National Football League roundup

[May 28, 2016]   May 27 (The Sports Xchange) - Former Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds has been cleared to defer his military service commitment and will be eligible to play for the Baltimore Ravens in 2016, secretary of defense Ashton Carter announced Friday.

Running back Chris Swain, who will go to training camp with the San Diego Chargers, also will be allowed to defer his military service.

Carter made the announcement during his speech to the 2016 graduates in Annapolis, Md.

Reynolds will be making the transition to receiver after being a record-setting rushing quarterback at Navy. He rushed for 4,559 yards and 88 touchdowns during his standout career.

Baltimore selected Reynolds in the sixth round of last month's NFL Draft.

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Former New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said head coach Sean Payton took some authority away from him and that led to his firing in the middle of last season.

Ryan, now assistant head coach/defense for twin brother Rex with the Buffalo Bills, told TheMMQB.com that he regrets not speaking up to Payton when the Saints changed their scheme after a successful 2013 season.

"I was hired to be in a multiple system in New Orleans, and I did a damn good job and got fired for it," Ryan said.

Payton told Pro Football Talk that the Saints' defense, which set an NFL record for the most touchdown passes allowed in a season last year, was Ryan's defense.

"The idea that it wasn't his defense, or he wasn't in charge of it, is silly," Payton told PFT Live.

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The Chicago Bears agreed to terms with linebacker Leonard Floyd on a four-year contract with a fifth-year option, the team announced.

Floyd, the Bears first-round pick and the ninth selection overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, started 32 games in three seasons with the Georgia Bulldogs, recording 184 tackles, 28.5 tackles-for-loss and 17 sacks.

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The Cleveland Browns signed fourth-round defensive back Derrick Kindred to a four-year rookie contract.

Kindred's deal is worth about $2.839 million, including an almost $500,000 signing bonus, based on the NFL's slotting system for rookies.

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson says the retirement of running back Marshawn Lynch will require "collective" leadership from the players.

"Obviously, losing Marshawn is one of the hardest things that can happen, because he's one of the most talented players in the National Football League when he was playing," Wilson told reporters Thursday at the organized team activities.

"I think the biggest thing is everyone else stepping up and playing, very similar to when we couldn't have Marshawn last year when he was battling through his injuries and stuff. Guys stepped up and were leaders, and we're going to have to have that collective group of leadership." (Editing by Larry Fine)

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