Why Quinnen Williams Extension Could Prove That Cowboys Won Micah Parsons Trade

Colin Cowherd is ready to ask a question that some thought might have been unimaginable a year ago: Did the Dallas Cowboys actually win the Micah Parsons trade? A day after the Cowboys extended four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to a three-year, $105.9 million deal, Cowherd thinks there's momentum building toward the idea that Dallas won its trade with the Green Bay Packers. "People were freaking out about the Micah Parsons trade. I would make an argument by October or Thanksgiving, the Dallas Cowboys, it could be official, won the Micah Parsons deal," Cowherd said on Tuesday's edition of "The Herd." "You got Quinnen Williams, a Pro Bowl defensive tackle. By the way, when they traded Micah, initially, the Cowboys got worse. That gave them a better draft pick. That draft pick became Caleb Downs, who, to me, is the steal of the draft. I think there's an argument he could be the best player in the draft. "You don't get that if the Cowboys had two or three more wins [last season]. … We overvalue non-quarterback stars in this league." The Cowboys acquired the star defensive tackle in a trade with the New York Jets ahead of the trade deadline last season, using some of the draft capital they got in the deal with the Packers for Parsons. Dallas received defensive tackle and three-time Pro Bowler Kenny Clark and first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 from Green Bay for Parsons. Then, they traded a 2027 first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick and defensive tackle Mazi Smith to the Jets for Williams. As for the 2026 first-round pick the Cowboys received from the Packers, the Cowboys selected UCF Knights linebacker Malachi Lawrence with the No. 23 pick after a trade-back. Earlier in the draft, they traded up one spot to select Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs with the No. 11 pick. The Packers, meanwhile, saw Parsons have an encouraging debut season with the franchise, logging 12.5 sacks, earning his third career All-Pro honor and finishing third among edge defenders in overall grade (91.9), according to Pro Football Focus. However, Parsons' 2025 campaign ended after 14 games due to a torn ACL, which is expected to keep him off the field for at least the first month of the 2026 season. With Parsons sidelined, the Packers lost their last five combined games of the season (regular season and postseason), ending with an NFC wild-card round loss to the Chicago Bears. The two teams actually faced off in Week 4 of last season, playing to a 40-40 tie. Granted, the Cowboys went on to miss the playoffs for a second consecutive season, and their defense finished last in points allowed. However, with the reinforcements Dallas has received thanks to the Parsons trade, Cowherd thinks the Cowboys are on the rise. "I look at the Cowboys' roster, between Caleb Downs, Quinnen Williams and the roster flexibility, this is the best team they've had, in terms of overall talent, arguably in a decade," Cowherd later said. "The Cowboys are in a good spot."

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Why Kevin O'Connell Picked Kyler Murray As His Next Starting QB Experiment

The Minnesota Vikings are fully committed to the Kyler Murray experiment. The Vikings didn’t want to hand the job to Murray. They wanted him to earn it, and apparently, that’s what he did in these first few weeks of training camp — now set to start the season as QB1 in coach Kevin O’Connell’s system. Murray beat out J.J. McCarthy, the 2024 10th-overall pick whose development has been startlingly minimal. And while he enjoyed the best training camp of his career, McCarthy couldn’t edge out Murray. The QB competition ended how everyone expected. Even in March, when Murray signed with Minnesota, everyone could see this decision coming. Even safety Josh Metellus remembered that moment fondly. "Man, I loved it," Metellus told me last week at Vikings camp. "Kyler's a guy we've game planned for a couple times, and I know how much hell that was to not only game plan but to actually play against him. So to get a guy like that on your team, it only elevates your team. We're trying to be the best team in the National Football League." They’ll have to start with fighting to be the No. 1 team in the NFC North, a deep division that saw the Vikings finish third last season. But there’s no denying this offense’s potential. O’Connell earned his clout as a QB whisperer by elevating Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold into next-level seasons. Now, he’ll have the opportunity to do the same with Murray. The former No. 1 overall pick may be far removed from his sensational 2020 season (3,971 passing yards, 26 passing TDs; 819 rushing yards, 11 TDs), but Murray is 29 years old and not yet out of his prime. The Cardinals parted ways with him this offseason — deciding to go a new direction at QB. But that doesn't mean Murray can't resurface with a little help from O'Connell. As soon as Murray stepped into the offense, running back Aaron Jones admitted Murray’s skills were different. Unique. Special. "The way he's able to speed up his arm and make