LDN - Sports

National Football League roundup

[January 26, 2017] Jan 25 (The Sports Xchange) - NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who suspended New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for four games to start the season over the Deflategate scandal, said it would be "an honor" to hand the Lombardi Trophy to him if Super Bowl LI unfolds that way on Feb. 5.

Goodell was asked by FOX Sports' Colin Cowherd on Wednesday whether it would be an awkward moment for him after a long court battle between the NFL and Brady.

"Not for a second. These are great teams. I'm going to be thrilled," Goodell said in an interview on "The Herd" radio show.

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The NFL announced that the Miami Dolphins did not follow proper protocol during their AFC wild-card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 8.

The league and the players' association reviewed the events after Miami quarterback Matt Moore was drilled by Bud Dupree in the second quarter, with the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker drawing a roughing the passer penalty.

Moore remained on the field for several moments before retreating to the sideline for one play, prompting the NFL and the NFLPA to open an investigation on the Dolphins.

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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones and center Alex Mack will be held out of practice this week to rest and recover from injuries in preparation for the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots.

Jones aggravated a toe sprain in a 36-20 divisional playoff win over the Seattle Seahawks, and Mack injured his left ankle in Sunday's 44-21 victory over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game.

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Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman took issue with the idea of his team potentially losing a second-round draft pick for failing to disclose his knee injury during the season.

"I don't know if that should be the retribution," Sherman told ESPN on Wednesday. "I don't know what the course should be. But I think that's a bit harsh."

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The Atlanta Falcons are embracing the early bird gets the worm approach as they prepare for their second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.

The Falcons will touch down at George Bush International Airport in Houston on Sunday (3 p.m. CT), 24 hours ahead of their Super Bowl LI opponents, the New England Patriots. Atlanta is scheduled to practice at Rice University on Monday, the same day that New England is expected to land.

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Carl Cheffers was named the referee on the seven-man crew selected to work Super Bowl LI on Feb. 5 when the Atlanta Falcons face the New England Patriots at NRG Stadium in Houston, the NFL announced.

Cheffers is in his 17th season as an NFL game official. He entered the league in 2000 as a side judge was promoted to referee in 2008.

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The NFL Players Association is preparing a proposal that would amend the league's substance-abuse policy to take a "less punitive" approach in dealing with recreational marijuana use by players.

The union's executive director, DeMaurice Smith, told The Washington Post that the proposal will be presented to union's board of player representatives. If approved by the NFLPA's board, the proposal will be presented to the NFL.

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The Indianapolis Colts released a list of six candidates who will interview with owner Jim Irsay for the team's general manager opening.

The Colts announced they plan to interview Kansas City director of football operations Chris Ballard; Seattle Seahawks co-player personnel directors Scott Fitterer and Trent Kirchner; Minnesota Vikings assistant GM George Paton; Green Bay Packers football operations director Eliot Wolf; and their in-house candidate, interim GM Jimmy Raye III.

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The Indianapolis Colts hired Sanjay Lal as their wide receivers coach, the team announced.

Lal has spent 10 seasons in the NFL ranks, including the last two years as the Buffalo Bills' wide receivers coach.

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Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is scheduled to undergo another eye surgery in April.

Zimmer, who admitted that he still can't see out of his right eye, missed a regular-season game against the Dallas Cowboys in December after having emergency surgery to repair a torn retina. The 60-year-old returned to the sideline the next week sporting sunglasses and a bandage.

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The Kansas City Chiefs hired Greg Lewis to serve as wide receivers coach, the team announced.

Lewis joins the Chiefs after spending last season as the Philadelphia Eagles' wide receivers coach. (Editing by Frank Pingue)

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