Tom Brady believes Adam Vinatieri is the epitome of clutch NFL players. That is the four-time Super Bowl champion kicker's legacy as he prepares to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is the third full-time kicker to receive this honor. Vinatieri retired with records for career points, field goals and consecutive field goals made. His iconic kicks, like the 45-yard field goal in the 2002 AFC divisional playoff against the Raiders, cemented his place in NFL history. Vinatieri's career spanned 24 years with the Patriots and Colts, earning him a spot among the NFL's all-time greats.
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The competition between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson to determine the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback is not expected to be settled until at least after the second exhibition game against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 22. Coach Todd Monken said both are doing fine, though evaluations will not ramp up until the offense is fully installed. Saturday marked the halfway point of eight days of installations. The Browns will be off Sunday before six straight days of practice, including the first day in pads on Monday.
Go ahead and call Will Levis cocky. The Tennessee Titans quarterback currently fighting for the backup job here or somewhere else isn’t worried about winning anyone’s approval. He wants to play. Levis said Saturday there aren't 32 quarterbacks in the NFL better than him. Levis’ confidence has not wavered from his arrival as the 33rd overall pick in the 2023 draft. The general manager who drafted him was fired in January 2024. Levis now has his third different coach for a franchise that drafted Cam Ward at No. 1 overall in 2025. Levis is competing with veteran Mitchell Trubisky in camp.
Going from last place to first in the division is far from an oddity in the NFL. There have been 27 teams since the 2002 realignment that followed up a last-place finish with a division title the following year. New England and Chicago both pulled off the trick last season. Perhaps no team is better positioned to do it this season than the Detroit Lions, who went 9-8 last season and still have many of the key pieces that helped the team earn the top seed in the NFC playoffs in 2024.
The Southeastern Conference argues its superior depth makes up for the Big Ten winning the last three titles in the debate over which college football conference is strongest. The Big Ten says its reputation as a top-heavy conference is unfair. Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti considers those three College Football Playoff championships testaments to the league’s strength from top to bottom. Michigan won in 2023, Ohio State in 2024 and Indiana in 2025. Five SEC schools combined to win 13 titles from 2006-22. But no SEC team has reached any of the last three championship games.
Fernando Mendoza eventually taking over as the Raiders' starting quarterback seems inevitable. Kirk Cousins isn't rushing to hand over the position, showing determination and precision as Las Vegas' season approaches. Coach Klint Kubiak confirmed Cousins would start when training camp began, but Mendoza and Aidan O'Connell are expected to push him. Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowler, was brought in as a bridge to Mendoza, who was drafted first overall. Mendoza is adjusting to NFL life and showing improvement in training camp. He's working hard and earning respect from teammates.
Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love has had an impressive first week of preseason camp. As the Cardinals rebuild under first-year coach Mike LaFleur, Love is a key piece to the future. The No. 3 overall pick in April’s draft signed a fully-guaranteed $53 million, four-year deal earlier this summer and there’s little doubt Arizona expects the former Notre Dame star to contribute sooner rather than later. The 6-foot-0, 214-pound Love has made a good impression in preseason practice, which has earned him continued repetitions with the team’s starters. He’s part of a crowded Cardinals running back room that includes Tyler Allgeier, James Conner and Trey Benson.
The Cleveland Browns made the postseason the last time they had a first-year head coach on the sidelines. If Jimmy Haslam has the same thing in mind for Todd Monken, he’s not saying it publicly. The Browns owner said after Friday’s practice he has “improved expectations” for the upcoming season. The franchise went 5-12 last season and 3-14 in 2024 after making the playoffs in 2023. Haslam did say he would take the over on projections that the Browns will win 5 1/2 games this season.
While BJ Hill is opening Cincinnati Bengals training camp on the active/physically unable to perform list with an undisclosed injury, the Bengals have the benefit of entering the year with the deepest group of defensive tackles that the team has had in years. Hill was banged up for much of last season. Coach Zac Taylor said on Monday that he doesn’t expect Hill to miss all of training camp and said that Hill is doing as well as the team had hoped. In March, the Bengals signed a projected starting defensive tackle in Jonathan Allen. Then in April, an unexpected opportunity to trade for star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence came up.
Tony Romo has been placed on leave from his role as the lead analyst on CBS’ NFL coverage following his arrest last week on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence. CBS Sports announced Friday that the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback was on leave “until further notice.” JJ Watt will join Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson as CBS Sports’ lead NFL team during Romo’s absence. Romo was arrested July 23 after he was stopped while driving south on Interstate 43 in Wisconsin.