National Football League roundup

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[September 10, 2015]  Sept 9 (The Sports Xchange) - The New England Patriots have asked the NFL to reinstate John Jastremski and Jim McNally, the suspended employees who allegedly had a role to take air out of game balls in the Deflategate scandal.

The Patriots suspended Jastremski, the team's equipment assistant, and McNally, the team's officials locker room attendant, after the Ted Wells investigation into whether quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots conspired to break rules by intentionally deflating game balls in the AFC Championship game.

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New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin said Wednesday that franchise-tagged defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul is not ready to play since he severely damaged his hand in a July 4 fireworks accident.

Coughlin said Pierre-Paul was "in an outstanding frame of mind" during his two days visiting the Giants and has returned home to south Florida. Coughlin added that Pierre-Paul is "optimistic" and the Giants will continue to "monitor" his progress.

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The Giants and quarterback Eli Manning reportedly are closing in on a contract extension.

According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, there is optimism on both sides that a new deal could be reached by Sunday, when the Giants open the season in Dallas against the Cowboys.

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Five days before their season opener, the Philadelphia Eagles ended talks with quarterback Sam Bradford on a contract extension, ESPN's Ed Werder reported.

The Eagles acquired Bradford in the offseason with a draft pick from the St. Louis Rams for Nick Foles, a 2015 fourth-round pick and a 2016 second-round draft pick.

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The NFL has invited Bruno Mars back for the halftime show at Super Bowl 50.

Multiple media outlets reported Wednesday that the pop star has been offered the headliner spot for the NFL's biggest stage on Feb. 7, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif., at Levi's Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers. Mars previously fronted the Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show in 2014 with a guest appearance from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

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With Kam Chancellor still holding out from the Seattle Seahawks, coach Pete Carroll ruled the safety out of the team's season opener.

"He's not here so he's not playing. That's it," Carroll said at practice Wednesday.

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New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan is under investigation in connection to an incident at a nightclub last weekend.

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The Kansas City Chiefs placed offensive lineman Paul Fanaika on injured reserve and re-signed veteran linebacker Dezman Moses.

The moves come four days before Sunday's opener in Houston against the Texans.

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The Giants signed linebacker Jasper Brinkley after he was released by the Dallas Cowboys.

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Brinkley was cut Monday despite the Cowboys guaranteeing him $2 million in his two-year, $6.5 million deal he signed as a free agent in March. The Giants and Cowboys meet in Sunday night's season opener in Dallas.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed tackle Martin Wallace to the practice squad.

The 6-foot-6, 330-pound Wallace originally entered the league as a college free agent with the Cleveland Browns in 2013, playing in one game for the team that season.

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The Atlanta Falcons signed guard Ben Garland to the practice squad on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Garland was originally signed by the Denver Broncos as a college free agent following the 2010 NFL Draft out of Air Force.

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The prospects for the Miami Dolphins on the offensive line got a lot better when it was revealed that Branden Albert will start at left tackle in Sunday's opener at Washington.

Albert, who tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee in November, is among Miami's best players, regardless of position, and should help the offensive line greatly. It was unknown before Wednesday whether a knee injury would keep him from playing in the opener.

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The Patriots signed defensive back Justin Coleman to the 53-man roster from the Seattle Seahawks' practice squad and placed offensive lineman Bryan Stork on injured reserve on the eve of their season opener.

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Give me an M-I-N-I-M-U-M-W-A-G-E. That is the cry from 19 lawmakers on behalf of cheerleaders for NFL teams. The cheerleaders are currently considered independent contractors, which exempts them from minimum-wage laws.

The lawmakers sent a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, laying out "abuses" against cheerleaders including failure to receive pay in a timely manner, unreimbursed expenses and illegal deductions from earnings for minor infractions. (Editing by Frank Pingue)

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