National Football League roundup
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[October 20, 2016]
Oct 19 (The Sports Xchange) -
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wasn't interested in making excuses
on Wednesday as he addressed the league's dip in the television
ratings during the first few weeks of the 2016 season.
"It's something that I don't think there's a single reason for,"
Goodell said at the fall owners' meeting in Houston. "But we also
know that the prime-time ratings we're seeing the most dramatic
decrease ... We don't make excuses, we look at it and we try and
figure out what's changing."
Goodell noted that the way people consume their media has played a
role, and he contends that he's being more proactive in that regard.
"It's why we've been doing more with Snapchat and YouTube and
others. And it's why we did our work with Yahoo last year ... We're
seeing these changes," he said.
Asked if the national anthem protest is turning people off and was
reflected in the ratings, Goodell said, "We don't think that's a
factor and neither do our network partners."
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Tony Romo awaits medical clearance to practice with the Dallas
Cowboys, meaning the team will start Dak Prescott after their bye
week.
Dallas hosts the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 30 in Week 8.
Dallas is off this week and at 5-1 has control of the NFC East
behind Prescott, the rookie fourth-round pick who has surprised even
his strongest supporters in Dallas. The fourth-round pick set a
record for passes without an interception and threw his first Sunday
at Green Bay in his sixth career start.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, already ruled
out against the New England Patriots on Sunday, may be out much
longer than one game.
Roethlisberger could miss four to six weeks after having surgery for
a torn meniscus in his left knee, sources told ESPN's Chris
Mortensen on Wednesday.
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Roethlisberger originally was told to expect to miss two to three
weeks. Landry Jones will get the start in place of Roethlisberger
against the Patriots.
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Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict has been fined $75,000
by the NFL for his unnecessary roughness in Sunday's game against
the New England Patriots.
Burfict has already appealed the punishment, according to multiple
reports Wednesday. Burfict was fined by the NFL for an alleged stomp
on Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount but he was not
disciplined or fined for a controversial low hit on tight end
Martellus Bennett during the same game.
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The New York Jets named Geno Smith as the starting quarterback over
struggling Ryan Fitzpatrick for Sunday's game against the Baltimore
Ravens.
Smith will make his first start since Dec. 28, 2014 for the Jets,
who are 1-5 and on a four-game losing streak.
Jets coach Todd Bowles initially said Fitzpatrick would retain his
starting position after being benched in favor of Smith in the
fourth quarter of the embarrassing 28-3 loss to the Arizona
Cardinals on Monday night. Bowles backtracked Tuesday.
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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco did not practice Wednesday
with a right shoulder injury, but he expects to play Sunday against
the New York Jets.
A final determination might not be made until as late as Saturday.
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Flacco has irritation in the joint of his throwing shoulder, a
league source told ESPN's Ed Werder.
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The NFL and NFL Players Association issued a joint statement in
regard to their investigations into whether the concussion protocol
was followed correctly when evaluating Carolina Panthers quarterback
Cam Newton in the season opener against the Denver Broncos.
Newton was slow to get to his feet after he was on the receiving end
of a helmet-to-helmet hit by Broncos safety Darian Stewart in the
fourth quarter. The reigning NFL MVP, however, did not leave the
field to be evaluated for a possible concussion.
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According to the investigation, Panthers team doctors and the
unaffiliated neuro-trauma (UNC) consultant on the sideline asked the
independent certified athletic trainer (ATC) to see video of the
play because they didn't have a clear view.
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Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy left Wednesday's practice
because of a hamstring injury.
The severity of the injury and McCoy's availability for Sunday's
game against the Miami Dolphins is not yet known.
McCoy's 587 rushing yards rank second in the NFL this season and his
5.6 yards per carry is tops in the league.
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The Atlanta Falcons released veteran safety Dashon Goldson and
signed defensive lineman Cliff Matthews to their roster.
The Goldson move came one day after the Falcons promoted safety
Sharrod Neasman from the practice squad to the active roster.
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New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was named NFC
Offensive Player of the Week after a breakout game on Sunday when he
caught eight passes for a career-best 222 yards and touchdowns that
covered 75 and 66 yards.
Beckham, who had to leave the field in the first half with a hip
pointer, turned a short fourth-and-1 pass into a winning 66-yard
catch and run with 1:24 to play as the Giants beat the Baltimore
Ravens 27-23.
Other weekly award winners were Miami Dolphins running back Jay
Ajayi, New England Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower, Dallas
Cowboys defensive lineman David Irving, San Diego Chargers rookie
punter Drew Kaser and New Orleans Saints rookie kicker Wil Lutz.
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers promoted wide receiver Donteea Dye from the
practice squad to the active roster.
The Bucs also signed running back Russell Hansbrough to the practice
squad.
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The Indianapolis Colts signed defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles to
their practice squad.
The 6-foot-4, 310-pound Quarles spent time on the Colts' practice
squad earlier this season. (Editing by Andrew Both)
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