National Signing Day: NFL draft history for five-star recruits

National Signing Day is Wednesday, and the hoopla surrounding it makes it seem like Christmas in February for college football fans.

Signing lists will be perused, and there will be crowing about the great players each coaching staff reeled in. There will be especially loud crowing about five-star recruits who signed.

But being a five-star recruit is no sure thing when it comes to college stardom, much less NFL stardom. We went back and looked at each Rivals.com five-star recruit from 2002 (when their rankings started) through the 2011 class.

Here’s what we found:

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National Signing Day: NFL draft history for five-star recruits

Bengals" A.J. Green injures arm in Monday"s win

The Bengals lost a major playmaker in Monday night’s 37-28 win.

Wide receiver A.J. Green injured his right arm during the tilt against the Broncos.

Green hurt his arm earlier in the contest, but returned for the Bengals. Cincinnati later downgraded the receiver to questionable, but he never returned.

It was a night to forget for the star wideout. Green was held without a catch and was only targeted four times.

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Bengals" A.J. Green injures arm in Monday"s win

Memphis" win over BYU in Miami Beach Bowl marred by brawl

The inaugural Miami Beach Bowl on Monday was memorable. What happened afterward was, too, just not in a good way.

A brawl broke out, complete with sucker punches and swinging helmets, after Memphis beat BYU, 55-48, in two overtimes.

ESPN cameras captured BYU starting safety Kai Nucua throwing a sucker punch at Memphis tight end Alan Cross, who wasn’t wearing a helmet. Nucua, a sophomore, already was bloodied as fights between players had broken out all over the field.

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Memphis" win over BYU in Miami Beach Bowl marred by brawl

Watch Saturday's games on NFL Network and NFL Mobile

For the first time this season we’ll have a slate of Saturday games. Fortunately, both will be televised nationally on NFL Network. But if you’re not by your TV, you can still catch the games.

Verizon customers on The MORE Everything plan or with a Premium Subscription have access to both games via the NFL Mobile app.

The Philadelphia Eagles takes on the Washington Redskins at 4:30 p.m. ET and the San Diego Chargers faces the San Francisco 49ers at 8:25 p.m. ET in a game that carries playoff implications. 

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Watch Saturday"s games on NFL Network and NFL Mobile

Avoid fatigue: A low-impact workout from NFL Up!

A crucial factor to any intense workout is recovery. Many routines include a recovery period, some up to a week long that stick with exercises that are low impact. This late in the season, players tend to focus more on maintaining their current condition rather than building strength and possibly increasing wear and tear. NFL Up! has put together a workout of low impact exercises to maintain your strength level without too much stress on the body.

Instructions:

Remember to stretch before and after your workout to prepare muscles and limit risk of injury. For more tips on stretching, check out these exercises and drills.

1. Foam Roller
Prep your muscles and help reduce soreness from the previous workout with this foam roller drill.
Reps: Start low and work your way up

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Avoid fatigue: A low-impact workout from NFL Up!

Like/Dislike: Worst week ever for Jay Cutler

One last chance to do it

Dude, too little, too late

Who will he face at ‘Mania?

Adam Rank is disappointed that he won’t get to see Lizzy Caplan shine in a starring role in "The Interview" on account of current events. Sort of the same way that Alshon Jeffery might not shine with Jimmy Clausen under center in Chicago. But he thinks both Caplan and Jeffery will have the chance to rebound.

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Like/Dislike: Worst week ever for Jay Cutler

Ray McDonald being investigated on suspicion of sexual assault

Northern California authorities are investigating San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald on suspicion of sexual assault.

San Jose Police Department Sgt. Heather Randol said Wednesday that detectives searched McDonald’s San Jose home.

Randol said an area hospital notified police Tuesday night that a woman was seeking treatment.

According to police, the woman told police she was "possibly" sexually assaulted by McDonald. No arrests have been made or charges filed.

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Ray McDonald being investigated on suspicion of sexual assault

Lions ride Matt Prater"s leg to win vs. Vikings

DETROIT — It was the type of kick that always seems to go through the uprights against the Detroit Lions.

Nobody has ever made a field goal from 68 yards in an NFL game, but when Minnesota’s Blair Walsh lined up at that distance on the final play Sunday, there were some nervous folks at Ford Field.

"Stranger things have happened to us," Detroit offensive lineman Rob Sims said. "But maybe this is our time. Maybe things are changing."

Walsh’s kick came up short and wide to the left, and Detroit held on for a 16-14 victory over Minnesota.

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Lions ride Matt Prater"s leg to win vs. Vikings

Auburn freshman football player Jakell Mitchell killed in shooting

An Auburn freshman football player was shot and killed early Sunday morning at an apartment complex near the Auburn campus, according to AL.com.

Jakell Mitchell, who was expected to compete for a starting job in 2015, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to the East Alabama Medical Center in Auburn, where he was pronounced dead. Police are treating the death as a homocide. No suspects or motives have been identified.

Auburn Athletic Director Jay Jacobs acknowledged the death on his Twitter account.

