this offseason following Bill Belichick's departure, but New England wanted to assess his fit with the team while looking at outside candidates."As I have stated multiple times during the offseason, the plan was to observe the working relationship and involvement between Eliot and (head coach) Jerod (Mayo) and see how they managed our offseason personnel decisions," said Patriots owner Robert Kraft."Then, following the draft, we would formally undertake a process for setting up the permanent structure of our personnel department. I have been impressed with Eliot's management style and experience and I'm excited that he has agreed to take on this new position."Wolf's role appeared secure when he was allowed to make a franchise-altering decision at the top of the draft, taking quarterback Drake Maye at No. 3 overall.The executive spent the last five seasons with the Patriots, serving the last two as director of scouting. He acted as the Cleveland Browns' assistant general manager from 2018-19 following a 14-year stint with the Green Bay Packers."It is an honor to accept this position with the New England Patriots," said Wolf. "I am grateful to the Kraft family for this opportunity and want to thank my family, especially my wife and children, for the support and strength they have given me as I move forward in my new role. I also want to thank all of the people I have worked with and learned from over the years."New England was previously one of the few remaining teams giving its coach front-office control, but will now move forward with a conventional setup after moving on from Belichick and hiring Mayo in January.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Head coach Mike McCarthy plans to employ a committee approach to the Dallas Cowboys' backfield despite Ezekiel Elliott impressing him since returning to the team."That's not going to be his role," McCarthy said Saturday, according to Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "We are going to be a running back by committee."McCarthy added it wouldn't be "fair" to ask the veteran running back to carry the same workload as his previous stint with the Cowboys.But the coach stressed that Elliott looks just as good as the team remembers."It's just like he never left," said McCarthy. "He's picked up right where he left off. He's old school."Dallas released Elliott after 2022 following seven seasons and four 1,000-yard campaigns. The 28-year-old spent last year with the New England Patriots.But with the Cowboys needing an experienced running back following Tony Pollard's departure to the Tennessee Titans in free agency, Elliott returned on a one-year deal reportedly worth $3 million with $2 million guaranteed.The former two-time NFL rushing leader will hope to regain his early career form after struggling in New England. Elliott finished with career lows in rushing yards (642), touchdowns (three), and yards per carry (3.5) in 2023.The Cowboys didn't select a running back in this year's draft, leaving the club with Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, and Royce Freeman.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Vikings kicked off their rookie minicamp Friday, but first-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy didn't feel any pressure as he began his transition to the NFL."It didn't feel like my first day," McCarthy said, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert. "I've been going over the offense for a long time now. So, being able to (go) out there and perform and execute, that's new, but it was nothing that was overwhelming or too much."The Vikings - who saw their former starter, Kirk Cousins, sign with the Atlanta Falcons this offseason - drafted McCarthy 10th overall last month as the fifth quarterback off the board. The 21-year-old joined a Minnesota QB depth chart that has questions with Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens, and Jaren Hall in the mix.Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell - a former NFL quarterback - liked what he saw from McCarthy on Friday."He's trying to have the best possible day that he can today and then try to do the same thing tomorrow," O'Connell said. "This guy is a process-driven guy and understands that there's a long road ahead of him, that we're just trying to make incremental gains that will be solidified as part of how he plays quarterback for a long time. So, I've been really impressed with him so far and look forward to get another full day tomorrow."McCarthy helped Michigan win the national title last year and significantly bolstered his draft stock this offseason. He passed for 22 touchdowns against four interceptions with a 72.3% completion rate in 2023.Injuries were an issue for the Vikings in 2023 and forced the team to start four different quarterbacks throughout the season. Minnesota finished the campaign with a 7-10 record and missed the playoffs for the third time in the last four years.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Legendary wide receiver Jerry Rice wasn't happy that his son, Brenden, fell to the seventh round in the 2024 NFL Draft.The 22-year-old Brenden - considered a potential mid-round pick by multiple experts - wasn't called until the Los Angeles Chargers used the 225th overall pick to select him as the 32nd wideout off the board last month."My dad was hot," Brenden said Friday, according to ESPN's Kris Rhim. "You guys get the Flash ... humble dude, right? Me, he's like, 'Hell no, we're going to take this to a different level. These guys going to feel us.'"Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said Los Angeles actually had a third- to fourth-round grade on Brenden, according to Rhim.Although he was only a seventh-round pick, the USC product presumably will have a chance to earn snaps on a Chargers team that parted ways with its main wide receivers this offseason. Harbaugh's outfit traded Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears and released Mike Williams in March."I'm in the best position possible to go ahead and make my mark on and make my own legacy," Rice said. "I went from (quarterback) Caleb Williams to Justin Herbert, and I'm in a room that's going to allow me to compete day in and day out."Everything's upon me, so if you guys don't see me coming fall, that's on me. And if you guys see me out there, then I put in the necessary work to put my best foot in the door and go out there and produce."Rice set career highs with 45 catches for 791 yards and 12 touchdowns with USC in 2023 en route to earning a second-team All-Pac-12 nod. His father is regarded as the greatest receiver in NFL history, as he ranks first in career receptions (1,549), receiving yards (22.895), and TD catches (197). The Hall of Fame wideout - who was a first-round pick in 1985 - was also named Super Bowl MVP in one of the three times he lifted the Lombardi Trophy.The wide receiver position was a priority for the Chargers in the 2024 draft. In addition to Rice, Los Angeles selected Ladd McConkey in the second round and Cornelius Johnson in the seventh.L.A. also rosters 2023 first-round wide receiver Quentin Johnston, Joshua Palmer, Derius Davis, and DJ Chark, who signed with the team last week.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Peyton and Eli are bringing in a new permanent guest to the "ManningCast" this season.Peyton Manning said Friday on "The Pat McAfee Show" that former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick will appear on every "ManningCast" in 2024.Manning added that Belichick - who parted ways with the Patriots this year after 24 seasons - is expected to be on air during the first quarter of games."It was an easy pitch to Bill," Manning added. "I said, 'Bill, we want you to come on, and, look, we'd love to go behind the ropes on the defensive side as to kind of what the (Philadelphia) Eagles are going to have to do to stop Patrick Mahomes, right? And if you ever run out of things to say, just make fun of Eli, right? That's always sort of a time-filler."Widely considered the greatest defensive coach in NFL history, Belichick and the Patriots faced teams led by Peyton and Eli several times. Peyton played in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos from 1998-2015, claiming five NFL MVP awards and winning two Super Bowls. Meanwhile, Eli was the New York Giants' quarterback from 2004-2019 and also won a pair of Super Bowls, beating Belichick and the Patriots on both occasions.Belichick was considered a front-runner for the Falcons' head coach job this offseason, but Atlanta ultimately hired Raheem Morris as its new sideline boss.Belichick - a six-time Super Bowl champion head coach - most recently was part of "The Pat McAfee Show" for the program's coverage of the 2024 NFL Draft.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals are signing wide receiver Zay Jones, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.The Cardinals will give Jones a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million, reports Rapoport.Jones spent the last two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played just nine games last year, hauling in 34 receptions for 321 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Jones set career highs in 2022 with 82 receptions and 823 yards.The 29-year-old reportedly visited with the Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys before joining Arizona.Jones will join a Cardinals wide receiver room that consists of Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, and Greg Dortch, among others. Tight end Trey McBride is also expected to be featured in the passing game after a breakout season in 2023.Jones has 3,028 yards and 18 touchdowns on 287 receptions since being drafted in the second round in 2017.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is "pretty much full go" as he continues to work back from a season-ending Achilles injury, head coach Raheem Morris said Friday, according to ESPN's Marc Raimondi.The Falcons are in the middle of no-contact, dialed-down offseason workouts, enabling Cousins to participate without significant limitations."Kirk is every day improving," Morris said. "So, we are kind of right at the point where he's doing everything that we can do at this point at Phase 2, right? Which is nobody around him. There's no contact. He's all good with all those types of things. So, he's been doing all those things."Cousins suffered the injury near the end of October while playing for the Minnesota Vikings. Despite the significant ailment, the Falcons signed the 35-year-old to a reported four-year, $180-million contract in free agency."It's not like training camp where I'm worried about people being around his feet, because the pace is so slow and ... we feel really good about where he's at right now," Morris added.The Falcons shocked the NFL world by selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall in April's draft, passing up the chance to bolster the team around Cousins to secure a potential long-term successor at quarterback.Cousins' agent, Mike McCartney, said the decision to draft Penix "was a big surprise," adding that the Falcons didn't pre-warn them and only let the veteran passer in on the plan when they were on the clock in the draft.Atlanta has since insisted there's no quarterback controversy, with Cousins' place as the starter secure.The four-time Pro Bowler was on pace to challenge his career-best numbers before going down with injury, throwing for 2,331 yards and 18 touchdowns against five interceptions in eight games.