As the NFL stares at the possibility of games played with no one staring at the field from the stands, the league is looking at the loss of significant revenue. The challenge becomes replacing it.

Deep in an item from Jonathan Jones of CBSSports.com resides a clue to how the NFL could replace lost ticket money: An explosion in on-field advertising revenue.

The ads would be seen by the millions watching the games on TV. Jones specifically mentions the possibility of new ads on the walls surrounding the field, ads on a tarp in empty seats that would be visible in TV shots, ads on the nets behind the goal posts, and virtual advertising that could be rotated digitally throughout the game.

But why stop there? At a time when sports fans will be starved for sports, will anyone complain about, for example, the placement of ads on uniforms? Or how about a green-screen decal on the helmet that becomes a rotating advertisement during close-up shots?

If the NFL had put ads on uniforms from the inception of the league 100 years ago, no one would care that ads are on the uniforms now, like a NASCAR jumpsuit or the full front of the shirts worn by soccer clubs. As the NFL tries to turn a negative into a positive, one very lucrative positive could be an opportunity to jump with both feet onto what had long been regarded a third rail for the NFL and embrace a proliferation of advertising, all in the name of replacing the revenue lost via the absence of fans.

And then, once fans are back and the bridge has been crossed, the new approach to advertising will simply continue, ostensibly to help further replace the revenue lost during the 2020 season. Then, after a few years of getting everyone used to it, the ads will just stay put.

ARIZONA

Sun Sep. 13         at San Francisco 49ers             4:25pm ET           FOX

Sun Sep. 20         Washington Redskins               4:05pm ET           FOX

Sun Sep. 27         Detroit Lions                              4:25pm ET           FOX

Sun Oct. 4            at Carolina Panthers                 1:00pm ET           FOX

Sun Oct. 11          at New York Jets                       1:00pm ET           FOX

Mon Oct. 19         at Dallas Cowboys                     8:15pm ET          ESPN

Sun Oct. 25          Seattle Seahawks                      4:05pm ET          FOX

Sun Nov. 1           BYE

Sun Nov. 8           Miami Dolphins                           4:25pm ET          CBS

Sun Nov. 15        Buffalo Bills                                 4:05pm ET          CBS

Thurs Nov. 19      at Seattle Seahawks                   8:20pm ET          FOX/NFLN/Amazon

Sun Nov. 29         at New England Patriots             1:00pm ET          FOX

Sun Dec. 6           Los Angeles Rams                     4:05pm ET          FOX

Sun Dec. 13         at New York Giants                    1:00pm ET          FOX

Sun Dec. 20         Philadelphia Eagles                    4:05pm ET         FOX

St/Sn Dec 26/27   San Francisco 49ers                  Time TBA ET

Sun Jan. 3            at Los Angeles Rams                 4:25pm ET          FOX

SCHEDULE THOUGHTS

We can’t remember the last time we saw this, but the Cardinals have a three-game road trip (Weeks 4-6) followed immediately by a three-game homestand (Weeks 7-10 with a BYE for good measure)…Two primetime games – both on the road at Dallas and Seattle – with the potential for a night game in Week 16 against the 49ers…Four games in the East including back-to-back in Weeks 4-5…Both Rams games in December…All the Sunday games are on the traditional network with CBS having productions in Arizona in back to back weeks in November.

SAN FRANCISCO

Sun Sep. 13         Arizona Cardinals                    4:25pm ET           FOX

Sun Sep. 20         at New York Jets                     1:00pm ET           FOX

Sun Sep. 27         at New York Giants                  1:00pm ET          FOX

Sun Oct. 4            Philadelphia Eagles                 8:20pm ET          NBC

Sun Oct. 11          Miami Dolphins                        4:05pm ET          FOX

Sun Oct. 18          Los Angeles Rams                  8:20pm ET          NBC

Sun Oct. 25          at New England Patriots          4:25pm ET          CBS

Sun Nov. 1           at Seattle Seahawks                4:25pm ET          FOX

Thur Nov. 5          Green Bay Packers                 8:20pm ET          FOX/NFLN/Amazon

Sun Nov. 15         at New Orleans Saints            4:25pm ET           FOX

Sun Nov. 22         BYE

Sun Nov. 29         at Los Angeles Rams              4:05pm ET           FOX

Mon Dec. 7          Buffalo Bills                              8:15pm ET           ESPN

Sun Dec. 13         Washington Redskins              4:25pm ET           FOX

Sun Dec. 20         at Dallas Cowboys                   8:20pm ET           NBC

St/Sn Dec 26/27   at Arizona Cardinals                Time TBA ET

Sun Jan. 3            Seattle Seahawks                    4:25pm ET           FOX

SCHEDULE THOUGHTS

The 49ers get the maximum five primetime games, well spread among the months…LockDown Governor permitting, they will host four of them in Santa Clara…In addition to the competitive division, they have plenty of good brands on the schedule with the Patriots and Cowboys on the road and the Packers and Eagles at home…September sees a week-long trip with back-to-back games in New York.

