Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams hinted Thursday at a possible reunion with Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.Responding to a tweet asking which neighborhood Rodgers will move to, Adams wrote, "Mine."

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft wants nothing more than for Tom Brady to sign a one-day contract and officially end his career where it started."I'd do it tomorrow," Kraft said Thursday on CNN, according to Patriots team reporter Mike Dussault. "Not only do I want it, our fans are clamoring for it and to us, he always has been and always will be a Patriot. ... We'll do everything we can in our power to bring him back, sign off as a Patriot, and find ways to honor him for many years to come."The legendary quarterback announced his retirement Wednesday morning after 23 seasons in the NFL. Brady built the Patriots into one of sports' greatest dynasties, winning six Super Bowls with New England. He also led the franchise to the postseason on 17 occasions."He did so much to bring life and good cheer to our community and he's a beloved figure and he's earned the respect and love that people feel for him like no other athlete in our town - and we've had some great ones," Kraft added.Brady played the first 20 seasons of his career in New England before signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent during the 2020 offseason. He spent the final three years of his career in Tampa Bay and won his seventh and final Super Bowl during his first season as a Buccaneer.The 45-year-old briefly retired last offseason before returning to the Buccaneers less than two months later. Brady said that Wednesday's retirement was "for good."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Travis and Jason Kelce set to make history as the first brothers to play against each other in a Super Bowl, fans are hoping to get their mom, Donna, involved in the game as well.A petition started by Amber Smith on Change.org is asking that the NFL allow Donna to do the coin toss before the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles square off in Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12."What a great way to show the Super Proud mama some Amazing Appreciation and Love while giving her a once in a lifetime opportunity," the petition reads.As of Thursday, more than 17,000 fans have signed the petition.Donna spoke about her sons' Super Bowl showdown Wednesday during an appearance on "Today.""They've already got the first win under their belts, so this is just going to be pure joy," she said. "We're going to really enjoy this, have a great time. Obviously, there's going to be somebody that's going to go home heartbroken. They won't have the bragging rights at the Thanksgiving table, but this is going to be an awesome event and I'm really looking forward to it."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A truly good bet won't last long. While there are loads of options for your recreational betting dollar ahead of Super Bowl Sunday, the longer the market is available, the more time there is for big-time bettors to find inefficient lines and prices. If we bet anything early, it's because we suspect the line will change between now and the start of the game.For Super Bowl LVII, here are five prop bets you should act on before they become less valuable.Kenneth Gainwell over 17.5 rushing yardsLike most overs in the Super Bowl, this should be popular once everyone starts thinking about this game and looking into the Eagles' tailback usage. Kenneth Gainwell saw a season high in snap count against the 49ers, and after failing to crack double digits in carries in a 2022 regular-season game, he's had 12 and 14 in two playoff games.At 4.5 yards per carry this season and with the Chiefs allowing 4.5 YPC, four carries might be enough to put him over his yardage total. If the Eagles are leading, he'll get some run. If they're behind, he's the better option in the passing game, and he could get a few carries in trail mode or in the two-minute drill.Jalen Hurts longest pass completion over 37.5 yardsHere's another over that could be popular, especially when bettors start evaluating how Eagles receivers match up with a rookie-laden Chiefs' secondary. If L'Jarius Sneed is out or less than 100%, DeVonta Smith or A.J. Brown could get more than a target or two deep downfield.The Chiefs' defense took advantage of the Bengals' offensive line issues, and we easily hit the under on Joe Burrow's longest pass completion in the AFC championship. The Eagles have the offensive line to buy Jalen Hurts time and the play-action scheme to put the youngsters in Kansas City's defensive backfield in a bind, so let's grab this now in case it moves up a yard or two by kickoff.Jody Fortson anytime touchdown (+600)There are few, if any, secrets in the NFL. Jody Fortson could be one of them. The second-year receiver turned tight end out of Valdosta State has just nine catches on the season, but two have been touchdowns. After a good preseason, Fortson was primarily used early as a big secondary target in the red zone. He eventually saw multiple targets in back-to-back games. Then he got hurt.Fortson missed the last three games of the regular season and the Chiefs' first playoff game before returning to play 14 of 69 snaps against Cincinnati. A handful of Patrick Mahomes' targets got banged up last week, so who knows how healthy that group is currently.The Eagles are pretty good at guarding tight ends, but that's Travis Kelce's problem. If he's getting all the attention, Fortson could be the beneficiary when the Chiefs need a big body to win a one-on-one in the end zone. At 6-1, there's room for his odds to shorten if the secret gets out - which it might just have.The long shot you likeSpeaking of long-shot props, the ones that are only popular for the Super Bowl are often bad bets. Sportsbooks know that most recreational bettors will gravitate to big payouts and will thus price them well below their relative value. However, the big game is a day to throw caution to the wind, so if you can't resist tossing a couple dollars on the first score to be a safety, do so before other people try their luck and the odds shorten even further.The national anthemIt seems like the big social media moment leading up to the Super Bowl every year is when an anthem rehearsal leaks and the prop-betting universe goes wild to get down on the side that the practice time suggests. Someone will time Chris Stapleton's rendition and the line will move drastically before quickly being taken off the board, ruining all the fun.Timing the anthem at your Super Bowl party provides a moment of pregame excitement. While there may not be an edge for the length of "The Star-Spangled Banner," if you think you know the pace of the performance, your fingers should be clicking at your sportsbook as quickly as they will be on your stopwatch app minutes before kickoff.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle provided the Philadelphia Eagles with added motivation for their NFC championship matchup Sunday.On the latest episode of his "Big Play Slay" podcast, Eagles cornerback Darius Slay explained he and his teammates took offense to Kittle saying their defense looked good - on paper."In the football world, we know how to take that," Slay said. "That's basically saying not too physical ... we look talented on paper, but are we gonna put the paper to the field?"So as a defense, with us being one of the best defenses in the league as well, we took that as kind of disrespect. 'Cause we didn't say they looked good on paper. We said they're a great defense, they're a great team. We were trying to show our respect, (and) respect is due. But him saying that triggered a lot of guys in the locker room, including myself. Even though I still have a lot of respect for the guy, it triggered us to go out and play a lot harder to show who's physical. ... As the game was going on, you (saw) who (was) the most physical team."The Eagles' defense forced three turnovers, recorded three sacks, and limited the 49ers to 164 yards of offense in their 31-7 win at Lincoln Financial Field. Kittle finished the game with three catches for 32 yards.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL finally listened to its fans and reinvented the Pro Bowl event in 2023. Instead of a meaningless tackle football game that had become a parody of itself, the 2023 Pro Bowl will feature a wide array of fun skill competitions and a flag football game.We break down the star-studded event, including each skill challenge, below.Where: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said he doesn't expect quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to return to the team next season."I don't see any scenario of that," Shanahan said when asked if Garoppolo will be back in 2023, per NBC Sports Bay Area.Garoppolo is slated to be a free agent when the new league year opens in March. He spent six seasons with the 49ers after being acquired from the New England Patriots for a second-round pick in 2017. Brock Purdy and Trey Lance are currently the two 49ers quarterbacks under contract for the 2023 season.Purdy is reportedly expected to have surgery on a UCL tear he suffered in the NFC Championship Game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Shanahan said he's heard if Purdy has surgery, he'll be "the same dude and ready to go" in six months, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.The 23-year-old Purdy went undefeated across five regular-season starts, completing 67% of his passes for 13 touchdowns and four interceptions.Lance suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, and it's unknown when he'll be ready to return.Shanahan said he hasn't thought about whether there'll be a training camp battle between Purdy and Lance but added that he believes the 49ers have two starting-level quarterbacks.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, 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.Follow the links below to see his 2023 rankings.Half PPR

Here's how the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles stack up against each other at every position ahead of Super Bowl LVII.Quarterback Michael Owens / Getty Images Sport / GettyNFL fans deserve a Patrick Mahomes-Jalen Hurts matchup. They quarterbacked the two No. 1 seeds in the regular season and were considered MVP front-runners for most of the campaign.Hurts broke out in 2022 while leading football's most dominant team. The 24-year-old, who's helped Philly blow out both of its opponents this postseason, completed 66.5% of his passes during the regular season while passing for 3,701 yards and 22 touchdowns against six interceptions. He also put on a show on the ground, rushing for 760 yards and 13 scores despite missing a pair of games in the campaign's final stretch with a shoulder injury.But as good as Hurts has been, Mahomes is on a different level. The All-Pro passer, who's set to play his third Super Bowl in the last four years, posted a career-high 67% completion rate during the regular season while leading the NFL with 5,250 yards and 41 TD passes.Mahomes' health will be a major story ahead of Super Bowl LVII after he suffered a high ankle sprain in the divisional round. The 27-year-old did throw for 326 yards and two touchdowns in the AFC title game but was limping on the field. Although it's unlikely his ankle is fully healed for the Super Bowl, he'll have two weeks to rehab and should be healthier in the big game.Advantage: ChiefsRunning backsThis one isn't really close.Pacheco and McKinnon are explosive weapons, and the potential return of Edwards-Helaire - who hasn't played since Week 11 due to injury - would add depth to K.C.'s backfield. But while the Chiefs lack consistency on the ground, the Eagles have run over their opponents.With 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns, Sanders is having a career year. Gainwell and Scott didn't have a ton of carries in the regular season, but they've made the most of their touches in the playoffs. Gainwell leads the team with 160 rushing yards, and Scott and Sanders have each scored two TD runs in two games.And we can't talk about this running game and not mention Hurts, a premier rushing quarterback who's racked up 185 rushing attempts this season. The Eagles - the only team to ever have four players rush for at least five scores in the same campaign, including the playoffs - have scored 39 rushing touchdowns this season, the most in NFL history. Good luck stopping this group.Advantage: EaglesReceiversThe Chiefs and Eagles had different approaches at wide receiver this season. Kansas City traded away Tyreek Hill and tried to replace him with versatile playmakers on cheaper contracts, while Philadelphia acquired Brown in a blockbuster trade and made him one of the position's highest-paid players.Many around the NFL didn't think K.C. would have enough firepower to reach the big game with an aging Kelce and without Hill, but here they are. Kelce - the club's No. 1 target - remains football's best tight end and has scored 15 touchdowns this campaign, including three in the playoffs. His matchup against Philly's defense - which has allowed only three tight end TDs - will be interesting. And speaking of tight ends, don't sleep on Goedert, who's caught 783 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games this season and could give Kansas City some trouble. Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyAs expected, the Chiefs have more players involved in the passing game, including McKinnon, who's caught nine touchdowns. Smith-Schuster led the team's wideouts with 933 yards but only had three regular-season touchdowns and has been quiet in the playoffs. Smith-Schuster, Toney, and Hardman - who all missed time earlier - left the AFC title game with injuries, and their statuses will be worth monitoring.Meanwhile, Philadelphia rosters an elite duo in Brown and Smith, who both rank in the top 10 in receiving yards. Brown also caught 11 touchdowns, the third-most in the league. No Eagles pass-catcher has topped 100 yards after two playoff games, but that's mostly because Philly dominated its opponents without using its passing attack much. Brown and Smith give Philadelphia a blend of physicality, explosiveness, and star power that Kansas City doesn't have at wide receiver anymore.Advantage: EaglesOffensive lineYou'll hear a lot about these units in the coming days.The Chiefs would win an O-line comparison against most teams. Unfortunately for them, the Eagles - who rank first in pass blocking and third in run blocking, according to PFF - aren't one of those clubs. Led by All-Pro cornerstones Kelce and Johnson - who'll both start their second Super Bowl with Philly after winning it five years ago - the Jeff Stoutland-coached offensive line has done an impeccable job and showed no real weakness.Two years ago, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers dominated the Chiefs' line in the Super Bowl, and Mahomes and Co. couldn't do much. Kansas City has since bolstered the unit, which ranks seventh and sixth in pass and run blocking this season, respectively.Brown hasn't been as dominant as K.C. would've hoped after placing the tag on him, but the team's interior blockers have been outstanding behind second-team All-Pro linemen Humphrey and Thuney. This unit will need to play its best game for Kansas City to have any chance against Philadelphia's standout pass rush.Is the Chiefs' O-line good? Yes. Is it Philadelphia Eagles good? Hell no.Advantage: EaglesFront sevenThis is another case in which the Chiefs are very good, but the Eagles are just better.Kansas City rosters the best defender in the Super Bowl in Jones, one of three finalists for the Defensive Player of the Year award. He leads a unit that's on fire right now thanks to Clark - who's racked up a team-high 2.5 sacks this postseason - and young players like Karlaftis and Gay. The Chiefs, who've done a pretty good job against the run, recorded 55 regular-season sacks, the NFL's second-best mark.The Eagles have been even more impressive, amassing 15 more sacks than the Chiefs, and their 78 sacks sit third in NFL history, including the playoffs. This year, Philly became the first team ever to have four defenders with 10-plus sacks (Reddick, Hargrave, Sweat, and Brandon Graham).Graham - as well as Ndamukong Suh and rookie Jordan Davis - are other franchise standouts whose names don't appear in the table above. Oh, and we can't forget about veteran Robert Quinn, a big Eagles midseason trade acquisition who still hasn't done much since joining. Philly's depth is just unfair. This front seven would essentially be perfect if it weren't for some flaws against the run - Philly's defense only ranked 23rd in rushing expected points added (EPA).Advantage: EaglesSecondaryA.J. Brown and Reddick were the Eagles' splashiest moves as they went all-in during the offseason, but Gardner-Johnson and Bradberry deserve a lot of credit for what they've done in Year 1. A second-team All-Pro, Bradberry forms arguably football's top cornerback duo alongside Slay, and they've had solid support in the slot from Maddox, who returned to the lineup Sunday after a three-game absence due to injury.The Eagles were off the charts against the pass in the regular season, ranking in the top five in passing yards allowed, yards per completion, and interceptions. In the playoffs, Philadelphia's giving up only 96 passing yards per game. That said, facing Daniel Jones in the divisional round and Josh Johnson for most of the NFC title game made things much easier. Up next is a heavyweight bout against Mahomes and one of the sport's most creative offenses. Mitchell Leff / Getty Images Sport / GettyFor the Chiefs, it's another tough matchup. But despite having four rookie defensive backs - Watson, McDuffie, Williams, and Cook - playing significant snaps Sunday, Kansas City did a solid job versus Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The team now turns its focus to stopping Brown and Smith. Steve Spagnuolo's defense, which stood out for its physicality against the Bengals, has three interceptions in two games this postseason. Hopefully, the unit will have Sneed, who's in concussion protocol, on the field in Super Bowl LVII.Both sides should feel good about their secondaries. Kansas City's young secondary was far from great in the regular season but stepped up in the playoffs against offenses led by hot quarterbacks, meaning the unit's peaking at the right time. Still, the Eagles' defensive backs bring more experience, power, and depth.Advantage: EaglesSpecial teamsElliott had another good campaign, missing just three field goals and two extra points before the playoffs while kicking a league-high 53 PAT. He's 9-for-9 this postseason, including two field goals.Meanwhile, Butker battled an injury in the campaign's first month and had some misses along the way, converting only 75% of his regular-season field-goal attempts - the lowest rate of his career. However, the 27-year-old's apparently back on the right track, nailing all five of his field goals this postseason, including two kicks of 50-plus yards. He also hit the game-winning 45-yard FG in the dying seconds of the AFC title game.While K.C. rosters an All-Pro in Townsend, there could be a debate regarding who'll punt for Philadelphia. The club brought Kern in to replace an injured Arryn Siposs in December, but the latter recently said he's cleared to return. Kern had a solid divisional-round game but didn't perform nearly as well last week.Kick returns aren't a strength for either team, but Kansas City saw rookie Skyy Moore make plays as a punt returner on Sunday after Toney got injured, including a 29-yard return that helped set up the game-winning drive. Special teams is always unpredictable, but K.C. gets the edge here.Advantage: ChiefsCoaching David Eulitt / Getty Images Sport / GettyAll eyes will be on Andy Reid, one of football's brightest offensive minds, who will coach against his former team. Reid's reached the Super Bowl in three of the last four seasons with K.C. He's also the Eagles' all-time winningest head coach, guiding them to five NFC Championship Games from 1999-2012.But Nick Sirianni and his assistants have Philadelphia firing on all cylinders right now.The Eagles outplayed and looked more prepared than most of their opponents on both sides of the ball all year long. They were also very aggressive, ranking fourth in the regular season in fourth-down attempts (32) and fourth-down conversion percentage (68.8%), while the Chiefs converted nine of their 12 fourth-down attempts.Granted, the duo of Reid and Mahomes is a match made in heaven. However, when it comes to the size of a coaching staff's impact, Philly might be second to none, which is why offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon have attracted head coaching interest from around the league. No other club this season has dominated its opponents in as many ways as the Eagles, who are the first team since the 2000 Baltimore Ravens to give up seven points or fewer in back-to-back playoff games.Advantage: EaglesCopyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has cleared the concussion protocol, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Tagovailoa has met with several medical professionals during the process, and they're confident he'll be 100% healthy for next season, added Rapoport.The 24-year-old has been in the protocol since suffering his second concussion of the season in Miami's loss to the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 25. He was also put into the protocol in Week 4 and missed the next two games.Tagovailoa was sidelined for the Dolphins' final three matchups of the season, including the wild-card round. He also won't participate in the Pro Bowl Games after receiving his first career nomination.The Dolphins were widely criticized for allowing Tagovailoa to return to their Week 3 game despite appearing disoriented and stumbling while trying to stand following a big hit. After his concussion the following week against the Cincinnati Bengals, the NFL updated the concussion protocol policy.Miami is reportedly committed to Tagovailoa as its starter for 2023 despite the concerns about his long-term health. He produced a breakout campaign in 2022, throwing for 3,584 passing yards and 25 touchdowns against 13 interceptions in 13 starts this season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys vice president and CEO Stephen Jones says the team is committed to quarterback Dak Prescott long term and open to extending his contract, according to Dallas Morning News' Calvin Watkins.Prescott is signed through 2024, with void years in 2025 and 2026. The 29-year-old is currently eighth in average annual value among quarterbacks at $40 million per year, according to Spotrac.Extending him could provide some cap relief for the team. Dallas currently projects to be approximately $9.8 million over the cap entering the offseason, per Spotrac.The Cowboys have gone 61-36 with Prescott as their starter, but the team hasn't advanced beyond the divisional round with him at the helm. That trend continued this season with a 19-12 divisional-round loss to the San Francisco 49ers.Prescott threw for 2,860 yards, 23 touchdowns, and a league-high 15 interceptions in 12 games this year.The Cowboys and former offensive coordinator Kellen Moore agreed to part ways in late January. Owner Jerry Jones confirmed Wednesday that head coach Mike McCarthy will be running the offense next season, according to Watkins.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Many around the NFL were at odds and questioned the lack of diversity in the league last week after the Carolina Panthers hired Frank Reich as head coach over Steve Wilks, who overachieved and went 6-6 as the team's interim sideline boss in the season's second half.But Panthers owner David Tepper said Tuesday that the criticism regarding his team is unfair."You should look first at our executive team, and inside the building," Tepper said, according to Carolina Blitz. "Our president is a woman. We probably have the most diverse executive team in the NFL right now. We have two African Americans. We are probably a minority of white men on our executive team right now. That's where it starts. That's America."You don't want an old boys' network. I don't care, the old boys' network works all kinds of different ways. Unfortunately in this case it's a detriment because most of the old boys were white. That should be your main focus. How do you break that old boys' network? How do you break that process? You break the process by trying to get the best people possible in every role you can do. Whether it's the new (general counsel) we hired, who happens to be an African American woman. Whether it happens to be Frank Reich, who is a Caucasian male. I don't care who it is."Wilks, who's Black, was part of a lawsuit former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores filed against the NFL over alleged racial discrimination in hiring practices. Douglas Wigdor, the lawyer representing Wilks in the lawsuit, released a statement shortly after his client missed out on the Panthers' job, saying, "There is a legitimate race problem in the NFL."Tepper said Reich's offensive background was the difference-maker for him to land the job over Wilks, who started the season as the Panthers' defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach. Seven of the nine head coaching candidates interviewed by Carolina had an offensive background."Every year we get in these NFL meetings, and every year they put in some new rules to benefit the offense," Tepper said, according to ESPN's David Newton. "And the reason it is, scoring brings eyeballs. That's what the league is about, getting eyeballs to watch the thing."Reich, who the Indianapolis Colts fired after four-plus seasons in November, is Carolina's first offensive-minded head coach. The 61-year-old previously played quarterback for the Panthers.The 7-10 Panthers ranked 20th and 19th in points scored and allowed in 2022, respectively.