throws," Jones told me last week. "If he sees something and he wants to get it there, you can see him, in real time, speed up his arm. I don't know if that's the baseball a little bit or what it is, but you can see him speed it up and get it there. … I haven't seen that often, where it comes out and it's coming with zip, but somebody who can speed up their arm. So that was kind of new for me to see." This season will be new for everyone. For Murray. For O’Connell. For the entire Vikings offense. The whole experiment with Murray is that the Vikings will do what the Cardinals could not. Minnesota will make football easy for Murray. In Arizona, the QB labored to win games. He made sensational plays — but not often enough. Too regularly, he made game-wrecking mistakes. He injured himself doing everything for his offense. And it seemed like Murray finished his career with the Cardinals feeling that he had to do it all by himself. That’s not the case for the Vikings. Here’s what passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown said about what he wants from his starting quarterback. "Don't feel like you have to put your Superman cape on and win this specific down for us. You're not going to win one game with one throw," he told me, adding later, "Kevin's an unbelievable play-caller, and so I tell these guys all the time: you got really great play-makers around you. You got a really great play-caller and good scheme, and so just play the law of averages. If it's not there, the next one might be. If that one's not there, the next one might be. Just play to that — and protect the football." Under O’Connell, the Vikings have never had a quarterback who is as mobile as Murray. That’s what he brings to the table that’ll require O’Connell to think differently about his system. Murray, however, hasn’t had to take a step back. To remove the ego from the equation. And let his system, his coaches and his teammates take over. But there are millions of reasons why Murray, a former No. 1 overall pick, sees now as his chance to humble himself. He's standing on a razor-thin edge at this phase of his career. He has to succeed — or risk irrelevance. If he's looking for an example, he needs only look at teammate Carson Wentz, who was once the King of Philly – and who is now one of the backups for Minnesota. "I was with a team [the Eagles] for so long that I thought it was going forever," Wentz, a former No. 2 overall pick, told me. "And then I got kind of shipped out, so to speak, kind of like he was in a little bit. Just starting over. If anybody knows how that goes, I know what he’s been through. … I feel like I understand him. We're very different people with different interests off the field and all that. But it's been fun, just the little time we've had so far working together, get to know him, the quiet competitor that he is; I think he's done a good job." This is the chance for Murray and O’Connell to get their grooves back. Their desperation and talent make them a hard duo to bet against.

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2026 NFL Preseason Week 1 Schedule: Dates, Times, TV Channels, How to Watch

The NFL preseason continues with its first full slate of 2026. Preseason Week 1 features all 32 teams across 16 games from Thursday, Aug. 13 through Saturday, Aug. 15. Six games will air nationally on NFL Network, while the rest will be available through local team affiliates. For every preseason matchup and national TV window, see the complete 2026 NFL preseason schedule. 2026 NFL Preseason Week 1 Schedule All times are Eastern and subject to change. Thursday, Aug. 13 Friday, Aug. 14 Saturday, Aug. 15 How Can I Watch NFL Preseason Week 1? NFL Network will carry six Week 1 games nationally: Packers-Steelers, Titans-49ers, Buccaneers-Jets, Browns-Bears, Rams-Chiefs and Cowboys-Seahawks. The other games will air on participating teams' local broadcast affiliates. Local listings can vary by market, so fans should check their team or television provider before kickoff. How Can I Stream NFL Preseason Week 1 or Watch Without Cable? NFL+ offers live national and out-of-market preseason games, subject to local blackouts, device restrictions and availability rules. In-market games may also be available through participating clubs' websites or apps. Streaming television services that include NFL Network and local affiliates may carry games depending on the viewer's package and market. Although Week 1 does not include a national FOX broadcast window, fans can prepare for FOX's upcoming NFL coverage and stream eligible games with FOX One. Does NFL Preseason Week 1 Count Toward the Standings? No. Preseason results do not count toward a team's regular-season record. The games give teams an opportunity to evaluate rookies, new additions and position battles before the regular season begins. How Many Preseason Games Does Each NFL Team Play? Most teams play three preseason games. The Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals each play four in 2026 because they also participated in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6. The preseason continues with Week 2 from Aug. 20-23. Keep up with every matchup using the full 2026 NFL preseason schedule.

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How Are Eagles Operating Post-A.J. Brown? 6 Takeaways From Week 2 Of Training Camp

We're only two weeks into the start of NFL training camp, but we're starting to get a glimpse at the potential impact new additions might make on certain teams in 2026. That includes the Philadelphia Eagles, who are navigating an almost entirely new wide receiver room after trading A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots this offseason. How is quarterback Jalen Hurts acclimating to his new targets? Elsewhere, there's a new head coach who is already making a strong impact on his team's new culture, and another NFC East team made a much-needed move at wide receiver. Here are our takeaways from Week 2 of training camp. Ralph Vacchiano: Trading an elite receiver like A.J. Brown for future draft picks was always a big risk for this year’s Eagles, and they planned to lean hard on veteran DeVonta Smith and rookie first-rounder Makai Lemon to pick up all the slack. So it was quite a problem this past week when both Smith and Lemon missed multiple training camp practices in Philadelphia with hamstring injuries. They still have depth there with veterans Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown, but they were clearly missing something dynamic with Smith and Lemon on the sidelines. That was really evident on Tuesday morning when they seemed to be working hard on deep passes — passes that quarterback Jalen Hurts struggled to complete without his top two targets. He was out of sync with both Brown and Wicks on the deep routes, overthrowing each of them and getting picked off several times. It’s early in camp and no cause for alarm, but it’s hard to overstate how much they need Smith, in particular. He’s put up No. 1 WR-type numbers each of the past four seasons and his presence is the reason why general manager Howie Roseman felt comfortable trading Brown. Lemon was a bonus, but a necessary one. They loved Lemon’s explosiveness out of the slot so much they traded up in the first round to get him. Both players will be huge components of the scheme new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion is running that will feature a lot more play-action passes and over-the-middle routes. And with more than a month to go before Opening Day, it’s a good bet that both players will be more than fine then. But it’s worth noting that hamstring injuries do tend to linger and even small strains can sometimes turn into season-long issues. That’s especially true with rookie receivers. So their status is worth watching, now that everyone has been reminded how important they both are to the Eagles as they try to carry on without Brown. Henry McKenna: The hype around Caleb Williams is significant. And perhaps it’s even justified. In my time in Lake Forest, I saw the Chicago Bears quarterback generate countless big plays in team drills and 1-on-1s. But I also witnessed no shortage of operational errors and pre-snap miscues from the quarterback and the Bears offense. Apparently, the mistakes were not limited to Thursday’s practice. Bears coach Ben Johnson was upset about how Tuesday’s practice went, too. "These padded practices are so valuable, and that's why I get upset when the offense is — they're sabotaging practice a little bit, because our defensive players need these reps as much as anybody else," Johnson said during a press conference. That was Johnson’s second instance where he brought up the team’s shortcomings as a non-sequitur. No one asked him about it. In fact, he first referenced his upset when he was asked about Williams’ presence on the cover of "Madden NFL 27" and the general optimism surrounding the team this offseason. "We tell them the truth in the meetings," Johnson said, explaining how he cuts out the noise. "When it's good, we let them know that it's good. When it's not good enough. We let them know. Two days ago, practice was not good enough as a whole team, and certainly not as an offense. When you have false starts, delay games, drop passes, center-quarterback exchange, it's really not a good practice. You can't evaluate the defense either. "So we have a long way to go. Appreciate all the flowery comments there, but they understand that we're just getting started here in camp, and hard work is really what we're doing every single day." Earlier this offseason, Johnson said he and Williams will focus on improving all things post-snap — given that they spent most of last season focusing on the important elements of pre-snap operation. But it seems maybe they’re moving backward, given how many penalties and problems popped up last week. This isn’t a reason to panic. But it is a reality check. The Bears are building a strong foundation. But they’re still building from the ground level. Greg Auman: The wild run of lucrative new contracts for the NFL’s top running backs — with Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson, Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs and Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor all getting more than $20 million a year — has shifted the position market value so quickly that deals that have not even started yet are looking woefully low. Last August, James Cook signed a four-year deal with the Bills, paying him $46 million over four years. It was added to his rookie contract to start with the 2026 season, and tied him for the sixth-highest contract for a running back. Cook led the NFL in rushing in 2025 with 1,621 yards and made his third straight Pro Bowl. But before his new deal even begins, Cook has dropped to 13th in average salary at his position. How long before he can ask for a new one? Teams are normally hesitant to tear up a deal with more than two years left on it, so that would mean after the 2027 season. Cook’s deal has limited incentives, so no matter how well he plays, he won’t earn more than an extra $2 million. Cook's deal has less than two years fully guaranteed, and it’s a reminder why players are choosing shorter deals — Gibbs and Robinson went with three years in new money after their rookie contract and fifth-year options are done. For Cook, the third and fourth years aren’t guaranteed, so he could be cut if he underperforms, and he’s capped his value by locking himself in at a dated and much lower salary. He isn’t the only one feeling the financial wrath of signing too soon in the latest running back extension cycle. Miami extended De’Von Achane in May with a four-year deal averaging $16 million a year, but that doesn’t start until 2027 and has barely more than one year fully guaranteed. He’d have to play three years before he’d have two years left on his deal. The Bills did well to lock up much of their young nucleus to long-term deals as soon as they could, and that allows them to extend their playoff window longer than if they gambled and waited. For players like Cook, it means feeling undervalued, though, before a new deal has even begun. Vacchiano: It wasn’t much of a mystery to the Commanders that they had a glaring need at wide receiver. The mystery was only why they didn’t sign one in free agency or select one until the third round of the draft. But they took a big step towards fixing that issue last week when they signed veteran receiver Stefon Diggs to a one-year deal worth up to $12 million. Diggs is 32, but he showed last season that he’s still capable of being a No. 1 receiver. He had 85 catches for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns while playing only about half of the offensive snaps for the New England Patriots. That was also his first year back after recovering from a torn ACL. Even if he just comes close to matching those numbers in 2026, he’ll be a boon to a team that puts few good weapons around electric quarterback Jayden Daniels. Their best option was the ever-reliable Terry McLaurin, but he’s going to be 31 in September and coming off an injury-plagued season. Beyond him, all they had at receiver was the disappointing duo of Luke McCaffrey and Treylon Burks, and third-round pick Antonio Williams. Now, at least, they have a potential 1-2 punch — at least if McLaurin and Diggs can manage to stay healthy at their age. It’s a big "if," of course, but adding Diggs to the mix was a necessary move for general manager Adam Peters, given the lack of other options available. Washington tried in the free-agent market, targeting Alec Pierce before he re-signed with the Indianapolis Colts and making a push for Romeo Doubs before he signed with New England, but they failed to land any help for their offense. Diggs will more than make up for that big miss if he’s anything close to what he was last year. Ben Arthur: The Titans’ Jeffery Simmons, arguably the best defensive tackle in football, is a fiery player. He’s a big-time trash talker who backs it up with superstar-caliber play. He crossed a line at Tuesday’s training camp practice, though. After an early play in team drills, he scuffled with center Austin Schlottman and threw a punch at right tackle JC Latham. Assistant defensive line coach Tanzel Smart needed to grab and tackle Simmons to separate him from the O-line. Simmons didn’t practice with his teammates for the rest of the day. He was banished to individual work on a side field with a strength coach. "Our policy is if you throw a punch, you’re ejected in the game. Same thing with practice," Saleh explained. "But rather than going to the locker room, [Simmons] went to the other fields. He still got his work in. So the projected reps and the work that he would have got in, he got in off to the side." Saleh’s decision to kick Simmons out of practice is significant. When the All-Pro defensive tackle got in a