LOS ANGELES RAMS

Sun Sep. 13         Dallas Cowboys                      8:20pm ET           NBC

Sun Sep. 20         at Philadelphia Eagles            1:00pm ET           FOX

Sun Sep. 27         at Buffalo Bills                         1:00pm ET           FOX

Sun Oct. 4            New York Giants                     4:05pm ET           FOX

Sun Oct. 11          at Washington Redskins         1:00pm ET           FOX

Sun Oct. 18          at San Francisco 49ers           8:20pm ET           NBC

Mon Oct. 26         Chicago Bears                         8:15pm ET          ESPN

Sun Nov. 1           at Miami Dolphins                    1:00pm ET           FOX

Sun Nov. 8           BYE

Sun Nov. 15         Seattle Seahawks                    4:25pm ET          FOX

Mon Nov. 23        at Tampa Bay Buccaneers       8:15pm ET          ESPN

Sun Nov. 29         San Francisco 49ers                4:05pm ET          FOX

Sun Dec. 6           at Arizona Cardinals                 4:05pm ET          FOX

Thur Dec. 10        New England Patriots              8:20pm ET          FOX/NFLN/Amazon

St/Sn Dec. 19/20  New York Jets                         Time TBA ET

Sun Dec. 27         at Seattle Seahawks                4:05pm ET          CBS

Sun Jan. 3            Arizona Cardinals                    4:25pm ET          FOX

SCHEDULE THOUGHTS

The Rams seem to have overshot their mark with five national games…In case you wondered, the Patriots will play the Chargers at SoFi Stadium on December 6, then play the Rams their four days later…Four of the first five games are with NFC East foes (and the other game is at Buffalo)…Four of the first eight games are at 10:00 a.m. Pacific in an Eastern city…Four of the first six on the road, three of the last four at home…Both games that “should” be on CBS (New England and the Jets) won’t be, but Rams at Seahawks is a flexed popup game on a non-doubleheader Week 16…The Rams finish the season at home with the Cardinals for the second straight year…In fact, last year the Rams played at Arizona in Week 13 and hosted the Cardinals in Week 17 – just as they are supposed to this year.

SEATTLE

Sun Sep. 13         at Atlanta Falcons                 1:00pm ET           FOX

Sun Sep. 20         New England Patriots           8:20pm ET           NBC

Sun Sep. 27         Dallas Cowboys                    4:25pm ET           FOX

Sun Oct. 4            at Miami Dolphins                 1:00pm ET           FOX

Sun Oct. 11          Minnesota Vikings                 8:20pm ET           NBC

Sun Oct. 18          BYE

Sun Oct. 25          at Arizona Cardinals             4:05pm ET            FOX

Sun Nov. 1           San Francisco 49ers             4:25pm ET            FOX

Sun Nov. 8           at Buffalo Bills                       1:00pm ET            FOX

Sun Nov. 15         at Los Angeles Rams           4:25pm ET             FOX

Thur Nov. 19        Arizona Cardinals                 8:20pm ET            FOX/NFLN/Amazon

Mon Nov. 30        at Philadelphia Eagles          8:15pm ET            ESPN

Sun Dec. 6           New York Giants                  4:05pm ET            FOX

Sun Dec. 13         New York Jets                      4:05pm ET            CBS

Sun Dec. 20         at Washington Redskins      1:00pm ET            FOX

Sun Dec. 27         Los Angeles Rams               4:05pm ET            CBS

Sun Jan. 3            at San Francisco 49ers        4:25pm ET            FOX

SCHEDULE THOUGHTS

Four primetime games, including the mini-bye Thursday-Monday pairing over Thanksgiving with Arizona at home and Philly on the road…Then the two New York teams come to Seattle on back-to-back weeks…Starting November 30, three of the four games are with the NFC East and the other is the Jets…The Seahawks don’t play a division game until they visit Arizona in Week 7…The last two home games are on CBS, including a flex with the Rams.

DENVER

As QB CAM NEWTON sits on the sidelines, QB DREW LOCK joins GARRETT MINSHEW and JARRETT STIDHAM as unproven QBs being handed the keys to the car.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

When it comes to acquiring quarterbacks, Broncos General Manager John Elway has had one big hit and a lot of misses: Signing Peyton Manning was a success, but the quarterback situation in Denver has been ugly since Manning retired.

Drew Lock aims to change that. Lock told James Palmer of NFL Media that he wants to play well enough this season to remove any doubt that Elway made the right call when drafting him in 2019.

“I know there’s been a lot of talk about the quarterbacks in Denver,” Lock said. “You know, Peyton was the man there, obviously. We’ve had some good ones, and up-and-down [QBs] in there, and I didn’t want to be that for John. I wanted to be a steady guy for him. I wanted to show everybody that they drafted the right quarterback.”

Elway has poured significant resources into building an offense around Lock, which means this could be the year he proves himself the right man to lead the Broncos. If Lock fails, it would be hard to justify Elway keeping the G.M. job long enough to choose the Broncos’ next quarterback.

MIAMI

The five best-selling jerseys in the NFL belong to quarterbacks with Florida teams.  Nick Shook of NFL.com:

On Monday, we wrote Dolphins fans could purchase their Tua Tagovailoa jerseys with confidence after the rookie agreed to terms on a contract with Miami.

As it turns out, Dolphins fans were way ahead of us.

Tagovailoa is the leading jersey seller in the NFL, according to NFL Shop jersey sales tracked by Fanatics, which powers the league’s merchandising site. Tagovailoa’s aqua No. 1 jersey is selling faster than any other in the NFL, and the white version of that jersey ranks second — ahead of Tom Brady’s new shirts, which come in places 3-5 (with the pewter alternate leading the trio!).

Like many high draft picks, with Tagovailoa comes the renewed hopes and dreams of an entire fanbase. Miami hasn’t had legitimate reason for true excitement at quarterback since the days of Dan Marino (and the brief moment in which a rejuvenated Chad Pennington lifted the Fins to a division title). The Dolphins faithful is all in on Tagovailoa.

The jersey of No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow isn’t selling as quickly, with Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb outselling Burrow as of Tuesday morning. With the sheer size of the Cowboys’ passionate fanbase considered, the popularity of Lamb’s No. 88 isn’t all that stunning, but it is interesting.

If we ranked teams by jersey sales, the Browns — boosted by sales of Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham jerseys — would have won Super Bowl LIV. Popularity matters, though, and right now Tagovalioa is the class president.

By the way, Burrow wears number 9.

THIS AND THAT

AVAILABLE FREE AGENTS

From the experts of ESPN.com:

Cam Newton, Devonta Freeman, Jadeveon Clowney, Logan Ryan — there are still several attractive NFL free agents left on the market.

Which teams should pursue them? We asked ESPN NFL writers Matt Bowen, Jeremy Fowler and Field Yates to pick the best team fits for the top 18 players who are still unsigned.

Here’s where they think each player should sign, starting with quarterbacks and ending with a safety (ages for each player are from when the 2020 season begins):

Cam Newton, QB

2019 team: Panthers | Age: 31

The former No. 1 overall pick, who was released by Carolina in March, made just two starts in 2019. He’s still rehabbing from surgery in December on his foot.

Matt Bowen, NFL analyst: Rams. If Newton takes on a backup role this season, landing with the Rams is a great spot for him. He would add depth and talent to the quarterback room behind starter Jared Goff, and Sean McVay’s play-action route tree would cater to Newton as a thrower.

Jeremy Fowler, national NFL writer: Seahawks. The Seahawks would be open to adding Newton — they get more creative with the free-agent market than most — but wouldn’t pay much for a backup quarterback. Maybe that doesn’t matter to Newton, who can prioritize fit over contract as he attempts to reignite his career. He would fit seamlessly in Seattle’s offense, and starting jobs simply aren’t available.

Field Yates, NFL analyst: Seahawks. If Newton were to consider going the Andy Dalton/Jameis Winston route, Seattle would make a lot of sense. The depth after Russell Wilson is led by undrafted rookie Anthony Gordon, so while Seattle has never had to worry about life without Russ since he entered the league — Wilson hasn’t missed a game — Newton would provide invaluable insurance. Seattle is a franchise that perpetually preaches the importance of competing; it’s a place in which, I believe, Cam would see value on a one-year basis.

Joe Flacco, QB

2019 team: Broncos | Age: 35

Flacco made eight starts for Denver last season, throwing six touchdown passes and five interceptions while completing 65.3% of his passes. He went on injured reserve in November with a herniated disk in his neck, but he had surgery in April and is expected to be ready for the season.

Bowen: Vikings. They drafted Iowa’s Nate Stanley in the seventh round as a developmental prospect, but adding Flacco — who has experience in play-action/boot systems — would improve the depth behind Kirk Cousins.

Fowler: Bengals. Cincinnati could use a veteran to help guide rookie Joe Burrow, and who better to do so than a former Super Bowl winner who understands the nuances of the AFC North? Flacco can help win games if called upon but isn’t a threat to a young player at this stage in his career, assuming he’s healthy by the time the season begins.

Yates: Jets. They re-signed David Fales and drafted James Morgan in the fourth round this year, but Flacco’s extensive experience as a starter would be an asset as Sam Darnold continues to grow in his third season. While the two are not carbon copies stylistically, Flacco — if he’s willing to be a veteran tutor — would be a nice addition for the Jets.

Devonta Freeman, RB

2019 team: Falcons | Age: 28

Freeman started 14 games last season but averaged just 3.6 yards per carry, and the Falcons released him in March after six seasons.

Bowen: Buccaneers. The receiving traits would be a boost to Tom Brady and the Tampa offense, and Freeman also could share carries in a committee approach with Ronald Jones, who showed flashes of his potential last season, and rookie Ke’Shawn Vaughn.

Fowler: Panthers. Most teams have filled their running back needs, so let’s go left and get Christian McCaffrey some help. Carolina should try to preserve McCaffrey when possible, and Freeman’s pass-catching ability would fit nicely with Joe Brady’s attack.

Yates: Buccaneers. This is a fun fit. I know they’ve made running back investments this offseason, but I’d love to see Freeman on a one-year deal. He’s an excellent pass-catcher and a tough-as-nails pass-protector who could help them right away.

Taylor Gabriel, WR

2019 team: Bears | Age: 29

Gabriel spent the past two seasons in Chicago, where he appeared in 25 games and caught six touchdown passes. The Bears cut him in February, just halfway through his contract as concussions limited him to only nine games last season.

Bowen: Packers. After passing on the wide receiver position in the draft, Gabriel would give Green Bay a vertical stretch option. And this team needs some juice down the field for Aaron Rodgers.

Fowler: Vikings. Minnesota could use an infusion of speed, and Taylor could bolster Minnesota’s reverse and screen games. I like Green Bay here, but the Packers have been allergic to the receiver position this offseason.

Yates: Jets. They are still in need of padding their receiver depth, and Gabriel would add even more speed to a team that signed Breshad Perriman and drafted Denzel Mims. More weapons for Sam Darnold is a good thing.

Delanie Walker, TE

2019 team: Titans | Age: 36

Walker suffered a devastating ankle injury in the 2018 season opener that not only cost him the rest of that season, but limited him to seven games in 2019. The Titans cut Walker in March after seven seasons.

Bowen: Ravens. Signing in Baltimore makes sense for Walker given the Ravens’ offensive structure. Multiple tight ends, play-action and middle-of-the-field throws. Plus, at this stage of his career, Walker would join a team eyeing a championship run.

Fowler: Cowboys. Replace one aging veteran (Jason Witten) with another. On a sensible one-year deal, Walker could mentor young starter Blake Jarwin while providing valuable late-season play.

Yates: Chiefs. They haven’t made a major tight end investment this offseason, but a little bit of depth behind Travis Kelce could go a long way. Walker on a one-year deal with the chance to win big would be a smart move.

Jason Peters, OT

2019 team: Eagles | Age: 38

Peters spent 11 seasons in Philadelphia, starting 140 games. The Eagles re-signed him to a one-year contract last year, and he started 13 games in 2019.

Bowen: Redskins. Re-signing with the Eagles could be the play here for Peters, but what about division rival Washington, which just traded away Trent Williams? Peters would upgrade the left tackle position for new coach Ron Rivera.

Fowler: Chargers. This team doesn’t have a clear-cut answer at left tackle, and the roster is ready-made for a playoff push. Adding an established veteran with Pro Bowl pedigree only enhances that belief.

Yates: Eagles. There seems to be some buzz surrounding a return to Philly for Peters, who will immediately take back over at the left tackle spot. Andre Dillard, a first-round pick in 2019, has plenty of promise, but his rookie season came with hurdles. Peters back to the Eagles adds up.

Larry Warford, G

2019 team: Saints | Age: 29

Warford made the Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons in New Orleans, but the team used a first-round pick on an interior lineman in April and last week released Warford.

Bowen: Bears. Chicago signed veteran guard Germain Ifedi to a one-year deal this offseason. Adding Warford, however, would bolster the interior of the offensive line and the run game.

Fowler: Lions. Reuniting with Warford, the Lions’ third-round pick in 2013, gives Detroit an upgrade over Joe Dahl or Oday Aboushi. It also gives draft pick Jonah Jackson a year to develop.

Yates: Browns. Cleveland has four of five offensive line spots locked in, but right guard remains the one spot in which a competition is likely to ensue. Warford would be a plug-and-play starter, and Cleveland has the financial flexibility to bring him in.

Jadeveon Clowney, DE

2019 team: Seahawks | Age: 27

Clowney was traded to Seattle before the 2019 season, and he had three sacks in 13 games for the Seahawks. The 2014 No. 1 overall pick had core muscle surgery this offseason, which has stalled his market, but he says he’ll be ready for training camp.

Bowen: Jets. Not only would Clowney address a need in New York, but he would fit Gregg Williams’ multiple defensive scheme. Clowney is a straight-line power defender who can rush off the edge or be used off the ball to create pass-rush matchups. A one-year deal in New York makes sense here.

Fowler: Browns. They’ve come closer than anyone to signing Clowney, and they can easily switch out Olivier Vernon’s $15.5 million cap number with Clowney’s salary on a one-year deal. The Titans remain in the mix, but pairing Myles Garrett with Clowney would be dangerous in the AFC North.

Yates: Titans. Sometimes when there is smoke, there’s fire. Tennessee has publicly acknowledged that it has communicated with Clowney, who would reunite with Mike Vrabel (from their Texans days) and provide a boost to their edge play.

Everson Griffen, DE

2019 team: Vikings | Age: 32

Griffen has spent his entire 10-year career in Minnesota. He had eight sacks last season and has 74.5 for his career.

Bowen: Seahawks. The Seahawks are a zone-heavy team that relies on the front four to create pressure. That’s why I like Griffen in Seattle. He’s an easy fit in the Seahawks’ 40 front with the experienced technique, power and short-area speed to get to the quarterback.

Fowler: Seahawks. Looks like we’re all in agreement here. Makes too much sense since Seattle has been looking for pass-rush help for months but won’t meet Clowney’s price tag. Griffen is cheaper but still productive.

Yates: Seahawks. As Matt alluded to, the Seahawks are an ideal fit. There’s been speculation of a possible Griffen signing in Seattle, as he played for Pete Carroll in college at USC and they still need pass-rushers.

Damon Harrison, DT

2019 team: Lions | Age: 31

Better known as “Snacks,” Harrison will enter his ninth year in the league searching for a fourth team. He started 15 games for the Lions last season; Detroit released him in February with two years remaining on his contract.

Bowen: Titans. Harrison isn’t going to give the Titans production on passing downs. As a run defender in early-down and distance situations, though, Harrison can eat up blockers and create disruption versus the running game.

Fowler: Jaguars. Jacksonville is hoping for a big third season from Taven Bryan but could use more depth on the interior. Adding Harrison, an established run-stuffer, strengthens a steady four-man rotation inside.

Yates: Packers. Green Bay would be a logical fit in a division that features three teams who want to pound the rock that they will face each season. Snacks is still one of the game’s great run-stuffers.

Mike Daniels, DT

2019 team: Lions | Age: 31

Daniels was picked up last season by the Lions after spending his first seven seasons with the Packers. He was limited to nine games because of a foot injury and went on injured reserve in Week 15 with an arm injury.

Bowen: Eagles. When the Eagles made their championship run in 2018, the defensive line was deep. Adding a veteran such as Daniels gives them another interior tackle who can log reps — especially in the postseason.

Fowler: Titans. Tennessee might strike out on the top pass-rushers but could get a boost in Daniels, who has Pro Bowl pedigree, can apply quarterback pressure and has experience in a 3-4 scheme.

Yates: Panthers. Carolina used all of its picks on defense in the draft and should keep adding depth going forward. Daniels’ price tag will be modest, so while he might not be the archetype tackle the Panthers are looking for, he can help bring some snaps to an area of need.

Markus Golden, OLB

2019 team: Giants | Age: 29

Golden played on a one-year deal with the Giants last season, posting 10 sacks while starting every game.

Bowen: Lions. Detroit drafted Notre Dame outside linebacker Julian Okwara in the third round, but why stop there? The Lions are a heavy man-coverage team, and they couldn’t get to the quarterback consistently in 2019. Adding Golden gives coach Matt Patricia another edge rusher for which to scheme.

Fowler: Giants. Applying an unrestricted free-agent tender on Golden shows the Giants want him back but at a modest price ($4.125 million, 110% of last year’s salary). They should be able to work something out with the productive pass-rusher who’s a good locker room fit there.

Yates: Jets. The Jets still need pass-rushers and Golden can certainly still get home to the quarterback. A one-year deal might be the most sensible path.

Clay Matthews, OLB

2019 team: Rams | Age: 34

Matthews had eight sacks with the Rams last season after leaving the Packers. It was his best sack total since 2014. Still, Los Angeles released him in March.

Bowen: Buccaneers. They don’t have a desperate need here with starters Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul rushing off the edge. But Matthews could find a role as a rotational player, where Todd Bowles schemes him up to get some one-on-one rushes.