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Unwilling to trust the Rams to cover a number bigger than a field goal last year, we backed Los Angeles on the moneyline. Cool, a -170 moneyline winner. Where we really did some good work was Cooper Kupp's MVP performance, paying out early bets at +600. When it comes to the Super Bowl, it's rarely about the side and much more about everything around the winners and losers. The market for MVP is your best chance to bet a little to make a lot. Unless, as expected, a quarterback is handed the award.When betting on Super Bowl MVP, it stands to reason you'd want to focus your selection(s) on the team that you think is going to win, though that doesn't mean you can't bet on the other team's players if there's enough value. Here, we'll look at how to bet the MVP if you like the Eagles to win Super Bowl LVII, whereas if you like Kansas City, the best value plays on the Chiefs are here.Here's a look at the odds for Super Bowl LVII MVP, courtesy of theScore Bet:PLAYERMVP ODDSJalen Hurts+120Patrick Mahomes+140Travis Kelce+1200AJ Brown+1300DeVonta Smith+2500Miles Sanders+3000Chris Jones+5000Darius Slay+5000Jerick McKinnon+5000Isiah Pacheco+6000Haason Reddick+6000Marquez Valdes-Scantling+6000Dallas Goedert+6000Brandon Graham+7500Juju Smith-Schuster+7500Frank Clark+10000Mecole Hardman+10000Nick Bolton+10000TJ Edwards+10000Chad Henne+10000Gardner Minshew+10000Boston Scott+15000CJ Gardner-Johnson+15000George Karlaftis+15000James Bradberry+15000Josh Sweat+15000Justin Reid+15000Kadarius Toney+15000Kenneth Gainwell+15000L'Jarius Sneed+15000Fletcher Cox+20000Jalen Hurts is the +120 favorite to win MVP, which is an implied win probability of 45.5%, and the Eagles are -130, which implies that they win the game 56.5% of the time for them to be a fair bet. This 11% difference suggests how likely an Eagle other than Hurts is to win the award.Best Eagles bet: DeVonta Smith (+2500)The payout is just too short to back Hurts because the Eagles have too many other players that can be the reason they win, as evidenced by Hurts' combined 275 passing yards and 73 rushing yards over two playoff games.We'll address my favorite way to play Eagles players shortly, but if the Chiefs are missing L'Jarius Sneed, and Trent McDuffie needs to follow AJ Brown - or if Sneed can play and neutralize Brown - then Smith gets the better matchup against the Chiefs' secondary, just like in the AFC title game with Tee Higgins, who had 83 yards and a touchdown. At twice the payout of Brown but just as likely to catch a deep pass and find the end zone more than once, he's the most reasonable play on the Philly side.Mega-long shots:Let's take a handful of dollars and sprinkle them around on some players who could follow in the footsteps of Von Miller, Malcolm Smith, Dexter Jackson, Desmond Howard, and Larry Brown: six defensive/special teams players who've won MVP in the last 30 years.Kenneth Gainwell (150-1)Gainwell isn't a defensive player, but that's the point. We're getting a potential lead tailback at a massive price. The Eagles turned to Gainwell to close out the NFC Championship, as he out-carried Miles Sanders - who has much shorter odds at 30-1. Gainwell has 1.5 yards per carry more than Sanders in the playoffs and is more of a threat in the passing game, with five targets to Sanders' one.C.J. Gardner-Johnson (150-1)Gardner-Johnson tied for the league-lead in interceptions this season, so clearly the Eagles' style of defense provides him the opportunity to make plays around the ball. He also has something of a backstory, having been traded to the Eagles just before the season's start.James Bradberry (150-1)Bradberry and Darius Slay both had three interceptions this season and should have the same chances to make a game-changing play to topple Patrick Mahomes. Yet Bradberry is three times the payout to win MVP.Josh Sweat (150-1)Part of the Eagles' armada of pass-rushers, Sweat has better odds than other possible game-wreckers, Haason Reddick and Brandon Graham. But with 11 sacks this season and as many or more snaps per game than his teammates, he's just as likely to get to Mahomes more than once.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Unwilling to trust the Rams to cover a number bigger than a field goal last year, we backed Los Angeles on the moneyline. Cool, a -170 moneyline winner. Where we really did some good work was Cooper Kupp's MVP performance paying out early bets at +600. When it comes to the Super Bowl, it's rarely about the side and much more about everything around the winners and losers. The market for MVP is your best chance to bet a little and make a lot. Unless, as expected, a quarterback is handed the award.When betting on Super Bowl MVP, it stands to reason that you'd want to focus your selection(s) on the team that you think is going to win, though that doesn't mean you can't bet on the other team's players if there's enough value. Here, we'll look at how to bet the MVP if you like the Chiefs to win SB LVII. If you like Philadelphia, the best value plays on the Eagles are here.Here's a look at the odds for Super Bowl LVI MVP, courtesy of theScore Bet.PLAYERMVP ODDSJalen Hurts+120Patrick Mahomes+140Travis Kelce+1200AJ Brown+1300DeVonta Smith+2500Miles Sanders+3000Chris Jones+5000Darius Slay+5000Jerick McKinnon+5000Isiah Pacheco+6000Haason Reddick+6000Marquez Valdes-Scantling+6000Dallas Goedert+6000Brandon Graham+7500Juju Smith-Schuster+7500Frank Clark+10000Mecole Hardman+10000Nick Bolton+10000TJ Edwards+10000Chad Henne+10000Gardner Minshew+10000Boston Scott+15000CJ Gardner-Johnson+15000George Karlaftis+15000James Bradberry+15000Josh Sweat+15000Justin Reid+15000Kadarius Toney+15000Kenneth Gainwell+15000L'Jarius Sneed+15000Fletcher Cox+20000Patrick Mahomes is +137 to win Super Bowl MVP. That's an implied win probability of 42.4% compared to the Chiefs' moneyline at +110 (47.6%). There's just a 5.2% allotment for a Chief MVP other than Mahomes.Best Chiefs bet: Travis Kelce (+1200)If the Chiefs win, it'll be a surprise if Mahomes doesn't take home MVP. After all, it was thought that Damien Williams was the more deserving candidate in Super Bowl LIV after he recorded 133 total yards and two touchdowns, but Mahomes got the trophy. For another Chief to win it, they'll need to be someone voters gravitate to.I don't need to list the virtues of Travis Kelce, who's on his way to being statistically the best tight end of all time. It also helps that he's half of a brother-versus-brother storyline involving two of the most verbose characters in the sport that'll permeate through the lead-up to the game. The spotlight will be on Kelce - exactly what he wants - and he's capable of a 100-plus yard, multi-touchdown game that could wrestle the MVP away from Mahomes.Long shot: Chris Jones (+5000)Last year, we thought Cooper Kupp might get some extra voter interest because he didn't win the regular-season MVP. Chris Jones is likely going to be a runner-up to Nick Bosa for Defensive Player of the Year. With a pair of sacks and other game-wrecking pressures, Jones was easily the most outstanding player in the AFC championship. However, Mahomes' heroics would've gotten him an MVP for that game. If the Eagles' defense can handle Mahomes in a close, low-scoring game, Jones' dominance will be that much more impressive.Mega-long shots:Let's take a handful of dollars and sprinkle them around on a handful of players who could follow in the footsteps of Von Miller, Malcolm Smith, Dexter Jackson, Desmond Howard, and Larry Brown. Six defensive/special teams players have won MVP in the last 30 years.Kadarius Toney (150-1)Like Kenneth Gainwell on the Eagles' side, Kadarius Toney's not a defensive player, but he's someone who could be dangerous at a big payout. He'd need to be healthy enough to play, but in a championship contest that often has one signature play, a world exists in which Toney scores twice, potentially once on a rushing attempt or via special teams. Arguably the best athlete on the field, Toney could provide the highlight we'll see for years to come.Trent McDuffie (250-1)Outside of Jones, it's going to be really hard for a Chiefs defender to stand out as MVP. While the Eagles' defensive players will have ample opportunity to make life tough on Mahomes, the Eagles' run-centric approach and Jalen Hurts' few turnovers this season means it's unlikely an interception will turn the game on its head.However, once we hit 250-1 for a defensive back, we have to throw a dollar or two on it. Trent McDuffie should see the lion's share of targets against him, and though he doesn't have an interception in his rookie season, all it takes is one pick-6 and a couple of other standout plays. The same applies to safety Juan Thornhill, who has three picks this season and a sack but is off the board as of this writing. If the odds for Thornhill pop up at 250-1 or better, he's worth a shiny coin as well.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans hired San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans as their new head coach, the team announced Tuesday.He joins Houston on a six-year deal, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Ryans described the Texans position as a "dream job" and promised to "build a program filled with players who have a special work ethic and relentless mindset.""I have been around the game of football my entire life and I've always had a natural ability to lead others," he said in a statement. "I know what it takes to win and be successful in this league as both a player and coach."Ryans added: "I understand the responsibility I have to this organization and to the fans of Houston to build a winner, and I can't wait to get to work."The former 49ers coordinator was reported last week to be a "top candidate" for the position last week and interviewed with the Texans for a second time earlier Tuesday.His work with San Francisco's defense in recent years drew rave reviews. Since he was promoted from inside linebackers coach to defensive coordinator in 2021, the 49ers' defense finished no worse than third in yardage allowed. Ryans' 2022 unit ended the season with the fewest points per game and lowest yardage allowed.The 38-year-old will coach the franchise where he spent the first six seasons of his playing career. Selected by the Texans in the second round of the 2006 draft, the linebacker was a cornerstone of Houston's defense, earning two Pro Bowl invites and a Defensive Rookie of the Year honor.He also drew interest from the Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers, and Indianapolis Colts in their searches for head coaches.Ryans will be the fourth head coach in as many seasons for the Texans. Houston was in the market for a new coach after firing Lovie Smith following a 3-13-1 campaign in 2022. Smith joined David Culley as the second straight Texans coach to be fired after one season.Houston allowed 24.7 points per game in 2022, good for 27th in the NFL. The franchise has not made the playoffs since the 2019 campaign and has posted a 11-38-1 mark over the last three years.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sean Payton is expected to become the Denver Broncos' new head coach, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.As part of the move, the Broncos will send their 2023 first-round pick (29th overall) and a 2024 second-round selection to the New Orleans Saints, with whom the head coach was still under contract through 2024, in exchange for Payton and New Orleans' 2024 third-round choice, Schefter adds.Payton didn't coach in 2022 after stepping down as the Saints' sideline boss following the 2021 season. The 2006 Coach of the Year was the most coveted head coaching candidate on the market and also interviewed with the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, and Carolina Panthers.The 59-year-old posted a 152-89 regular-season record with the Saints from 2006-21 and helped New Orleans win its first-ever Super Bowl title against the Indianapolis Colts during the 2009 campaign.Payton, one of football's most respected offensive-minded coaches, will inherit a Denver team that underachieved in 2022. The Broncos went 5-12 and ranked last in points scored despite bringing in star quarterback Russell Wilson as part of a blockbuster trade in the offseason. Denver fired first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett in December after 15 games.The Broncos landed Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a package that included two first-round picks and two second-round selections. He then inked a five-year, $245-million contract extension. A nine-time Pro Bowler, Wilson completed 60.5% of his passes while tossing 16 touchdowns this campaign, the worst mark of his career.In New Orleans, Payton helped the Drew Brees-led offense become one of the NFL's most productive units. The Saints, who boasted the 31st-ranked offense the season before Payton's arrival, placed in the top 10 in scoring in 12 of the head coach's 15 seasons.Denver entered the 2022 season without a first-round pick but acquired the No. 29 selection in a November trade with the Miami Dolphins, who landed pass-rusher Bradley Chubb in return. The first-round selection originally belonged to the San Francisco 49ers.The Walton-Penner family acquired the Broncos for $4.65 billion last June, and new owner Greg Penner previously said his new head coach will report to him, not general manager George Paton. Payton recently praised the team's ownership in response to a report that he feared a potential power struggle with a member of the club's new ownership group.