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Broncos’ Harris Jr. Signs Free Agent Tender

Chris Harris Jr. Denver BroncosENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Cornerback Chris Harris Jr. doesn’t see any reason to lament his lot in life right now.

Despite dealing with a torn left ACL that sidelined him for the Super Bowl and probably cost him $1 million in salary next season, the Denver Broncos’ most versatile cornerback was thrilled to sign his one-year restricted free-agent tender Tuesday.

It will pay him $2,187,000 next season — or more than 1,000 times the $2,000 signing bonus he received four years ago as an undrafted college free agent.

Had Harris not gotten hurt in the playoffs, the Broncos would have probably had to use the highest tender on him — a one-year deal worth more than $3.1 million that carried a first-round pick as compensation. Instead, they were able to use the second-highest tender available.

Winston Justice Signs 1-Year Deal with Broncos

Winston Justice Denver BroncosENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos signed backup offensive tackle Winston Justice to a one-year deal Friday.

Justice was brought in early last season after All-Pro left tackle Ryan Clady was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury. The 6-foot-6, 317-pound Justice appeared in four games during the regular season and one in the postseason.

Before his arrival in Denver, Justice played six seasons with Philadelphia and one with Indianapolis. Justice was originally a second-round by the Eagles in 2006.

With guard Zane Beadles’ departure in free agency, the Broncos will be shuffling around their offensive line to better protect Peyton Manning.

Northwestern to Appeal Players Union Ruling

northwestern-universityEVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Northwestern University has confirmed it will appeal a federal agency’s ruling that its football players can create the United States’ first union of college athletes.

In a statement Friday, Vice President for University Relations Alan Cubbage says Northwestern “believes the decision overlooked or completely ignored much of the critical testimony supporting the University’s position that student-athletes are not employees.”

He also says the decision “applied incorrect legal standards.”

A regional director of the National Labor Relations Board ruled Wednesday players at the Big Ten school qualify as employees under federal law and therefore may unionize.

Union lawyers argued players are part of a commercial enterprise that generates huge profits.

The Evanston, Ill.-based university says it will file a request for review to the full board by April 9.

RB Knowshon Moreno Signs 1-Year Deal with Dolphins

Knowshon Moreno Denver BroncosMIAMI (AP) — Running back Knowshon Moreno has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Miami Dolphins, whose running game ranked 26th in the NFL last season.

Moreno, a five-year veteran, had his best season in 2013 when he rushed for 1,038 yards, caught 60 passes and scored 13 touchdowns playing with Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.

Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas were the Dolphins’ primary ball carriers last season, and both remain on the roster.

Denver made Moreno the 12th overall pick in the 2009 draft after he played at Georgia. He has career rushing totals of 3,468 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Goodell: Expanded Playoffs in 2014 Possible

nfl_logo2011-medORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says it’s possible the playoffs could expand next season.

Goodell said Wednesday at the spring meetings that “it’s not out of the question.” He says he “wouldn’t rule it out, but I wouldn’t say that’s the direction we’re heading.”

The owners discussed adding two playoff teams to the current 12, one in each conference. The topic is certain to come up when Goodell meets with the players union April 8, and again at the owners’ May meeting in Atlanta.

Goodell adds that there was a “tremendous amount of interest in this, possibly even to the point of support.” He believes it will make the late-season division and wild-card races even more compelling.

Adding two postseason games also would increase TV revenues.

NFL to Tweak Replay Reviews

nfl_logo2011-medORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The NFL officiating department will oversee replay reviews on challenged plays beginning next season.

League owners passed a rule Tuesday in which referees can consult with director of officiating Dean Blandino and his staff to help determine whether a call should be upheld or overturned.

Blandino and other staff will be monitoring the games, and they will immediately begin reviewing challenges before the referee even gets to his monitor. They then can make recommendations on what replays to look at, but the referee still will make the final decision.

Blandino believes the change will speed up the review process and help ensure the calls are made correctly.

Goodell, Union to Meet on Workplace Environment

nfl_logo2011-medORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Commissioner Roger Goodell says the NFL will meet on April 8 with the players union to discuss improving the workplace environment.

In the wake of the Miami Dolphins bullying scandal, league representatives have met with some 40 players in the last three months, as well as with the Dolphins and outside organizations, Goodell says Monday at the NFL owners meetings. The league is trying to get “as much input as possible. It’s more about people understanding the importance of a proper workplace.”

Goodell adds the focus is on medical evaluations of the players involved, including tackle Jonathan Martin, who left the Dolphins in the middle of last season, saying he was harassed by guard Richie Incognito. Martin was traded to the 49ers earlier this month.