Fowler: Cardinals. Arizona’s offseason moves show it expects big things in 2020, and most good teams have quality pass-rush depth. The Cardinals might use Haason Reddick as more of a true pass-rusher this season, but they still need help behind Chandler Jones and Devon Kennard.

Yates: Buccaneers. Their top two edge rushers are locked in, with Pierre-Paul and 2019 sack-king Barrett, but Matthews would provide some much-needed depth.

Mark Barron, LB

2019 team: Steelers | Age: 30

Barron, a 2012 first-round pick, had 82 tackles, three sacks and an interception with the Steelers last season. He enters his ninth NFL season looking for his fourth team.

Bowen: Cowboys. I like Barron in Dallas as a versatile nickel defender. That would allow them to utilize Barron as a nickel safety/linebacker to match up to tight ends or drop as a zone defender — with the speed to close on the ball.

Fowler: Eagles. Barron doesn’t have elite speed but is still capable in coverage. The Eagles can add a situational linebacker to help with their third-down defense, and linebacker is an area in which Philly could add depth.

Yates: Broncos. They play in a division with Travis Kelce, Hunter Henry and Darren Waller. Having a hybrid defensive player to try to measure up against them is key; Barron has some of the requisite skills.

Logan Ryan, CB

2019 team: Titans | Age: 29

Ryan spent the past three seasons in Tennessee, where he started 45 games after signing as a free agent from New England. He had four interceptions, 4.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 2019.

Bowen: Jets. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams values defensive backs who create disruption in his scheme. And that’s what Ryan brings as a slot defender and versatile piece in sub packages, where Williams can utilize his traits to disguise both coverage and pressure.

Fowler: Chiefs. Kansas City, which seems to have a perpetual need at corner, thrives off disruption on defense. Ryan fits that bill with his versatility and playmaking. He’d be the ideal slot corner for the Super Bowl champs.

Yates: Jets. They are trending in the right direction under general manager Joe Douglas and would be smart to add Ryan, a talented and versatile cornerback, to their depth chart. His price tag will be substantial, but Ryan’s dependability and skill set make him a player who should continue to be a positive factor for quite some time.

Eli Apple, CB

2019 team: Saints | Age: 25

Apple, a first-round pick in 2016, was traded by the Giants to the Saints during the 2018 season. He started all 25 games in which he appeared for New Orleans, including 15 last season. He agreed to a deal with the Raiders in March, but it fell through.

Bowen: Titans. Yes, the Titans just drafted LSU’s Kristian Fulton in the second round. But you can never have enough defensive backs with coverage traits. And a one-year deal here for Apple gives the Titans more flexibility to play matchups in sub-package sets.

Fowler: Jets. New York took care of slot corner by re-signing Brian Poole, and Apple would provide a matchup corner in a sub-package role. Apple is far from a perfect corner but has length and first-round pedigree, which defensive coordinator Gregg Williams would welcome.

Yates: Texans. The Texans have been willing to take fliers on players while banking on a change of scenery going a long way. Apple would be the latest first-rounder to join the cornerback group, along with Gareon Conley and Vernon Hargreaves III.

Prince Amukamara, CB

2019 team: Bears | Age: 31

Amukamara spent the past three seasons in Chicago, where he started 42 games, including 15 last season. The Bears released him in February with one year remaining on his contract.

Bowen: Rams. New defensive coordinator Brandon Staley was with Amukamara in Chicago, and I expect the Rams will play more split-safety coverage this season. Amukamara fits with the scheme, and he would bring a veteran presence to the L.A. secondary.

Fowler: Buccaneers. The Bucs’ window to win is now, and Amukamara can still cover. Tampa is relying on mostly young corners and could use the veteran presence.

Yates: Titans. There has been some chatter about Adoree’ Jackson moving into a slot role for the Titans, which would open up snaps on the perimeter. While second-rounder Kristian Fulton should see immediate time, Amukamara is a steady veteran who would help too.

Note: The Raiders are finalizing an agreement with Amukamara, a source told ESPN’s Dan Graziano on Tuesday night.

Eric Reid, S

2019 team: Panthers | Age: 28

Reid, a first-round pick in 2013, started all 16 games in Carolina last season, racking up 130 tackles and four sacks. He was released in March, only one season into a three-year extension.

Bowen: Falcons. Safety Keanu Neal is the perfect fit for Dan Quinn’s defense, but the former first-round pick has dealt with injuries the past two seasons, playing in just four games. Reid fits here as a physical safety who can play top-down on the ball and also create more depth in the Atlanta secondary.

Fowler: Falcons. Injuries have forced the Falcons to evaluate their safety rotation, and Reid would provide stability. He also brings an edge to the field that Atlanta’s defense needs.

