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Lions bring back WR Marvin Jones on 1-year deal

Lions bring back WR Marvin Jones on 1-year deal

Free agent wideout Marvin Jones took to social media Wednesday to announce he's returning to the Detroit Lions, a team he played with for five seasons.

ESPN reported Jones landed a one-year deal worth $3 million, with incentives that could take it to $5 million.

Jones, 33, played the last two seasons in Jacksonville.

He caught 289 passes for 4,296 yards and 36 touchdowns in 69 games (67 starts) for the Lions from 2016-20.

Jones has 542 catches for 7,386 yards and 58 TDs in 145 games (114 starts) for the Cincinnati Bengals (2012-13, 2015), Lions and Jaguars.

He was selected in the fifth round of the 2012 draft by the Bengals.

Report: Patriots not in on Lamar Jackson

Report: Patriots not in on Lamar Jackson

The New England Patriots are not expected to be players in the Lamar Jackson sweepstakes, despite the quarterback's reported interest in joining the team, The Athletic reported Wednesday.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft set the rumor mill into overdrive earlier this week when he said he got a text from rapper Meek Mill about Jackson's interest in the Patriots. Kraft said it was up to head coach Bill Belichick.

Not happening, per The Athletic.

Jackson's current contract demands and the draft capital a team would have to give up are a bridge too far for the fiscally conservative Patriots, per the report.

Also, the Atlanta Falcons have removed themselves from pursuing Jackson. Falcons owner Arthur Blank told two different media outlets that despite their interest in Deshaun Watson last year, the timing now is different.

The Falcons named Desmond Ridder their starting QB for 2023.

"Every year is different," Blank told USA Today. "Deshaun was a different situation. It was a different time and space. I think Lamar is a great player ... but we look at our roster and our ability to continue to build our roster now and have salary cap freedom, which we've never had."

Jackson has asked to be traded, but the market for him is shrinking.

On Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions all said they're not interested in pursuing Jackson. The Washington Commanders, New York Jets and Carolina Panthers already had stated similarly.

The Jets are actively seeking to trade for Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The Seattle Seahawks re-signed Geno Smith earlier this month, with coach Pete Carroll adding the team "couldn't afford" Jackson.

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard on Monday confirmed his interest in Jackson. Colts owner Jim Irsay later in the day said Jackson's contract demands weren't an issue, but that a team has to guard against compromising "your future to do it."

"It really has nothing to do with actual dollars," Irsay said. "I mean, paying a contract like that is not a problem. I mean, it's not a problem for me. The issue is what's the right thing to do for the franchise in terms of what helps us win in the long run."

Jackson took to Twitter on Tuesday to defend himself against claims that durability is an issue with him.

"I don't remember me sitting out on my guys week 1 vs jets To week 12 vs Broncos," he tweeted. "How come all of a sudden I sit out because of money in which I could've got hurt at anytime within that time frame. When we know the Super Bowl been on my mind since April 2018."

"Let's get real. I rather have a 100% PCL than go out there and play horrible forcing myself to put my guys in a bad situation now that's selfish to me," he said in a second tweet.

Jackson missed four games in 2021 and five games in 2022 with injuries. Jackson, 26, is 45-16 as the Ravens' starter and won the NFL's Most Valuable Player award in 2019.

Reports: DE Calais Campbell to sign with Falcons

Reports: DE Calais Campbell to sign with Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are closing in on a one-year deal with free agent defensive end Calais Campbell, the latest in a series of moves to bolster a moribund defense, ESPN and NFL Network reported Wednesday.

Campbell, 36, was released by the Baltimore Ravens earlier this month in a cost-cutting move. The Ravens, who cleared $6.5 million in cap space, were hoping to re-sign Campbell on a lesser deal.

Instead, Campbell will take his six Pro Bowls and 99 career sacks to a team that has vastly improved its defense in free agency. The Falcons also added safety Jessie Bates III, defensive tackle David Onyemata and linebacker Kaden Elliss. Further, the Falcons own the No. 8 pick in the upcoming draft.

The Falcons ended 2022 ranked 23rd in the NFL in scoring defense (22.7) and 27th in total yards per game (362.1).

