The 2000 Patriots had a Pythagorean expectation of 6.1 wins.

Meanwhile, the Colts will retire Peyton Manning’s No. 18 during the Oct. 8 game against the 49ers. They’ll also unveil a Manning statue the day before the game.

And if you have two minutes, here’s a great little video report on the woman who has been sewing the names on the Colts’ jerseys for the past 33 years. Maybe she should get her own statue, just like Manning, right?

While they don’t want to admit it, the Bills appear to be entering a rebuilding period, if not outright tanking for a quarterback in the 2018 draft. Buffalo has extra picks in each of the first three rounds and could very well be transitioning from Tyrod Taylor, who’s in the concussion protocol and could miss Week 1, to rookie fifth-round pick Nathan Peterman at quarterback. As they try to move away from the dismal decisions and brutal contracts of the Doug Whaley era, the Bills don’t appear especially interested in competing for a Super Bowl this season.

The 2000 Patriots had a Pythagorean expectation of 6.1 wins. The 2016 Jaguars had a Pythagorean expectation of 5.9 wins. Basically identical. There’s more to it than that, of course, but the Jags could easily sneak into the playoffs with some modest improvements. Given that they had the league’s third-youngest roster last season and upgraded with two key defensive contributors in free-agent signings Calais Campbell and A.J. Bouye, it’s entirely plausible the team could take a step forward as a whole.

As for that turmoil at quarterback? It looks like Blake Bortles will start, and there’s little evidence he’s going to be very good. (A preseason game against backups shouldn’t convince you Bortles has turned things around.) Chad Henne isn’t much better. The Jaguars had a sixth-round compensatory pick in his second season on the roster in Brandon Allen, but they released the former Arkansas signal-caller Cheap Rugby Jerseys on Sunday, and the Rams picked him up. Maybe Allen isn’t Tom Brady after all. The Jags Cheap Sports Jerseys will need to hope they can run the ball and play great defense to win the AFC South.

Former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said Baltimore was close to signing Colin Kaepernick

His voice cracking and tears streaming down his face, Packers tight end Martellus Bennett spoke about the emotions he felt after seeing the video of his brother, Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, being handcuffed and detained by Las Vegas police.

Former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said Baltimore was close to signing Colin Kaepernick, until the quarterback’s girlfriend posted a “racist” tweet that featured Lewis and team owner Steve Bisciotti.

Bennett wrote that officers pointed guns at him “for doing nothing more than simply being a black man in the wrong place at the wrong time” and ordered him to lie down on the ground.

Jason Verrett finally will play to his potential, leading the league in interceptions and playing a 16-game season.

A first-round selection for the Chargers in the 2014 draft, the TCU product has missed 24 games during his three seasons. But with teammate Casey Hayward leading the NFL in interceptions last year, Verrett will follow suit in 2017 and finally put a top-notch season together. — Eric D. Williams

With Marshawn Lynch bringing a certain attitude and toughness to Oakland, Derek Carr will improve upon his 1-5 career mark against the Chiefs and lead the team to a division title … even if the Raiders finish with a worse record than last season’s 12-4. — Paul Gutierrez

There’s one bit of Pack-related uni news, however: Last season, wide receiver Ty Montgomery spent most of his time lining up in the backfield. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it looked a little weird, because he was wearing No. 88. This year, he’s officially listed as a Texas Rangers Cheap Jerseys running back, but he’s Sports Cheap Jerseys keeping No. 88, a move permitted by NFL rules.

Barkley held a grudge over Burfict’s play in high school and accused him of attempting to injure.

“He’s a dirty player,” Barkley told the Los Angeles Times before the two were set to meet in a game in college. “His switch is always on. And it’s not a good switch.”

Burfict’s targeting of Barkley especially raised eyebrows because both players were committed to USC. The linebacker later made a last second switch to Arizona State on National Signing Day.

Jordy Nelson will top the 100-catch mark for the first time in his career.

It worked out just fine. The Patriots went 11-3 the rest of the way to win the AFC East, rode their luck and a fill-in performance from Bledsoe to make it through the conference playoffs, and then stunningly upset the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. Brady and Belichick have been back a few times since then, too.

The teams in this tier have their own adversity to deal with, too. They’re either missing a quarterback or embroiled in turmoil as the season begins. It’s difficult to imagine them winning the Super Bowl, but it was difficult to believe that a guy who every team in the league passed on more Youth NFL Cheap Jerseys than once in the 2000 draft might turn into one of the best players in NFL history, too.

Newton on Tuesday teased Carolina outside Ravens Cheap Jerseys linebacker Thomas Davis, a former first-round pick out of Georgia, that the Bulldogs made a mistake by not recruiting his brother.

I’ve seen this a couple of times from you on film.

