Thursday, August 28, 2014
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National Football League roundup

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[August 28, 2014]  Aug 27 (The Sports Xchange) - Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon was suspended for one year by the NFL on Wednesday for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.

Gordon is not allowed to practice with the Browns, attend team meetings or other club functions for an entire year. He will have to apply for reinstatement following the season.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers won't suspend running backs Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount for their marijuana possession arrests last week, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

The team apparently will let the legal process play out, then wait for the NFL to impose discipline.

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Defensive tackle Jurrell Casey signed a four-year, $36 million contract extension with the Tennessee Titans.

Casey's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, confirmed the deal and said $20.5 million is guaranteed.

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The NFL has fined the Seattle Seahawks $300,000 for violating the collective bargaining agreement provision on offseason no-contact rules.
 


According to ProFootballTalk.com, the NFLPA opened an investigation after learning of a fight during practice between cornerback Richard Sherman and wide receiver Bryan Walters.

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Troy Vincent, the NFL's new executive vice president of football operations, defended the league's two-game ban of Washington Redskins safety Brandon Meriweather for a preseason hit on Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith.

"Brandon has been someone that has been in this particular (situation) multiple times," Vincent told NFL Network. "We've just cited the four or five most recent. But in this particular case, Brandon hit a player in that area that we consider a very sensitive area, which is that head and neck area. So we went back from 2009 to current, and this is technique that we want to remove from the game."

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The Arizona Cardinals signed defensive tackle Tommy Kelly, who was cut by the New England Patriots this week.

Kelly played in five games last year before tearing his ACL.

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Veteran outside linebacker James Harrison was scheduled to visit the Cardinals.

Harrison, 36, played in 10 games with the Cincinnati Bengals last season.

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The Seahawks re-signed running back Demitrius Bronson and claimed center Patrick Lewis off waivers.

The Seahawks also released linebacker Marcus Dowtin and guard Greg Van Roten.

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First-year Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford will not coach in the team's preseason finale Thursday after a medical procedure.

Coach Lovie Smith said Tedford would be out a short period of time, but did not provide details of the procedure or point to a date for his return.

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The Cincinnati Bengals officially signed Pro Bowl linebacker Vontaze Burfict to a contract extension running through the 2017 season.

Burfict's original contract ran through this season, and had that contract run out, he would have been a restricted free agent for 2015.

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The Ravens restructured the contract of starting cornerback Lardarius Webb, reducing his 2014 salary cap figure by $3 million, multiple media outlets reported.

Webb hasn't practiced since hurting his lower back July 25. Coach John Harbaugh said Webb has made significant progress and could return to practice late this week.

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The Ravens signed cornerback Derek Cox, who was released by the Minnesota Vikings this week, to bolster their banged-up secondary.

Cox, a six-year pro, started 11 games last year for the San Diego Chargers. He made 38 tackles, seven pass defenses and one interception.

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Jerry Jones said he wants to make wide receiver Dez Bryant a part of the Dallas Cowboys for life, and the team's owner could be ready to show it with a long-term contract extension.

Discussions aimed at a new deal for Bryant began in 2013, but as recently as Monday the Pro Bowl wide receiver said he would turn off contract talks when the season begins.

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The Cowboys signed familiar running back Phillip Tanner to handle most of the load in the final preseason game.
 


Tanner played for Dallas the past three seasons but got just 12 yards on nine carries last year. After the season, the Cowboys elected not to re-sign Tanner as a restricted free agent. He spent some time with the Indianapolis Colts this offseason and training camp before being released.

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Offensive guard Matt McGlynn signed with the Kansas City Chiefs two days after he was released by the Washington Redskins.

McGlynn, who has 48 career starts in five seasons, rejoins offensive lineman Jeff Linkenbach, who also played for the Indianapolis Colts last season. (Editing by Frank Pingue)

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