Campbell had 36 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 14 starts for the Ravens last season.

A 2017 All-Pro, Campbell was named to the Hall of Fame's All-2010s team.

Campbell was a second-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2008. He played for the team through the 2016 season then signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a free agent.

The Jaguars traded him to the Ravens in March 2020 for a fifth-round draft pick.

In 227 career games (208 starts), Campbell has 809 tackles (165 for loss), 237 quarterback hits, 99 sacks, three interceptions, 57 passes defensed, 16 forced fumbles and 12 fumble recoveries.

NFL will allow teams to play on two short weeks

NFL will allow teams to play on two short weeks

NFL teams will be allowed to appear in two Thursday games on short weeks based on a rule change implemented Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix.

The league tabled a vote on permitting flex scheduling for Thursday night games, a tweak that, if ultimately approved, could prevent matchups of losing teams in a prime-time showcase.

The change that was implemented could end up seeing some teams play on Thursday three times. Should a team be scheduled on consecutive Thursdays, only the first of those two games would be considered a short week.

In prior years, every team was assigned at least one Thursday game per season, but that will no longer be a requirement moving forward.

NFL executive vice president and chief media and business officer Brian Rolapp said, "We're interested in making sure that we get exposure for all of our clubs. We also believe that these national windows are for clubs that are playing well. We want to put the best teams in the best windows."

As for flex scheduling for Thursday games, New York Giants owner John Mara, who opposes the idea, fears it might pass at the next league meetings in May, according to ESPN.

"At some point, can we please give some consideration to the people who are coming to our games?" Mara said, according to ESPN. "People make plans to go to these games weeks and months in advance. And 15 days ahead of time to say, ‘Sorry, folks, that game you were planning on taking your kids to Sunday at 1, now it's on Thursday night?' What are we thinking about?"

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell responded to Mara's remarks by saying, "There isn't anybody in any of our organization that doesn't put our fans first. Providing the best matchups for our fans is what we do. That's part of what our schedule has always focused on. Flex has been part of that. We are very judicious with it and careful with it. We look at all the impacts of that before a decision is made."

NFL votes to allow players to wear jersey No. 0

NFL votes to allow players to wear jersey No. 0

It's zero hour in the NFL.

The league's owners voted Tuesday to allow players to wear jersey No. 0 for the first time.

"I don't think there was any discussion, and we voted. As someone who works for a team, we have real challenges in the number world right now," Atlanta Falcons CEO and NFL competition committee chairman Rich McKay said, per ESPN.

"This is one thing that could help us in that challenge, because we do have some players that tend to like the single digit. Numbers are more problematic than they've ever been, so this one had very little pushback."

The Philadelphia Eagles were the team to make the official proposal. Offensive linemen are still only allowed to wear Nos. 50-79 and defensive linemen can wear 50-79 or 90-99, but all other positions now have No. 0 as an option.

It didn't take long for Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley to announce he was changing to No. 0.

"Excited to be the first @Jaguars player to wear zero -- shout out to @JagsEquip!" tweeted Ridley, who will make his team debut in 2023 after being traded last fall amid a season-long suspension for gambling on football.

Several NFL teams also proposed that the league switch to one single preseason roster reduction date, as opposed to two, and that rule change also passed Tuesday.

The use of Guardian Caps on top of players' helmets was also expanded to include running backs and fullbacks on top of linebackers, tight ends and linemen on both sides of the ball -- and to include in-season contact practices instead of just the preseason.

The league also voted to expand instant replay for greater review on failed fourth-down attempts, proposed by the Houston Texans.

Arthur Smith: Desmond Ridder is Falcons QB1

Arthur Smith: Desmond Ridder is Falcons QB1

What seemed to be implied and assumed in Atlanta has now been stated out loud and made official by Falcons head coach Arthur Smith -- Desmond Ridder is the team's QB1.

"The plan is to start Desmond," Smith said Tuesday. "That's our plan going forward right now."

Smith made the proclamation from the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix.

The Falcons signed Taylor Heinicke to a two-year, $20 million deal earlier this month, but even he knew what his role would be -- QB2.