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants receiver Malik Nabers said Friday that he and Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels have called off their $10,000 bet on who will be named Offensive Rookie of the Year, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan.Nabers said he's been educated on the NFL's sports gambling policy since making the bet.The first-round wideout initially revealed the wager on an episode of "The Pivot" podcast."(Nabers) wasn't supposed to tell nobody," Daniels subsequently said on the "All Facts No Brakes" podcast. "We got a little something going on."The 2022 version of the NFL's gambling policy prohibited "private wagers between teammates, family and friends, or others." However, the 2023 version doesn't appear to have explicit rules on private bets, according to Nicki Jhabvala and Mark Maske of The Washington Post.The league office didn't respond to questions about whether the bet would violate its gambling policy, per ESPN's John Keim.Daniels was drafted second overall by the Commanders, while the Giants took Nabers with the sixth pick.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Head coach Matt Eberflus isn't wasting any time declaring Caleb Williams the Chicago Bears' starting quarterback."No conversation," Eberflus said Friday, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "(Williams) is the starter."Williams is set to start over Brett Rypien, Tyson Bagent, and undrafted free agent Austin Reed.Eberflus added that one of Williams' benchmarks moving forward will be having a "full understanding of the concepts" of the team's offense. The 53-year-old also lauded Williams' personal quarterback coach, noting the pair worked together to prepare for the club's rookie minicamp this weekend.Despite being named the starter, Williams said he'll likely have some "mess-ups" as the team starts its offseason program, Cronin reports. However, he added that he feels good about understanding the fundamentals of Chicago's scheme.The Bears selected Williams No. 1 overall in April's draft after the signal-caller produced a standout career at Oklahoma and USC, including a Heisman Trophy-winning campaign in 2022 with the Trojans.Williams finished his collegiate career with 10,082 yards, 93 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions on 66.9% passing.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold is taking no prisoners heading into his rookie season."If my mom was a receiver, I'd jam her into the dirt," said Arnold on Friday, according to Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News. "And she knows that."The first-round pick was attending rookie minicamp alongside other new Lions players, which included fellow cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr.Arnold expressed his excitement about forming a long-term pairing with Rakestraw, who was selected in the second round."They drafted both of us, so I would say (that) us just coming in here and being the young guys ... we're going to be here for a long time," said Arnold, according to team reporter Dannie Rogers. "We're going to grow together, we're going to excel together, take our losses together (and) take them on the chin."The Lions moved up to No. 24 to secure Arnold - who had been widely considered a likely top-15 selection - giving up No. 29 and a third-round pick. The former Alabama star was the second cornerback off the board behind Quinyon Mitchell, who went to the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 22.Arnold established himself as a top prospect in his final two seasons with the Crimson Tide. He finished his college career with 74 total tackles, six interceptions, 20 pass breakups, and one forced fumble.Fresh off a surprising NFC Championship Game appearance, the Lions have spent significant resources this offseason to improve a secondary that was often the club's Achilles' heel in 2023.Detroit also acquired veteran cornerback Carlton Davis III, a 2024 sixth-round pick, and a 2025 sixth-rounder from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a 2024 third-round draft selection.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco addressed rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold's viral comments Thursday, denying that Las Vegas flipped a coin to decide who the team would select at No. 13 in April's NFL draft.Arnold - whom the Detroit Lions drafted 24th overall - said earlier this week that "the Raiders coach" called him after the draft saying the club "had a coin toss" between him and Brock Bowers in Round 1 before landing the Georgia tight end.