similar skirmish in training camp under previous coach Brian Callahan, it went unpunished (at least publicly). In a small way, Saleh has shown that he has an uncompromising standard that even Simmons — the Titans’ best player — must adhere to. The goes a long way to establishing a culture of accountability that Tennessee will need to turn around its franchise, which has won just six games over the past two seasons combined. Saleh’s decision is one that can gain the respect of players, too. It’s fair to wonder if respect for last season’s coaching staff waned. Left tackle Dan Moore Jr. alluded to it last week, saying Saleh’s staff is professional and organized. "We’re always going to toe the line of violence, we're always going to toe the line of being aggressive and call it instigating if you want, it's just the nature of who we are going to be," Saleh said. "But we've got to be disciplined enough to make sure that we always find our way back to the huddle without giving the other team freebies." If it means kicking the team’s best player out of practice to enforce that point, so be it. Eric D. Williams: Omarion Hampton didn't get to show his first-round potential for a good portion of his rookie year, missing seven games due to a severe left high-ankle sprain he suffered in Week 5. And while he ran for 545 yards on a respectable 4.4 yards per carry, Hampton was pretty ineffective in the Los Angeles Chargers' playoff loss to the New England Patriots, putting up minus-1 rushing yards due to a Week 17 ankle injury. Now fully healthy and entering his second season, Hampton should be a key piece of L.A.'s running game with new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who had a lot of success with speedy back De’Von Achane while with the Miami Dolphins. McDaniel said that you could argue that Hampton has had the most growth of any player from offseason work through the first days of training camp. "This guy is completely obsessed and focused," McDaniel said. "His [running] tracks and the urgency to which we’re trying to get him to start the play at the beginning of the play has been phenomenal. He came back from the spring, and with the five weeks he had off you could tell he was really focused on that. "And in and around contact, something we’ve been working on with ball carriers is how they approach tacklers. And for him and his skill set, nobody wants to tackle that guy. That is a massive human moving very fast. So, the less we can get him to stop his feet and do what we call is ‘slash,' which is pick edges of defenders and shoulder punch them, the better."

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NFL Catchup: Big OT News In The NFC East, Bills Debut New Looks, Lions On QB Carousel

There wasn't any game action in the NFL this weekend, but plenty of noteworthy news broke throughout the league. In the NFC East, one star offensive tackle made a big announcement about his future, while the Washington Commanders and Jayden Daniels received injury news that they didn't want to hear. Elsewhere, the Buffalo Bills went public with their new alternate uniforms and their new home stadium during Saturday's practice. That's just a taste of what happened over the weekend. As we're now less than one month away from the start of the regular season, here are things you should know that went down in the NFL this weekend. Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson indicated the 2026 NFL season will likely be his final year in the league over the weekend. "As you get older, things change in your life. Your children get older. Your parents get older. Just to put this thing into perspective, it's looking like this is probably potentially going to be my last year," Philadelphia Eagles star right tackle Lane Johnson said about his NFL future at a press conference on Saturday. "Just because I am getting to that point of those priorities away from football are starting to merge. Not that I don't enjoy this [football]. I love everything about this game and preparing for it, but that's kind of where I'm at in my career. Johnson is entering his 14th season, all spent with Philadelphia since being selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma. Throughout his career, Johnson has earned two All-Pro selections and six Pro Bowl honors while starting at right tackle during the team's Super Bowl championship runs in 2017 and 2024. His 2025 season was cut short after 10 games due to a foot injury, but he did not allow a sack or a quarterback hit in those appearances. Washington Commanders left tackle Laremy Tunsil reportedly suffered a torn triceps during pass-rush drills in practice on Saturday. The 32-year-old tackle is expected to undergo surgery and miss a significant portion of the 2026 regular season, marking his second major health setback since joining Washington. Tunsil arrived in