"We're very excited to have Taylor in the room, a guy with experience who has won games in this league," Smith said. "The chemistry in the quarterback room is important, as we expect Desmond to take the next step. But we also have a guy who can go in and win you football games and be ready to play."

Ridder, 23, went 2-2 as a rookie starter in 2022, taking over for Marcus Mariota, who opened the season as the starter. Ridder completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 708 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions after being selected in the third round of the 2022 draft out of Cincinnati.

"I thought he made significant improvement from each start," Smith said. "We expect him to make another leap this offseason. There are always things you can work on, with lower body mechanics. He can get more comfortable - when you don't change systems that helps, too. We expect significant growth from him."

Heinicke, 29, started 24 games over the past two seasons and posted a 12-11-1 record as the replacement for Ryan Fitzpatrick and Carson Wentz in Washington.

The Falcons also have quarterbacks Logan Woodside and Feleipe Franks on the roster.

Report: Bengals signing TE Irv Smith Jr. to 1-year deal

Report: Bengals signing TE Irv Smith Jr. to 1-year deal

The Cincinnati Bengals are signing free agent tight end Irv Smith Jr. to a one-year contract, Fox Sports reported Tuesday.

The Bengals had a hole at TE with the departure of Hayden Hurst in free agency.

Smith, 24, had 25 catches for 182 yards and two touchdowns in just eight games (one start) for Minnesota last season. He missed nine games with an ankle injury.

Picked in the second round of the 2019 draft, Smith has nine career TDs in 37 games (15 starts) for the Vikings.

Smith missed the entire 2021 season with a knee injury.

Rams QB Matthew Stafford ‘ready to roll’ for OTAs, minicamp

Rams QB Matthew Stafford ‘ready to roll’ for OTAs, minicamp

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said Tuesday that quarterback Matthew Stafford is healthy and "ready to roll" this offseason.

Stafford, 35, will not be limited after having his 2022 season cut short by a spinal cord contusion and concussion symptoms.

"He's doing real well. I think it's been -- and he'd be better equipped to answer this -- but I think it's been a long time since he's been healthy through an offseason, where he's been able to throw," McVay said from Phoenix, site of the NFL owners meetings.

"I think last year there was such a unique combination and collaboration of things that prevented him from being able to play the way that he's capable of -- whether it was the things that he dealt with, some of the surrounding parts, missing a lot of time leading up into the season with some of the injuries and different things that he was working through."

Stafford was limited during the 2022 offseason after coming off a non-surgical procedure to alleviated elbow pain that hampered him during the 2021 campaign. He didn't throw at all until training camp and even then, he was limited.

Stafford missed the final seven games of last season after being diagnosed with a spinal cord contusion in addition to a concussion. Stafford sustained a neck injury in Week 11 against the New Orleans Saints after clearing protocol from a previous concussion.

The Rams picked up 2023 option bonus and 2024 salary for Stafford in March, giving the quarterback $62 million guaranteed.

The Rams begin OTAs in May.

He passed for 2,087 yards, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions in nine games last season. He has thrown for 52,082 yards and 333 touchdowns in 191 games in his 14-year career with the Detroit Lions (2009-20) and Rams.

Report: Dan Snyder gets $6B offer for Commanders

Report: Dan Snyder gets $6B offer for Commanders

Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder received a $6 billion offer from an investment group led by Josh Harris and Mitchell Rales, ESPN reported Tuesday.

The price tag would smash the previous record sale for a U.S. sports franchise, set last August when Walmart heir Rob Walton purchased the Denver Broncos for $4.65 billion.

The Harris/Rales group, which includes NBA legend Magic Johnson, is one of several potential bidders for the club Snyder has owned since 1999.

Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos and Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta are also in the mix.

Harris and Rales have net worths of $5.8 and $5.5 billion, respectively, according to Forbes. Harris is the principal owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils.

Packers GM: Aaron Rodgers ignored efforts to talk

Packers GM: Aaron Rodgers ignored efforts to talk

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst refuted the one-way narrative of Aaron Rodgers, telling reporters that he reached out "many times" to the quarterback only to hear nothing back.

"Those never transpired," Gutekunst said Monday, because Rodgers never called back.