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance said he'll be 100% for OTAs after undergoing two surgeries on his ankle this season, according to The Athletic's Matt Barrows.Lance added that he expects to be fully cleared for practice in three-to-four weeks.The second-year quarterback was lost for the season after suffering a broken ankle in a Week 2 win over the Seattle Seahawks. He underwent surgery to repair the injury in September but had to go under the knife again in December to remove hardware that was causing irritation to the injury.The 49ers ended their 2022 campaign with their top three quarterbacks injured. Backup Jimmy Garoppolo broke his foot in Week 13, while third-string rookie Brock Purdy tore the UCL in his throwing elbow during the NFC Championship Game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Purdy told reporters, including NBC Sports' Matt Maiocco, that no decision has been made on how to approach the injury.Purdy seemed to have positioned himself as the front-runner for the 2023 quarterback job after he won his first seven starts before the NFC title game defeat. The seventh-round pick reportedly could miss six months if he undergoes surgery.Meanwhile, Garoppolo is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.Lance, who the 49ers traded up to get at No. 3 overall in the 2021 draft, has thrown for five touchdowns to three interceptions across eight career appearances.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This was supposed to be the year the quarterback carousel slowed down, as Tom Brady, Matthew Stafford, and Russell Wilson changing teams in consecutive offseasons set a high bar for winter action.But the NFL offseason never disappoints. The drama has ramped up considerably of late, and the market is taking shape in such a way that could see more star passers on the move than ever.Let's dive into the outlook for a number of big-name quarterbacks who could be available in the coming months and make a few predictions on where they'll be playing this fall.Tom Brady Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images Sport / GettyAll eyes, first and foremost, will be on the GOAT. Brady has a decision to make about his future, and it appears that even he doesn't know what he's going to do. Like it or not, it'll be the story of the offseason.Retirement is surely on the table at 45 years old; there isn't a whole lot left to accomplish when you've already got seven rings. The question is whether Brady would be able to stomach calling it a career on the heels of a frustrating season in Tampa Bay. That can't be the way he wants to go out.Remember: Brady had reportedly been orchestrating an exit from Tampa Bay last offseason, setting his sights on Miami with Sean Payton. While such a move could be off the table this time around, with the Dolphins seemingly committed to Tua Tagovailoa, it's only fair to assume he'll again seek a change of scenery in pursuit of one last Super Bowl. Before you rule that out, consider how many of us thought he was done after his last season in New England.Brady's market likely won't be as competitive as the inevitable agent leaks would have you believe. We heard plenty of hype last time around, only for one team after another to pass, with Brady left to choose between the Bucs and the Chargers. Are there really going to be that many other clubs in pursuit of his services now that he's three years older?The smart money is on this one being a two-horse race, with the Raiders front and center. Brady's fit in Las Vegas is obvious - reuniting with old friend and former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has to be an enticing option, especially with a star-studded group of playmakers in place. But can joining the Raiders guarantee a better result than this year in Tampa Bay? This roster would need plenty of work to compete in 2023, even if Brady signs for cheap.That's not even a question with the 49ers. Brady could be the final piece for a San Francisco team that has been so painfully close to a Super Bowl multiple times during the Kyle Shanahan era. Brock Purdy was a nice story down the stretch this year, and he may well have a future as a starter, but his status will be clouded by looming elbow surgery. Even if he's healthy for training camp, the 49ers can't afford to make the same mistake they did last time and pass on a Brady homecoming to bet on inferior in-house options.Prediction: Tom Brady signs 1-year deal with 49ersAaron Rodgers Patrick McDermott / Getty Images Sport / GettyRodgers making cryptic statements about his future, leaving open the possibility of either retirement or playing elsewhere, has become a yearly tradition. It's tough to read too much into his comments when they've only ever resulted in a return to Green Bay, but this time feels different.Rodgers followed up his back-to-back MVP seasons with a subpar 2022 campaign, posting the worst QBR of his career while adjusting to a young receiving corps. The offensive struggles were a major factor in Green Bay missing the playoffs for the first time since 2018.There's a clear case for the Packers to take advantage of the opportunity to make a change, trading Rodgers away while they still can and giving former first-rounder Jordan Love a chance to show what he can do on the last year of his rookie contract. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday that league sources believe the Packers indeed prefer to move on from Rodgers this offseason and that he's aware of the organization's outlook.The uncertainty surrounding his future may become a matter of whether he wants to retire or play elsewhere. It seems like it would be more of a toss-up for Rodgers than Brady, given the frequency with which he's flirted with walking away, but let's apply the same logic here: He can't be too excited about the idea of this past season being the way he finishes a Hall of Fame career.Finding a trade fit for Rodgers is a difficult task, as the Packers may soon discover. The Jets will be a popular pick, and a fun one, considering they're only a quarterback away from Super Bowl contention. But it's long been thought that Rodgers would prefer the West Coast if he ever leaves Green Bay. Florham Park is as far east as it gets, and Rodgers has been outspoken against NFL venues using artificial turf, as is the case at MetLife Stadium.Might this all lead to a reunion with Davante Adams in Las Vegas? The Packers will make it known that they want multiple first-round picks for Rodgers in a trade but may have trouble landing a significant return with such a limited market, a gigantic contract, and the possibility that he retires at this time next year. The Raiders pivoting to Rodgers after striking out on Brady could make sense if they can swing a deal without giving up the No. 7 overall pick.Prediction: Aaron Rodgers traded to Raiders for conditional Day 2 picksLamar Jackson Cooper Neill / Getty Images Sport / GettyJackson shouldn't even have to be in this discussion. The Ravens are in the enviable position of having an MVP-winning, franchise-caliber quarterback - paying him accordingly is a no-brainer. And yet, here we are.The safe bet is that Jackson's upcoming free agency finally leads to some progress in contract talks, and the two sides are able to get a deal done. It only makes sense that the Ravens would pay to keep the player who has single-handedly carried the offense for the last four years. Don't sleep on the possibility of this relationship falling apart, though.The market for Jackson's value was set when the Browns gave Deshaun Watson a fully guaranteed $230-million deal. If the Ravens were inclined to top that, it's only logical to assume they would have done so by now to avoid this needless contract drama with the face of the franchise. And with monster extensions for Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, and perhaps Jalen Hurts on the way, the price is only going up. There's no reason for a quarterback of Jackson's stature to settle for anything less.Baltimore will use the franchise tag to keep him off the free-agent market, but all options are on the table from there. If the front office and/or ownership remain resistant to a fully guaranteed contract, Jackson vocalizing that he won't play on the tag - a move he should absolutely make - could set the stage for one of the biggest quarterback trades we've ever seen.Any team that needs a long-term answer at the most important position on the field and has an owner willing to guarantee his entire contract would presumably throw its hat in the ring for Lamar. The Ravens, seeking a franchise-changing return, would likely zero in on teams with early first-round picks this year as a starting point.The Falcons and Panthers fit the bill.Prediction: Lamar Jackson traded to Falcons for 3 first-round picksDerek Carr Michael Owens / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Raiders are going to do what they can to find a trade partner for Derek Carr over the next two weeks, but his contract structure will complicate those efforts. Carr's $32.9-million base salary in 2023, and $7.5 million of his 2024 salary, would become guaranteed if he's still on the roster on Feb. 15, three days after the Super Bowl. A decision will have to be made before then.Getting anything of value for Carr would be huge for a Raiders club that needs all the draft capital it can get. And it remains possible that a team is willing to give up something in the neighborhood of a Day 2 pick to acquire a low-risk contract and avoid having to compete for Carr on the open market.But teams are in no way tied to deals agreed in principle before the new league year. The Raiders would be stuck with Carr's $40 million in guarantees if a trade partner were to back out of an agreement, for whatever reason, before it can be officially processed in mid-March. There's a real chance that the Raiders look to avoid that scenario by simply cutting him after the Super Bowl.Carr will have a legitimate market if and when he gets to free agency, with teams like the Jets, Panthers, and Commanders all possible destinations for an established veteran starter.The 31-year-old should be expected to prioritize a winning opportunity after a roller-coaster ride with the Raiders over the last nine years. There'll be no better option than a talented Jets team that could start making some noise in the AFC with competent quarterback play.Prediction: Derek Carr signs with Jets after being releasedJimmy Garoppolo Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / GettyJimmy G is finally on his way out of San Francisco. Unless ... no, this is definitely the year he leaves. Right?The veteran signal-caller should be healthy by the time free agency rolls around, making him an attractive option for clubs in the market for an experienced starter. Garoppolo's list of suitors will look similar to Carr's, and you can expect teams like the Panthers and Commanders to be aggressive in pursuit given the quarterback instability they've endured of late. Don't forget about the Saints, either.Garoppolo would be a relatively cheap option for a team that has some significant salary cap issues to iron out, and there's reason to believe that his presence could help New Orleans jump to the top of the NFC South with the Bucs potentially headed for a rebuild.Prediction: Jimmy Garoppolo signs with SaintsGeno Smith Steph Chambers / Getty Images Sport / GettySmith proving himself as a capable NFL starter after six years of being unfairly labeled as nothing more than a backup was one of the best stories of the 2022 season. The Seahawks were confident in Smith's ability to replace Russell Wilson, and they were right. It's tough to see him going anywhere else now, even as an impending free agent.There'll be some talk about potentially drafting a quarterback, with Seattle holding the No. 5 overall pick from Denver, but it's far more likely that