National Football League roundup

[March 31, 2017]  March 30 (The Sports Xchange) - Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton underwent surgery to repair a partially torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder on Thursday.

Newton won't be cleared to throw a football for at least 12 weeks and will be unable to throw during team drills for at least 16 weeks, according to the rehabilitation plan disclosed by the Panthers.

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Former San Francisco 49ers coach Chip Kelly dismissed the notion that quarterback Colin Kaepernick was a distraction last season as he staged a protest during a national anthem.

Kaepernick opted against standing for the anthem prior to games to protest racial injustice in the United States. The 29-year-old initially sat during the anthem in preseason before altering his stance by kneeling.

"There was zero distraction," Kelly told SI.com. "He met with the team immediately after (his first protest). He met with the other team leaders. He explained his position and where he was coming from. And literally, that was it. Colin was focused on football. He was all about the team and trying to help us win."

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Fans of an indoor football team in Utah voted against adding former NFL Pro Bowl defensive end Greg Hardy to the roster.

A 10-hour fan vote conducted by the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles of the Indoor Football League concluded with a trophy placed in the "no" column to sign Hardy, according to ESPN. The result on the team app was a virtual 50-50 tie, but an undisclosed percentage-point margin shifted the final tally against signing Hardy.

Hardy was convicted on charges of domestic violence in a bench trial by a judge. After an appeal, the case was thrown out in February 2015 when the woman who accused him stopped cooperating with authorities.

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The Los Angeles Chargers are turning to a familiar face to help them adjust to a new market.

Former NFL MVP and five-time Pro Bowl selection LaDainian Tomlinson will serve as a special assistant to ownership, the team announced.

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The Minnesota Vikings signed former Arena Football League tight end Nick Truesdell, wide receiver Mitch Mathews and cornerback Terrell Sinkfield on Thursday.

Truesdell, who is listed at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, made an impression at the pro combine testing last week by posting a time of 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

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