Gutekunst made the comments from the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix.

"So we went through his representatives to try to talk to him (about) where were we going with our team," Gutekunst added. "At that point, they informed us that he would like to be traded to the Jets."

That's not been Rodgers' tale. A regular guest on "The Pat McAfee Show," Rodgers has bemoaned the lack of "direct communication" from the Packers, never mentioning Gutekunst's attempts to reach him.

Rodgers has said on the show that the Packers were the ones not being up front about wanting to trade him, saying "something changed" at the end of February.

"Our inability to reach him or for him to respond in any way," Gutekunst said Monday, "I think at that point, I had to do my job and kind of reach out (to other teams) and understand that a trade could be possible and see who was interested."

Those trade discussions continue with Jets.

Gutekunst also said Monday that the Packers don't necessarily require the Jets' No. 13 overall pick in this year's draft.

"That's not a necessity," Gutekunst said. "I think fair value for the player is important. There's risks to all this. But again, I'm hopeful, I'm confident that we'll be able to reach a conclusion at some point."

Yahoo Sports reported late Monday night that a sticking point for the Jets is protection for draft pick compensation in the event Rodgers retires after the 2023 season. The Packers, however, are resistant to qualifiers that hinge on Rodgers' plans for 2024 and beyond, per the report.

The talks have focused on a second-round pick in 2023 and another in 2024, with an escalator that would make the 2024 pick a first-rounder if the Jets meet certain performance marks with Rodgers as their QB in 2023, per Yahoo. But the Jets don't want to part with a potential first-round pick in 2024 if the player they traded for is no longer playing.

Jets GM Joe Douglas gave his assessment Monday about where the teams are, telling reporters that the talks are not "where we need to be yet."

"But I feel like we're in a good place."

Saints land WR Bryan Edwards

Saints land WR Bryan Edwards

The New Orleans Saints signed free agent wide receiver Bryan Edwards on Monday.

Terms were not released by the club. The move reunites Edwards with new Saints quarterback Derek Carr. The duo connected on four touchdown passes in their two seasons together in Las Vegas.

Edwards had just three catches for 15 yards in seven games (one start) for Atlanta in 2022. The Falcons released him in November and Edwards caught on with the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad for the rest of the regular season.

Edwards has 48 catches for 779 yards and four touchdowns in 35 career games (16 starts) for the Raiders and Falcons.

Jets coach 'confident' team will acquire Aaron Rodgers

Jets coach 'confident' team will acquire Aaron Rodgers

New York Jets coach Robert Saleh said he believes four-time Most Valuable Player Aaron Rodgers will be his quarterback in 2023.

While Rodgers has said he wants to play for the Jets in the upcoming season, the team and Green Bay Packers have yet to come to trade terms. Saleh told reporters Monday at the league owners meeting in Phoenix that he is "confident" a trade will happen.

"I'm not hitting the panic button," said Saleh, who didn't state Rodgers' name because of league tampering rules but made it clear who he was talking about.

He added: "I'm confident that things are going to work out. You guys know me. I'm a very positive person and optimistic, so I'm confident that things will go the way we're hoping. But at the same time, it's not going to eat at me."

Saleh also said he'd like to pair free agent receiver Odell Beckham Jr. with the future Hall of Fame quarterback.

ESPN reported Monday that the Packers want compensation for Rodgers that includes the Jets' first-round draft pick, No. 13 overall, but the Jets are balking at the request.

While it would be beneficial for Rodgers and the Jets for him to be on board when the offseason program begins in mid-April, Saleh implied he isn't in a hurry because of Rodgers' familiarity with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who held that job in Green Bay for three seasons.

"If there's a great rapport with the coordinator, there's really no urgency," Saleh said. "The quarterback, if he understands the system, if the quarterback knows it, it's just a matter of just refining skills and doing all that stuff. So, there's no hurry."

Speaking of Beckham, Saleh said the Jets are intrigued by the 30-year-old veteran.

"He's been a fantastic receiver in this league," Saleh said. "Everything you hear about him, he's a phenomenal person. That's something you're always going to look over, turn over every stone, cross your Ts, dot your Is, just make sure you're, you're not missing an opportunity to add a great player. And there's no guarantee anything will happen."

