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 04/22/2015 NFL Note - * Free Agents Austin, Rodney
G Rodney Austin was waived by the Lions Tuesday (April 21), four
days after he was arrested and charged with assault on a female,
assault on a child under 12, misdemeanor larceny and interfering
with emergency communication in North Carolina.
Austin posted bail bonds totaling $4,250 for the four charges, and
has a June 5 court date in Mecklenberg County District Court.
The Lions did not comment on the transaction Tuesday morning.
Undrafted out of Elon College, Austin was a member of the Lions for
three seasons, going from the practice squad to the active roster
multiple times.
Austin plans to fight the charges
. His agent and attorney said he denies the claims from the woman
with which he has a 9-month-old daughter and plans to pursue charges
against her for malicious prosecution, defamation of character and
slander.
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NFL Note - Baltimore Ravens Smith, Jimmy
CB Jimmy Smith reached agreement on a contract extension with the
Ravens Tuesday (April 21).
Multiple media outlets reported that the four-year deal is worth $48
million and includes $21 million guaranteed.
The 2011 first-round draft pick was scheduled to make $6.898 million
this year in the final season of his rookie contract.The new
agreement will take Smith through the 2019 season.
Smith's 2014 season was cut short in November by a Lisfranc injury,
but Ravens coach John Harbaugh expects Smith to be ready for
offseason workouts in May.
The 26-year-old Smith has 141 career tackles and five carer
interceptions.
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NFL Note - * Free Agents Richardson, Shaquille
CB Shaquille Richardson was waived by the Chiefs Tuesday (April 21)
with the designation failure to disclose physical condition.
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NFL Note - * Free Agents Scioneaux, Alvin
LB Alvin Scioneaux was waived by the Chargers Tuesday (April 21).
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NFL Note - Baltimore Ravens Scales, Patrick
LS Parrick Scales was re-signed as an exclusive-rights free agent by
the Ravens Tuesday (April 21).
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NFL Note - Dallas Cowboys Dunbar, Lance
RB Lance Dunbar was re-signed as a restricted free agent by the
Cowboys Tuesday (April 21).
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NFL Note - Dallas Cowboys Jones, Chris
P Chris Jones was re-signed as a restricted free agent by the
Cowboys Tuesday (April 21).
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NFL Note - Dallas Cowboys Hardy, Greg
DE Greg Hardy has been suspended 10 games without pay for "conduct
detrimental to the league."
The NFL announced Wednesday in a statement that Hardy was notified
in a letter from commissioner Roger Goodell that he is suspended for
the team's first 10 games of the regular season in violation of the
league constitution and by-laws, the player contract and the
personal conduct policy.
ESPN.com reported that the NFL Players Association plans to appeal
the league's ruling. Hardy has three days to appeal the decision.
Hardy was informed that a two-month NFL investigation following the
dismissal of his case in North Carolina state court determined that
there was "sufficient credible evidence that Hardy engaged in
conduct that violated NFL policies in multiple respects and with
aggravating circumstances."
The NFL was allowed to view photographs from Hardy's first domestic
violence case to help determine the injuries to Hardy's
ex-girlfriend, Nicole Holder. League investigators also had access
to photos of guns in Hardy's Charlotte, N.C., apartment and other
evidence in a July 15 trial of the former Carolina Panthers
defensive end.
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"The net effect of these acts was that Ms. Holder was severely
traumatized and sustained a range of injuries, including bruises and
scratches on her neck, shoulders, upper chest, back, arms and feet,"
Goodell wrote in the letter to Hardy. "The use of physical force
under the circumstances present here, against a woman substantially
smaller than you and in the presence of powerful, military-style
assault weapons, constitutes a significant act of violence in
violation of the Personal Conduct Policy."
The investigation was led by Lisa Friel and T&M Protection
Resources. Prior to joining the NFL, Friel was vice president of the
sexual misconduct consulting and investigations division of T&M.
During a 28-year career as a Manhattan prosecutor, Friel was head of
the sex crimes prosecution unit in the New York County district
attor
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NFL Note - Miami Dolphins Linkenbach, Jeff
G Jeff Linkenbach left the Chiefs for the Dolphins as unrestricted
free agent Wednesday (April 22), agreeing to terms on a one-year
contract.
Linkenbach, 27, started three games for the Kansas City Chiefs last
season and has started 36 contests in five years with the Chiefs and
Indianapolis Colts.
Linkenbach could compete for a starting job with Billy Turner or
Dallas Thomas, who are the nominal replacements for the retired
Daryn Colledge and the released Shelley Smith.
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NFL Note - New England Patriots Mayo, Jerod
LB Jerod Mayo, a team captain whose last two seasons have been ended
early by injuries, reportedly has restructured his contract to
reduce his $6.25 million salary.
Mayo will be guaranteed $4.5 million, with a chance to earn $6
million if he plays in 85 percent of the plays next season,
according to reports by FOX Sports and NFL Network. The Patriots
also inserted a $4 million option next year to engage the final two
years of the contract.
Mayo, 29, has played in just 12 games over the past two years, six
in 2014 because of a torn patellar tendon and six in 2013 because of
a torn pectoral muscle.
New England's first-round pick in 2008, Mayo had been one of the
team's best defenders over his first five seasons. He has 756
tackles, 10 sacks, eight forced fumbles and three interceptions in
his career.
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NFL Note - Tennessee Titans Bell, Byron
T Byron Bell left the Panthers for the Titans as an unrestricted
free agent Wednesday (April 22), signing a one-year contract.
Bell, 26, had been with the Carolina Panthers since 2011, when he
was an undrafted free agent.
A right tackle in his first three years, he started 15 games at left
tackle last season as he replaced the retired Jordan Gross. After
Bell struggled, allowing 11 sacks, the team chose not to re-sign
him.
In Tennessee, if Bell does not push Byron Stingily at right tackle,
he at least will provide fair depth.
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NFL Note - * Free Agents Wallace, Davonte
G Davonte Wallace was waived by the Dolphins Wednesday (April 22).
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NFL Note - Baltimore Ravens Walker, Casey
DT Casey Walker was re-signed as an exclusive-rights free agent by
the Ravens Wednesday (April 22).
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NFL Note - Miami Dolphins McClendon, Jacques
G Jacques McClendon, who wasn't tendered as a restricted free agent
by the Jaguars, agreed to terms with the Dolphins Wednesday (April
22).
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