By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The ugliest moment from the Rams‘ Monday night shutout loss to the 49ers came when Aaron Donald lost his cool and was ejected.

The NFL has responded in kind, fining Donald twice for his outburst in the 28-0 defeat in Santa Clara. Donald was fined $9,115 for unnecessary roughness and $12,154 for unsportsmanlike conduct, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, according to a source with knowledge of the fines.

Donald is set to make $1.34 million in base salary this season, per spotrac.com. When divvied up into 16 game checks, Donald’s total fines of $21,269 account for close to a fourth of his gross income from his Week 1 check, and that’s well before Uncle Sam gets his cut.

Elsewhere in league fines:

1. Antonio Brown was fined $9,115 for unsportsmanlike conduct (touchdown celebration) and $6,076 for a uniform violation (powder-blue accents on cleats), Rapoport reported.

By Around the NFL staff
NFL.com
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Week 2 of the NFL season is upon us, and that means it’s time for another round of bold predictions. As always, this week’s edition of fearless prognostications includes a macho helping of audaciousness and abandon as we head into Sunday and Monday’s contests. Warning: these predictions are not for the faint of heart.

Dez Bryant bounces back with two scores — on Josh Norman

Much has been made about Dez Bryant‘s lone catch in the Cowboys’ season-opening loss to the Giants. Are Dak Prescott and Bryant on the same page? Will Josh Norman cover Dez Bryant? To that we can probably answer yes, especially after all of the fire Norman received in the media after largely not covering Antonio Brown in Week 1. But where the narrative turns, and where this prediction becomes bold, is in this matchup. Bryant bounces back from the one-catch game last week by ordering a full-course meal, tightening the napkin in his collar and feasting on Norman. Prescott finds Bryant close to 10 times, and two of them go for touchdowns. Bryant utilizes his big frame to go up over Norman to catch a jump ball inside the red zone for six, then breaks a big one later in the game as Dallas proves Week 1 was nothing to fret about. Terrance Williams doesn’t have to worry about getting out of bounds this week as Bryant gets back on track and the Cowboys roll to an emphatic Week 2 win over Washington. — Nick Shook

To read the full Week 2 bold predictions from the Around the NFL writers, click here.

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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After a week of speculation and worry about lingering health issues, Sammy Watkins is active.

The Bills receiver was not among the team’s inactives posted before Buffalo’s Thursday night game against the New York Jets. Watkins had been dealing with discomfort in his surgically repaired footsince Buffalo’s Week 1 loss to Baltimore, but guaranteed earlier in the week that he would play.

Buffalo and New York kick off at 8:25 p.m.

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Antonio Brown is all about the show.

In a league filled with entertainers, Brown rises to the cream of the crop by design. He has flashy hair, a great fashion sense and loves to get down in the end zone. He added fancy, powder-blue cleats to that on Monday, for which he was later fined by the league, Brown told ESPN on Thursday.

Oh, and about that penchant for dancing …

In case you weren’t coherent for the Twerk Heard ‘Round the World, Brown scored, gyrated (a dance he called the “Boomin'”) and drew a flag for a 15-yard penalty. The dance solicited the second of Brown’s two fines from Monday’s game. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Questions surround all things Dallas Cowboys during Week 2.

Is there a problem with Dak Prescott‘s rapport with Dez Bryant? Is Bryant concerned about which Redskins corner will cover him Sunday?

Prescott played Mr. Relax, assuaging the fears concerning the connection with his best target. Bryant, meanwhile, welcomed the test. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Rex Ryan isn’t buying any talk about the decline of Darrelle Revis.

Ryan is obviously familiar with Revis, who used to be the crown jewel of the secondary of Ryan’s defenses in New York. Revis established Revis Island under Ryan. And even after Revis was torched by A.J. Green to the tune of 10 catches for 180 yards and a touchdown, Ryan isn’t letting the doubters affect his opinion.

“Everybody’s — they’re going to be down on Revis because he had a poor game or whatever,” Ryan told reporters Tuesday. “I mean, the receiver there in Cincinnati (A.J. Green) is pretty darn good and if you’re locked up (in) man coverage with anybody, then it’s a tough situation. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The C.J. Spiller experiment is over before it ever really started in New Orleans.

The Saints have released the running back, per the league’s transaction wire. Spiller spent Sunday’s game against the Oakland Raiders on the inactive list.

The release is the latest disappointment to come from Spiller’s professional career, which began with great hope and potential after he spent Saturdays bursting through holes and speeding down sidelines as a Clemson Tiger. He looked to be the next star running back when the Bills took him ninth overall in 2010, but struggles and the injury bug have held him back ever since. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Tuesday was a mildly encouraging day for those in Sammy Watkins‘ camp.

The Bills wide receiver was listed as a non-participant in the team’s regular practice, but was dressed for the walkthrough portion, per the team’s media department. Watkins has been dealing with discomfort in his surgically repaired foot since Sunday’s 13-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday. He officially was listed as not practicing with a foot injury.

On Monday, the receiver said he went to see the team’s trainer because it “felt like it was tired,” and he “wanted to make sure everything was fine.” He added that he will be playing Thursday against the New York Jets. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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A day after being a surprise on the inactives list, Chris Ivory remains hospitalized, the team announced Monday.

Ivory was admitted to the hospital Sunday morning with a general medical issue, but the team did not specify the issue. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported the issue is unrelated to the calf issue that landed Ivory in the questionable section of the team’s injury report. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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When a young quarterback takes the field, a reliable tight end can serve as his safety blanket, and become a frequent target.

Zach Ertz played that role in Carson Wentz‘s debut, and was an important part of Philadelphia’s 29-10 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. We found out on Monday that Ertz did so with a displaced rib for much of the game.

“Happened in the first quarter on their sideline,” Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said. …”We knew when he came off, right away, (Eagles head athletic trainer Chris) Peduzzi said he’s got a left shoulder strain … but as the game wore on, I didn’t know anything was more serious than that.” Continue reading →