Broncos not 'interested' in dealing WRs Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton

Broncos not 'interested' in dealing WRs Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton

Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton acknowledged teams have called to inquire about Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton this offseason, but he reiterated Monday the team isn't "interested" in dealing either of its two leading receivers.

"I think it's pretty common every offseason," Payton said Monday of rumors the Broncos might part with one or both. "(There is a) new coach (and it's) not a real deep receiver draft.

"I would say a number of teams have called on those players. It's not something that we're interested in doing."

Asked Sunday about it, Payton said "we're not trading those two players."

Jeudy led the Broncos with 67 receptions for 972 yards and six touchdowns last season. Sutton was second with 64 catches for 829 yards, but only reached the end zone twice.

While Payton evaluates the entire roster of a team that stumbled to a 5-12 finish last season, receiver is a position of strength.

In addition to Jeudy and Sutton, Tim Patrick is returning from a torn ACL and KJ Hamler might be ready for training camp following surgery for a torn pec. The Broncos added veteran Marquez Callaway to a depth chart that also includes holdovers Kendall Hinton (33 catches in 2022), Brandon Johnson (six), Jalen Virgil (five) and Montrell Washington (four).

While Payton has denied an interest in parting with one of his top two wideouts, it may ultimately be a strong consideration as he attempts to rebuild the running game. He has very little draft capital to work with due to last season's blockbuster deal for quarterback Russell Wilson along with another first-rounder Denver parted with to get Payton from the New Orleans Saints.

"(The rumors will) continue, I'm sure, as we get closer to the draft," Payton said. "If you really look at the draft and you really look at the receiver depth in the draft, it's not a real deep draft.

"If you're a team that's looking for receivers - we're not the only team people called. I'm sure Houston with Brandin Cooks and other players like that. It's pretty common in the offseason, I think."

Speaking of Wilson, Payton declined to say much about last week's report that the quarterback underwent arthroscopic knee surgery after the 2022 season. Wilson resumed workouts and throwing and is expected to be ready for OTAs.

"Injury wise, I'll keep you posted," Payton said. "That's something we're not going to talk a lot about - probably ever."

Chargers DT Sebastian Joseph-Day accuses TSA of sexual assault

Chargers DT Sebastian Joseph-Day accuses TSA of sexual assault

Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day accused TSA agents of sexual assault following a security check in advance of a flight Friday out of John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Calif.

Joseph-Day took to Twitter to describe an incident he described as "dehumanizing" and when he expressed objections, he said agents "threatened to call the sheriff on me."

"I really just got sexually assaulted by TSA at @JohnWayneAir," Joseph-Day posted to Twitter on Friday. "After I asked the gentleman to please stop BC I'm uncomfortable and I feel that this part of the check is unnecessary (After he felt what was needed). Then they told me I was the problem after 3 TSA agents swarmed me."

The official John Wayne Airport Twitter feed replied to Joseph-Day's concerns.

"Hello @SJD_51, thank you for bringing this to our attention," @JohnWayneAir replied. "Our priority is providing a comfortable and safe experience when traveling through John Wayne Airport. We are forwarding this information to TSA."

A sixth-round draft pick out of Rutgers by the Los Angeles Rams in 2018, Joseph-Day played three seasons with the Rams and won a Super Bowl with the team in 2022. He joined the Chargers last season as a free agent.

Joseph-Day, 28, had 56 tackles and two sacks in 16 games (all starts) last season. He has 193 tackles and eight sacks in 55 games (54 starts) over four NFL seasons.

49ers GM: Brock Purdy has edge at QB

49ers GM: Brock Purdy has edge at QB

San Francisco has three quarterbacks -- Brock Purdy, Trey Lance and Sam Darnold -- on its roster, but 49ers general manager John Lynch said one has a slight edge over the others in the race to be the 2023 starter.

"I think Brock has earned the right with the way he played that he's probably the leader in the clubhouse at that," Lynch said Monday at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix. "If we were to line up, he'd probably take that first snap."

Purdy had surgery to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm earlier this month.

Purdy, 23, made a stunning rise from being the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft to leading the 49ers into the NFC Championship Game.

