National Football League roundup

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[April 23, 2015]  April 22 (The Sports Xchange) - Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy has been suspended 10 games without pay for "conduct detrimental to the league."

The NFL Players Association plans to appeal the league's ruling. Hardy has three days to appeal.

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A federal judge approved a settlement between the NFL and retired players that will require the league to pay an unlimited amount for concussion-related medical conditions over the next 65 years.

The settlement approved by U.S. District Judge Anita Brody would pay about $190,000 per person on average, with some eligible for as much as $5 million, depending on age and severity of condition.

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The Miami Dolphins, who gutted their receiving corps earlier this offseason, reportedly signed veteran wide receiver Greg Jennings.

The deal is worth $8 million over two years, according to Pro Football Talk.

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The Cincinnati Bengals signed coach Marvin Lewis to a one-year contract extension, running through the 2016 season.

Lewis now won't be a lame-duck coach this season after the Bengals extended his contract through the 2015 season last year.

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San Diego Chargers general manager Tom Telesco said "it's our plan and intent" for Philip Rivers to remain the team's quarterback.

"It's the same thing I've said for the last four months: Philip's our quarterback and it's our plan and intent that he's our quarterback well into the future," Telesco said Wednesday.

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who has discussed his ambition to one day become a two-sport star, made it clear that he has no plans to leave football for baseball.

Wilson, in an interview with HBO's "Real Sports" that first aired Tuesday night, said the Texas Rangers want him to give baseball an attempt beyond his one-day visits he has made to the past two spring trainings.

"I didn't say I was going to leave the NFL," Wilson said Wednesday on ESPN's "The Herd" radio show. "I love playing the game of football, to be one of 32 men (starting NFL quarterbacks) in the world who get to do what I do. It's a special thing and I've been able to play in two Super Bowls and I'm only 26 years old. That's been a blessing.

"But baseball was my first love since I was 3 years old. It's something that's meant a lot to me. It was my dad's dream for me to play two sports, so I've never killed the dream and probably never will. It's something that I think about all the time."

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Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, projected to be the first overall selection in the draft, has possibly cleared up what happened when he received a shoplifting citation last year for taking crab legs from a Tallahassee, Fla., grocery store.

During an appearance on ESPN's "Draft Academy," Winston said he never stole the crab legs from a Publix grocery store on April 29, 2014, and that they instead were given to him by an employee.

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Like Cleveland Browns coach Mike Pettine, Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden has seen a positive change in quarterback Johnny Manziel.

"(Monday) was the first day, and he stayed about three hours after we had to leave when the time was done," Haden told reporters Tuesday. "Actions speak a lot louder than words. He has a lot to show the people, but he's trying his best. I think he's got his mind right, and he's just ready to get it going."

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A wrongful-death lawsuit filed in 2013 against Aaron Hernandez will proceed now that the former New England Patriots tight end's criminal case has been resolved, and Hernandez is expected to be called to testify.

Hernandez was sentenced to life in prison last week for the murder of Odin Lloyd in 2013, and Ursula Ward, Lloyd's mother, and her attorney talked about the civil lawsuit Wednesday.

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New England Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo, a team captain whose last two seasons have been ended early by injuries, reportedly has restructured his contract to reduce his $6.25 million salary.

Mayo will be guaranteed $4.5 million, with a chance to earn $6 million if he plays in 85 percent of the plays next season, according to reports by FOX Sports and NFL Network. The Patriots also inserted a $4 million option next year to engage the final two years of the contract.



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The Tennessee Titans agreed to contract terms with tackle Byron Bell.

Bell, 26, had been with the Carolina Panthers since 2011, when he was an undrafted free agent. (Editing by Frank Pingue)

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