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The history of each extreme start is well-documented. Since 2007, nearly 60 percent of NFL teams that have opened 2-0 have made the playoffs. During that same 14-year span, nearly 90 percent of teams that have fallen to 0-2 have failed to make the playoffs. Last season, when the league expanded to 14 playoff teams, the trends continued. Eight of the 11 teams that started 2-0 in 2020 (72 percent) made the playoffs....

The NFL will not reinstate him this season, according to multiple reports. MORE: Week 17 Power Rankings Smith was suspended in November 2015 for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. Smith admitted recently he was “frustrated” waiting for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to make a decision within what was thought to be a 60-day time limit. Now, Smith will assuredly not be back for Oakland’s playoff run. Though it was unlikely he could have made significant contributions, Smith perhaps could have come in during pass-rushing situations....

The numbers prove it, as you can see at Sports Media Watch, so the league has taken notice. According to ProFootballTalk, the people in charge will take a seriously long look at whether they want to continue “Thursday Night Football” as is. UPDATE: The NFL released a statement reaffirming its commitment to Thursday scheduling. “We are fully committed to Thursday Night Football and any reports to the contrary are unfounded....

CG Technology has the Broncos -7. It’s still off the board it most other shops, though some offshore books sit at 6.5 with a total of 40.5. MORE: How each team can win the Super Bowl The Patriots are -5 against the Chiefs and that total has been bet down from 44.5 to 43.5 already. The Seahawks, after surviving against Minnesota, opened at a pick’em at Wynn, but most books have the Panthers at -2....

Since the St. Louis Rams got their closer look at Johnny Manziel last Friday, the notion of them drafting the former Texas A&M quarterback in the first round of Thursday's NFL draft has become a groundswell. While we're almost near the end of "lying season", there's reason to believe Manziel is in serious play for them. Before they visited Manziel in Texas, it felt like they would be (and have been) more interested in his two Aggies teammates, offensive tackle Jake Matthews and wide receiver Mike Evans....

And so it goes for the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions, the only non-expansion NFL teams that haven't played in the Super Bowl. Jacksonville (1993) and Houston (2002) haven't suffered quite as long. Since Cleveland returned to the NFL in 1999, the Browns and Lions are tied with the league's worst winning percentage (.321). Neither team has a playoff win in that stretch, but either the Browns or Lions — and sometimes both — have had a top-five pick in 14 of the last 16 NFL Drafts....

None, though, are from Denmark. Such is the goal of Andreas Knappe. His gridiron journey didn’t go through Arkansas but the University of Connecticut via Knappe’s hometown of Silkeborg, Denmark, and the amateur team for which he played — the Triangle Razorbacks of the Danish American Football Federation. MOCK DRAFT: Redskins draft a playmaker; Browns trade up for QB Yes, there is a league for those Danes who have a pigskin passion like the one Knappe possesses....

“Number one, we are not done with this process. We have not made a decision with the first overall pick,” Keim said during a press conference Tuesday (via ABC 15). “I’m not going to get into hypotheticals today. We’re nine days away, guys. Anything can happen. “I usually try to be straightforward with you guys, but at this time of year, we all know the drill. It’s fun, it’s good for talk shows and TV, but we have a job to do, as well....

The Clemson quarterback was a shoo-in to become the first player to be selected with No. 1 overall pick in the history of the franchise, and so it proved. Behind Lawrence, the New York Jets also followed the script and picked BYU quarterback Zach Wilson, while the San Francisco 49ers selected Trey Lance out of North Dakota State. Alabama signal caller Mac Jones, who had emerged as the presumptive No....

There are also some teams that are going to be more active in the draft than others. Heading into the 2022 NFL Draft, there are six teams with double-digit draft picks, led by the Chiefs and Jaguars with 12 each. The Packers have 11 and the Chargers, Eagles and Texans each have 10. On the other side of the spectrum, there’s the Dolphins, who have only four picks, and the Raiders, who have only five....

The NFL issued two fines to the Dolphins receiver for his actions, a $24,309 fine for Landry grabbing his crotch, and an additional $24,309 for slamming down his helmet a few seconds later. Even for a professional athlete, $48,618 is a hefty sum. Overthecap.com reports Landry earns an average of $868,727 per year under his current contract. Here is Landry’s touchdown celebration: MORE: NFL playoffs predictions Landry wasn’t the only player to pay for his transgressions in Week 17....

A revised settlement agreement filed in federal court in Philadelphia also eliminates a provision that barred anyone who receives concussion damages from the NFL from suing the NCAA or other amateur football leagues. U.S. District Judge Anita Brody had denied preliminary approval of the deal in January because she worried the money could run out sooner than expected. The settlement, negotiated over several months, is designed to last at least 65 years and cover retired players who develop Lou Gehrig’s disease, dementia or other neurological problems believed to be caused by concussions suffered during their pro careers....

The first major rules decision to come out of the NFL meetings in Orlando is to allow referees to consult on replays with the league's officiating command center in New York. The centralized review center can begin to look at replays as soon as a play is challenged, and can guide the referee when he begins viewing the replay. The change will eliminate one of the clumsiest aspects of replay: the referee sorting out which replay of the many (or few) available helps him make the right call....

After going all seven rounds and then factoring in possible trades for a two-round edition, the latest, penultimate edition of Sporting News’ mock draft for this year goes back to a straight-up three rounds to pair prospects with clubs. Here’s just another way it might play out for the picks from No. 1 through No. 106 overall between April 23 and 24: MORE NFL DRAFT 2020:Latest news | Top 100 big board...

In eight of the last nine seasons, the award has gone to a QB. We know this year won’t crown Peyton Manning or lone running back exception Adrian Peterson. Tom Brady has missed too much time, and neither Cam Newton nor Aaron Rodgers is playing his best. WEEK 6 PICKS: Straight up | Against the spread That means there’s a good chance somebody new walks away as most valuable for 2016....

Tom Brady and his unprecedented longevity at the helm of the Patriots offense is reaching another level, one that a legend from a rival team can’t ignore. And as for America’s team, the Dallas Cowboys, one-third of their latest three-headed monster has pledged his allegiance (kind of) to the cause in Big D. Here are your Monday headlines from around the NFL: Amari Cooper wants to be a Cowboy ‘for a long time’ Good news, Cowboys fans....

He has discussed his concussion in the past, saying he awoke in the hospital and thought he “was seeing the white gates.” Coxson’s case is a reminder of the dangers of the NFL and its lingering issues with concussions. The league is constantly trying to say it is improving in that area, but he says the NFL isn’t giving him much help. MORE: Faces of NFL head trauma crisis | Boom or bust NFL free agents An NFL spokesperson told Sporting News Wednesday that the league is “reaching out to him today....