The Los Angeles Rams traded wide receiver Ben Skowronek to the Houston Texans, the team announced Thursday.L.A. was reportedly set to release Skowronek before agreeing to a deal with the Texans. The Rams also sent a 2026 seventh-round pick to Houston while receiving a 2026 sixth-round selection in return.The 26-year-old Skowronek will likely compete for one of the final spots in the Texans' deep receiver group headlined by four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs - acquired in an early April trade - and 2023 breakout star Nico Collins.

The Titans added new starters at wide receiver this offseason, but Tennessee head coach Brian Callahan remains optimistic that wideout Treylon Burks will finally make an impact in 2024."As far as Treylon's role, he's gonna play everything," Callahan said Thursday, according to NFL.com's Nick Shook. "We've told him that from the beginning. He's gonna play inside, he's gonna play outside, and he's gonna carve out a role for himself."The Titans drafted Burks in the first round of the 2022 draft with expectations that he'd become one of their main weapons after they traded A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles.However, Burks hasn't lived up to the hype, as he caught just 16 passes for 221 yards and no touchdowns in 2023, down from a 33-444-1 stat line in 2022. Injuries have limited the Arkansas product to 11 appearances in each of the last two seasons.The Titans - who signed receiver DeAndre Hopkins in the 2023 offseason - kept adding wide receivers in 2024, signing Calvin Ridley to a four-year, $92-million contract. Most recently, Tennessee brought in Tyler Boyd, who worked with Callahan on the Cincinnati Bengals. Callahan said last month that he needed a pass-catcher to step up for Tennessee in the slot, Boyd's primary position.But Callahan also said that Burks has "had a really good offseason" as he tries to earn a spot as one of the Titans' main receivers."I'm excited about what he can bring for us. ... I think he's gonna have a role to play," the first-year coach added.Hopkins led the Titans with 75 receptions, 1,057 yards, and seven touchdowns in 2023.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman admits there was some tension between Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft during their reunion at Sunday's "The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady."On the latest episode of his "Games with Names" podcast, Edelman and guest Drew Bledsoe recalled an awkward moment that took place after Kraft walked into the green room as they were having a conversation with Belichick prior to the show.Bledsoe said the Patriots owner and former head coach spoke for at least 10 minutes, but Edelman added that there was noticeable tension between the two."The tension in that room, though, could cut f-----g glass," Edelman said. "I was watching Coach, and I tried to give Coach a heads up. I see Kraft walk in, I'm like, 'Yo, Coach.' You know, like some locker room shit, '5-0, 5-0.' Of course (Belichick) didn't f---ing see it, and (Kraft) came in and I was like, 'Oh shit, this is gonna be some fireworks.' I just walked away, I didn't wanna get in there."Belichick and Kraft briefly shared the stage at the Netflix live comedy event, taking a shot together at the encouragement of host Kevin Hart.

Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes wants quarterback Jared Goff to stay with the team for the foreseeable future."First and foremost, he's earned an extension," Holmes said Thursday, according to the Detroit Free Press' Dave Birkett. "It's important, it's a high priority for us, and both sides are working really, really hard, and these things just take time."Goff's deal expires after the 2024 campaign. He's set to count $32.3 million against the Lions' salary cap for the upcoming season, per Over The Cap.The Lions began retaining their key offensive players in April, signing offensive tackle Penei Sewell and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to four-year extensions that will keep them with the team through 2029 and 2028, respectively.Holmes said re-signing Goff at the same time would've been ideal but cited the differences in the quarterback market as a factor for the delay.Despite that, the 44-year-old general manager said he has "faith that it's going to get done."Detroit ranked third in total offense (394.8 yards per game) and fifth in scoring last season (27.1 points per game). It won the NFC North for the first time in franchise history with a 12-5 record.Goff, 29, had one of his best seasons as a pro in 2023. He completed 67.3% of his passes for 4,575 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. His completion percentage was the best of his eight-year career, while his yardage and touchdown marks were the third- and second-highest he's posted, respectively.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants have signed veteran wide receiver Allen Robinson, the team announced Thursday.The terms of the deal weren't disclosed.Robinson started 17 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, recording 34 receptions for 280 yards and zero touchdowns. His 8.2 yards per reception was a career low for the wideout.The 30-year-old began his career as a prominent receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars before stints with the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, and Steelers. His best year came in 2015 when he recorded 1,400 receiving yards and a league-high 14 touchdowns.The Giants also drafted LSU star receiver Malik Nabers last month to bolster their wide receiver room.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin has his sights set on the reigning AFC South champion Houston Texans and star quarterback C.J. Stroud after the two engaged in some trash talk."I'm not going to lie to you, I like C.J., man," Franklin said on the "Green Light with Chris Long" podcast. "I support all our young brothers at quarterback, but C.J., he done said a lot of wild stuff to me in our run-ins.""I need to see that boy," Franklin added.The rivalry between the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year and Franklin appeared to escalate when the two ran into each other on press row for Super Bowl LVIII. Stroud said that he "cooked" the Colts in both of the Texans' wins last season.Stroud was productive in his first matchup against the Colts in Week 2 of last season, passing for 384 yards and two touchdowns, while completing 63.8% of his pass attempts. The Texans lost that game, but Houston got the last laugh in their Week 18 rematch, taking the victory behind Stroud's 264 passing yards.Franklin, however, dismissed Stroud's performances, as neither contest featured a full game of Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson. Indianapolis' 2023 first-round pick sustained a concussion in the first meeting between the two teams and was sidelined with a season-ending shoulder injury during their second meeting."I was like, if that's what you consider a cooking with the loss, I mean, congratulations," Franklin said. "Then I have to remind him as well that he's never beaten Anthony."Franklin led the Colts with a career-high 179 tackles to go along with three tackles for loss and two forced fumbles last season. He was rewarded with a three-year, $31.2-million extension in March, per Spotrac.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Raiders didn't add high-profile passers this offseason, but Las Vegas assistant general manager Champ Kelly can't wait to see Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell compete for the team's starting job under center."The work that Aidan did last season toward the end of the year, we're excited about his growth and what he's going to be able to do Year 2, but also excited about this competition. ... It's going to be a really good competition." Kelly said Wednesday about the Raiders' quarterback situation.Las Vegas currently rosters four quarterbacks. In addition to Minshew and O'Connell, Anthony Brown and undrafted rookie Carter Bradley are the other QB options.Minshew joined the Raiders this offseason on a two-year, $25-million deal after spending the 2023 campaign with the Indianapolis Colts. He passed for a career-high 3,305 yards and 15 touchdowns against nine interceptions while starting 13 games for Indy after starter Anthony Richardson went down with a season-ending injury. The 27-year-old Minshew - who has 37 NFL starts under his belt - earned his first Pro Bowl nod as an alternate in 2023.Meanwhile, O'Connell posted 12 passing touchdowns to seven interceptions in 10 starts as a fourth-round rookie last year. The Raiders went 5-5 with him under center.Las Vegas was linked to multiple quarterback prospects prior to last month's draft, but the team didn't make any trades and took tight end Brock Bowers at No. 13. A record six QBs were selected in the top 12, including the first three picks. Raiders general manager Tom Telesco recently said that drafting a quarterback "didn't line up" for his team."