National Football League roundup

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[August 18, 2015]  Aug 17 (The Sports Xchange) - The Arizona Cardinals and running back Chris Johnson agreed to a one-year deal Monday.

The contract can be worth as much as $2 million, according to Rand Getlin of NFL Media.

Johnson had been recovering from a gunshot wound to the arm suffered during a drive-by shooting in Orlando, Fla., in March. He passed a physical with the Cardinals on Sunday.

Johnson, 29, rushed for 663 yards for the New York Jets last season, averaging 4.3 yards per carry.

Johnson's best year was 2009, when he led the NFL with 2,006 rushing yards.

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The New York Jets were not pleased to hear about quarterback Geno Smith throwing footballs to a friend only two days after surgery to repair a fractured jaw.

The New York Post photographed a shirtless Smith playing catch with a friend on Saturday at his apartment complex.

"He shouldn't be doing it right now," head coach Todd Bowles said after Sunday's practice. "We handled that internally. We had that discussion. He just got surgery; you don't want him getting infected."

Meanwhile, Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall said he witnessed the Smith-IK Enemkpali altercation and the quarterback is being unfairly portrayed as the instigator.

"Did he put his finger in his face? No, he didn't," Marshall said on "Mike & Mike" on ESPN Radio. "Geno Smith, he didn't do anything wrong that day. It's just an unfortunate situation."

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Houston Texans outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney's long-anticipated return took place Monday morning with the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft saying he felt "pretty good."

Clowney was officially activated from the physically unable to perform list to practice on a limited basis in his first football activity since undergoing microfracture knee surgery in December.

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Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Ryan Seymour has been suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.


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Seymour played in 11 games last season, including three starts after center Alex Mack suffered a broken leg.

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Washington Redskins president Bruce Allen made it clear with a one word answer that the organization will not reconsider changing the team's name even if there is a political barrier to building a new stadium.

The Redskins are in the early process of finding a new home and have explored potential sites. Possible locations include in Maryland, where the Redskins now play, in Washington, D.C., where they used to play, and in Virginia, where they train.

Allen was asked at a news conference whether the team would consider changing its name to build a new home.

"No," Allen said, without elaboration

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Former NFL wide receiver James Thrash will join Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks as an appeals officer for on-field player discipline beginning this season.

The NFL and NFL Players Association made the announcement. Thrash and Brooks are jointly appointed and compensated by the league and NFLPA. Brooks was appointed last year. (Editing by Andrew Both)

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