LDN - Sports

National Football League roundup

[December 29, 2016] Dec 28 (The Sports Xchange) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin left the team Wednesday to enter a treatment facility after announcing he violated the league's performance-enhancing drug policy and will serve a four-game suspension.

The 27-year-old Martin signed a five-year, $35.75 million contract, with $15 million guaranteed, in the offseason after finishing second in the NFL in rushing in 2015 with 1,402 yards.

He has struggled this season with a hamstring injury that forced him to miss six weeks. He has just 421 yards this year.

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The Buccaneers placed running back Charles Sims on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury, ending his season.

Sims has the rare distinction of being placed on IR twice in the same season. Overall, Sims played in seven games with two starts this season, rushing 51 times for 149 yards and one touchdown, while catching 24 passes for 190 yards and one score.

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EJ Manuel will start at quarterback for the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, but interim coach Anthony Lynn made it clear the business decision to bench Tyrod Taylor in Week 17 came from the front office.

The move was made to avoid the chance that Taylor could sustain an injury triggering a $30 million guarantee for 2017.

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Quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots did not practice on Wednesday as the veteran nurses a thigh issue.

Brady was limited in practice all last week and listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the New York Jets. The injury did little to slow down the 39-year-old, who threw for three touchdowns in a 41-3 rout of the Jets.

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A.J. Green's season is over. Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis confirmed that the six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver will not play in Sunday's regular-season finale against Baltimore.

Green has missed five straight games with a hamstring injury suffered on Nov. 20 versus Buffalo. He will finish the season with 66 catches for 964 yards and four touchdowns.

He will fall 36 yards short of reaching 1,000 yards for his first six seasons, an NFL feat only accomplished by Randy Moss.

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Baltimore Ravens receiver Steve Smith became emotional several times while talking to reporters about his impending last NFL game on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

While Smith started the press conference saying he was "89 percent sure" that he was ready to retire, he gradually sounded like he was at peace with the decision to walk away.

At age 37, Smith was still one of Baltimore's top playmakers. He has caught 67 passes for 765 yards and leads the team with five touchdown receptions and 12 grabs over 20 yards.

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The Arizona Cardinals signed safety Christian Bryant off the New York Giants' practice squad and cornerback Brian Dixon from the New Orleans Saints' practice squad.

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The Detroit Lions signed free agent cornerback Crezdon Butler and placed defensive tackle Stefan Charles (knee) on injured reserve.

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week after a four-touchdown performance in Week 16, the NFL announced.

Rodgers completed 28 of 38 passes for 347 for a 136.6 passer rating in the Packers' 38-25 victory over the Minnesota Vikings last Saturday. He also rushed for a touchdown, accounting for five TDs in all.

Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi was honored as the AFC offensive player.

(Editing by Larry Fine) ))

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