Pete Carroll runs it back with his breakout star while using the draft to build out the rest of the roster.The ideal scenario for both sides is some sort of multi-year deal that gives Smith a bit of security as the starter. The quarterback franchise tag is also a reasonable option at $32.4 million if all else fails. Geno should be the guy in Seattle one way or another.Prediction: Geno Smith re-signs with SeahawksDaniel Jones Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / GettyBrian Daboll's arrival helped Jones make some much-needed progress in the final year of his rookie contract. After a rough three-year stretch that resulted in the Giants declining his fifth-year option, the former first-rounder finished the 2022 campaign ranked 11th among quarterbacks in EPA per play, according to Ben Baldwin's database.There are still some questions about his ceiling and whether he'll ever be the kind of franchise player who elevates those around him. But he's at least earned the opportunity to show he can take that next step in his development.The Giants would be wise to avoid any sort of long-term commitment so as to protect themselves against the risk of regression. Jones, meanwhile, should be content with a one-year payday that sets the stage for him to cash in with some continued growth.Prediction: Daniel Jones stays with Giants on franchise tagJustin Fields Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Bears will plan on going into the 2023 season with Fields as the starter, and rightfully so. The former first-rounder was a breakout star this season, establishing himself alongside Lamar Jackson among the NFL's most unstoppable runners from the quarterback spot.Having the No. 1 overall pick has the potential to complicate the discussion, though. The evaluation now becomes a matter of whether having Fields, with up to three years left on his rookie deal, is preferable to five years of control with one of this year's top quarterback prospects and whatever the Bears would be able to land for Fields in a trade.Sticking with their current quarterback is by far the most likely scenario here, but we shouldn't overlook the possibility that the new Bears regime, which arrived after the Fields pick, prefers one of the rookies from this incoming class. Selling high on Fields' big season and perhaps flipping him for a top-10 pick wouldn't be the craziest thing if you're skeptical about his development as a passer.Prediction: Bears keep Justin Fields, trade No. 1 pick for draft haul to build around himTrey Lance Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / GettyHumor us for a second: Let's assume the above prediction about Brady landing in San Francisco is correct. Such a move could spell the end of Lance's time with the 49ers before it ever truly began.Nobody here is making the case that Lance isn't or won't be a good quarterback; we simply don't know yet. That's the issue for a 49ers team that doesn't have time to wait and see. Lance sat out his final year at North Dakota State before redshirting in San Francisco as a rookie and then suffering a season-ending injury in Week 2 this season.Three years of little-to-no game action could be a substantial blow to a young quarterback's development. Even if Brady only came in for one season before walking away, what could you realistically expect from Lance in 2024 after a fourth straight year on the sidelines?Again, this all assumes the 49ers bring in Brady. If they don't, the obvious move is to have Lance compete with Purdy for the starting job. But Brady has to be the priority for a marquee organization that is this close to a Lombardi Trophy.There would certainly be teams out there willing to gamble on Lance's upside if that's the route the 49ers take. Consider a Titans club that recently hired Ran Carthon away from San Francisco to be its new general manager. Lance's ability to get involved in the run game and push the ball downfield off play action could make him a natural fit in Tennessee's offense.Prediction: Trey Lance traded to Titans for 2nd-round pickRyan Tannehill G Fiume / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Titans can save $17.8 million against the cap by releasing Tannehill in advance of the last year of his contract. Assuming they can find a more attractive replacement, as is the case in the above scenario, he could be on the way out.Tannehill would have no trouble finding a starting job on the open market, as he'd be a clear upgrade for at least a few teams around the league. He shouldn't be too expensive heading into his age-35 season, either.Atlanta would be a natural fit, as the best years of Tannehill's career came with Falcons head coach Arthur Smith as his offensive coordinator in Tennessee. But we've got the Falcons aiming higher with Lamar Jackson, so we'll look elsewhere.Washington could stand to make a notable upgrade on Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke while not forcing Sam Howell into a starting role right away by signing Tannehill to a one-year deal.Prediction: Ryan Tannehill signs with Commanders after being releasedSorting out the rest Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe above predictions would leave only the Texans, Colts, Panthers, Ravens, and Bucs without clear-cut starters looking ahead to the 2023 season. Houston, Indy, Carolina, and Baltimore, in the event of a Lamar trade, could each look to address the quarterback spot on Day 1 of the draft. Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Will Levis, and Anthony Richardson should all be selected early in the first round, but we'll have all offseason to get into those possibilities.Tampa Bay, meanwhile, could be headed for a full roster reset if Brady departs. Drafting a young quarterback would be an option too, but rolling with a low-level starter for a year while turning over the roster may be the more likely scenario. The affordable veteran options will include Sam Darnold, Andy Dalton, Jameis Winston, Baker Mayfield, Jacoby Brissett, and Wentz, who'll likely be cut by the Commanders.(Contract/salary cap data source: OverTheCap)Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Eli Manning believes New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones deserves to be the team's long-term starter after a career year in 2022.Jones is scheduled to be a free agent this offseason after the Giants opted not to pick up the fifth-year option in his rookie deal last April, setting up a make-or-break campaign for the former No. 6 overall pick."I was proud of Daniel, the way he played, to learn another offense and pick it up," Manning told ESPN's Jordan Raanan. "Just the way he played in the fourth quarter of a number of games and leading the team back to victory, which was awesome; that's what you want from your quarterback. To do it so quickly with the brand-new offense, the way they were able to compete, make it to the playoffs, win a playoff game; that is awesome."I hope he gets rewarded for that. I hope he is the quarterback for the Giants for a long time."Giants general manager Joe Schoen said last week that he's hoping to re-sign Jones and running back Saquon Barkley, who's also set to hit the open market.With the ability to franchise tag only a single player, New York will need to reach a long-term deal with at least one of its offensive stars. The 2023 non-exclusive tags will be $32.4 million for quarterbacks and $10.1 million for running backs.Jones led the 9-7-1 Giants to the playoffs for the first time since 2016 under first-year head coach Brian Daboll. New York ultimately lost to the eventual NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round after beating the Minnesota Vikings in its wild-card matchup.The quarterback set career highs in passing yards (3,205), passer rating (92.5), and completion percentage (67.2%) in the regular season. He also ran for 708 yards and eight touchdowns, far exceeding his previous career-best rushing marks of 423 yards and two scores.Jones is set to be part of a free-agent quarterback class that could include Tom Brady, Lamar Jackson, and Geno Smith.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid will face his former team when Super Bowl LVII kicks off against the Philadelphia Eagles, but Reid is focused on putting together a game plan, not the hype and storylines."I think, when you really cut to the chase on it, they're a really good football team and so, I think that's where the energy goes because really when it's kickoff, you're playing that team," Reid said, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra. "It's the players that you're going against and the coaches and so the uniform, (and) all that's not where your mind's at. Your mind's at making sure you have a solid game plan and that you come out and you can perform to the best of our ability."Reid coached the Eagles to a 130-93-1 record from 1999-2012, appearing in Super Bowl XXXIX. They would lose that game 24-21 to the New England Patriots.Reid joined the Chiefs in 2013 after he and the Eagles agreed to part ways following a 4-12 season. Since his arrival, Kansas City has gone 117-45, won Super Bowl LIV, and made it to Super Bowl LV.With three Super Bowl appearances under his belt, Reid isn't new to the mindset that goes into preparing for the big game."It doesn't matter who you're playing - you try to blank out all the hype that goes with the game. It's a pretty big game for everybody...It's the Super Bowl. But you try to blank that out and make sure that you're getting the game plan - what really matters - together."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL told teams Monday that the 2023 salary cap will come in at $224.8 million, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport.The figure represents a jump of over $16 million from the 2022 salary cap of $208.2 million. It's the second consecutive year the cap has increased, though the dip from 2020 to 2021 was a byproduct of the COVID-19 pandemic.Salary CapYear$224.8M2023$208.2M2022$182.5M2021$198.2M2020New media contracts and the addition of a 17th regular-season game are among the factors that led to the increase for 2023, Pelissero adds.The Chicago Bears are projected to have the most cap space available heading into the offseason with $98.6 million, per Spotrac.The NFL also allocated a franchise tag value for each position group Monday, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy suffered a complete tear of the UCL in his throwing elbow during Sunday's NFC title game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and is expected to undergo surgery, reports NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Purdy is reportedly seeking a second medical opinion in order to avoid Tommy John surgery and instead undergo a procedure to repair his throwing elbow. That'd rule him out for around six months, which could make him available for training camp, Pelissero adds.The rookie passer sustained the ailment in the first quarter of Sunday's matchup after taking a hit from Haason Reddick and left the game with just two pass attempts. Purdy was eventually forced to return to the field after veteran backup Josh Johnson suffered a concussion but was visibly limited and only attempted two more throws in San Francisco's 31-7 defeat.The 23-year-old took the NFL by storm in 2022, winning his first seven starts, including the playoffs. Purdy - the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft - began the campaign as San Francisco's third-string quarterback but took over after Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo suffered season-ending injuries. Lance went down in Week 2 due to an ankle ailment, while Garoppolo fractured his foot in Week 13.Purdy completed 67% of his passes while accounting for 18 touchdowns in eight appearances this season prior to the NFC Championship Game.The 49ers boast one of the NFL's most complete rosters, but the quarterback position remains their biggest question mark heading into the 2023 season. While Garoppolo is set to hit free agency this offseason, Lance has made only four starts since San Francisco drafted him third overall in 2021.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Video contains coarse languageCincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt was remorseful for an outburst directed at teammate Joseph Ossai in the tunnel after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs.Ossai pushed Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes when he ran out of bounds late in the fourth quarter, which resulted in a personal foul. The Chiefs kicked a game-winning field goal on the next play to ice the contest."I was emotional. I was in the moment. I was wrong," Pratt said Monday, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. He added: "I wasn't a great teammate in that moment."As Pratt exited the field, he was captured on video shouting angrily in reference to the play.