After quarterbacks Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo were injured in the regular season, Purdy took over and led the team to wins in each of the final five games. Purdy and the 49ers then defeated the Seattle Seahawks and the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs before falling to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC title game when the elbow injury occurred.

After fourth-stringer Josh Johnson went down with a concussion against Philadelphia, Purdy returned to action but was unable to throw the ball more than a few yards.

In the regular season, Purdy completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 1,374 yards with 13 scoring passes and four interceptions. In the playoffs, he had a 65.1 percent completion rate while throwing for 569 yards and three TDs with no interceptions.

Garoppolo signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. Lance, who entered the 2022 season as the starter, sustained a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2.

Report: Bills signing S Taylor Rapp to 1-year deal

Report: Bills signing S Taylor Rapp to 1-year deal

The Buffalo Bills are signing free agent safety Taylor Rapp to a one-year deal, ESPN reported Monday.

Rapp, 25, had two interceptions and six passes defensed in 16 starts last season for the Los Angeles Rams, who selected him in the second round of the 2019 draft out of Washington.

Rapp has nine career INTs in 57 games (48 starts), all for the Rams. He has 330 career tackles and 23 passes defensed.

Report: Gardner Minshew in the mix for Colts starting QB

Report: Gardner Minshew in the mix for Colts starting QB

The Indianapolis Colts are expected to select a quarterback with the No. 4 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, but that doesn't mean that QB will be handed the keys to the offense immediately.

Coach Shane Steichen told NFL Network that newly signed Gardner Minshew will be given the chance to compete for the starting job.

"Right now, obviously, he's coming in to just compete and be the best he can be, you know, and that's where we're going," Steichen said Sunday. "That's where we feel he's at right now, and that's his role right now."

The Jaguars selected Minshew in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and he started 20 games over two seasons, tallying a 7-13 record. He was the backup to Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia the past two seasons, going 1-3 in spot appearances.

Minshew, 26, has completed 62.8 percent of his passes for 6,632 yards, with 44 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 32 career games (24 starts).

Steichen, most recently the offensive coordinator with the Eagles, got to know Minshew in Philadelphia.

"Just the way he sees the game and processes the game," Steichen said of Minshew. "It's like a coach you know, he sees it really well. He was great. Every time he had a chance to go and play, he played well for us and obviously had a big year in Jacksonville his rookie year. Just a tremendous person, loves the game of football, loves the Xs and Os, so really fortunate to have him with us."

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson says he requested trade

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson says he requested trade

Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson took to social media Monday morning to announce that he requested a trade from the Ravens earlier this month.

Jackson tweeted just as Ravens coach John Harbaugh sat to meet with reporters at the owners meetings in Phoenix.

"As of March 2nd I requested a trade from the Ravens organization for which the Ravens has (sic) not been interested in meeting my value," Jackson wrote, in part, in a series of Twitter posts.

Harbaugh told reporters in real time that he still expects Jackson to be the team's quarterback in 2023.

"I haven't seen the tweet," Harbaugh said. "It's an ongoing process. I'm following it very closely, just like everybody else is here and looking forward to a resolution. I'm excited. Thinking about Lamar (Jackson) all the time. Thinking about him as our quarterback. We're building our offense around that idea. I'm just looking forward to getting back to football and I'm confident that's going to happen."

The Ravens placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson on March 7, five days after he says he requested the trade. The sides failed to reach agreement on a new contract despite negotiations that have lasted more than a year.

Jackson has until July 17 to sign the tender, or sign a long-term deal with the club, with the latter appearing unlikely now.

Until he signs the $32.41 million tender, Jackson is free to meet with other teams and agree to a long-term deal with one of them. The Ravens, by using the franchise tag, have refusal rights and can match any offer sheet Jackson receives. If the Ravens choose not to match a contract offer, they would command two first-round picks in exchange for Jackson.

If Jackson doesn't find a suitor and if the Ravens refuse to trade him, Jackson will be forced to play on the tender or sit out the 2023 season.

Jackson represents himself.