(Bowers') position is tight end, but we saw him as a playmaker, an offensive weapon," Kelly said of the team's 2024 first-round pick on Wednesday. "There is by no means any pressure for him to come in and attain any numbers. ... He's a fun piece to have because it's going to be interesting to see how defenses are going to deploy when he's on the football field."Kelly took over as the Raiders' interim general manager in November and kept that role until the team hired Telesco in January.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gable Steveson, the Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion, has garnered interest from multiple NFL teams following his recent departure from WWE, his agent Dave Martin confirmed to Ariel Helwani of "The MMA Hour."Steveson has also been training in mixed martial arts at the highly touted Kill Cliff FC gym in South Florida, under head coach Henri Hooft and former UFC champion Robbie Lawler.WWE surprisingly released Steveson last weekend after the 23-year-old spent three years in the professional wrestling organization's developmental program. Steveson signed an NIL deal with WWE in September 2021, just months after winning his first national title, and made various live appearances throughout his tenure with the company. Steveson also competed in one more collegiate wrestling season while in WWE, successfully defending his title in 2022."Gable Steveson is very grateful for the opportunities he had with WWE and would like to thank everybody in the organization who helped him get there," Martin said in a statement obtained by Helwani. "He would also like to thank all the fans who have supported him on his professional wrestling journey. Now, Gable is ready to resume competing against elite-level competition and looks forward to sharing big news with you all very soon."In addition to potential opportunities in the NFL and MMA, Steveson, who competed in collegiate wrestling out of the University of Minnesota, could also choose to return to that sport next. Steveson has one more year of collegiate eligibility because of a COVID-19 waiver granted to student-athletes by the NCAA in 2021. Steveson's last collegiate match took place in March 2022 when he became a two-time champion.Martin told Helwani that there is "no shortage of opportunities" for Steveson to compete.At least two NFL teams are interested in inviting Steveson to minicamp before the 2024 season gets underway this fall, Helwani reports.Steveson, one of the greatest collegiate wrestlers of all time, captured the gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the No. 2 overall pick, it would be a surprise if Jayden Daniels doesn't start for the Washington Commanders in Week 1, but the rookie quarterback doesn't seem concerned with when exactly he's handed the job."Do I anticipate (starting Week 1)? I mean, I'm confident in my abilities, but that's a decision that they've got to make," Daniels said on Keyshawn Johnson's "All Facts No Brakes" podcast. "That's above me."When pressed by Johnson to answer if he thinks Washington intends to bring him along slowly, Daniels suggested he'll land the top job as soon as he shows he's prepared to take it on."From what I heard, they said whenever I'm ready, I'm ready," he said. "So whenever I feel like I'm ready, I'm ready. ... They didn't tell me, 'Oh, you've got to start Week 1.' They just said, 'Whenever you're ready, you're ready. Whenever you feel ready, we feel you're ready, we're gonna throw you out there.'"If Daniels isn't ready to start Day 1, the Commanders signed an experienced backup in Marcus Mariota during free agency. Washington traded 2023 starter Sam Howell to the Seattle Seahawks and allowed Jacoby Brissett to sign with the New England Patriots.Daniels propelled himself to the top of the first round with a Heisman-winning campaign in his final season with the Tigers. He was one of six first-round quarterbacks selected in the top 12 picks, joining Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy, and Bo Nix.The star signal-caller tied for the most touchdown passes (40) and the third-most passing yards (3,812) in the FBS. He also rushed for 1,134 yards and 10 scores.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL defenses might be facing an even faster Lamar Jackson in 2024.In an interview with Complex Sports, Jackson revealed that he's dropped weight this offseason while responding to a social media post that said the Baltimore Ravens quarterback looks "2019 MVP slim now.""Most definitely," said Jackson. "I was 230 two years ago. I was 215 last season, but now I'm like 205."Fans noticed Jackson's new physique during voluntary workouts in April.

