Blank comments on investigation of fake crowd noise in Atlanta

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Falcons owner Arthur Blank said Tuesday he has seen enough of the NFL’s investigation of fake crowd noise at Atlanta’s home games to acknowledge wrongdoing.

The NFL is trying to determine if the Falcons pumped artificial crowd noise into the Georgia Dome for home games the last two years. Apparently, the answer is yes.

Blank had a quick response when asked if there was a fine line for crowd noise not allowed by the league.

"It’s not really a fine line," Blank told The Associated Press. "I think what we’ve done in 2013 and 2014 was wrong. Anything that affects the competitive balance and fairness on the field, we’re opposed to, as a league, as a club and as an owner. It’s obviously embarrassing but beyond embarrassing it doesn’t represent our culture and what we’re about."

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Blank comments on investigation of fake crowd noise in Atlanta

Shane Carden fights as East Carolina loses to Temple

East Carolina senior quarterback Shane Carden had his worst day of the season Saturday as the Pirates, who have been ranked 23rd in the College Football Playoff choice committee’s positions, were shocked 20-10 by Temple.

It was Temple’s first win over a top-25 team in The Associated Press survey since 1998. The upset came in blustery, wet and chilly conditions (temperatures were in the 40s) in Philadelphia.

The Owls won despite managing only 135 total yards. ECU committed five turnovers — all fumbles, including one returned for a touchdown.

ECU (6-2) had been the highest-graded non-Power Five conference team in the choice committee’s position; the highest-graded non-Power Five team is guaranteed a slot in among the playoff-associated bowls, but the loss nearly surely takes ECU out of the running.

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Shane Carden fights as East Carolina loses to Temple

Jim Kelly to be honored at Miami as Grand Marshal

Jim Kelly is so closely associated with the Buffalo Bills franchise that one has to be of a certain age to remember his days of gridiron glory down at Miami.

Well, one can prepare to relive those illustrious Hurricanes teams of the early 1980s after the school announced on Wednesday that the Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback and recent cancer survivor would be the Homecoming Grand Marshal and serve as an honorary captain the week of the North Carolina at Miami game.

"The University of Miami was and remains an important part of my life," Kelly said in a release. "My family and I are honored and we look forward to being Grand Marshal of the Homecoming Parade and Honorary Captain for the Homecoming game."

Kelly was diagnosed with cancer back in 2013 and later had part of his jaw removed. He underwent aggressive chemotherapy and said in early September that he was finally cancer free.

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Jim Kelly to be honored at Miami as Grand Marshal

Ameer Abdullah: Jameis Winston has "long way to go" in adulthood

Nebraska running back Ameer Abdullah needs what Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston already has — a Heisman Trophy — but it was Abdullah doling out some serious guidance for Winston on Monday.

The two school stars both hail from Alabama and consider each other friends. They were high school competitions in the Birmingham region, however they attended several summer camps jointly and apparently prepared together at exactly the same fitness center.

Nevertheless, Winston has been no stranger to off-the-field problems, as well as the episode that resulted in his suspension from Florida State’s game against Clemson — Winston shouted an obscene phrase within the student union — has seemingly rankled his fellow Heisman Trophy candidate and buddy. The Cornhuskers star directed a message Monday directly at Winston: Grow up.

"(Winston is) a very intelligent young man," Abdullah told the Associated Press. & quot;But he’s made his fair share of errors. It gets to the point at which you are feeling like he needs to begin understanding and take things more seriously because these matters can change what the results are in his future."

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Ameer Abdullah: Jameis Winston has "long way to go" in adulthood

Ex-Clemson star Tajh Boyd signals with Miami team in new FXFL

Former Clemson star quarterback Tajh Boyd was cut after being a sixth-round draft pick from the New York Jets, however he is expecting to maintain his career going by signing together with the Florida Blacktips of the newest Fall Experimental Football League.

Boyd was a three-year starter at Clemson, throwing to get a school-record 11,904 yards and an ACC-record 107 touchdowns. However he fought in training camp, to the point where he never actually competed for even the third-team position won by Matt Simms. Boyd was discharged through the Jets’ final cut.

He’s hoping to impress scouts with his play in the FXFL, a fledgling league also looking to impress.

"Our longterm aim would be to set up a partnership with all the NFL," FXFL commissioner Brian Woods told The Associated Press in July, when the league was declared, "and we believe can do this on many programs. It might give them a strategy to work with younger players they do not presently have. We are able to help them train future NFL officials. In the NBA, every referee entering the league comes from NBA Developmental League.

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Ex-Clemson star Tajh Boyd signals with Miami team in new FXFL

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany: Don"t make judgments yet

Much like an athletic director giving a vote of confidence to his beleaguered coach, Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany has given one to his beleaguered league.

"The narrative is still developing for each team and for each of the conferences," Delany told The Associated Press. "It will develop into a full narrative by Dec. 7, not Sept. 7."

Saturday was not a good day for the Big Ten. The conference was involved in each of the three national marquee games, and league teams lost all three: Michigan State to Oregon, Michigan to Notre Dame and Ohio State to Virginia Tech.

In addition, two Big Ten teams fell to MAC opponents: Purdue to Central Michigan and Northwestern to Northern Illinois. And most of the league’s wins were uninspiring, too: Penn State beat Akron 21-3, Minnesota held off Middle Tennessee 35-24, Iowa rallied to beat Ball State 17-13 in the final two minutes, Maryland beat USF 24-17, Nebraska scored with 20 seconds left on an incredible catch-and-run by Ameer Abdullah to subdue FCS opponent McNeese State 31-24 and Illinois fended off Western Kentucky 41-34. And on closer inspection, wins by Rutgers over FCS member Howard (38-25) and Wisconsin over Western Illinois (37-3 after leading just 9-3 at halftime) weren’t that impressive, either.

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Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany: Don"t make judgments yet

Bills stun Bears in overtime

CHICAGO — Fred Jackson set up Dan Carpenter‘s field goal in overtime with a 38-yard run to the 1, and the Buffalo Bills stunned the Chicago Bears 23-20 in the season opener Sunday.

The Bears had just punted to open the extra period and Buffalo took over on its 22 to start the winning possession. The Bills got the ball to the Chicago 39 when Jackson turned toward the left side and broke off his big run, pushing safety Chris Conte out of the way twice inside the 10 before being knocked out of bounds at the 1.

Buffalo’s EJ Manuel backed up 2 yards and put the ball in the middle of the field. After a delay of game, Carpenter won it with a 27-yarder.

Copyright 2014 by The Associated Press

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Bills stun Bears in overtime