The Arizona Cardinals requested to interview Cincinnati Bengals assistants Lou Anarumo and Brian Callahan, sources told Peter Schrager and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.This is defensive coordinator Anarumo's first head coaching interview request. Offensive coordinator Callahan interviewed for the Indianapolis Colts' head coaching vacancy and is still considered a candidate to land the position.Anarumo and Callahan came to Cincinnati after head coach Zac Taylor was hired in 2019. The Bengals' defense finished sixth in points per game allowed this season, while Cincy has made back-to-back AFC championship appearances.Arizona will also talk to New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka about its head coaching vacancy Tuesday, Pelissero reports, citing a source.The Cardinals have interviewed six candidates, including former Saints head coach Sean Payton and Steelers linebackers coach Brian Flores.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is joining the Los Angeles Chargers in the same role after agreeing to terms Monday, the team announced.Moore and the Cowboys mutually agreed to part ways Sunday after he spent 2019-22 as Dallas' play-caller. The 34-year-old served as the club's quarterback coach in 2018.The Cowboys' offense ranked 11th in yards per game (354.9) and fourth in points per game (27.5) this season. Running back Tony Pollard, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and guard Zack Martin were named to the Pro Bowl for the Cowboys, while center Tyler Biadasz was selected as Jason Kelce's alternate.Los Angeles ranked ninth in yards (359.3) and 13th in points (23) per contest under former offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, who was fired earlier in January.Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is widely viewed as one of the league's most talented passers. In 2022, he recorded 4,739 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.Moore spent time as a player with the Detroit Lions (2012-14) and Cowboys (2015-17) as a backup quarterback following a standout career at Boise State. His only playing time came in 2015, when he threw four touchdowns and six interceptions in three appearances.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Super Bowl LVIII will be an emotional matchup for the Kelce family, as Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce become the first brothers to play against each other in the big game.As Travis sees it, the game will be a win-win situation for their mother, Donna."My mom can't lose. I'll just leave it at that," Travis said after the Chiefs' AFC championship win Sunday, according to KMBC 9. "It's gonna be an amazing feeling playing against him, and obviously I respect everybody over there in the Eagles organization and you won't see me talking too much trash because of how much respect and how much I love my brother, but it's definitely gonna be an emotional game."Donna was recently asked about her sons potentially meeting in the Super Bowl, and she admitted it would be stressful."I would root for the offense," Donna said, according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.The Kelce brothers are both in search of their second Super Bowl rings. Travis, 33, won his first ring in 2020, while the 35-year-old Jason got his in 2018.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The matchup for Super Bowl LVII is set, as both the Chiefs and Eagles will go for their second championship in five years. The Chiefs have much of the same coaching staff, quarterback, and core from their last title victory. Meanwhile, the Eagles have few holdovers from Super Bowl LII. They feature a new coaching staff and a younger quarterback than Georgia's recent title-winning signal-caller.I don't bet Super Bowl futures. Betting a team to win the big game only sets up two weeks of internal debate about a hedge. The ticket holder is likely to make a negative expected-value play in order to lock up some profit, likely around the same amount that they would've won had they just bet conference futures instead.Having a pre-determined side you're backing for the Super Bowl - decided months ahead of time - is also sub-optimal when trying to handicap the season's last game, especially considering all the prop markets that'll be available. Missing out on a valuable bet in the derivative markets because you're already committed to one side is bad for betting business.Preseason ratingBefore we revise history and suggest that it was fait accompli that the top seeds in each conference would meet in Arizona, it's worth revisiting the perception for both teams before the season started.Preseason marketsTEAMSB ODDSWIN TOTALChiefs+100010.5Eagles+25009As we discussed in this space before the season, there were concerns about Kansas City's offense after the team traded Tyreek Hill to Miami, and the Chiefs were tied with the Rams for the fourth-highest win total. Meanwhile, the Eagles were bet down throughout the summer to 25-1 to win the Super Bowl before Week 1, but they had the 14th-highest season win total at nine victories, rating them below teams like the Colts and Broncos. They got the upside performance from Jalen Hurts that we hoped for preseason, as well as the hot start that an easy schedule provided.Midseason ratingTEAMRATINGRANGEBills8370-85Chiefs7665-80Eagles7650-75By midseason, the Eagles were undefeated and the Chiefs were 6-2. Both were rated equally in betting markets, with only the Bills rated ahead of them as we awaited news on Josh Allen's elbow.The good teams are always overrated early in the season relative to history, as injuries have yet to pile up and holes haven't been revealed. The Eagles finished the season 3-6 against the spread, and the Chiefs were 2-6-1 ATS after both hit their peak in the market.Current ratingTEAMRATINGMY RATINGEagles7667Chiefs6770From when we looked at the conference championship lines one week ago until the close before the AFC championship Sunday, the Chiefs' rating increased as Patrick Mahomes' health seemed to improve. Even with Mahomes making it through a game where he threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, the Chiefs aren't getting credit for full health - which my rating assumes - because of how many key contributors left the game against the Bengals.Meanwhile, the Eagles' rating crept up last week as they hit -3 before the NFC championship. Brock Purdy got hurt on the first drive, so while the Eagles deserve their ticket to Super Bowl LVII, another true test in figuring out a reliable competition-based rating went by the wayside.With the calculation for home-field advantage removed, the Chiefs should be the slightest of favorites by my ratings. However, their injury issues, and the on-field matchups, need to be evaluated.Chiefs @ Eagles (-2.5, 49.5)On Sunday night, as Harrison Butker's kick went through the uprights, sportsbooks started putting up their lines for Super Bowl LVII. A total as high as 51 got the bet down quickly, but the point spread was the most interesting. Circa Sports' Jeffrey Benson tweeted about their opening line:

The Dallas Cowboys and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore have mutually agreed to part ways, the team announced in a statement obtained by The Athletic's Jon Machota.Head coach Mike McCarthy will take over offensive play-calling duties, sources told The Dallas Morning News' David Moore.McCarthy declined to commit to Moore in a press conference earlier this week, leaving the coordinator's future uncertain. When asked about Moore's return to the team, McCarthy told reporters that "the evaluation process is still going on."Quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier will also not return to the team. The Cowboys moved on from six assistant staff members earlier this week following the conclusion of their 2022 season.Moore served as Dallas' offensive coordinator for each of the past four seasons. His unit has ranked first in yardage on two occasions (2019, 2021) and finished atop the NFL in scoring in 2021. The Cowboys averaged 27.5 points per game in 2022, good for fourth best in the NFL.However, the offense was criticized for Dak Prescott's lack of ball security. Prescott threw a league-high 15 interceptions during the 2022 campaign, with at least one in 11 of his 14 contests this season (including playoffs).The Los Angeles Chargers are expected to speak to Moore about their offensive coordinator opening, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero report, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have also shown significant interest in Moore for their OC position, Rapoport adds.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Mahomes' high ankle sprain caused him a lot of pain during the AFC Championship Game, but that didn't stop the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback from making a gutsy scramble to set up the game-winning field goal."People don't realize how hurt he was," Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said, according to ESPN's Adam Teicher. "We all saw the injury. High ankles are terrible injuries, and sometimes guys miss two, three weeks, and he was out there and running for a first down and (made) a big play in the game that got us in field-goal range."Mahomes' late five-yard run drew an unnecessary roughness penalty from Bengals pass-rusher Joseph Ossai, which set up the winning kick. Although the Chiefs quarterback admitted his ankle "definitely didn't feel good," he credited the training staff for getting him ready to play after he suffered the injury a week prior."They got me close as they could to 100%," Mahomes said. "Then I just battled through, and I'll have a few more weeks to get it ready (for the Super Bowl)."He added: "I just tried to do whatever I could to win, and, obviously, there were times where you could see that it wouldn't let me do what I wanted to. But I was able to do enough on that last play to get the first down and get myself out of bounds and try to give (kicker Harrison Butker) the chance to win."Mahomes finished the game with 29 completions on 43 attempts for 326 yards, a pair of touchdowns, and no interceptions. The 27-year-old also had three carries for eight yards and a fumble, which aggravated his injury."I think the worst one was when I fumbled," Mahomes said. "I tried to pick it up, and that was probably the worst I tweaked it during the game."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones reflected on his dominant performance after the AFC Championship game."My whole offseason was dedicated to this game," Jones said, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com.Jones recorded his first career postseason sack in the first quarter, and was able to create constant pressure on Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow throughout the game.The 28-year-old Jones finished with four tackles, two sacks, and five quarterback hits."He's so good. He makes it so hard on you," Burrow said, according to Patra. "You have to give them credit, they had a really good rush plan. They let their big-time pass rushers go to work."Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo trusted Jones rushing from the outside, and the decision paid off. Late in the fourth quarter, Jones blew by Bengals right tackle Hakeem Adeniji for a sack. That play opened the door for the Chiefs' game-winning drive."He set the tone," Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark said, per Patra. "He finished the game."Jones had 15.5 sacks in 17 games this season, which led all defensive tackles.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles opened as 1-point favorites over the Kansas City Chiefs for Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona.The total for the matchup opened at 50.5 points.The Eagles steamrolled the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game 31-7 to advance to the Super Bowl, while the Chiefs took down the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 with a game-winning field goal in the final 10 seconds of the AFC Championship Game.Both teams finished atop their respective conferences with identical 14-3 records during the regular season.It's the first trip to the Super Bowl since 2017 for Philadelphia, which was victorious in its last appearance. Meanwhile, Kansas City has now advanced to the Super Bowl in three of its last four campaigns.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs earned their third Super Bowl appearance in the last four seasons with a field goal in the final seconds of the AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.The Bengals had a chance to drive down the field for their own field-goal attempt in the dying moments, but Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones came up with a clutch third-down sack on Joe Burrow to get the ball back.Kansas City's Harrison Butker then kicked a 45-yarder after referees called a crucial unnecessary roughness penalty on the Bengals for a late hit on a scrambling Mahomes.The Chiefs will face the Philadelphia Eagles - who beat the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game - in Arizona on Feb. 12.More to come.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy suffered a right elbow injury in Sunday's 31-7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC title game.Purdy sustained the ailment in the first quarter after taking a hit from Haason Reddick, who forced a fumble on the play. He was originally listed as questionable to return. The rookie signal-caller only attempted two passes before veteran Josh Johnson replaced him.Johnson led San Francisco until early the third quarter but went down with a concussion, forcing the 49ers to put Purdy back at quarterback despite his clear limitations. The team also made running back Christian McCaffrey its emergency quarterback versus Philadelphia, switching his helmet out to make it possible for him to hear the team's play-calling.Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan said he still doesn't know the severity of Purdy's injury. The team's initial belief is that Purdy injured his ulnar collateral ligament and would need six weeks to recover, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter."We have to get an MRI," Shanahan said postgame, according to The Mercury News' Cam Inman. "He couldn't throw. He wouldn't have gone back in if we hadn't had to. It was that or we were going to have wildcat. We didn't get long enough drives to show that either."That opening drive we lost our last quarterback. We were inspired watching our defense. We felt, down two scores, we could run and generate enough on offense and maybe get a turnover. We didn't move the chains enough, and it was real tough to catch up."Purdy finished the contest on 4-for-4 passing for 23 yards, while Johnson completed 7 of 13 passes for 74 yards, and each lost one fumble. McCaffrey had just one attempt.The last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Purdy won his first seven starts in the league after taking over for an injured Jimmy Garoppolo midway through the season.Injuries under center were a big issue for the 49ers in 2022. Trey Lance suffered a season-ending ankle ailment in Week 2, and Garoppolo hasn't played since fracturing his foot in December.Johnson entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick in 2008 and has played for several teams throughout his career. The 36-year-old joined San Francisco following Garoppolo's injury.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner showed support for rookie quarterback Brock Purdy following Sunday's 31-7 NFC title game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.Purdy - the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft - entered Sunday with a 7-0 record as a starter, including the playoffs. However, his first pro campaign had a bittersweet ending after he suffered an elbow injury in the first quarter against the Eagles."He ain't got nothing to be sad about. He's the reason we even got to this game," Warner said postgame. "When Jimmy (Garoppolo) went down against the (Miami) Dolphins, we didn't know what our season was going to be. And he came in and did a heck of a job. He's the reason we're here right now."Him getting hurt and Josh (Johnson) getting hurt, we just couldn't do enough to find a way to win."The 49ers replaced Purdy with Johnson following the former's only two pass attempts versus Philadelphia. Johnson - San Francisco's fourth-string quarterback who didn't join the team until December - went 7-for-13 passing on Sunday before suffering a concussion in the third quarter that ruled him out for the remainder of the contest.Purdy reentered the game but was visibly limited."My arm felt like it stretched out," Purdy said, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports. "Just felt like a really a lot of shocks all over from my elbow down to my wrist, front and back. Just pain really all over."Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan said he still doesn't know the severity of Purdy's injury.San Francisco began the season with Trey Lance as its starting quarterback, but Lance's campaign prematurely ended in Week 2 due to an ankle injury. Backup Garoppolo then made 10 starts until a foot ailment sidelined him on Dec. 4.Purdy accounted for 18 touchdowns in eight appearances before the NFC Championship Game.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles are going back to the big game.Philadelphia earned a dominant 31-7 win over the shorthanded San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday to earn its first Super Bowl berth since the 2017 season.With 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy severely limited by a right elbow injury and backup Josh Johnson out with a concussion, the Eagles rode their rushing attack to the victory. Running backs Miles Sanders, Kenneth Gainwell, and Boston Scott combined for 111 yards and three touchdowns, while quarterback Jalen Hurts also added 39 yards and a score on the ground.More to come.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is active for Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals despite battling a back injury, the team announced.Kelce popped up on the injury report Friday with a back injury and was listed as questionable. The Chiefs were waiting to see how Kelce looked in pre-game warmups before making a final call on his status, according to Fox Sports' Jay Glazer.Kelce has used an anti-inflammatory every day since experiencing back spasms on the final play of Friday's practice, Glazer reports.The 33-year-old, who was a full participant in Friday's practice, has played in every game this season.Kelce is having a career year, hauling in 110 catches for 1,338 yards and 12 touchdowns. He had 14 catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns in the Chiefs' divisional-round win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.Wide receiver Mecole Hardman will also suit up for Sunday's meeting with the Bengals. Hardman, who was questionable with a pelvis injury, hasn't played since Week 9.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins are hiring Vic Fangio to be the team's new defensive coordinator, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Fangio will receive a three-year deal that'll make him the NFL's highest-paid coordinator, Pelissero reports. He'll receive $4.5 million-$5 million per season, according to Jordan Schultz, theScore's NFL insider. The contract also includes a fourth-year team option.The 64-year-old posted a 19-30 record as the head coach of the Denver Broncos from 2019-2021. Fangio has also spent time as a coordinator with several teams, including the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, and Chicago Bears.Additionally, Fangio served as a defensive consultant for the Philadelphia Eagles this past season.The Scranton, Pennsylvania, native has spent 33 years in the NFL.Fangio drew interest as a defensive coordinator candidate from several teams, including the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons.Noted for his defensive leadership, Fangio was instrumental in turning the Bears into a top-15 unit. He was named the AP Assistant Coach of the Year after he helped the 2018 Bears lead the league in forced turnovers and interceptions.Miami dismissed Josh Boyer earlier this month after three seasons. The Dolphins ranked 24th in points allowed per game (23.5) and 18th in yards allowed per contest in 2022. They also generated just 14 turnovers.Seattle Seahawks associate head coach Sean Desai, Dolphins linebackers coach Anthony Campanile, and New Orleans Saints co-defensive coordinator Kris Richard were among the other candidates interviewed for the opening.Miami boasts a talented defensive unit that features promising stars such as Bradley Chubb, Christian Wilkins, and Xavien Howard.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert underwent surgery Wednesday to repair the labrum in his left shoulder, the team announced Sunday, according to Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.Herbert is expected to be cleared for participation in Los Angeles' offseason program.The 24-year-old was selected as a second alternate for the Pro Bowl Games but can't participate in the Feb. 5 event due to the procedure.Herbert shared a photo on Instagram Sunday, adding that the "surgery went great."

Denver Broncos owner Greg Penner and Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh met in person last week but were unable to reach a deal, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.Penner traveled to Ann Arbor to meet with Harbaugh face-to-face after conducting a video interview. However, Harbaugh pulled himself from the running and decided to return to Michigan following the first virtual meeting, according to Schefter.Harbaugh agreed to the in-person meeting nine days after he recommitted to Michigan, according to Mike Klis of 9NEWS."I love the relationships that I have at Michigan - coaches, staff, families, administration, President Ono, and especially the players and their families," Harbaugh said via the Wolverines' Twitter account. "My heart is at the University of Michigan."The Broncos shifted their focus to other candidates, including former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton.This marks back-to-back years that Harbaugh has shown interest in returning to the NFL. He and the Minnesota Vikings also had discussions in 2022 about their head coaching vacancy.Harbaugh has a 74-25 record in eight seasons as the Wolverines' head coach.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers would prefer to move on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers this offseason, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Rodgers is believed to be aware of the Packers' feelings regarding the situation, Schefter reports.An offseason trade reportedly remains an option for Green Bay. Financial reasons, the state of the franchise, and both Rodgers' and the team's feelings could push the Packers into moving their longtime quarterback, Schefter adds.During a recent interview on the "Pat McAfee Show," Rodgers said he's open to having "honest and direct conversations" with Green Bay and wouldn't be offended if the club moved him.The 39-year-old added that a potential trade was "conjecture" until he decides on his future. With Rodgers set to earn $59.5 million fully guaranteed and account for a $31.6-million cap hit in 2023, he also said his contract isn't viable for any NFL team.Green Bay is expected to exceed next season's salary cap by $16 million. Allen Lazard, Robert Tonyan, and Mason Crosby are among the club's impending free agents.The Packers also need to decide on backup quarterback Jordan Love's fifth-year option.Rodgers has spent his entire 18-year career in Green Bay. He led the NFC North club to three consecutive playoff appearances before it missed this campaign's postseason with an 8-9 regular-season record. Rodgers has previously said he wants to finish his career with the Packers.A move away from Rodgers would be a complete turn for Green Bay. General manager Brian Gutekunst said during the team's season-ending press conference that the Packers are interested in seeing the four-time MVP return.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins aren't expected to go after quarterback Tom Brady if he returns for the 2023 season, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Brady, 45, remains undecided on his plans for next season. He'll be an unrestricted free agent if he puts on a jersey for his 24th campaign as he can't be given the franchise tag due to a clause in his expiring contract.The seven-time Super Bowl champion was previously linked to the Dolphins on multiple occasions. A league investigation found Miami tampered with Brady and former New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton. The NFL subsequently stripped the Dolphins of two draft picks and suspended and fined owner Stephen Ross.Brady led the league with a career-high 733 pass attempts in 2022 on his way to throwing for 4,694 yards, 25 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.The Dolphins reportedly remain committed to Tua Tagovailoa as their starting quarterback. The 24-year-old passer showed signs of significant development under first-year head coach Mike McDaniel. He currently remains in concussion protocol after entering it over a month ago.Tagovailoa passed for a career-best 3,548 yards and 25 touchdowns while leading the league with a 105.5 passer rating despite suffering multiple injuries.The Dolphins will have to decide this offseason whether they'll pick up the fifth-year option in Tagovailoa's rookie contract for the 2024 season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor underwent successful surgery to repair his injured ankle last Wednesday, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport."That thing had a bunch of junk in there from a bunch of years," Taylor said. "Just finally had to clean it out and make sure I'm good to go. We finally had the time to get it right, make sure I'm 100% ready to rock. That's all you can ask."(Surgery) was a no-brainer. Get that out of the way, so you can focus on maintaining your body and get ready for the season."Taylor sustained a high ankle sprain against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 15. The star runner missed the remainder of the season after the Colts placed him on injured reserve."The No. 1 thing is taking time to heal," Taylor said. "The No. 2 thing is relaxing, just mentally, after the type of season we had. Get healthy, decompress mentally. I'll be on my feet in no time."The 24-year-old will look to return to his 2021 All-Pro form when he ran for 1,811 yards and 18 scores. Taylor struggled to replicate that dominance this season, finishing with 861 rushing yards and four touchdowns in 11 games.The Colts finished the 2022 campaign with a 4-12-1 record and own the fourth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.Taylor said he's confident he'll be healthy and prepared to play once the 2023 season arrives."I'll be ready to go," he said.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos owner Greg Penner and Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh met in person last week but were unable to reach a deal, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.Penner traveled to Ann Arbor to meet with Harbaugh face-to-face after conducting a video interview. However, Harbaugh pulled himself from the running and decided to return to Michigan following the first virtual meeting, according to Schefter.Harbaugh agreed to the in-person meeting nine days after he recommitted to Michigan, according to Mike Klis of 9NEWS."I love the relationships that I have at Michigan - coaches, staff, families, administration, President Ono, and especially the players and their families," Harbaugh said via the Wolverines' Twitter account. "My heart is at the University of Michigan."The Broncos shifted their focus to other candidates, including former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton.This marks back-to-back years that Harbaugh has shown interest in returning to the NFL. He and the Minnesota Vikings also had discussions in 2022 about their head coaching vacancy.Harbaugh has a 74-25 record in eight seasons as the Wolverines' head coach.