National Football League roundup

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[December 23, 2015]  Dec 22(The Sports Xchange) - A study conducted by the National Institutes of Health on the relationship between football and brain disease will move forward without a $30 million research grant from the NFL.

ESPN's "Outside the Lines" reported Tuesday that a portion of the NFL grant in 2012 was to be used for the seven-year, $16 million project. The NFL denied using any authority to pull out of the study, which the NIH confirmed later Tuesday.

"Outside the Lines" cited sources in saying the NFL reversed its previous position that the funds could be used for research with no strings attached. ESPN quoted NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy as saying the NIH made "its own funding decisions."

The NIH announced in a press released that the project would go forward and the ultimate goal remains the ability to diagnose chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in living patients.

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New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is appealing a one-game suspension for multiple on-field confrontations against Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman.

The appeal is be heard Wednesday by James Thrash, a former NFL wide receiver in his first year working with the league. If no decision is made by Wednesday, Beckham is permitted to be at the team facility and participate in practice.

NFL official spokesperson Michael Signora announced the suspension on Monday after Beckham had three personal fouls called against him during the Giants' 38-35 loss to the Panthers at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. The suspension is for "multiple violations of safety-related playing rules." Beckham would miss this Sunday night's game at the Minnesota Vikings if the appeal stands. Beckham has 91 catches for 1,396 yards and 13 touchdowns this season.

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The Arizona Cardinals placed safety Tyrann Mathieu on injured reserve and re-signed safety Chris Clemons.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians confirmed Monday that Mathieu has a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the season. Mathieu was injured during the fourth quarter of Arizona's 40-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night when he interecepted a pass by quarterback Sam Bradford. The 23-year-old Mathieu, known as the "Honey Badger," has 89 tackles, one sack and five interceptions this season.

Clemons was with the Cardinals for the first five games of the season and had two tackles on special teams and one on defense. Arizona placed him on injured reserve on Oct. 14 and reached an injury settlement on Oct. 19. In 78 NFL career games and 48 starts, Clemons has 257 tackles, 1 1/2 sacks, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

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Running back Steven Jackson signed a one-year deal with the New England Patriots for the veteran's minimum.

The 11-year veteran is a three-time Pro Bowler who notched eight straight 1,000-yard seasons from 2005-12 for the Rams and spent the past two seasons with the Falcons. He hasn't played in the NFL in 2015.

To make room for Jackson, the Patriots released defensive lineman Ishmaa'ily Kitchen.

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The Denver Broncos released their weekly media packet and Peyton Manning is atop the depth chart at quarterback ahead of Brock Osweiler.

The designation is no indication Manning will start in Week 16 on "Monday Night Football" against the Cincinnati Bengals. He returned to practice last week but was inactive at Pittsburgh.

Osweiler has started four consecutive games but lost two consecutive starts and has a left shoulder injury.

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The Broncos placed safety David Bruton Jr. on injured reserve and replaced him with free-agent Shaun Prater.

Bruton suffered a broken leg in the first quarter of Sunday's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers but continued to play a team-leading 77 defensive snaps. His season ends with a career-high 42 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and six special-teams tackles.



The Broncos announced the signing of Prater, who has played in one game each this season with the Indianapolis Colts and the Minnesota Vikings. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2012 and has seen action in 21 games, including three starts, for the Philadelphia Eagles, Vikings and Colts. (Editing by Steve Keating.)

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