NFL
Union appeals Rice case
BALTIMORE — The NFL players’ union has appealed the league’s indefinite suspension of Ray Rice.
Rice was originally handed a two-game suspension in July under the NFL’s personal conduct policy after he was charged with assault following a Feb. 15 altercation with his then-fiancee in a casino elevator.
The Baltimore running back had already served the first game of that suspension when, on Sept. 8, a video surfaced showing Rice punching Janay Palmer, now his wife, in that elevator.
Within hours, the Ravens released Rice and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell extended the suspension to indefinite based on the “new evidence.”
Goodell and the Ravens say they never saw the video before Sept. 8.
The NFL Players Association had until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday to file the appeal.
PANTHERS
NFL may intervene
The NFL is considering intervening in Greg Hardy’s case, either to advise the Carolina Panthers in the handling of it or to take action against Hardy, according to an NFL.com report.
Pro Football Talk reported Tuesday the league might suspend Hardy without pay for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
Panthers sources said they have not heard from the league and are continuing their investigation into the domestic violence charges against Hardy. The Pro Bowl defensive end is awaiting a jury trial after a district judge found him guilty in July of assaulting and threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend.
Coach Ron Rivera deactivated Hardy for the Week 2 victory against Detroit in the wake of the release and subsequent suspension of Baltimore running back Ray Rice and the decision by Minnesota to deactivate Adrian Peterson after he was charged with child abuse.
Rivera said Monday that Hardy would practice this week and the Panthers would decide later whether to deactivate him again or let him play Sunday night against Pittsburgh.
Hardy, who is due a guaranteed $13.1 million this season after getting the franchise tag, made about $770,000 for sitting out the game against the Lions.
The Panthers allowed Hardy to play in Week 1 at Tampa Bay, but Rivera said the climate had changed around the NFL after the TMZ video surfaced of Rice knocking out his then-fiancee and the news broke of Peterson’s charges.
Rivera said Monday that General Manager Dave Gettleman and other members of the front office were doing their due diligence in regards to Hardy, and the organization wanted to make sure they got it right.
Hardy’s jury trial is scheduled for Nov. 17, although his attorney believes it could be pushed back until 2015.
BROWNS
Gordon on probation
RALEIGH, N.C. — A prosecutor said suspended Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon will receive probation and undergo a substance-abuse assessment after pleading guilty to a drunken-driving charge in North Carolina.
Acting Wake County district attorney Ned Mangum said Gordon received a 60-day suspended jail sentence and one year of unsupervised probation Tuesday.
The Pro Bowl player is serving an NFL-imposed season-long suspension for a failed marijuana test, although that could be reduced under proposed drug policy changes.
For his DWI, Gordon must comply with any treatment recommended through the substance-abuse assessment, pay a $100 fine and court costs and perform community service. His driver’s license also was suspended.
Gordon’s attorney, Trey Fitzhugh, entered the plea on Gordon’s behalf on a charge of driving while impaired from a July arrest in Raleigh.
REDSKINS
Struggling Rambo cut
ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Redskins have cut Bacarri Rambo after the second-year safety struggled in the team’s first two games.
Rambo was released Tuesday to make room for safety Brandon Meriweather, who was restored to the roster after serving a two-game suspension for a helmet-to-helmet hit.
Rambo was a sixth-round draft pick in 2013 out of Georgia and emerged from last year’s training camp with a starting job, but he consistently missed tackles and soon was benched.
Rambo returned to start this season during Meriweather’s suspension, but he gave up a big play in each of the first two games and was benched again in the second half of Sunday’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
JAGUARS
Bradfield waived
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars have waived right tackle Cam Bradfield and placed tight end Marcedes Lewis on short-term injured reserve.
The moves came Tuesday, two days after Bradfield was benched in a 41-10 loss at Washington that included a franchise-record 10 sacks. Bradfield was replaced by veteran Sam Young in the second half.
Young or Austin Pasztor, who missed the last month with a broken hand, will start Sunday against Indianapolis.
Lewis sustained a high-ankle sprain against the Redskins and will miss six to eight weeks. He was placed on IR/designated for return, meaning he can’t practice for six weeks and can’t return to the active roster for eight weeks.
The team also signed receiver Tavarres King off Carolina’s practice squad and promoted tight end Marcel Jensen from the practice squad to the active roster.
COLTS
Quarles signed
INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts have signed defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles to the active roster and guard David Arkin to the practice squad.
To clear room Monday, Indianapolis released running back Dion Lewi from the active roster and guard Josh Walker from the practice squad.
The 6-4, 294-pound Quarles was waived by New England on Aug. 31. The undrafted rookie originally signed with the Giants in May. He could help fill the void left by defensive lineman Arthur Jones, who sustained a high right ankle sprain in Monday night’s 30-27 loss to Philadelphia.
Arkin played in one game with Miami last season and was Dallas’ fourth-round pick in 2011.
Indy (0-2) signed Lewis last week. Walker, an undrafted rookie, was signed by the Colts in May.
BEARS
Frey, Ross promoted
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears have promoted cornerback Isaiah Frey and receiver Rashad Ross from the practice squad.
They also waived running back Shaun Draughn and receiver Chris Williams while terminating the contract of tight end Matthew Mulligan on Tuesday.
Frey spent last season as Chicago’s primary nickelback and could play a similar role with cornerback Charles Tillman suffering a season-ending arm injury at San Francisco on Sunday and rookie Kyle Fuller replacing him as a starter.
Ross spent most of last season on Tennessee’s and Kansas City’s practice squads after being signed by the Titans as an undrafted free agent out of Arizona State.
GIANTS
Two go on IR
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants placed cornerback Walter Thurmond III and wide receiver Jerrel Jernigan on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday.
They were injured Sunday in New York’s 25-14 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Thurmond had surgery Tuesday to repair a torn pectoral muscle. Jernigan has a mid-foot sprain.
The Giants (0-2) filled the roster openings by signing wide receiver Julian Talley and linebacker Dan Fox off the practice squad. In other moves, New York terminated defensive end Jordan Stanton’s contract from the practice squad and signed wide receivers Travis Harvey and L’Damian Washington to the practice squad.
BENGALS
Smith’s season over
CINCINNATI — The Bengals put tight end Alex Smith on injured reserve Tuesday, ending his season and cutting deeper into Cincinnati’s depth at the position.
Smith hurt his left biceps during a 24-10 victory over Atlanta on Sunday. The Bengals (2-0) also are missing tight end Tyler Eifert, who is out for at least eight games with an elbow injury.
The Bengals signed free-agent tight end Kevin Brock to fill Smith’s spot. The second-year player opened camp with Cincinnati and was waived on Aug. 26. He has played in six games with Buffalo and Kansas City.
The Bengals also released tight end Ryan Otten from the practice squad and signed offensive lineman Emmett Cleary, a first-year player waived by Oakland last month.