LDN - Sports

National Football League roundup

[August 17, 2016] Aug 16 (The Sports Xchange) - Buffalo Bills standout defensive tackle Marcell Dareus has been suspended for the first four games of the regular season for a violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy.

Dareus will be eligible to return to the active roster on Oct. 3, meaning he will miss a critical opening stretch of games that begins with the Sept. 11 season opener at Baltimore.

From there, the Bills play host to the New York Jets - coach Rex Ryan's former team - and reigning NFC West champion Arizona before traveling to play at the New England Patriots in Week 4.

With running back Karlos Williams also facing a suspension to begin the season, the Bills could be subject to a fine based on the NFL's remittance policy. The Dallas Cowboys are expected to be fined up to $250,000 for having three players suspended to open the season.

This marks the second time Dareus has violated the policy. He drew a one-game suspension in 2015 due to an offseason arrest for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.

Two-time Pro Bowl selection Dareus signed a six-year, $96.5 million deal with the Bills last year that included $60 million in guaranteed money.

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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue were selected as contributor finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2017.

The Hall of Fame selection committee will vote on Jones, Tagliabue and safety Kenny Easley, the seniors committee nominee, and a contingent of 15 other finalists prior to the Super Bowl.

Jones and Tagliabue still need to be affirmed by 80 percent of the full voting committee to earn entry into the Hall of Fame.

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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison said he is weighing his options in regard to whether to cooperate with the NFL investigation into steroid allegations that surfaced late last year via a report by Al-Jazeera.

Harrison was one of four players notified that they face a suspension if they don't consent to an interview with the NFL by Aug. 25. The other three players are Green Bay Packers linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers, and unsigned free-agent linebacker Mike Neal.

The NFL Players Association contends there is a lack of evidence because key source Charlie Sly recanted his statements to the media outlet.

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Wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, who sent offensive lineman Dennis Kelly to the Tennessee Titans in return.

Green-Beckham, the 40th pick in the 2015 draft, averaged a team-leading 17.2 yards per reception (fourth in the NFL) last season with 32 receptions for 549 yards and four touchdowns.

Kelly, drafted by the Eagles out of Purdue in the fifth round in 2012, has 15 career starts and can play guard or tackle.

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New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was not on the field for Tuesday's joint practice with the Chicago Bears after pulling up with an undisclosed injury.

The severity of the injury was unknown but it does not appear to be a serious issue.

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Arizona Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu was activated from the physically unable to perform list.

Mathieu, who signed a five-year, $62.5 million deal earlier this month, joined cornerback Justin Bethel and veteran defensive tackle Frostee Rucker in being activated off the PUP list by the team.

Mathieu is working his way back from a torn ACL in late December. The 26-year-old Bethel is returning from a broken foot and Rucker underwent ankle surgery in the offseason.

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Detroit Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy was activated from the non-football injury list, but the team plans to closely monitor his health in the preseason.

Levy, the Lions' leader in tackles in 2014, might not play in exhibition games after logging only 17 snaps in the past year because of a hip injury that required surgery.

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The San Francisco 49ers, who are having quarterback injury issues, signed former first-round pick Christian Ponder to a one-year contract.

Ponder, the 12th overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft by the Vikings, hasn't played in an NFL game since Oct. 2, 2014.

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Green Bay Packers receiver Jeff Janis underwent surgery on his broken right hand and will be sidelined approximately four to six weeks.

Janis told reporters that screws were inserted into his index finger to hold the bones together after suffering the injury during Wednesday's practice.

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Running back Bernard Pierce was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury and replaced on the New York Jets' roster by veteran Antone Smith.

Smith played for the Atlanta Falcons before spending part of last season with the Chicago Bears. Smith had seven touchdowns on 45 touches with the Falcons.

(Editing by Larry Fine) ))

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