Travis Kelce landed his first major acting role.The Kansas City Chiefs tight end has been cast in Ryan Murphy's new horror series "Grotesquerie" alongside Niecy Nash-Betts, Courtney B. Vance, and Lesley Manville, according to Variety's Michaela Zee. The series is set to premiere on FX in the fall.Kelce confirmed the news in an Instagram video posted by Nash-Betts on Tuesday."Jumping into new territory with Niecy," Kelce said.

The NFL will finally unveil the full 2024 schedule on May 15, according to a memo from league executive vice president Hans Schroeder that was obtained by the Sports Business Journal's Ben Fischer.Teams had been anticipating the release to happen later this week. Over the past two years, the league's schedule was announced on the second Thursday of May. The reason for the delay was not mentioned in the memo.The league teased a schedule announcement during the NFL draft but did not reveal a date.While fans await the full release, some games were revealed ahead of time.The league will host a game in Brazil for the first time in Week 1, when the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Green Bay Packers in a rare Friday matchup that will be streamed on Peacock.The International Series will see the NFL play four games in Europe, with three games in London and one game taking place in Germany. The Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, and Jacksonville Jaguars will serve as the home teams for the games in England. The Carolina Panthers were named the home team for the contest in Munich.There will also be a Christmas double-header.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is being investigated for allegedly hitting a photographer at a nightclub in Dallas on Monday, police told Kelli Smith and Jamie Landers of The Dallas Morning News on Tuesday.Officers were dispatched early Monday morning to the nightclub after reports of an assault. A man was reportedly taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Rice is suspected in the case, and his attorney declined to comment.The 24-year-old is also facing potential NFL punishment after being arrested on eight felony charges following a multi-car crash in Dallas in late March.The Chiefs drafted Rice in the second round in 2023 out of SMU.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears receiver Rome Odunze is excited about the team's potential with him and quarterback Caleb Williams in town."Definitely," Odunze said when asked if he could see how the pieces of Chicago's new-look offense will work together, according to ESPN. "Especially with Caleb throwing the ball there's so many different avenues of the offense that we can explore, especially with the wide receiver core with such versatile receivers. There is no limit to what we can do."The Bears added significant pieces to their offensive unit this offseason. Chicago traded for wideout Keenan Allen and signed running back D'Andre Swift in March before drafting Williams first overall and Odunze at No. 9. With Allen and Odunze joining a depth chart that already featured D.J. Moore, the Bears now boast arguably the NFL's best trio of wide receivers.Veteran tight end Cole Kmet, who's entering his fifth season with Chicago, believes that the team is finally putting a new quarterback in a position to succeed."It's exciting," Kmet said Tuesday on "Up & Adams." "We've got a lot of young, talented players, and I think for the first time in a long time - I don't even know if it's ever happened - we have an infrastructure in place for a high-end, talented rookie quarterback to come in."A Bears QB has never topped 4,000 yards or 30 touchdown passes in a single season."Obviously, Caleb is highly touted," Kmet continued. "He's been that way for a long time now. He gets to go in a situation with a lot of veteran, quality, good players and also a really good defense."The Bears - who posted a 7-10 record in 2023 - ranked 18th in points scored and 20th in total yards last year. They haven't placed in the top 10 for both categories in the same campaign since 2013.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on Spotify, Apple, and Google.In this episode, Boone opens up the fantasy mailbag to answer your questions after the NFL draft.