Yates: Texans. Eric’s younger brother, Justin, is already an ascending safety for the Texans. He has advocated for bringing Eric aboard, and I’m in line with that idea. The elder Reid was productive for Carolina last season and could start for a team in 2020.

BROADCAST NEWS

Richard Dietsch of The Athletic helps ESPN pick its new Monday Night crew.

It is not often someone who works on-air in sports broadcasting publicly advocates for a job. Privately, on-air talent will lobby harder than a K-Street veteran. But declaring that ambition openly is not something often seen. It’s why I appreciated the honesty of ESPN NFL analyst Louis Riddick when I interviewed him in March 2018 for a sports media podcast. Riddick had no problem letting the world know of his interest in Monday Night Football.

“It is the pinnacle of broadcasting as far as I am concerned, the most iconic position in broadcasting,” Riddick said. “To be involved with Monday Night Football either as a play-by-play person or analyst is something I am hoping I can achieve.”

Riddick was one of 12 potential Monday Night Football analyst candidates — from Jared Allen to Joe Thomas to Kurt Warner — who auditioned in 2018 for the job after Jon Gruden left for the Raiders in January of that year.

The auditions took place over a six-week period in March and April 2018 as each candidate called mock games with Joe Tessitore, who ESPN had tapped to replace Sean McDonough as the voice of the football franchise. Said Tessitore of Riddick’s audition: “The most unique perspective of anybody who called a game, from the front office stuff and knowing the league inside and out. He didn’t just speak X/O and not just big picture, but player development, technique. You can go in any direction with Lou. It does not matter. I found it fascinating to work with him.”

You know what ultimately happened. ESPN decided on a three-person booth featuring Tessitore, Jason Witten and Booger McFarland. Witten was coming off a storied career with the Dallas Cowboys and ESPN was hoping to emulate the success that CBS had plucking Tony Romo immediately off the field and placing him on its top team. The network believed the chemistry would be great, especially given Tessitore and McFarland had a great friendship from their days at the SEC Network.

Two years later, ESPN management finds itself once again searching for a Monday Night Football booth. On Saturday, The Athletic broke the news that Tessitore and McFarland will not return to the program for the 2020 NFL season (whenever that begins). Both are highly thought of by ESPN management and will be reassigned to prominent roles. Ultimately, I think this will turn out to be a terrific turn of events for both. Tessitore was a sensational college football game-caller prior to the MNF job and his amped style is ready-made for college football. He developed a bit of cult following given how many college football games seem to go down to the wire when he was on the mic (“The Tess Effect”). The Monday Night Football gig obviously has glamour (and a pay raise) but it can be an unforgiving assignment. McFarland was pilloried on social media – and ESPN did not help him with the inane crane idea – but prior to his MNF gig he was a terrific and prepared voice on everything he did, from his work on the SEC Network and as an ABC college football studio analyst.

The replacement for both the Monday Night Football play-by-play role and analyst job will come from inside ESPN. The front-running names have been leaked and the Miami Herald and New York Post reported that Steve Levy has emerged as the most likely candidate to replace Tessitore on play-by-play. Levy would do a professional job.

What I am about to propose is a roadmap for ESPN to have an excellent booth for this season (whenever it takes place) as well as one that would appeal to the NFL for ESPN’s long-term dream — to become part of the Super Bowl rotation. It is a booth young enough to grow into something great.

If I were ESPN management, my Monday Night Football booth would be Dave Pasch, Kurt Warner and Riddick.

Pasch already works for ESPN. He has been a terrific play-caller in everything he does, be it college football, college basketball, the NBA or anything else. He understands how to let his analysts shine (see his work with Bill Walton or Doris Burke). He has a sense of humor. Here is something you might not know: He has been the radio play-by-play voice of the Arizona Cardinals since 2002. That means he walks into the booth with decades of experience calling the NFL. He would be excellent.

Warner has been a terrific game analyst over the past two seasons working with Kevin Harlan on Westwood One’s Monday Night Football and Super Bowl broadcasts. He’s already committed to working this terrain and he knows the league given his Westwood One assignment and working as a studio analyst for the NFL Network. Warner would give ESPN the Super Bowl-winning quarterback cachet (see failed pursuits of Peyton Manning.) A bonus: He and Pasch have known each other for years and have immense respect for each other. I have been told in the past that contractually Warner could make this work if offered (and if interested).

One of the annoying things about sports broadcasting is the reflexive nature of sports television executives when it comes to chasing big names. The theory goes that a big name helps sell the game with media buyers — and provides a ready-made sell to market the product to the public. There is some truth there. But what is missing from most NFL announcing teams is differentiation. That’s why Tony Romo was a revelation. He saw the game differently and was able to explain that to the audience. Riddick sees the game from the perspective of a personnel director. He also played safety in the NFL for seven years so he’s a unique hybrid. He’s no-nonsense. He doesn’t do Jon Gruden shtick. He’s a serious fellow. Would I want that for every moment of a game? No. But I think in a three-person booth Riddick would be an invaluable educational tool. His elevation would also signal that hard work and grind can lead you to the top of the analyst chart in sports broadcasting. As a former safety, he’d give the broadcast someone who saw the field as a player on defense to work with a former quarterback. Best of all worlds.