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow said he isn't surprised by his team's recent success ahead of its second consecutive AFC Championship Game."I wouldn't say it's surreal," Burrow told reporters Friday. "I would say that winning is expected."He added, "If you would've told people that we're going to be in this spot a couple years ago, I think people would've said you're crazy. But we trusted the process … and put together a great team and great people, and (that) got us to this point."The Bengals posted a 2-14 record in 2019, which allowed them to select Burrow with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft. They had a 4-11-1 record in Burrow's rookie campaign, during which he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 10.Cincinnati made it to the Super Bowl last season, snapping their streak of five consecutive losing seasons. It can return to football's grandest stage with a win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.Burrow believes the Chiefs' defense is "much better" than it was last year and has "evolved" since their meeting in Week 13.The Bengals bested the Chiefs in December after Burrow led a fourth-quarter rally en route to a 27-24 win. He ended the contest with 256 passing yards, three total touchdowns, and a 126.6 passer rating.The Pro Bowl passer led the franchise to a 5-1 mark in postseason competition, with his lone blemish coming in the Super Bowl LVI loss to the Los Angeles Rams.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 49ers visit the Eagles on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. The Chiefs host the Bengals that evening at 6:30 p.m. ET. Keep these battlegrounds, questions, and trends in mind as the Super Bowl LVII matchup is decided.The slate is stacked Bryan M. Bennett / Getty ImagesSome team's heater will end Sunday. The Bengals haven't lost a game since Oct. 31, the 49ers are perfect since Oct. 23, and Cincinnati is the only club that's beaten the Chiefs since Oct. 16.This trio's collective record since the beginning of November is 31-1. The Eagles are 8-1 in that span and 15-1 overall when Jalen Hurts starts. By expected points added per play, the conference title games feature four of the NFL's five best offenses and three of its seven best defenses, per Ben Baldwin's database. The Chiefs are the outlier, ranking 15th in defensive EPA/play, but they can score at whim.The repeat conference finalists - the Chiefs, Bengals, and 49ers - all posted higher point differentials than they did last season. The Eagles are stronger on both sides of the ball than the 2021 Rams, the reigning Super Bowl champion. No set of finalists since 2018 compiled a higher cumulative point differential than this group (plus-529, ranging from San Francisco's plus-173 figure to Cincinnati's plus-96).The 2016 Patriots were the last Super Bowl champ to end the postseason on a double-digit win streak. The high mark this century belongs to the 2003 Patriots, whose 15 straight victories culminated in a title. If their momentum abides, the Bengals and 49ers could match up in Arizona in a couple of weeks riding 11-win and 13-win streaks, respectively.Cincy D vs. Mahomes Dylan Buell / Getty ImagesThe Bengals are 3-0 against the Chiefs since Joe Burrow turned pro in 2020. All three wins came by a field goal. They intercepted Patrick Mahomes twice last January in the AFC championship and quieted the MVP favorite again in Week 13 (Mahomes went 16-for-27 for 223 yards and one touchdown, well below his usual output).Cincinnati took time to spark to life in last year's AFC title game. It trailed 21-3 late in the second quarter but sacked Mahomes four times and held him to a measly 55 passing yards in the second half and overtime.The Bengals barely blitzed. They dropped eight men into coverage to envelop Mahomes' targets even when he scrambled to buy time. Occasionally, they deployed a spy to contain his movements. Defensive tackle B.J. Hill and safety Jessie Bates made athletic plays to deflect the passes that were picked.Mahomes posted the league's best passer rating this season on dropbacks where he was kept clean, per PFF. Will the Bengals, who ranked 22nd in blitz frequency, change tack and send the house to try to hurry him? Or will they pack the defensive backfield and stick with what worked at Arrowhead Stadium a year ago, knowing Mahomes is less mobile now with a sprained right ankle?QBs face adversity Bob Kupbens / Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesMahomes isn't the only passer confronting some sort of limitation. Burrow's offensive line is depleted, Hurts' sprained throwing shoulder still nags him, and Brock Purdy's NFL experience is comparatively scant.These burdens have yet to overwhelm them. Mahomes and Burrow have definitively overtaken Josh Allen as the AFC's top dogs. The NFC championship tilt pits the breakout player of the season against the seventh-round rookie revelation who's never lost a start.Hurts came out firing against the Giants in the divisional round, recording seven of his 16 completions on the first-quarter scoring drives that initiated Philadelphia's blowout win. Meanwhile, Purdy's scoreless outing against the Cowboys ended his seven-game run of throwing multiple touchdown passes. But he didn't blink or turn the ball over against the league's top takeaway defense, and he helped orchestrate the Niners' 91-yard, go-ahead TD drive.The quarterbacks' average age of 25 years, 98 days as of Sunday makes them the youngest quartet to start in the conference championships, per the NFL.They're a confident bunch, Burrow especially. Cool as the snow blew in Buffalo, he led five 60-yard scoring drives and didn't throw a pick for the third straight week despite missing three starters on the O-line, all of whom remain injured. As Burrow said, Cincinnati's Super Bowl window is wide open.Feed the RBs, TEs Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesThe four remaining offenses love to engage their running backs and tight ends. Those players are powering playoff victories.Eagles running backs Kenneth Gainwell and Miles Sanders combined in the divisional round to gain 202 yards on 29 carries. Replete with so many options, Philadelphia's four-pronged ground attack consistently wrong-footed the Giants and sprung Gainwell, Hurts, and Boston Scott for a touchdown apiece.Elsewhere, Cincinnati's Joe Mixon ran for 105 yards and a score against the Bills. The Jaguars let Chiefs rookie Isiah Pacheco pick up 95 yards on a mere 12 carries. Jacksonville's Travis Etienne burned the Chargers for 109 yards back in the wild-card round. Christian McCaffrey, the league's finest midseason acquisition, collected 119 yards to help the Niners smoke the Seahawks in their playoff opener.On balance, tight ends are upstaging wideouts in the passing game. Tight ends rank first through fifth in PFF's receiver grades this postseason and hold down eight spots in the top 20. Collectively, Kansas City's Travis Kelce, Cincinnati's Hayden Hurst, Philadelphia's Dallas Goedert, and San Francisco's George Kittle caught 85.4% of the passes targeted to them (35 of 41).Last weekend alone, Goedert's one-handed snag in the red zone enabled him to spin and score; Kittle's dexterous juggling grab at midfield jump-started the 49ers' game-winning drive; Hurst's stylish hurdle for first down extended a Bengals touchdown series; and Kelce's gravitational pull routed a safety away from Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who broke open and hauled in Mahomes' one-footed pass at the back of the end zone.Kelce gained 98 yards and scored twice himself on a career-high 14 receptions, continually burning the Jaguars on short routes. The Bengals will present a stiffer challenge if he plays Sunday (Kelce's questionable with a back injury). Cincinnati ranked fifth in DVOA this season when defending tight ends, per Football Outsiders, while Jacksonville was No. 32.Potential defensive epic Michael Zagaris / Getty ImagesEither side could stonewall the opponent in the Eagles-49ers contest. These defenses allowed the fewest yards per game in the league this season. Both ranked in the top five in takeaways.The Niners were first in points against and snared an NFL-high 20 interceptions, nine from the safety duo of Tashaun Gipson and Talanoa Hufanga. Eagles pass-rushers menaced the quarterback, racking up 70 sacks as a unit to rank third in league history, per Stathead.Playmakers abound at all levels of this matchup. Nick Bosa was the NFL sack champ with 18.5, but four Eagles hit double-digit marks. T.J. Edwards joined Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw in the top six of PFF's linebacker grades. Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson picked off six passes in a five-game span; cornerback James Bradberry is a first-time All-Pro, like Hufanga. Which of them will shine Sunday?Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich is targeting Vic Fangio to be his defensive coordinator, a source told Josina Anderson of CBS Sports.Anderson suggested the Panthers might make Fangio the NFL's highest-paid defensive coordinator to complete the move.However, while Carolina and Fangio have had discussions following a mid-January interview, a deal appears to be unlikely, sources told Joe Person of The Athletic.Widely regarded as one of the league's premier defensive minds, Fangio was reportedly being eyed by Sean Payton for his staff.However, it was unclear if Fangio was still in the running for the role once the Panthers' interest in Payton cooled and they pivoted to Reich.The Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons, the latter of which hired Ryan Nielsen as DC on Friday, also brought in Fangio for an interview.Fangio was the Denver Broncos' head coach from 2019-21, earning a 19-30 record. He spent this season with the Philadelphia Eagles as a consultant.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams have hired Mike LaFleur as their new offensive coordinator, the team announced Friday.LaFleur spent the last two seasons as the New York Jets' offensive coordinator. He served as passing game coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers from 2017-20.The Jets ranked only 29th in total points in 2022 and missed the playoffs despite having one of the NFL's top defenses.LaFleur will replace Liam Coen in L.A. Coen returned to Kentucky as offensive coordinator after one season with the Rams.Los Angeles battled several key injuries on both sides of the ball in 2022 and posted a 5-12 record - the most single-season losses ever by a defending Super Bowl champion. Head coach Sean McVay considered stepping away from the team after the regular season but decided to return for the 2023 campaign.LaFleur will inherit an offense that ranked 27th in scoring last season. But the Rams' offensive unit will be in a prime position to bounce back with star quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Cooper Kupp, among other starters, returning from injury. Stafford and Kupp each appeared in only nine games in 2022.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons named New Orleans Saints co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen their new defensive coordinator Friday.Nielsen joined the Saints in 2017 as defensive line coach before becoming assistant head coach in 2021 and co-defensive coordinator in 2022.He was also being considered for the Minnesota Vikings' open defensive coordinator position.New Orleans ranked fifth in yards allowed per game (314.8) and ninth in points allowed per game (20.3) this season. Nielsen's defensive line was also key in amassing 48 sacks, fifth-best in the NFL.Atlanta's defense ranked 27th in yards (362.1) and 23rd in points (22.7) allowed per game this season. The defense also struggled to get to the quarterback consistently, totaling just 21 sacks. Only the Chicago Bears (20) had fewer.Before joining the Saints, Nielsen spent time with Northern Illinois and NC State as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator.Nielsen's NFL playing career was short-lived, as he was cut by the Philadelphia Eagles before the 2002 season after going undrafted out of USC. He also spent time with the Arena Football League's Los Angeles Avengers.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was a surprise addition to the team's injury report Friday due to a back injury and is officially questionable to play Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.Kelce was a full participant at practice Friday.The All-Pro tight end, regarded by many as the best at his position, is Kansas City's No. 1 receiving target and coming off one of the most productive seasons of his career.He set career highs with 110 catches and 12 touchdown receptions to go along with 1,338 receiving yards through 17 games in the regular season. The 33-year-old also caught 14 passes for 98 yards and two scores in last week's divisional-round win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.Kelce has missed just one game due to injury over the last five seasons.The Chiefs also listed wide receiver Mecole Hardman as questionable. Hardman, who hasn't played since Week 9 due to a pelvis injury, was a limited participant at practice Friday.Patrick Mahomes battled an ankle injury this week as well, but head coach Andy Reid confirmed on Friday that the superstar quarterback will start Sunday.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Mahomes will start Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals despite battling an ankle injury throughout the week, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid announced Friday, according to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe."He's moving around good," Reid told reporters, including ESPN's Adam Teicher. "He can go out and play."Mahomes suffered a high ankle sprain in last weekend's divisional-round win over the Jacksonville Jaguars when linebacker Arden Key fell on him in the first quarter. He finished the drive before being briefly replaced by Chad Henne, though Mahomes later returned after halftime.The 27-year-old has been adamant that his injury won't keep him out of the AFC title game, telling reporters before Wednesday's practice that he was "ready to go" for the matchup.Mahomes was a full participant in practice throughout the week and wasn't given an injury designation Friday.Mahomes has led Kansas City to the conference championship game in each of his five seasons as the team's regular starter. Sunday's matchup against the Bengals will mark a rematch of last season's AFC title game when Joe Burrow led Cincinnati to an overtime victory over Mahomes and the Chiefs.A finalist for the NFL's MVP award, Mahomes threw a league-leading 5,250 passing yards and 41 touchdowns this season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.