ch Frank Beamers and current defensive coordinator Bud Fosters public remarks yesterday as to having no knowledge of the situation, and I believe both of

Topics this week include the rookie running back the Seattle Seahawks are excited about, the money and draft stock poured into the leagues best offensive lines and renewed debate about the deadline for underclassmen to declare intent to turn professional.Seattles third-round stamp of approvalWhen the Seattle Seahawks abruptly waived Christine Michael, it surprised many who follow the NFL.Yes, Thomas Rawls returns this week from the fractured fibula that has sidelined him for much of the season, but he will be eased back into action.Michaels release was about Michaels regression as a runner, and it was a statement about rookie C.J. Prosise, who is expected to remain the starter for the immediate future.In many ways, Prosise makes the Seahawks an even more dangerous and unpredictable offense, which was evident in Sunday nights win over the New England Patriots. Frankly, thats a development few saw coming.Maybe we should have seen it or dug deeper to realize it. When Pete Carroll and Seahawks general manager John Schneider selected Prosise out of Notre Dame in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft, it was a declaration in itself. The Seahawks, like most teams, dont reach in the third round. Thats the same round in which they patiently, albeit nervously, targeted Russell Wilson in 2012.When Prosise caught a 38-yard, over-the-shoulder pass from Wilson to set up a fourth-quarter field goal for the 25-24 lead Seattle wouldnt surrender to the Pats, it came very naturally to the rookie. No shock. After a redshirt freshman season, Prosise played his first two seasons as a receiver for the Fighting Irish. It was only after injuries to three running backs in 2015 that Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly and staff looked for a solution in the backfield and asked Prosise to change positions.Internally, there was some hesitation about the move because even though Prosise had unique size, at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, the Fighting Irish wondered whether he had the toughness for the position. After all, he was a converted receiver. He was a soft-spoken, young man. Kelly and his offensive staff had no clue Prosise would deliver the tough yards between the tackles. Well, there was one clue: Prosise excelled in special-teams coverage.Prosise finished his junior season with 1,032 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 156 carries (6.6 yards per carry) and 26 catches for 308 yards and a touchdown. Kelly and staff believed he needed a senior season to fully mature as a back, but Prosise decided to declare for the 2016 NFL draft.When the Seahawks evaluated him, they saw a unique guy. His upper body was narrow and not fully developed, but his lower body was thick, muscular and strong. If he looked different running the football, its in part because he is left-handed. But those special-teams tackles and the manner in which he ran belied his soft-spoken personality in the eyes of Schneider and Carroll.When those two men put a third-round stamp on a player, pay attention.-- Chris MortensenPutting money on the lineDallas built the NFLs best offensive line through the draft, one pick at a time. Oakland built one of the leagues best lines through free agency, one dollar at a time.In March 2014, Oakland gave right tackle Austin Howard a deal that included $14.8 million guaranteed. In March 2015, Oakland gave center Rodney Hudson $20 million guaranteed. This past March, Oakland gave left guard Kelechi Osemele a deal that included $25.4 million guaranteed and, one week later, gave left tackle Donald Penn a deal that included $5.5 million guaranteed.As a result, the Raiders now have the NFLs highest paid guard and center, and their offensive line has the highest cap value in the league this season, at $37.7 million.So far, it has been well worth it. Oakland has morphed into Dallas West -- or the Cowboys of the AFC. The Raiders line has protected franchise quarterback?Derek Carr while opening holes for running backs such as Latavius Murray. Theirs is probably the best line in the AFC and second only to the Cowboys in the NFL.The strength of these lines is why Dallas is vying for the NFC East title and Oakland is doing the same in the AFC West. The Raiders and Cowboys each have allowed a league-low 11 sacks.The Raiders are getting a return on their investment. The big men up front are the bulldozers, paving the way through the season to the postseason -- and maybe even to Houston, site of this years Super Bowl. For now, the Raiders are more focused on the Houston Texans, their opponent Monday night in Mexico City.As Dallas drafted a bully, the Raiders paid for theirs -- and that is paying off.--?Adam SchefterDeadline extensionThe decision of Oklahoma defensive tackle Charles Walker to leave his team immediately to prepare for the 2017 NFL draft is likely to reignite the occasional sensitive relations between the NFL and the American Football Coaches Association.Walkers decision could take the discussion down familiar yet different paths.Alabama coach Nick Saban has spoken publicly and privately about the NFLs Jan. 15 deadline for underclassmen to declare their intent to turn professional. Saban and other coaches would like to see the date pushed back because many underclassmen become consumed with getting their draft projections from the NFLs college advisory committee. College coaches say they have seen players distracted during their bowl season preparation and believe moving the deadline closer to the end of the month would be healthy for all involved. Its not as if underclassmen are allowed to participate in all-star bowl games. They arent.Then there is the presumption that player