Saints’ QB Brees Will Speak at Boys Town Banquet

Drew Brees New Orleans Saints FootballOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees will be the featured speaker at the Boys Town booster banquet in May.

Brees has been elected to nine Pro Bowls and was the NFL offensive player of the year in 2008 and 2011. He and the Saints won the 2010 Super Bowl.

Boys Town national executive director the Rev. Steven Boes (BAYS) said Brees is not only a great football player but also a great philanthropist who helps children and families across the country.

The banquet benefits and honors Boys Town student-athletes and will be held May 6 at the Embassy Suites in La Vista.

Tickets are $90 each, and tables of 10 are $900. For more information about the banquet or to purchase tickets, go to boystown.org/boosters.

NFL Gives $45 Million Youth Football Grant

nfl_logo2011-medORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The NFL Foundation is giving USA Football a five-year, $45 million grant to expand the already burgeoning Heads Up Football program that teaches safe tackling to youngsters.

Foundation Chair Charlotte Jones Anderson announced the grant Monday at the league’s owners meetings after the NFL saw the early success of the program. Heads Up Football had nearly 2,800 youth football organizations teaching it during its first year, more than five times early projections.

Heads Up Football is designed to “take the head out of tackling” and employs master trainers who teach it to coaches throughout the nation. Those coaches in turn instruct youth football players — about 600,000 in 2013.

Funds also will be used to increase NFL flag football league for boys and girls ages 5-17

Busy Week Awaits NFL Owners at Spring Meetings

nfl_logo2011-medORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — As further proof the NFL never is far from the headlines, owners could make plenty of news this week at their spring meetings.

They will consider 13 playing rules proposals and seven bylaws. They will discuss expanding the playoff field from 12 to 14 teams, although a vote on such a move is uncertain.

Some changes would seem to be slam dunks: extending the height of the goal posts 5 feet to help determine if kicks are good; eliminating overtime in preseason games; placing fixed TV cameras on the goal lines, end lines and sidelines to help with replay reviews.

Others seem almost sidebars to the real action, such as from where to enforce defensive penalties when they occur behind the line of scrimmage, or extending pass interference calls to within a yard of the line.

Perhaps the juiciest suggestions came from the Patriots. They want to move the line of scrimmage to the 25 for extra points, and to allow coaches to challenge any calls except on scoring plays, which are automatically reviewed.

Passing those proposals would make for a major change in how NFL games are played.

“We discussed a lot of different scenarios that have been raised,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher, co-chairman of the influential competition committee, said of longer extra-point kicks. “I will point out … last year we had five tries missed (out of 1,267). I think four were blocked, one was missed. It’s still a competitive play.

“We are going to propose … to the membership during one of the preseason weeks that we move the extra point back to the 20-yard line and see how that goes. It’s on our radar.”

New England’s idea on coaches’ challenges in some ways echoes college football, in which every play can be reviewed. Falcons President Rich McKay, the other co-chairman of the competition committee, said reviews or challenges on defensive pass interference calls have been considered before.

“We’ve always shied away, as a committee, from penalties and the review of penalties for the most basic reason,” McKay said. “We didn’t want to put the referee in the position of using his subjective judgment on a play in place of the on-field official. We always thought the intent of replay, when it was put back in in 1998, was to deal with plays where there was an objective standard.”

Washington has proposed making personal foul penalties reviewable.

How replay reviews are conducted overall will be discussed after the committee has proposed allowing the referee to consult with members of the NFL officiating department. The process won’t change, but the command center in New York headed by director of officiating Dean Blandino will already be reviewing the play when the referee gets to the replay monitor.

“At the end of the day, what’s going to happen is we’re going to make sure that every single review is correct and we feel like this will speed up the instant replay process and timing,” Fisher said.

The Redskins want kickoffs moved to the 40 yard-line for “safety and historic consistency,” although doing so might totally eliminate returns. But some coaches hint it could lead to more pooch kicks, which wouldn’t make the kickoff any safer.

Another suggestion is to eliminate stopping the clock on a sack. That no longer is done in the final two minutes of each half, and if passed it will be totally eliminated.

The Redskins also proposed raising the number of active players on game day from 46 to 49 for games on any day but Sunday or Monday — not including opening weekend. Washington seeks an increase in the practice squad limit from eight to 10 players; allowing trades after the Super Bowl until when the league year begins in March; eliminating the first preseason roster cut to 75 and having just one cut to 53 at the end of the preseason; and allowing more than one player to return from injured reserve during the season after six weeks on the list.

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