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In this week’s edition … Josh Norman gets flagged five weeks late, the 49ers get punished for celebrating something they didn’t officially do and the league MVP gets told, “Cameron Jerrell Newton. You are not. Going. To. Walk. Out. Of. This. House. Dressed. Like. That. Period.” MORE: NFL power rankings In chronological order of instances where pointlessly twisted priorities became evident in the NFL: Against the Bears in snowy Chicago, the 49ers blocked a punt and scored what seemed like a go-ahead, momentum-shifting touchdown, and reacted exactly like a desperate team starving for a win would (and should)....

This offseason, like most in recent history, will be dominated by quarterbacks, but with plenty of on- and off-field question marks surrounding the top college QBs, head coaching changes expected to affect the NFL landscape, and as many as six NFL starting quarterbacks potentially looking to change teams, this offseason won’t be short on story lines at the position. MOCK DRAFT 2018:Browns, Broncos ignore QB; Redskins don’t Here are the latest NFL Draft-related rumors from Optimum Scouting:...

That’s because the top prospects and one of the deepest talent pools in the 2022 NFL Draft is the edge and the defensive end group: Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson, Georgia’s Travon Walker and Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux figure to be the first three edge defenders off the board, but in which order is anyone’s guess. That decision comes down to the Jaguars: There’s a number of different scenarios for the top overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, and the top 10 could plunge into utter chaos depending on what happens with that top pick....

The league and the Mexico Ministry of Tourism have announced an agreement to play three regular-season games from 2019 to 2021. News of the deal came ahead of Sunday’s huge matchup between the Oakland Raiders and defending champions the New England Patriots at Estadio Azteca. That clash is the second of a current three-year Mexico deal that is set to expire after next season. The league has yet to announce which teams will make the trip in 2018....

The internet went crazy with memes, mostly in support of quarterback Lamar Jackson, after the team reportedly lost its third running back of the preseason—and second this week. Gus Edwards injured his knee in practice, and according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Ravens fear it is a torn ACL that will cost the third-year back the season. Edwards would be the third Ravens running back lost to injury before Week 1, joining starter J....

Flashback to the summer, when we learned that the former NFL MVP would have an opportunity to replace quarterback Tom Brady on the New England Patriots. Fantasy owners had all types of questions running through their minds. Would Cam Newton get along with head coach Bill Belichick? Was he healthy after having surgery on his shoulder, and taking nine seasons of punishment as a glorified goal line back with the Carolina Panthers?...

Here are three you should start and three you should sit: NFL Fantasy Football Running Backs - Start ‘Em #1 - Jamaal Williams Jamaal Williams of the Detroit Lions has been amongst the top backs in fantasy this year. Hs workload is only going to increase as DeAndre Swift looks likely to miss time through injury. In three games in 2022 Williams has four touchdowns as he’s shown he’s an elite threat in the red zone....

That’s because odds are they won’t be getting second chances somewhere else if fired. Almost 85 percent of the top personnel decision-makers for NFL teams are holding their positions for the first time — and what will likely be their only time — wielding such power, per OPTA research commissioned by Sporting News. The exceptions are New England’s Bill Belichick, Washington’s Bruce Allen, Jacksonville’s Tom Coughlin, Minnesota’s Rick Spielman and Carolina’s Marty Hurney, who was re-hired as general manager in July on an interim basis....

Hasselbeck sent a simple tweet Wednesday morning that read, “Random drug testing.” MORE: NFL’s marijuana stance evolving | Week 13 NFL Power Rankings The Colts are tied with the Texans atop the AFC South at 6-5, due in large part to Hasselbeck’s performance while Andrew Luck has dealt with injuries and poor play throughout the season. And when a 40-year-old player is outplaying a 26-year-old former No. 1 overall pick, eyebrows apparently are raised in the NFL offices....

