LDN - Sports

National Football League roundup

[December 20, 2016] Dec 19 (The Sports Xchange) - One day after coming off the bench to rally the Houston Texans to a 21-20 win over Jacksonville, Tom Savage was named the starting quarterback for Saturday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Savage received the starting nod over incumbent Brock Osweiler, who was benched by coach Bill O'Brien on Sunday with the Texans trailing the Jaguars 13-0.

Savage completed 23 of 36 passes for 260 yards on Sunday in his third career appearance -- and first since the 2014 season -- to keep Houston (8-6) tied with Tennessee atop the AFC South.

Sunday's benching was the latest blow for Osweiler, who signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Texans last offseason after stepping in for an injured Peyton Manning and helping the Denver Broncos drive to a Super Bowl championship.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars named Doug Marrone as their interim head coach for the final two weeks of the season, the team announced.

The move came less than 24 hours after the Jaguars fired head coach Gus Bradley after Sunday's 21-20 loss to the Houston Texans.

The Jaguars (2-12) dropped their ninth consecutive game, and finished 14-48 in four seasons under Bradley.

Marrone, 52, has been serving as the team's offensive line coach and assistant head coach for the last two seasons.

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The NFL will not fine Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott for jumping into an oversized Salvation Army red kettle in the end zone after a touchdown run during Sunday night's game.

Elliott celebrated a 2-yard TD run during the second quarter of the Cowboys' 26-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by briefly hiding in the large kettle before popping out. He was penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct.

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Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak had to settle a squabble between members of his offense and defense in the wake of Sunday's 16-3 loss to the New England Patriots.

Another feeble effort by the offense apparently set off the dispute within the reigning Super Bowl champions, according to a published report.

Kubiak asked if any of his players wanted to address the team after Sunday's game, the report said. Left tackle Walter Okung was first to speak, but cornerback Aqib Talib reportedly protested, sparking the argument.

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Kubiak intervened to calm the dispute after a second straight defeat dropped Denver (8-6) one spot out of the sixth and final playoff spot in the AFC.

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Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Karl Klug has a torn left Achilles tendon and will have season-ending surgery, coach Mike Mularkey announced.

Klug, 28, will be placed on injured reserve.

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The Indianapolis Colts placed defensive tackle Arthur Jones on injured reserve due to a groin injury.

Jones started all eight games he appeared in this season and made 30 tackles. He has been in 63 career NFL games (31 starts), totaling 172 tackles, 10 sacks and two forced fumbles.

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The Arizona Cardinals promoted cornerback Harlan Miller from the practice squad and released cornerback Tharold Simon.

Simon played in nine games for the Cardinals but was inactive for last two games. He totaled six tackles and also worked on special teams.

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Ray-Ray Armstrong agreed to a two-year contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers through 2018, the team announced.

Armstrong, 25, appeared in two games in 2016 with nine tackles, a fumble recovery and his first career interception before going on injured reserve with a chest injury on Sept. 20.

The 49ers also placed linebacker Nick Bellore on injured reserve (elbow) and claimed linebacker Carl Bradford off waivers from the Green Bay Packers.

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The Chicago Bears placed wide receiver Eddie Royal on injured reserve.

Royal missed the last three games with a toe injury and is the 18th Bears player to be placed on injured reserve this season, leaving them with a limited roster for the final two games. (Editing by Larry Fine) ))

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