UNLOCKING THE LOCKDOWN

As Dr. Anthony Fauci testifies that lockdowns are essential to meeting the minimum standard of compelled compassion, there were troubling signs that California LockDown authorities are taking their responsibilities in that regard seriously.  The Cal State University system announces in mid-May that its campuses will be off-limits to students this fall and the Health Commissar of Los Angeles County vows to severely restrict her subjects until at least September.

On the positive side, Arizona will allow professional sports teams to resume activities this month.

Leading to this from Sam Farmer, a prisoner of Los Angeles Count

@anneryman

BREAKING: Major League Sports can resume after May 15 in Arizona.

Sam Farmer Retweeted

Ladies and gentlemen, your Glendale (Ariz.) Rams.

This from Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com on the NFL’s awareness of possible banishment from the once-Golden State:

Amid increasing speculation that NFL games won’t be able to proceed with fans or at all in California in 2020, the NFL hasn’t ruled out the possibility of moving the 49ers, Rams, and/or Chargers to other states for the coming season.

“We are preparing to play the 2020 NFL season as scheduled and with increased protocols and safety measures for all players, personnel and attendees,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told Gilbert Manzano of the Southern California News Group in response to a request for comment on the possibility of staging games involving the L.A. teams in other locations. “This includes games at SoFi Stadium. We will be prepared to make adjustments as necessary, as we have during this offseason, demonstrating that we can safely and efficiently conduct key activities, such as free agency, the virtual offseason program, and the 2020 NFL Draft.”

The league has firmly committed to a noncommittal approach, neither confirming nor ruling out anything while generally reiterating that the plan is to proceed, but to adjust if needed. As previously noted, it wouldn’t be difficult to move the three California teams to other stadiums. It’s also possible that both L.A. teams will share the new venue in Las Vegas, with the Raiders.

“We will continue to make decisions based on the latest advice of medical and public health officials, as well as in full compliance with current and future government regulations,” McCarthy said. “Our primary focus will be on protecting the health of our fans, players, club and league personnel and our communities.”

The pending stay-at-home order in Los Angeles County is expected to remain in place through July. While that doesn’t affect the Rams and Chargers, who aren’t headquartered in L.A. County, their new stadium is. If/when the county’s stay-at-home order extends beyond August 1, this will affect the preseason and/or the start of the regular season.

Which means that the NFL will need to be ready to move the California teams to other states. Which will require negotiation between the league and the NFL Players Association, given that players will be yanked for the season out of their homes and dropped into some other location.

And a restricted version of European soccer is returning. Nick Shook of NFL.com:

An interesting case study is about to begin in Germany with the restart of Bundesliga play, and the NFL is watching closely.

Soccer’s return without fans in Europe on May 16 will provide the NFL with its closest comparison to date since the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the world and shut down major sports two months ago. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy told Newsday’s Bob Glauber the league has “been in contact with all domestic leagues, but also sports organizations around the world,” and has compiled “a number of protocols” to “see what works, see what can translate into our sport.”

Soccer provides the NFL with its best tool for comparison, at least among those currently available.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and James Palmer elaborated on the process that the league is working through in attempting to plan multiple scenarios for activity starting with training camp.

“I know some baseball leagues have already restarted but when you’re talking about soccer you’re talking about a league that is going to have a lot of close contact in the way that the NFL is going to have,” Garafolo said during Tuesday’s NFL NOW. “So not only the league but also the NFLPA is going to be keeping a close eye on this one to see how is this going to work in the restart.”

Close contact is still much more frequent in football than it is soccer, but the number of active on-field participants and the overall nature of the sports at least offer the NFL something of a trial. The league can observe how these leagues go about returning and operating safely, learn from successes and mistakes and apply them accordingly.

“They’re watching leagues all over the world,” Palmer said. “The English Premier League could potentially start on June 1 and that’s one of the major leagues in sports around the globe.

“Any league that resembles closer to contact than baseball does is something to keep an eye on.”

The league sent out a memo last week detailing the path to reopening team facilities with a deadline of this Friday for when club protocols must be in place.

As uncertainty continues to reign during this unprecedented time, essentially everything remains on the table. The goal, of course, is to proceed as normal as possible. Training camps typically wouldn’t open for another 9-10 weeks. Until then, the league is continuously working to be prepared for every possible scenario.