The Rams, under an entirely new coaching staff, rebuilt their offense in hopes of finally getting something going on that side of the ball. Will notable additions Andrew Whitworth (77) and Sammy Watkins (2) make a tangible difference? Most of the defensive personnel remains the same. The Rams signed outside linebacker Connor Barwin (98) and Kayvon Webster (21) this offseason as they transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4. — Alden Gonzalez

The Jaguars potentially have a top-10 defense thanks to the additions of DE Calais Campbell (93), CB A.J. Bouye (21) and SS Barry Church (42) to a unit that already includes CB Jalen Ramsey (20), DT Malik Jackson (97), LB Telvin Smith (50) and young pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue (91). Offensively, the Jaguars return three starters to an offensive line that wasn’t very good in the run game in 2016. — Mike DiRocco

Tom Brady, QB | New England Patriots: Sure, Tom Terrific will miss Julian Edelman. But they can still text (which they couldn’t do at this time last year). Even at 40, Brady looks like a good bet to repeat last year’s performance, which probably would have delivered him an MVP award if he hadn’t been suspended for the first four games. Expect no Super Bowl letdown from New England, and with Jimmy Garoppolo nipping at his heels, expect no late-career letdown from the quarterback, either.

As for Dallas’ blue jersey, it never had the Flywire collar. Interestingly, when the Cowboys wore blue for a preseason game against the Rams on Aug. 12, they were clearly wearing last year’s jerseys because the NFL logo chip had not been updated to the new chrome version. It remains to be seen whether this will still be the case in the regular season.

I’ve seen this a couple of times from you on film. [You’re] aligned over the slot, or here vs. the tight end flexed, and you’re going Wholesale Jerseys China to run a stunt inside. Look US Cheap Jerseys Club at this, look at your speed to the QB.

Rams’ Aaron Donald ‘back and forth’ with coach Sean McVay on return

Gordie Howe played 25 pro seasons and was 52 when he skated for the last time in the NHL with the Hartford Whalers. Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Ageless wonder Jaromir Jagr scored 16 goals and 46 points and skated in all 82 games for the Panthers last season. Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
They are both in the top three in NHL history in goals — Howe at No. 2 and Jagr at No. 3 — behind Wayne Gretzky. Howe and Jagr are the only players in NHL history to score at least 100 goals after Cheap Dan Marino Jerseys turning 40. Howe actually played into his 50s, and Jagr is a free agent at age 45 but has no intention of retiring, making him the NHL’s oldest active player.

The crucial day is seemingly Monday, Labor Day, one McVay called “the first day of true preparation for our team and for the Colts.” The Rams will then be off on Tuesday. If Donald doesn’t report by Monday, it will be hard to envision him playing in the Sept. 10 opener against the Indianapolis Colts.

Aaron Donald will owe $1.52 million in fines for not showing up to the team. His base salary for 2017: $1.80 million. Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports
“I’m an optimistic guy,” McVay said when asked if he was hopeful of seeing Donald on Monday. “I’m always going to take the positive approach.”

“Aaron’s a very special player to us,” McVay said. “We want him here, and we want him to be a part of this. With what these players have started to create, I think it would be special to have Aaron Wholesale Jerseys be a part of that.”

It is startling around the league how varied teams are in approaching this task.

The New York Jets joined the Browns this offseason by cutting Eric Decker, David Harris and Brandon Marshall, but the biggest tip-off of their tanking was the trade of defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson to the Seahawks. The Jets know they aren’t going to overtake New England in the AFC East. The Buffalo Bills are better off but in a similar situation, making it easier for them to trade away Sammy Watkins. Why keep Watkins and possibly have to use the franchise tag on him next offseason with the long-term plan at quarterback still unsettled?

No love for the reigning MVP? Well, no one has won this award in back-to-back seasons since Peyton Manning in 2008 and 2009. And Ryan did lose his offensive coordinator, Kyle Shanahan, who’s now the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. That could have an impact. And everyone’s still wondering what effects the Falcons as a team will feel from their brutal Super Bowl collapse.

It is startling around the league how varied teams are in approaching this task. Some general managers and coaches, when asked about this subject during the preseason, answered, “Huh?” They acted as if they couldn＊t care less whether their wide receivers blocked or not in the running game.

After a win in the first round of The Ultimate Fighter — the UFC’s reality show — Mitrione lost in the quarterfinals. But he did enough to impress the promotion and earn a spot Cheap Braves Jerseys on the UFC’s roster. In December 2009 he made his professional MMA debut with the UFC.

“If you’re planning to be a pro MMA fighter, you’re Cheap College Jerseys not going to do it to make a big paycheck right away … you’re doing it for the love of it.” — Austen Lane, MMA heavyweight

Six-game suspension of Ezekiel Elliott upheld, but Cowboys RB eligible to play Week 1

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is eligible to play in Sunday’s season opener against the New York Giants, even though an arbitrator upheld Elliott’s six-game suspension handed down by commissioner Roger Goodell that stems from a domestic violence case.

Someone has to catch the passes for the Bears after the Cameron Meredith injury, and the veteran Wright looks to be in a nice position to do so. If he cost $1,000 more — which he probably will starting with Week 2 — I wouldn’t like him so much. But this price is so nice! — Eric Karabell

Chicago’s short-handed receiving corps has its work cut out against the Falcons, and Wright is one of the only proven players for Mike Glennon to throw to in this home game at Soldier Field. Wright is too hard to overlook at this low salary and should lead the Bears in receptions without much of a challenge. — Joe Kaiser

“Is that right, did my handlebar mustache go out strong earlier on social media?”