The platform is called Inspire Change and includes the funding of grass-roots organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Operation HOPE. It also will establish a digital learning curriculum for African-American history in 175 underserved high schools. The league announced the initiative Friday in connection with its 32 teams and the Players Coalition, a group of players that works for social justice. Inspire Change is the latest step for the league and the players after they established a working relationship in October 2017 following player demonstrations for social justice during the national anthem — a topic that drew attention from the White House....

But there’s zero wrong with that. We’re obsessed with mocks until we’re on the clock because they represent hope. Every player is a stud, and no one’s a bust until every team selects a player in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft on Thursday night. You can guarantee no team is locked into a prospect — even at No. 1 — given the fact that most of the picks are affected by the ones that come right before....

Any matchup between the two NFC North foes needs no introduction, but the 178th meeting between the two carries with it even more storylines than usual. The Lions have not made the playoffs in two seasons but have won the last four games against Green Bay. The most recent of those meetings, saw Detroit embarrass Green Bay in front of its own fans in Week 17 last year, as Matt Patricia’s men left Lambeau Field with a 31–0 win....

Manning’s once-sterling reputation has taken a beating this week as the media re-examined a 20-year old training room incident at the University of Tennessee between the then 19-year old QB and athletic trainer Jamie Naughright. Her lawyers portrayed it as sexual assault. His lawyers downplayed it as a “mooning” prank gone wrong. Either way, it has led to a decade’s worth of complaints, lawsuits and counter-suits. Coming on top of Al Jazeera America’s controversial report linking his wife Ashley Manning to HGH, Manning’s reputation and business future are now in question....

Meanwhile, a couple of other players appear to be extending their absence after succumbing to setbacks in their injury recovery. Three things that matter Jerry Jones takes clear stance on Ezekiel Elliott holdout And it’s probably not what Dallas fans want to hear, as the Cowboys owner hinted the team is prepared to play without their star rusher to start the season. “We want Zeke when we get to the playoffs....

There also are eight head-to-head matchups where both teams still have some level of playoff hope. None of those matchups are more-anticipated than the Monday Night Football thriller between Cincinnati and Buffalo. That is the first head-to-head meeting between MVP candidates Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. That is a fitting MNF finale, but there are some great matchups on the schedule. The winner of the Patriots-Dolphins matchup on Sunday controls their playoff destiny heading into Week 18 in the AFC....

With the playoffs just around the corner, of the 14 teams currently lined up with a playoff spot, nine were in the dance in 2021. If the current playoff field stands, the Jaguars, Chargers, Vikings, Giants and Seahawks have an opportunity at the Lombardi Trophy in February. That, though, is tenuous: Three divisions have yet to be locked up, while the bottom of the NFC bracket is coming down to Week 18 to decide....

Green Bay’s thrilling 31-30 win over Baltimore in the Sunday late-afternoon window of Week 15 had major NFL playoff picture implications across both conferences. While the Packers (11-3) improved to the NFL’s best record, the Ravens (8-6) slipped in the battle for their division and one of the three wild-card berths. Here’s looking at exactly what the Packers’ big road win and the Ravens’ latest loss mean: NFL playoff picture: How Packers’ win affects NFC seeding The Packers (11-3) are the No....

From the division leaders to the wild cards to the also-rans, here’s how all 32 teams stand after Monday night: MORE: Week 13, stats, info, highlights AFC No. 1 seed — Raiders (10-2): First place, West. Oakland stayed ahead of Kansas City in the division and also jumped New England by virtue of the strength of victory tiebreaker. There’s no letting up with a trip to Kansas City on Thursday....

The Cowboys opened their preseason with a 17-9 defeat on the road against the San Francisco 49ers, meaning they have now failed to score a touchdown in their last three preseason games—dating back to last summer. Dallas had four red zone drives but left empty-handed, which would have hardly pleased new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Admittedly, the Cowboys were without Jason Witten, Amari Cooper, Alfred Morris, Zack Martin and Ezekiel Elliott, while Dak Prescott played just one series....