National Football League roundup

[January 22, 2015]  Jan 21 (The Sports Xchange) - Now that the NFL investigation has reportedly found 11 of New England's 12 allotted game footballs in the AFC Championship Game were underinflated, the topic continues to be the talk around the nation and league whether the Patriots cheated.

Reports surfaced after the Patriots advanced to the Super Bowl with a 45-7 rout of the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday night that they purposely deflated footballs. ESPN reported Tuesday night that the investigation found the footballs were inflated 2 pounds per square inch below what's required by NFL regulations.

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If the footballs were altered in the AFC Championship Game -- or any game -- Hall of Fame coach John Madden suggests the primary suspect behind whatever happened should be the quarterback, in this case New England's Tom Brady.

"That would have to be driven by the quarterback," Madden told The Sports Xchange on Wednesday. "That's something that wouldn't be driven by a coach or just the equipment guy. Nobody, not even the head coach, would do anything to the football unilaterally, such as adjust the amount of pressure in a ball, without the quarterback not knowing. It would have to be the quarterback's idea."

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Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning wants to return for the 2015 season but can't make a final decision until he takes his annual physical, the Denver Post reported Wednesday.

Three sources told columnist Woody Paige that Manning will await tests on his neck and the thigh injury that bothered him at the end of the season and seemed to significantly impair his ability to throw the ball.

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The Cleveland Browns hired Oakland Raiders quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo as their offensive coordinator on Wednesday.

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Jacksonville Jaguars coach Gus Bradley is excited about adding two assistants to his staff with a wealth of coaching experience.

The Jaguars officially announced Wednesday the hiring of former Buffalo Bills head coach Doug Marrone as assistant head coach for offense and offensive line coach and former Oakland Raiders assistant Greg Olson as the new offensive coordinator.

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Woody Johnson has presided over what passes for one of the most successful eras in New York Jets history. But the team's owner knows merely getting close to the Super Bowl a few times will not suffice for a franchise -- and a fan base -- that is 46 years removed from Joe Namath running off the field with his right pointer finger raised high in the air after the Super Bowl III upset of the Baltimore Colts.

In general manager Mike Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles, Johnson believes he has the people in place who can turn the Jets into an elite team.

"These gentlemen sitting to my left are, in my estimation, the people to do it," Johnson said. "I have a lot of confidence in them based on the short time I've known them. I'm very, very encouraged that they can put it together."

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The futures of Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne and defensive end Cory Redding remain up in the air now that the 2014 season is over.

Wayne played most of the 2014 season with an elbow injury and a torn muscle near the elbow. His status for 2015 has not been determined. Wayne's contract expires March 10.

Redding has not made a decision whether he will be returning for the 2015 season. Redding, who is 34, has hinted during the season that this year might have been his last in the NFL.

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The stage was set for Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty to prove to NFL scouts that he has the skill-set to start at the next level in a pro-style scheme based on the makeup of roster at the Senior Bowl this week.

And while he showed some improvements during practice, there are still more questions than answers about Petty's future in the NFL. During Wednesday morning's practice, his footwork was good. He displayed good movements skills with three- and five-step drops and improved timing with his targets. (Editing by Frank Pingue)

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