The Tennessee Titans are signing wide receiver Tyler Boyd to a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Boyd reunites with Brian Callahan, who the Titans signed as their head coach this offseason. Callahan served as the Cincinnati Bengals' offensive coordinator from 2019-23.Boyd spent the last eight seasons in Cincinnati and owns two 1,000-yard campaigns. He's primarily operated as the Bengals' No. 3 receiver behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins since they entered the league in 2021 and 2020, respectively.The 29-year-old joins a wide receiver room that includes DeAndre Hopkins, free-agent signing Calvin Ridley, and 2022 first-rounder Treylon Burks.Boyd has totaled 513 receptions, 6,000 yards, and 31 touchdowns in 120 games since being selected 55th overall in the 2016 draft.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said he feels close to his usual self after a long road back from season-ending wrist surgery."This was a difficult injury," Burrow said Tuesday, according to Olivia Ray of WLWT. "It's been a tough couple of months. Physically, it's not the worst injury I've ever had. Physically, conditionally, I feel really good."The star passer returned to practice Monday for the first time since tearing a wrist ligament in his throwing hand in Week 11.Burrow said he resumed throwing in April but opted not to go into detail about exactly how much pain he's dealing with on the field."I'll keep that to myself," Burrow said. "Like any injury, there are days you deal with pain."He added, "The wrist has good days and bad days, just like the knee ... If I feel good, I'm gonna go."The Bengals went 9-8 and missed the playoffs without their franchise player.Burrow played through a calf injury last season before tearing the wrist ligament, and his production regressed after two standout campaigns. He finished with 15 touchdowns after throwing a combined 69 in 2021-22 and produced a career-low 6.3 yards per attempt.The 27-year-old said he's optimistic about Cincinnati bouncing back in 2024 after several major moves, most notably retaining receiver Tee Higgins with the franchise tag and swapping out running back Joe Mixon for Zack Moss."I feel good about all the guys we brought in, offense and defense," Burrow said. "We brought in the right kind of guys. Good players. Guys that we've played against in the past, that we've had experience with, that we know what they have out there."Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones believes Dak Prescott can help the franchise fulfill its Super Bowl aspirations."I totally think Dak can lead us to a championship," Jones said in an interview on "Schein on Sports." "He does everything the right way. He's certainly the leader of this football team. He keeps everybody motivated in the offseason. He's got everybody working out and doing all the things that it takes to put in the work to give yourself every opportunity to win a championship."Prescott is set to enter the final year of his current deal. He'll account for a $55.1-million cap hit in 2024, per Over the Cap. His contract stipulates that the Cowboys can't place the franchise tag on him in 2025 and also includes a no-trade clause.The three-time Pro Bowl passer authored an impressive 2023 season in which he threw a league-leading 36 touchdowns to go along with 4,516 passing yards and nine interceptions with a 105.9 passer rating.Dallas finds itself in the difficult position of negotiating contracts with three of its top stars. The franchise has been unable to reach an agreement with Prescott, while star wideout CeeDee Lamb is also entering the final year of his current contract and scheduled to hit free agency in 2025. Two-time All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons is eligible for an extension.The dynamic trio has been key to the Cowboys' recent success. Dallas has produced three consecutive 12-win seasons. However, the club has struggled to orchestrate a postseason run, winning just one playoff game over the last three years.Jones believes the Cowboys endured some "tough breaks" and "tough games," but he's confident the franchise is capable of bringing another Lombardi back to the Lone Star State."We've just gotta go up there and grab it, to use a basketball term, and dunk it in. We're hanging around the rim. We just got to get the job done," Jones said.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots have begun the formal process to name a new head of personnel, sources told CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones.The Patriots sent out interview requests Monday, a source told The Boston Herald's Doug Kyed.Cincinnati Bengals senior personnel executive Trey Brown declined a request to interview for the role, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.New England didn't promote or hire anyone to fill its top football executive role following Bill Belichick's departure. The six-time Super Bowl winner served as both head coach and head of personnel over 24 seasons in New England. The franchise hasn't given out the "general manager" title under Robert Kraft's ownership.It's unclear what title the top executive will have.Director of scouting Eliot Wolf served as the de facto GM during free agency and the NFL draft. He's considered the front-runner to remain the franchise's head of personnel.The Patriots must conduct a formal search that complies with the league's Rooney Rule. This means New England must interview at least two external minority candidates in person before making a hire. A provision in Jerod Mayo's contract allowed the club to promote him to head coach without conducting a formal search.Kraft said in January that the franchise planned to stick with his internal group but didn't rule out a search at a later date.The Patriots drafted quarterback Drake Maye with the third overall selection to be the future face of the franchise. Under Wolf, New England also addressed its depth at wide receiver and on the offensive line this offseason.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.