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 If a new policy is agreed upon, those players' suspensions could
be reduce or overturned, according to multiple reports.
In a radio interview Friday, NFL Players Association Executive
Director DeMaurice Smith said if the new policy is approved, players
who have been recently suspended under the old rules should have
their sanctions revised or revoked.
"If we get a deal done that covers players in this league year, I
don't like that we punish players under a deal active in the old
league year," Smith told 106.7 The Fan in Washington. "We don't want
players to suffer because the union and the league couldn't get it
done before the league year."
Two sources close to the negotiations told The Washington Post that
an agreement on a new drug policy probably would have to be
completed before Sunday's games are played for Gordon and Welker to
have their suspensions modified.
- - -
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has been officially listed
as questionable for the season opener at Tampa Bay, but he practiced
for the first time this week.
Newton fractured his ribs two weeks ago against the New England
Patriots in preseason and will be a game-time decision against the
Buccaneers.
Newton, the first pick of the 2011 draft, took all of the first-team
game plan snaps as well as the practice snaps Friday. He showed no
sign of pain or stiffness as he went through all of his throws,
according to ESPN.com.
- - -
New England listed quarterback Tom Brady, as well as tight end Rob
Grankowski, as questionable as the Patriots prepare for Sunday's
season opener at Miami.
Brady said he will be "ready to go" despite a calf injury.
Brady's backup, rookie second-round pick Jimmy Garoppolo, took the
first-team snaps Thursday.
- - -
The Cincinnati Bengals re-signed defensive tackle and 2012
second-round pick Devon Still to their practice squad to help him
pay for his four-year-old daughter's cancer treatments since he can
continue to receive full health insurance.
Still, 25, learned in June that his daughter, Leah, has stage-four
pediatric cancer. Since the diagnosis, Still's mind understandably
has not been completely on football as he missed parts of organized
team activities and minicamp this offseason to be with his daughter.
As a member of the practice squad, Still receives health insurance
as well as a weekly salary of $6,300. He gets to remain with the
team that drafted him, without all of the traveling, meaning he can
be closer to his daughter as she undergoes treatments.
- - -
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says defensive end Michael Sam has
a long way to go, but he likes his chances after the team signed the
first openly gay NFL player.
"He's a pass-rusher," Jones said Friday on 105.3 The Fan. "He has a
lot to go when he comes to working in space or a lot to go when it
comes to special teams. It's hard to be just a situational
pass-rusher if you can't be a special teams player, so he's got a
long way to go. He's in a good place."
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Sam had three sacks for the St. Louis Rams during the preseason but didn't
survive the cuts to a 53-man roster because of the team's depth on the
defensive line.
- - -
The Green Bay Packers confirmed that running back Eddie Lacy sustained a
concussion during Thursday night's 36-16 season-opening loss to the
Seattle Seahawks.
The Packers also said starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga suffered a
sprained MCL to his left knee in the second quarter. Coach Mike McCarthy
was unsure how much, if any, time Bulaga would miss.
Lacy, a second-year player, departed in the second half after picking up
34 yards on 12 carries. He left the locker room wearing sunglasses but
could not talk to reporters per the NFL's concussion policy.
- - -
The Packers-Seahawks NFL season opener Thursday night drew a 16.8
overnight rating on NBC - up 4 percent from last year.
The Nielsen rating was compared to last year's Baltimore Ravens-Denver
Broncos opener (16.2) and up 2 percent from Dallas Cowboys-New York
Giants opposite the Democratic National Convention in 2012 (16.5).
- - -
Baltimore Ravens cornerback Lardarius Webb was listed as questionable
for Sunday's home opener against the Cincinnati Bengals despite taking
part in his third consecutive day of full practice.
Webb was sidelined during the preseason due to a lower back injury
suffered July 25, but his availability is key against the Bengals' deep
receiving corps.
- - -
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers listed five players who have been sidelined all
week by injuries as out for Sunday's season opener against the Carolina
Panthers.
Defensive ends William Gholston (shoulder) and Da'Quan Bowers (abdomen),
wide receiver Louis Murphy (back), cornerback Rashaan Melvin (ankle) and
safety Bradley McDougald (knee) are out.
Running backs Mike James (shoulder) and Jorvorskie Lane (hand) and
cornerback Mike Jenkins (hamstring) are listed as probable. (Editing by
Gene Cherry)
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