Patriots ask appeals court to rehear 'Deflategate' case

NEW YORK (AP) The New England Patriots have asked a federal appeals court in New York City to rehear the ''Deflategate'' case.

The team said in court papers filed Wednesday in Manhattan that it has a ''strong interest'' in sparing quarterback Tom Brady from starting the season with a four-game suspension.

The papers say the Patriots ''strongly believe'' nobody tampered with footballs at the 2015 AFC Championship game. New England defeated the Indianapolis Colts 45-7 in that game and went on to win the Super Bowl.

A three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-to-1 last month to reinstate Brady's four-game suspension. A lower-court judge had ruled last September that the NFL erred in its handling of the probe of the deflated footballs and he rejected the suspension a week before the season began. Read more..

For NFL news, video highlights, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more only at feeltheaction.com

Bills GM clarifies comment over whether NFL's fit for humans

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) Buffalo Bills general manager Doug Whaley acknowledges he used ''a poor choice of words'' when referring to football being a violent game that he personally didn't think was intended to be played by humans.

Whaley's clarification was issued in a statement the Bills posted on their public relations Twitter account Wednesday.

A day earlier, in an interview with Buffalo's WGR Radio, the GM wondered whether football was meant for ''humans'' when answering a question whether receiver Sammy Watkins was injury prone.

The former college safety now says the point he was attempting to make is that football is a physical game and that injuries are a part of it. Citing NFL rule changes and other safety enhancements, Whaley says football is safer to play than ever before. Read more..

For NFL news, video highlights, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more only at feeltheaction.com

Kyle Kragen follows in his father's cleats with Broncos

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) The rookie linebacker wearing No. 57 reminded Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips of someone. His tenacity, his never-quit motor on the field - all way too familiar.

Skip back nearly three decades. Think nose tackle instead of linebacker. Swap No. 57 for 71.

Oh yeah, Kragen's kid. Phillips immediately felt his age.

Kyle Kragen was added to the roster on May 6 as a college free agent. In 1989, his father, Greg, became a Pro Bowler in Phillips' system during the defensive guru's first go-around with the Broncos.

''If Kyle Kragen has kids, maybe I'll coach them, too,'' the 68-year-old Phillips laughed.

It will take some work for Kyle to make a team coming off a Super Bowl title and already boasting outside linebackers such as Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware. But if anyone can help him, it's Phillips.

He did wonders for his dad.

Following a career at Utah State, Greg made the Broncos in 1985 and had four solid seasons before Phillips' arrival as defensive coordinator in `89. That's when Greg took his game to another level. Over the next four years under the tutelage of Phillips and the coaching staff, Greg had six fumble recoveries, 13 sacks and 352 tackles. Read more..

For NFL news, video highlights, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more only at feeltheaction.com

Recognized off field, Barrington key to Packers' LB plans

MILWAUKEE (AP) Steadying himself on a boat, Sam Barrington gripped tightly on the fishing rod and went to work last month.

Snaring a 400-pound shark isn't exactly child's play. By comparison, tackling a 220-pound NFL running back would seemingly be an easy catch for the Green Bay inside linebacker.

Between the fish stories and his acclaimed charitable contributions, Barrington has had a memorable year off the field. On the field, there is plenty of time for Barrington to prove how much he has recovered from a right foot injury that sidelined him for most of last season.

''I'm on path with everything they've got lined up for me,'' Barrington said this week when asked if he'd be ready for minicamp next month. ''I'm just grateful that I haven't had any setbacks.''

Judging by the work he had to put in to catch the shark , Barrington seems to be just fine.

''It's just another thing I want to add to my list of accomplishments - a 400-pound bull shark. I'll tell my kids about that one day,'' Barrington said. The shark was released.

Barrington, a seventh-round draft pick in 2013, prides himself on being a role model. For his efforts, he was the Packers' nominee for last year's Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, even after suffering his season-ending injury in the opener in September.

On Wednesday, Barrington came to the Townsend Street School in Milwaukee. A $22,000 grant from United Healthcare to Barrington's Dreambuilders program is funding the renovation of a student activity room, along with a program that will provide bags of nutritious food to students at the public school each weekend this fall. Read more..

For NFL news, video highlights, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more only at feeltheaction.com

OL Laremy Tunsil signs rookie contract with Miami Dolphins

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) Offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil has signed his rookie contract with the Miami Dolphins before joining the team's rookie minicamp, which began Friday.

Terms for the rookie from Mississippi weren't disclosed.

Touted at one time as a potential No. 1 overall choice, Tunsil was taken 13th by Miami last week after a video was posted on his Twitter account shortly before the NFL draft showing him smoking from a gas mask connected to a bong.

Miami also signed quarterback Brandon Doughty, a seventh-round pick, and 12 undrafted college free agents: linebackers Akil Blount, Tyler Gray and James Burgess, center-guard Ruben Carter, long snapper Ryan DiSalvo, safety A.J. Hendy, tight end Gabe Hughes, defensive end Farrington Huguenin, kicker Marshall Koehn, cornerback Lafayette Pitts, and receivers Rashawn Scott and Brandon Shippen. Read more...

For NFL news, video highlights, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more only at feeltheaction.com

Terron Beckham, cousin of Odell, chasing NFL dream with Jets

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) Terron Beckham has bright blue hair, huge muscles and an even bigger NFL dream.

The colorful and confident cousin of Odell Beckham Jr. is getting an opportunity from the New York Jets to show he belongs here - even though he hasn't played in an organized football game since high school in 2010.

''I hope to show them that I'm a reliable back,'' said Beckham, a running back in rookie minicamp on a tryout basis. ''I can do it all as far as catching, running, be powerful, be explosive, use my strength. Everybody knows that I'm a strong guy.''

No doubt about it.

The 23-year-old Beckham is listed at 6-foot and a powerfully built 225 pounds. He became a bit of an internet sensation in recent months with his eye-popping workouts. Beckham has been a personal trainer and fitness model for the last few years, but had always had the desire to play in the NFL.

In April, he had an NFL combine-like pro day at TEST Sports Club in New Jersey. According to published reports, Beckham ran the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds, had a 44 1/2-inch vertical jump and bench-pressed 225 pounds 36 times in front of scouts from a handful of teams, including the Jets and Giants.

After the draft last weekend, the Jets called and offered him a chance to try out. Read more...

For NFL news, video highlights, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more only at feeltheaction.com