National Football League roundup

[January 09, 2015]  Jan 8 (The Sports Xchange) - Independent investigator Robert Mueller's report on the Ray Rice case found no evidence that the NFL saw, before it was released, the in-elevator video of the former Baltimore Ravens running back hitting his now-wife but suggested that the league could have done more to determine what happened.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell contended that the league had not seen video of Rice punching Janay Rice in an Atlantic City elevator last winter. Goodell and 50 other league employees were interviewed by Mueller's investigators, including all the women who were at the league office in New York on April 9 when the elevator video was reportedly sent there.

"We found no evidence that anyone at the NFL had or saw the in-elevator video before it was publicly shown. We also found no evidence that a woman at the NFL acknowledged receipt of that video in a voicemail message on April 9, 2014," the report said.

"We concluded there was substantial information about the incident -- even without the in-elevator video -- indicating the need for a more thorough investigation. The NFL should have done more with the information it had, and should have taken additional steps to obtain all available information about the February 15 incident."

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The Cleveland Browns and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan parted ways on Thursday after reports surfaced that friction between the coaching staff and front office became an issue for the first-year assistant.

Shanahan met with owner Jimmy Haslam on Wednesday and requested his release, which was granted. Quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains was fired.

Shanahan, among others, is a candidate to fill the head-coaching vacancy with the Buffalo Bills.

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Ryan Pace will be the next general manager of the Chicago Bears. The team agreed to hire the veteran personnel man who spent 14 seasons with the New Orleans Saints in various roles, including the past two as director of player personnel.

Pace, 37, is the NFL's youngest general manager.

He replaced Phil Emery, who was fired Dec. 29 after three seasons as general manager.

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was back on the practice field on Thursday after resting and undergoing treatment on his injured left calf for more than a week.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Rodgers looked fine moving around on the field and that he took approximately 50 percent to 60 percent of the reps with the Green Bay offense. He sat out two light team practices last week and Wednesday's session.

ESPN reported Rodgers has a slight tear in the calf in addition to the strain. Rodgers said before returning to practice that he intended to play against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in an NFC divisional round game in Green Bay.

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The NFL rejected an appeal by Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch challenging a $100,000 fine for his failure to talk with the media.

Lynch received several warnings from the league office about not speaking with reporters before the fine -- $50,000 for this season and $50,000 for last season -- was handed down on Nov. 19.

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San Diego Chargers offensive lineman Jeromey Clary announced his retirement after nine seasons in the NFL.

Clary, 31, was a sixth-round pick by the Chargers in 2006 and started 93 of 103 regular-season games. A right tackle much of his career, Clary moved to guard in 2013. His missed the 2014 season after three hip surgeries during a six-month span. (Editing by Andrew Both)

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