He asked about his picture he plastered across the world before the Aug. 11 preseason game between Pittsburgh and the Giants.

“I thought it might be a hit. I thought they might take a little notice.”

They did. They do. They will. His Cheap Authentic NHL Jerseys finesse as a receiver is matched by his charisma as a showman. Brown Cheap Baseball Jerseys Kids knows they can’t wait to see what he will do during the 2017 season when he scores a touchdown. He can’t wait, either.

The game makes you feel like you have to make the NFL at all costs.

For Wade, it’s either that or shoveling stuff in Texas with your high school teammates — it’s really do-or-die out here. Wade’s life isn’t perfect, his relationship with his friend isn’t always jokey and light-hearted, and even though this is a video game, not every challenge you face will wait for you to have a certain score to move on to the next level.

Analysis: This projection has the Broncos going 7-1 at home while riding their defense to road victories against Buffalo and Indy. QB Tiers voting has Denver holding an advantage at the position for only one game, a Week 14 matchup against the Jets. The question for Denver is whether the pass protection can improve enough for Trevor Siemian to move solidly into Tier 3 from his current spot atop Tier 4.

With all that said, New England does have the weapons to withstand his loss. The Patriots traded a first-round draft pick to acquire Brandin Cooks, who has experience in the slot role that Edelman excels at. They also have reliable playmakers in Rob Gronkowski, Chris Hogan, and Danny Amendola, in addition to a small army of talented pass-catching running backs (James White, Rex Burkhead, Dion Lewis).

In short, the Patriots almost have more weapons than they know what to do with, and they still have Brady Cheap NFL Jerseys throwing the ball. Edelman is a big loss, but we shouldn’t doubt Belichick’s ability to cover for big losses. As long as Brady stays Cheap Authentic Baseball Jerseys upright, the Patriots will be humming along just fine.

Hayward’s agent Mark Bartelstein said a max deal was the easiest deal to get done

Irving wants to play in a situation where he can be the team’s focal point. As a result, the All-Star point guard no longer wants to play alongside LeBron James, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

On its surface, the idea of Irving ditching the world’s best player is bizarre. After all, if it weren’t for James, Irving wouldn’t have the playoff experience or championship ring that followed The King’s return to Cleveland.

But as odd as it may sound, the idea of Irving wanting out to forge a legacy of his own makes sense. Kyrie’s time is now, while James’s window for greatness is closing. In a league where power players force power moves — see Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul trades — the time is now for Irving to make his.

Hayward’s side was reportedly hoping to secure more than Favors’ salary but somewhere less than the $80 million maximum deal fellow 2010 draftee Paul George received this offseason.

At the time, Hayward’s agent Mark Bartelstein said a max deal was the easiest deal to get done, but it wasn’t what Hayward’s camp wanted. “We’re talking about something different. It can be difficult,” he said.

Hindsight is always 20/20, but the Jazz were right to be hesitant to just throw a near-max deal at Hayward. They had just paid Favors, who had serious two-way potential but was probably a secondary or tertiary member of a core at best. Hayward hadn’t shown he had the chops for being a top scoring option and Alec Burks was due for an extension the very next season. It’s penny pinching, but for a small market Cheap Vintage Jerseys NBA team like the Jazz it’s important. They had to find a way Cheap Utah Jazz Jerseys to pay all three without getting too expensive.

This life-sized balloon sculpture of Joel Embiid can be yours for a few power tools

Craigslist is a veritable cornucopia of weird stuff — but maybe nothing on the site is weirder than this life-sized balloon sculpture of Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid.

However — the actual balloon sculpture isn’t even as strange as the ad selling it on Craigslist:

Nowitzki signed a two-year, $50 million contract last summer, but exercised his player option to become a free agent during the offseason. He did so with the intent of taking less money to allow the Mavericks to pursue free agents and build toward a future contender.

The 39-year-old Nowitzki is regarded as one of the greatest international NBA players of all-time, winning the 2007 NBA Most Valuable Player of the Year award before leading the Mavericks to the franchise’s first-ever championship in 2011. He’s averaged almost 22 points per game through his illustrious 19-year NBA career, highlighted by his outstanding 2007 MVP season where he averaged 24.6 points on better than 50 percent shooting from the field, 40 percent shooting from three and 90 percent shooting from the foul line.

Nowitzki isn’t the first star to leave money on the table this offseason. Kevin Durant agreed to take $7 million less than his $31.8 million max salary when he signed a two-year, $53 million contract to stay Cheap UK NFL Jerseys with the Warriors this summer. The selfless act Cheap Throwback Basketball Jerseys allowed Golden State to re-sign Shaun Livingston, Andre Iguodala and Stephen Curry — to a $201 million contract, by the way — and sign Nick Young with their mid-level exception without being saddled in luxury tax this upcoming season.