Washington prior to the 2025 season via a trade that sent a fourth-round draft pick to the Houston Texans, where he had previously earned five Pro Bowl selections. Before the start of last season, Tunsil signed a two-year extension with Washington. He is set to earn $34.35 million in 2026, which includes a $32.5 million signing bonus alongside a $1.495 million base salary, pushing his career earnings past $142.2 million. Washington is looking to bounce back from a dismal outing in 2025. The Commanders open the season against the Eagles, which is "America's Game of the Week" on FOX for Week 1. The Buffalo Bills hosted fans at the new Highmark Stadium on Saturday for their annual Blue & Red practice, marking the first time players took the field at the newest NFL stadium. Quarterback Josh Allen made his entrance wearing Buffalo's new Nickel City alternate uniform, featuring an all-gray jersey and pants combination paired with a royal blue helmet. The helmet features the first blue shell in franchise history and a red streak from the team's logo. For Saturday's practice, quarterbacks, punters, and kickers wore the full Nickel City alternate, while the rest of the offense wore blue practice jerseys and the defense wore white. Although the Nickel City alternate design faced some public criticism, Allen defended the new uniforms during a July 29 interaction with reporters. "I enjoy them. I think it's very symbolic of what we want to do and what we want to be," Allen said. "I understand people want the old jerseys and the old helmets and all that. "But at some point, too, we are moving forward. We have to move forward and do something new — and that's what we're doing." And for Highmark Stadium, reporters at Saturday's practice shared some visuals of how the inside of the stadium looks. Detroit Lions backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has decided to step away from professional football, informing the team of his retirement Sunday. Head coach Dan Campbell confirmed the news, marking the second time the 33-year-old quarterback has retired from the NFL. "I've known Teddy a long time and the human being is unbelievable. Certainly, the player, everything that he's about. The type of teammate he is, the way he prepares ... always played the game up here and had a huge heart," head coach Dan Campbell told reporters. "He's gonna be missed." Bridgewater previously retired following the 2023 season before taking over as head coach at Miami Northwestern Senior High School, where he guided the team to a state championship. He subsequently unretired late in the 2024 season to rejoin Detroit, then spent the 2025 campaign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as Baker Mayfield's backup. Bridgewater re-signed with the Lions in March. In response to Bridgewater being placed on the reserve/retired list, the Lions agreed to terms with veteran quarterback Joshua Dobbs on a one-year contract to serve as the primary backup behind starter Jared Goff, NFL Network reported. Dobbs backed up Drake Maye with the New England Patriots last season, but saw very little action. He's 3-12 all-time in 15 career starts.

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Who’s Next For Pro Football Hall Of Fame? Forecasting Who Could Be Inducted In 2027

With the five-person class of this year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame of Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Roger Craig, Adam Vinatieri and Luke Kuechly in the rearview, we can turn our attention to next year’s class. Of course, that will likely mean another discussion about the résumés of two controversial snubs who were not inducted as part of Saturday's ceremony: former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft. The news of their snubs (specifically Belichick's) outweighed the news of those who were included as part of the Class of 2026, making them central figures among the candidates for the Class of 2027. Along with those two, first-time eligible candidates who make sense as possible first-ballot selections include tight end Rob Gronkowski, running back Adrian Peterson, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and cornerback Richard Sherman. Offensive tackle Willie Anderson, guard Marshal Yanda and edge rusher Terrell Suggs were among the final seven modern-era candidates this past year, which means they automatically advance to the final 15 for the upcoming process. It’s the second year in a row Anderson has been an automatic finalist. To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, players must be retired for at least five years, while the wait for coaches is one year. There are at least four inductees in each class, but no more than eight will be enshrined from the 20 finalists selected (15 modern-era finalists and a maximum of five candidates from seniors, coach and