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Experts will break down team needs, watch film of the top college prospects and predict (to the best of their ability) where players will get drafted. We’re going to be doing none of that in this mock draft. Here, we’re going to set everything up so that the virtual GMs and coaches in “Madden 21” will be making the picks for us. We’ve updated the rosters to reflect free agency moves and imported a custom-made draft class to represent the 2021 players (we explain all of that below)....

We dive into the latest news regarding Sam Darnold and other injury updates in the wake of more injuries in this edition of NFL news and notes. Three things that matter Sam Darnold set to return after month out with mononucleosis The Jets quarterback has been out since Week 2 after he was diagnosed with the illness, but was cleared for non-contact drills last week and has made progress in recent days after being ruled out for Sunday’s loss to the Eagles....

Here’s hoping our Week 16 picks against the spread are merry and bright with an action-packed weekend of Christmas goodies ahead and no Grinches in sight. No matter what happens, the holidays will be happy after diving into latest fearless forecast of professional pigskin prognostications: (betting odds per Bet MGM) NFL POWER RANKINGS: Lions, Giants, Chargers boost playoff outlooks; Cowboys, Patriots, Jets fade for Week 16 NFL picks against the spread for Week 16 Game of Midweek: Jaguars at Jets (-1, 38....

Pittsburgh (6-0) is the last unbeaten team remaining in the NFL. The Steelers rank in the top 10 in offense and defense and have a chance to take a two-game lead in the division race. The Ravens (5-1) have the top-scoring defense in the NFL, and Lamar Jackson leads a top-10 offense. It promises to be a physical matchup and a close game. That’s not the only good divisional matchup on the schedule....

The PBS program News Hour presented interviews with the head of the players’ union and president of the NFL Physicians Society. The league declined to make an official available to the program. The NFL is making strides at reducing concussions, citing statistics that showed a 13 percent drop in such head injuries last season. There is a darker side here. Retired players with brain damage have committed suicide, notably Hall of Famer Junior Seau....

Russell’s decision to film the conversation has opened the door for discussion from the outside. Other athletes, media personalities and fans of the game have weighed in with opinions on what the 20-year-old did. MORE: College coaches who could be next NBA great | Russell needs to grow up NBA players are limited to their public reaction because they play in the same league, but NFL players have been pretty vocal about it....

It’s another homecoming for Philly-area product Matt Ryan, but only one of the previous four return trips resulted in a victory. Last season, Atlanta lost in November in Philadelphia, 24-15, losing a lead in the fourth quarter. MORE: Stream Falcons-Eagles live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial) Coming off a 26-13 victory in L.A., the Falcons have great momentum and confidence. The Eagles had a well-earned bye, but there are growing concerns about how well Nick Foles will be able to replace Carson Wentz at a quarterback in a game with so much at stake....

After all, in the Los Angeles Rams and Kyler Murray it contains the defending NFC champions and the number one overall pick of the NFL draft. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks have added one of the best pass-rushers in the league in the shape of Jadeveon Clowney and the San Francisco 49ers welcome back Jimmy Garoppolo after a season out. Here’s what to expect from NFC West this time out....

The Chiefs and Chargers finished with the same record (12-4) last season. Both ended up falling short of the Super Bowl after falling to the Patriots in the playoffs. The Raiders, in their second year under Jon Gruden, are looking to start fresh after the coach’s hands-on, massive overhaul assisted by Mike Maycck. The Broncos are undergoing even more transition, with Vic Fangio and Joe Flacco as their new veteran coach-quarterback combination....

John Parry’s crew tried to stress to both sides that the league is really, really serious this year about cracking down on defensive holding, illegal contact and illegal use of hands. According to NFL.com’s play-by-play, 16 such fouls were called. Ten were accepted, accounting for almost half the 21 total penalties in the box score. The breakdown: Illegal use of hands: nine (seven accepted) Defensive holding: four (one accepted, one offset)...

Of course, in 2019, chatter around NFL officiating has been as loud as ever, leaving referees to explain questionable calls made by their crews after most games. With the addition of pass interference to the NFL’s replay review system this year, senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron’s performance is also under the microscope. Each week, the NFL announces its referee assignments for its slate of games on Thursday, Sunday and Monday....

But Brady’s return didn’t just impact the NFL’s on-field product. It had an off-the-field impact as well. MORE: Tom Brady explains why he returned to NFL after brief retirement The NFL was in the process of building its schedule for 2022 when Brady announced that he was coming back. While that provided a boost to the overall strength of competition in the NFL, it also prompted schedule-makers to restart the scheduling process basically from scratch....

The NFL will take center stage on Thursday, with the traditional triple-header of games punctuating America’s national holiday. The fourth Thursday in November is arguably the biggest football day of the calendar year for casual fans, but the impact of football on Thanksgiving stretches far beyond the fans attending the games and watching it on TV. The holiday is circled in red on the calendars of bookmakers across the country....

With the flurry of activity, there were clear positive movers and shakers, while those who didn’t make any kind of needed deal were left in the dust. Here are Sporting News’ winners and losers from the 2022 NFL trade deadline, breaking down what teams fared the best and what teams failed the worst: MORE: Complete list of trades before 2022 NFL deadline NFL trade deadline 2022: Winners and losers Winners: San Francisco 49ers...

Foles is currently the third-string quarterback in Chicago after the Bears signed fellow veteran Andy Dalton and drafted rookie QB Justin Fields in the first round. With no path to the starting job in the windy city, it makes sense for the Bears to move Foles before the regular season begins. Which teams should trade for Nick Foles? Let’s take a look at three teams that represent logical landing spots for Nick Foles in 2021....

Also in this week’s NFL draft spotlight, Ohio State broke the record for most picks in one draft last year, and they have no shortage of prospects this year. MORE: All-time greatest draft classes from single schools Plus, meet the FBS sack leader and learn why he might struggle to get drafted. We also name the top 10 pass rushers in the country and predict where they might get drafted....

Bills wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin appeared to complete a beautiful, 4-yard touchdown catch just before halftime of Buffalo’s 37-16 loss in New England on Sunday. The call on the field of a TD, however, was reversed upon replay review and ruled an incomplete pass. NFL vice president of officiating Al Riveron ruled that when Benjamin gained control of the football, his left foot was not touching the ground. Buffalo instead settled for a 23-yard field goal as the first-half clock expired, sending the game into what was then a 13-13 tie....

While the NFL’s franchise tag has been something of a point of contention in years past, the window to franchise tag players is the next tentpole in the NFL offseason. Teams had until 4 p.m. on March 8 to decide whether or not to keep certain players under contract for at least one more year. MORE: What is the franchise tag, anyway? By that deadline, teams had to decide whether or not they wanted to use their franchise tag on a player....

The Colts should not go nuts throwing around cash. They instead should look for the sweet spot of quantity and quality from the open market. Before they go to work addressing their many needs with their current seven draft picks for April, Reich and general manager Chris Ballard could use several veteran complementary parts. Once again, much of Indy’s work involves getting more support for quarterback with the hopeful return of Andrew Luck....

The 34-year-old safety has signed with the Washington Redskins, for whom he played in 2004 and 2005. Clark spent the past eight seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He began his career with the New York Giants. Safety has been a top priority for Washington this offseason. Clark will also add leadership to a defense that is losing captain London Fletcher, who plans to retire. Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III welcomed Clark: And at least one diehard Redskins fan likes the move: NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr....