National Football League roundup

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[November 18, 2015]  Nov 17 (The Sports Xchange) - When the Cleveland Browns return from their current bye week, Johnny Manziel will be the starting quarterback and he won't have to worry about any disciplinary action from the NFL resulting from an October driving incident with his girlfriend.

The league announced Tuesday that the results of their investigation cleared Manziel in the Oct. 12 episode. Witnesses saw him driving recklessly on a freeway and his girlfriend, Colleen Crowley, said he had roughed her up in the car, but she refused to press charges.

The other good news for Manziel on Tuesday was landing the starting job for the remainder of the season.

Barring injury or incident, Manziel has the rest of the season to prove his value in Cleveland, where the Browns are 2-8 and on a quest to find a franchise quarterback for the first time since the team came back to the city in 1999.

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Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Aldon Smith is facing a one-year suspension by the NFL for substance abuse, according to multiple reports.

Smith, who was released by the San Francisco 49ers in August after a string of off-field incidents, pleaded not guilty in September to hit and run, drunken driving and vandalism.

The 25-year-old was arrested in August on drunken driving charges in Santa Clara, Calif. Previously, he was suspended nine games in 2014 for what the league called violations of its policies on substance abuse and personal conduct.

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Quarterback Tony Romo is expected to be activated Wednesday and start for the Cowboys, his first start since Week Two, and the last time Dallas won a game.

Brandon Weeden was released as the Cowboys move forward with two quarterbacks on the roster -- Romo and Matt Cassel. Kellen Moore rejoined the practice squad Friday.

Romo broke his collarbone at Philadelphia and missed seven games, all losses, as the Cowboys enter Sunday's game with the Dolphins on the franchise's longest losing streak since 1989.

Weeden, 32, was a first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns. He was released by the Browns in March 2014 and signed with the Cowboys as Romo's backup. He lost a combined 11 consecutive starts with those two teams.

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Terrence Cody, a former Alabama and Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle, was found guilty of nine misdemeanors stemming from animal abuse and neglect charges.

Cody faces up to three years in jail. He was not convicted on two felony charges that carried harsh sentences.

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A judge in Baltimore County delivered the guilty verdict on charges of aggravated animal cruelty and neglect, illegal possession and neglect of an alligator and possession of marijuana. The Ravens released Cody in February when the charges became public.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers waived linebacker Orie Lemon and safety D.J. Swearinger.

The Buccaneers also released defensive back Akeem Davis and linebacker Quayshawn Nealy from the practice squad.

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New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman is projected to be out six to eight weeks after undergoing foot surgery on Monday.

Edelman had a screw placed into his broken foot after the injury occurred during the unbeaten Patriots' comeback win over the New York Giants on Sunday.

The six- to eight-week window would likely keep Edelman, who has a team-leading 61 catches, from returning during the regular season, but he could be available for the postseason. If the Patriots receive a bye, their first playoff game would come in mid-January.

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The Seattle Seahawks released wide receiver Chris Matthews and signed wide receiver Kevin Smith from the practice squad to active roster on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old Matthews had four receptions for 54 yards in nine games this season for the Seahawks after emerging during last season's Super Bowl with four catches for 109 yards and a touchdown.

- - - (Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)

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