contributors categories). The 15 modern-era finalists are cut from 10 to seven. Voters are then asked to vote for five of those candidates, with candidates needing to receive at least 80% of the vote to be inducted. If only two or fewer candidates receive 80% of the vote, then the top three vote-getters move on. The new voting structure has led to a splintering of the vote from the selection committee, making it harder for players to get into the Hall, which ultimately led to Belichick not getting in the past voting cycle. As a member of the 50-person Hall of Fame selection committee, I’ve had the honor of voting on these candidates annually. It’s always a grueling process featuring long, challenging debates that lead to deserving candidates ultimately donning gold jackets. Here’s a first look at some of the candidates for the upcoming class, and what I think of their chances to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2027. GOOD SHOT Belichick won an unprecedented six Super Bowls as a head coach and two more as a defensive coordinator for the New York Giants. He coached the greatest player in league history in Tom Brady. The Patriots won 17 AFC East titles, made 13 appearances in the AFC Championship Game and went to nine Super Bowls. I voted for Belichick and Kraft last year and will vote for them again if they are on the ballot. Brady’s security blanket is another no-brainer. Gronkowski is a four-time Super Bowl champion who earned five invitations to the Pro Bowl and was on the All-Decade team for the 2010s. He’s also a member of the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. A freak of nature, Peterson was an unstoppable force as a runner for 15 seasons in the league. His 14,918 rushing yards are fifth in NFL history. He rushed for over 2,000 yards in a single season, won league MVP and Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. A seven-time Pro Bowler, Peterson is a member of the 2010s All-Decade Team. The only major thing he did not accomplish was a Super Bowl win, giving him strong odds to be enshrined in Canton. Roethlisberger was the most accomplished of the storied 2004 quarterback draft class that included Eli Manning and Philip Rivers. Roethlisberger won two Super Bowls, and at 23 years old, was the youngest quarterback to win the big game. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year, led the league in passing twice and earned six trips to the Pro Bowl. A six-time finalist, momentum continues to build for one of the best right tackles in league history. Anderson has finished in the top seven twice, a signal that voters are bullish on his candidacy. PUNCHER'S CHANCE A seven-time finalist, Holt fell out of the top 10 during the last voting cycle after making it to the top seven the year before, which is not a good sign for his candidacy. Holt is part of a logjam at receiver and deserves serious consideration. One of the cornerstones of the Rams' "Greatest Show on Turf," Holt finished with 920 career receptions for 13,382 yards and 74 touchdowns in 11 NFL seasons. Another one of the seven finalists from the last voting cycle, Suggs is a two-time finalist. He’s eighth all-time in sacks with 139, and all seven players above Suggs on the list are in the Hall of Fame. Like Suggs, Yanda was one of seven finalists in this past voting cycle. Considered one of the best guards to play the game, Yanda was an eight-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion for the Baltimore Ravens. Yanda's also a member of the 2010s All-Decade Team. A charismatic trash talker and one of the leaders of the Seattle Seahawks’ fabled Legion of Boom, Sherman played in back-to-back Super Bowls, winning it all after the 2013 season. A five-time Pro Bowler, Sherman is a member of the 2010s All-Decade Team. He finished with 37 interceptions in 11 NFL seasons, including stints with the Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. One of the most complete tight ends in NFL history, only Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez had more catches among players at the position than Witten, whose 1,228 receptions rank fourth all-time. Witten’s 13,046 receiving yards are 20th in league history and second among tight ends, only trailing Gonzalez there as well. Witten is an 11-time Pro Bowler and won the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2012. UPHILL CLIMB A two-time finalist, Manning has yet to crack the top 10 in his two voting cycles of eligibility. His postseason accolades are impressive, including two Super Bowl wins over Brady and the Patriots in which he was named MVP of both games. But also on his ledger is a 117-117 record as a starter, including a 9-26 mark in his final three seasons. Manning’s career 84.1 passer rating is 60th in NFL history. A finalist for the first time last voting cycle who cracked the final 10, Williams is