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NFL notebook: Arrest warrant issued for Beckham Jr

[January 17, 2020] New Orleans police issued an arrest warrant for Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on a complaint of simple battery Thursday.

Video appears to show Beckham slapping the backside of a police officer while in the LSU locker room at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. The incident occurred shortly after the Tigers' 42-25 victory over Clemson on Monday night in the national championship game.

The officer turned around and addressed Beckham in the video, but the wideout was not arrested at that time. The officer then filed the complaint on the 27-year-old Beckham, New Orleans police department public affairs officer Juan Barnes confirmed to ESPN. Louisiana law defines simple battery as "battery committed without the consent of the victim," and upon conviction, calls for as many as six months in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000.

"We are aware of the incident and have been in touch with Odell and his representatives on the matter," the Browns said in a statement on Thursday. "They are cooperating with the proper authorities to appropriately address the situation."

--Antonio Brown's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, no longer will work with his controversial client until the wide receiver seeks professional help, ESPN reported.

The report stated that Rosenhaus sent a letter to the NFL Players Association "conditionally" terminating his relationship with Brown. Rosenhaus still would work with Brown in the future but not before Brown seeks counseling after continued outbursts toward teams, the league, players, his inner circle and most recently the local police.

Just this week, Brown posted a live feed on social media of an encounter with Hollywood, Fla., police where he used explicit language and called officers explicit names. Police were responding to a report of a domestic incident at Brown's home.

--The Cincinnati Bengals are not required to divulge the first pick of the 2020 NFL Draft until April 23, however a few of their coaches were not shy about gushing over the presumptive No. 1 selection.

Bengals quarterbacks coach Andy Van Pelt was quite complimentary when discussing the Heisman Trophy-winning Joe Burrow, who was behind center for LSU during its national championship season. The 23-year-old threw for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns in 15 games this season.

"He definitely checks off a lot of boxes early on in the evaluation process," Van Pelt told the team's official website. "He obviously looks like a very intriguing guy."

--Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones did not practice as he nurses a calf injury, coach Andy Reid said.

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rowns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) reacts as he leaves the field following the game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Jones sat out Kansas City's 51-31 victory over the Houston Texans last weekend. His availability is uncertain heading Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the visiting Tennessee Titans.

"He's getting better, but he's not ready yet," Reid told reporters regarding Jones, who led the Chiefs with nine sacks in the regular season and has recorded 31 over the past three seasons.

--Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore will continue to call plays for the Dallas Cowboys in 2020, new head coach Mike McCarthy announced.

The 56-year-old McCarthy called plays throughout his tenure as head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 2006-18, when he compiled a 125-77-2 record with nine playoff appearances, including eight straight from 2009-16.

Yet with Moore, 31, running the offensive show in Dallas, the Cowboys led the NFL in yards (431.5 per game average) and ranked sixth in points (averaging 27.1 per game) this season.

--Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson will undergo surgery after sustaining a foot injury during last weekend's loss to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC divisional round of the playoffs.

Per NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero, Jefferson sustained a Jones fracture in the Seahawks' 28-23 loss to the Packers and will undergo surgery from Dr. Robert Anderson.

The recovery time is estimated at eight weeks, which will have Jefferson healthy as he enters unrestricted free agency in March.

--Multi-platinum singer Demi Lovato will sing the national anthem prior to Super Bowl LIV in Miami on Feb. 2, the NFL and FOX announced.

The 27-year-old Grammy-nominated singer took to social media to also make the announcement, posting a picture of herself with the message, "Singing the National Anthem at #SBLIV. ... See you in Miami."

Gladys Knight sang the national anthem at last year's Super Bowl.

--Field Level Media

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