agents drive some of these distractions and occasional poor decisions for underclassmen. That always has been a hot-button topic among colleges, the NFL and the NFL Players Association, which certifies agents with some restrictions on interaction with underclassmen.That dynamic is balanced by the logical debate that a player might jeopardize his NFL draft standing, and possibly his future earnings, by playing in a bowl game and risking injury. Even though it is a rare occurrence in an injury-risk sport, the most recent case came in January, when Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith, who was arguably the best player in the 2016 draft, suffered a devastating knee injury in the Fiesta Bowl. Smiths injury cost him around $25 million, as he went from being a top-five projection to a second-round pick by the Cowboys. For many teams, the second round might have even been a reach because Smith is not expected to play this season. Some teams medical reports raised doubts about his future in general.Back to Walkers case. This could be a fork-in-the-road moment for a player projected as a first- or second-round pick. Walker has not played since Oct. 1, when he suffered a reported third concussion. Thats a fairly radioactive red flag in the new era of treating brain trauma injuries.Whether or not teams flag Walker as somebody who quit on his team, as Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops framed the decision, will be worth monitoring.-- Chris MortensenAnother accidental acquisition paying offJust like the Dallas Cowboys couldnt fumble fate when they failed to trade up for Paxton Lynch or?Connor Cook?and wound up settling for Dak Prescott, the Miami Dolphins have their own version.Two years ago, the Dolphins were devastated when Todd Gurley went No. 10 to the Rams, four spots ahead of Miami. The Dolphins were disappointed they couldnt re-sign running back Lamar Miller, then lost out on free-agent running back C.J. Anderson when Denver matched Miamis offer sheet to him. They ended up signing Arian Foster as a last-minute, pre-camp addition to try to lead their running back corps.Foster retired in October and the Dolphins had no choice but to turn to Jay Ajayi, whom Miami picked in the fifth round of the 2015 draft -- the same draft in which the first round did not go the way they wanted.Now Ajayi is the AFCs fourth-leading rusher -- behind only Tennessees DeMarco Murray, San Diegos Melvin Gordon and New Yorks Matt Forte -- but there is one distinction. Ajayis 5.7 yards per carry average is significantly higher than that of any other leading rusher in the NFL. Ajayi has given Miami productivity and hope. Whats more, the Dolphins are entering a portion of their schedule -- at Los Angeles, home for San Francisco -- in which Ajayi can take aim at the AFCs rushing title.Ajayi fell to the fifth round of the 2015 draft as the 149th overall pick in part because teams worried how long his knees would hold up. He has held up fine. The Dolphins didnt get the other running backs they wanted, but Ajayi is a reminder that accidental acquisitions and fall-back finds sometimes have far greater impact than anyone expects.-- Adam SchefterCoughlins chances in CantonWhen Tom Coughlin was inducted into the New York Giants Ring of Honor Monday night, it reintroduced the question of whether he will one day be honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.Coughlin refused to discuss his eventual candidacy. He won two Super Bowl rings with the Giants, but that is not an automatic pass to Canton. Former Raiders coach Tom Flores and Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson havent been honored, even though some voters believe they will eventually be elected.Coughlins résumé shines especially brightly when one factors in his work as the coach and general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars. He built a team that competed for two AFC championships, a remarkable achievement for an expansion franchise.One of those title runs occurred in the Jaguars second season and included one of the greatest upsets in NFL playoff history on Jan. 4, 1997. The Jaguars were 14.5-point playoff underdogs when they stunned the Denver Broncos 30-27 at Mile High Stadium. The Broncos had an 11-game win streak in that 1996 season, and their 13-3 record marked them as Super Bowl favorites. In retrospect, the John Elway-led Broncos might have won three consecutive Super Bowls (they won the following two seasons), but Coughlins Jaguars spoiled the party.--?Chris MortensenEmptying the notebookAlthough?Case Keenum will move into a backup role behind top draft pick Jared Goff, it is very possible he will be relegated to No. 3 and game-inactive if the Rams fall out of contention. Sean Mannion, last years third-round pick who opened the season as the No. 2, could move up on the depth chart, especially with Keenum headed to free agency next year.Almost two weeks after resigning as offensive coordinator of the Vikings, Norv Turner is decompressing in Del Mar, California, and preparing to go to his granddaughters first birthday party this week, then spend Thanksgiving with wife Nancys family for the first time in 25 years. But he does have an interest in continuing to coach. Turner said that after his Vikings contract runs out this winter, he would be interested in coaching for a team on which he would have a chance to mold a young quarterback and make a difference, as he has done throughout his career. I just enjoy it too much, Turner said this week. I really enjoy teaching the players. Turner is now 64 years old, but he said hes fitter than he was a decade ago and 20 pounds lighter. He is spending some of his time walking on the beach, as he did this past week, and already contemplating his next move. It would have to be the right team in the right city with the right