a member of the 2000s All-Decade Team, a five-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler. Williams is a member of the Vikings Ring of Honor. One of the leaders of the Dallas defense during his time with the team, Woodson is a three-time Super Bowl champion and five-time Pro Bowler. A four-time finalist, Woodson is a member of the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor, and the player in Cowboys history to have been in the starting lineup for five different head coaches. Wayne is one of only nine players in league history with at least 1,000 receptions, 14,000 yards and 80 touchdowns. A seven-time finalist, Wayne has been unable to separate himself from the logjam of talented receivers that remain a part of the voting process during his candidacy. Gore entered the league with significant knee issues but played an impressive 16 seasons for five teams, finishing as the third-leading in league history with 16,000 rushing yards. A member of the 2010 All-Decade Team, Gore was a five-time Pro Bowler who rushed for over 1,000 yards nine times and led San Francisco to the Super Bowl after the 2012 season. Another talented lineman who was a finalist for the second time in his third year of eligibility. A six-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro, Evans served as an anchor up front for one of the most dominant offenses of his era, led by Drew Brees. Known for his "Superman" celebration after scoring a touchdown, Newton took home league MVP honors after leading the Carolina Panthers to a 15-1 campaign and Super Bowl appearance after the 2015 season. A three-time Pro Bowler, Newton also won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2011. A dynamic emotional leader for the Chargers alongside Hall of Famer Junior Seau, Harrison is a two-time finalist whose resume deserves a closer look. A two-time Super Bowl champion, Harrison played 15 seasons with the Bolts and Patriots and is in both teams’ Hall of Fame. He totaled 34 interceptions and 30 sacks, making him one of two players to record over 30 picks and 30 sacks in their career. The other is Hall of Famer Ray Lewis. A Super Bowl champion and member of the 2010s All-Decade team, Brown was a seven-time Pro Bowler and dynamic playmaker during his time in the league. However, Brown is caught in the glut of WRs worthy of Hall of Fame consideration. Also, he finished his career by quitting on his teammates, stripping off his gear mid-game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And his short tenure with the Raiders was also marred by controversy. The emotional catalyst of Seattle’s drive to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, Lynch was dominant from 2011-14, totaling 5,357 rushing yards and scoring 56 touchdowns over that time. A member of the 2010 All-Decade Team, the five-time Pro Bowler’s 10,419 rushing yards rank just 29th all time, but in the postseason, he's eighth all time with 970 rushing yards.Others to consider: Alex Mack, Earl Thomas, LeSean McCoy, Anquan Boldin, Steve Smith Sr., Jimmy Smith, Eric Weddle, John Abraham, Robert Mathis, Hines Ward, Gerald McCoy, Andrew Whitworth.

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Panthers Sign Former Bucs QB Kyle Trask Following Haynes King's Hamstring Injury

The Carolina Panthers signed Kyle Trask as a third quarterback on Sunday with Hall of Fame game hero Haynes King expected to miss time with a hamstring injury. Trask gives the Panthers a third QB behind starter Bryce Young and backup Kenny Pickett. Trask has familiarity with Panthers offensive coordinator Brad Idzik, having spent the last three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has limited game experience, with only 11 career pass attempts during his career. King, an undrafted rookie out of Georgia Tech, ran in from the 5 on the final play to give the Panthers a dramatic 33-30 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night in Canton, Ohio, to kick off the NFL preseason. The Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year last season, King was 21 of 34 for 180 yards and two touchdowns. He ran for 39 yards and the winning score. Panthers coach Dave Canales said King strained his hamstring on the final play and will not play Saturday against the Buffalo Bills. Panthers Starters To Play 10-20 Plays vs. Bills Carolina quarterback Bryce Young and the rest of the team's starters will play about 10-20 plays against the Bills, depending on the flow of the game, according to Canales. The starters did not play against the Cardinals. "I'm excited to just go out there with the guys," Young said after practice Sunday. "Any time you get to play live football it's a privilege. especially after last week and just to be around it. You get that itch again." Reporting by the Associated Press.

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