Jackson, 26, missed the final five games of the 2022 regular season, plus the wild-card playoff loss at Cincinnati, with a knee sprain. He did not travel with the Ravens for the game against the Bengals, sparking speculation he was ready to move on in the offseason.

In 12 games last season, Jackson threw for 2,242 yards with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also led the Ravens in rushing with 764 yards and three touchdowns.

The 2019 league MVP, Jackson has played in 70 games (61 starts) since the Ravens selected him with the last pick of the first round in the 2018 NFL Draft. He has completed 63.7 percent of his passes for 12,209 yards with 101 touchdowns and 38 interceptions. He has run for 4,437 yards and 24 scores.

He has a 45-16 record as a starter.

Report: NFL owners unlikely to pass roughing-the-passer reviews

Report: NFL owners unlikely to pass roughing-the-passer reviews

The NFL's annual owners meetings are set to kick off this week, with a number of rules change proposals up for review. One such proposal, to make roughing-the-passer penalties reviewable via replay, is unlikely to pass, per a report from NFL.com.

There "does not seem to be enough support" for the rule, a person close to the Competition Committee conversations on the topic told NFL.com.

The proposal, put forth by the Los Angeles Rams, would allow for roughing penalties to be reviewed by officials and/or to be challenged by coaches, similar to the league's short-lived rule on pass interference.

Pass interference was reviewable during the 2019 season following a missed pass interference call in the 2018 NFC Championship Game between the Rams and New Orleans Saints that ultimately helped the Rams advance to the Super Bowl.

Other rules to be considered include giving referees more leeway on reviewing fourth down attempts and the ability to consult more freely on penalty enforcement, further penalization for crackback blocks and tripping, personal foul challenges, hip-drop tackles and potential kickoff changes.

Interestingly, the much-rumored and reported evaluation of "quarterback push" plays is not scheduled to be addressed, per a release from NFL communications.

The Philadelphia Eagles had great success running "scrum"-style plays on multiple occasions in 2022 with their physical quarterback Jalen Hurts. On the biggest stage during Super Bowl LVII against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Eagles ran six QB push plays in short-yardage situations.

Such plays were illegal prior to 2006 and have come under criticism.

"It amounts to a rugby scrum," former vice president of officiating Dean Blandino told the 33rd team in February. "The NFL wants to showcase the athleticism and skill of our athletes. This is just not a skillful play."

"I was talking to (Denver Broncos coach) Sean Payton during Sunday's game, and he said we're going to do this every time next season if they don't take it out," Blandino added.

Todd Bowles: Bucs can still win without Tom Brady

Todd Bowles: Bucs can still win without Tom Brady

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles addressed the elephant in the room on Sunday, although the "animal" in question is more appropriately referred to as the "G.O.A.T."

Bowles spoke of his team's expectations at quarterback in the wake of Tom Brady's retirement.

"When you replace a player of that magnitude, first of all, you don't replace him," Bowles told NFL Network of Brady's departure from the team. "You lose aura. You lose the expectation of being great. That doesn't mean you can't be great. You just have to do it more as a team. We did it as a team when he was there, but he was such a great player and a great person that you focus all on that. And now that that is gone, the perception is that everything else is gone when really it isn't.

"We have a lot of good players on our team on both sides of the ball. We have some pieces to fill, but we have a lot of good football players on our team. And we just have to understand that and not go with the so-called outside narrative and do what we have to do to win ball games."

With Brady retired, all eyes will shift to free-agent acquisition Baker Mayfield and in-house candidate Kyle Trask at the quarterback position.

"I liked Baker when he was coming out," Bowles said of the former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.

"We kind of hit it off when I was with the Jets. I went down to Oklahoma and we had this vibe between us. And not to say he had the strongest arm and everything else, but he's a leader. He has great understanding of the football game. He knows where to go with the football. And he has moxie. He's a guy's guy. The players love to be around him, and they will fight for him because he's a winner."

"... So, between him and Trask, I have no doubt that one of them will come out and be successful."

Tampa Bay is Mayfield's fourth team in three years. The 27-year-old helped his chances by finishing last season strong after being claimed by the Los Angeles Rams.

Trask, 25, completed 3 of 9 pass attempts for 23 yards in one game last season. He was picked in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

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