quarterback; otherwise, it might not be appealing enough. But even though hes finished as the offensive coordinator of the Vikings, Turner is not finished coaching.When coaches and players say, Its tough to win a game in the NFL, it might sound like a cliché, but consider this: The last time the Browns won a game was Dec. 13, 2015, when Johnny Manziel was the starting quarterback in a 24-10 win over the 49ers. That ended a seven-game losing streak.Seattle is a scary team right now. Only one of its remaining six opponents -- Philadelphia, which the Seahawks host this Sunday -- has a winning record. Combined, those six remaining opponents have a 16-28-1 record. The schedule sets the Seahawks up to start eyeing January and their postseason run.Theres no better division in football right now than the AFC West, where it looks like the 7-2 Chiefs, 7-2 Raiders and 7-3 Broncos are all headed to the playoffs. That would mean only the division winners from the AFC East, AFC North and AFC South will go to the postseason.With the Thanksgiving games Nov. 24, both the Cowboys and Vikings play three games in 12 days. Dallas hosts Baltimore on Sunday and Washington on Thanksgiving, while Minnesota hosts Arizona on Sunday and travels to Detroit on Thanksgiving. Then the two teams meet for the Thursday Night Football matchup in Week 13.The 49ers are assured of being a team in transition; theyre scheduled to have 21 free agents this offseason.When Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery returns next month from his four-game suspension, he will have three more games to make one final strong statement before he becomes a free agent. NFL teams know that until this suspension Jeffery never has been in trouble or had issues. He still is expected to be the top free-agent WR. Its also hard to say the Bears are totally de-incentivized to bring him back because of this suspension. Imagine asking a young QB or a free agent to succeed in Chicago if Kevin White is best weapon in the passing game. Its a tough call for that front office.-- Adam Schefter and?Chris Mortensen Bryce Callahan Jersey Retro . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. Myron Pryor Jersey Retro . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. https://www.cheapjerseyslines.com/kevin-wyatt-jersey-retro/ .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. Bud Cooper Jersey Retro . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. Matt Szymanski Jersey Retro .2 billion agreement with Rogers Communications for the leagues broadcast and multimedia rights. Virginia Tech athletic director Whit Babcock said Thursday that a former assistant coach at the school received game plan information from Wake Forest radio broadcaster Tommy Elrod before the schools played in 2014.Virginia Tech is the second ACC school that admitted it accepted information from Elrod. On Tuesday, Wake Forest said in a statement that Elrod provided or attempted to provide proprietary information to opponents since 2014.Louisville said Wednesday that offensive coordinator Lonnie Galloway received plays before the Wake Forest game in November. Galloway and Elrod had known each other since 2007 and coached together at Wake Forest.Army also said it has been contacted by Wake Forest as a result of its widespread investigation.Former Hokies coach Frank Beamer denied being aware of any improprieties in a statement released through Virginia Tech on Thursday afternoon.I can assure you, that while I was the head coach at Virginia Tech, I had no knowledge of what is being alleged, Beamer said. Ive built my entire career and life on doing things the right way, and that will never change.It is unclear which Virginia Tech assistant received information from Elrod, who has since been fired by IMG Radio Network and banned from Wake Forest athletics and facilities.We have recently been made aware that a former Wake Forest staff member provided one of our former assistant coaches some game-plan information prior to our game in 2014, Babcock said in a statement. We have no indication at this time that any of this information was shared with any other staff members, nor utilized during the game itself. However, should new information become available, we will be forthcoming and transparent..dddddddddddde hold ourselves to a higher standard at Virginia Tech. We are disappointed and embarrassed that this type of information was distributed to, and apparently received by, one of our former assistant coaches. The distribution of this type of information among peers or rivals is wrong and not in the vein of sportsmanship and integrity that we demand and expect for this. I personally apologize to the coaches, student-athletes, administration, alumni, students and fans of Wake Forest University.Babcock continued, I am also aware of former head coach Frank Beamers and current defensive coordinator Bud Fosters public remarks yesterday as to having no knowledge of the situation, and I believe both of them wholeheartedly. It should also be noted that there is no known connection of any kind to our current coaching staff, who were hired in 2015. We will, of course, comply fully with the ACC and all relevant parties as this unfortunate situation unfolds.Also Thursday, Florida State put out a statement that said nobody at the school has had any involvement in the scandal.No one from the Florida State Football staff had any interaction with Mr. Elrod. That includes no phone calls, text messages or emails, the Seminoles statement said.The ACC said in a statement Wednesday it wanted the full results of Wake Forests investigation before determining a course of action against schools that received the proprietary information.Wake Forest defeated Virginia Tech 6-3 in double overtime on Nov. 22, 2014. Louisville defeated Wake Forest 44-12 on Nov. 12 of this season. ' ' '