The Auburn Family is grieving the loss of a teammate & friend Jakell Mitchell. We are praying for his family. pic.twitter.com/ZC5PP2nJ6u

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Auburn freshman football player Jakell Mitchell killed in shooting

Will Muschamp hired as Auburn"s defensive coordinator

Will Muschamp, who was fired as Florida’s coach last month, will remain in the SEC as Auburn’s new defensive coordinator.

"He’s one of the best in the business, if not the best in the business," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said of Muschamp at Saturday’s introductory news conference.

Muschamp’s last official day at Florida was Nov. 29, when he coached the Gators in their loss to Florida State, which means he spent less than two weeks out of work. Numerous reports indicate his salary will be $1.6 million, meaning he will be the highest-paid assistant in college football. He reportedly also was a candidate for the Houston head-coaching job.

"We’ve been pretty good where we’ve been, but we’ve also had a bunch of good players," Muschamp said Saturday of the defenses he has coordinated.

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Will Muschamp hired as Auburn"s defensive coordinator

Adrian Peterson appeal refused; suspension carried on

Thirdparty arbitrator Harold Henderson has denied the appeal of Adrian Peterson’s suspension.

Henderson reasoned that Peterson failed to show the procedure and processes encompassing his discipline were unjust and inconsistent.

"He was afforded all of the protections and rights to which he’s entitled," Henderson said, "and that i find no basis to vacate or decrease the discipline."

Henderson additionally noted that Peterson’s public remarks "don’t represent compunction or understanding for the earnestness of his activities."

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Adrian Peterson appeal refused; suspension carried on

Cardinals, Packers among teams that could clinch playoff position

As the regular season wanes, each week brings with it a new chance for a number of teams to clinch playoff positions. Check out every potential scenario for each conference below, and call the playoffs here:

NFC

CLINCHED: None

REMOVED: Giants, Redskins, Bears, Buccaneers

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Cardinals, Packers among teams that could clinch playoff position

Tuesday Tweetbag: Changes for the Big 12, greatest bowl games

College football regular season activity is in the novels, so we chose to fire up the Tweetbag to handle the burning issues in your head this year, from top professional possibilities to the most effective teams in the sport.

don’t hesitate to file your questions to @BryanDFischer on Twitter each Monday or early Tuesday morning to get them replied every week. Without further ado, allow the smorgasbord of questions commence.

@BryanDFischer Playoffs enlarged to 8 teams next year or 6 teams (top 2 getting a Bye)? Or not for at least a couple more years?

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Tuesday Tweetbag: Changes for the Big 12, greatest bowl games

Jamaal Charles (ankle) questionable to return vs. Cards

The Chiefs must make do without their star running back for a bit. 

Jamaal Charles injured his ankle through the initial half of the Chiefs-Cardinals game and is questionable to return. He was replaced by Knile Davis.

Around The NFL will have more on this particular story shortly.

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Jamaal Charles (ankle) questionable to return vs. Cards

Andy Dalton leaves Bengals" loss to Steelers in fourth quarter

Andy Dalton left the Bengals’ 42-21 loss against the Steelers late in the fourth quarter. Jason Campbell stepped in for Cincinnati’s starting quarterback.

Earlier in the last frame, Dalton was shaken up after a hit and missed one play, however he finally returned. The signal caller stayed out, leaving the match using the final score line in Pittsburgh’s favor.

When he departed for good, Dalton was 21-of-29 passing for 302 yards and two touchdown passes.

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Andy Dalton leaves Bengals" loss to Steelers in fourth quarter

Brandt: Greg Schiano prospective frontrunner for Michigan occupation

San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh can not look to escape conjecture that he could be the next coach at his alma mater, Michigan, but he is not the only one. NFL Media senior analyst Gil Brandt proposed via Twitter Friday that former Rutgers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano might be associated with the hunt, at the same time.

My wildcard for #Michigan is Greg Schiano, might even be frontrunner. Will get outstanding recommendations from highpowered #NFL trainers

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Brandt: Greg Schiano prospective frontrunner for Michigan occupation

NFL leading attempts to give to charity on Giving Tuesday

Tis the season to be jolly, and nothing improves morale and makes the holidays exceptional rather like giving.

together with the coming of Giving Tuesday, the NFL is diving headfirst into charity. While the league has been associated with the yearly day of offering for the past couple of years, it is taken another thing in 2014. The NFL has joined a #GivingTuesday effort developed by CrowdRise to improve their attempts, supporting both NFL Play 60 associate St. Jude Children’s Charity, plus the NFL players’ and trainers’ foundations (such as Bill Belichick, J.J. Watt, Torrey Smith and Andy Dalton).

To join the league in the NFL’s not-for-profit efforts, visit CrowdRise’s landing page to give to among the aforementioned organizations, or into a bevy of individual foundations created by present and previous players.

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NFL leading attempts to give to charity on Giving Tuesday

College Football Playoff: Calling the sixth pair of positions

After years in the making, we will see yet another glance of the College Football Playoff choice committee in action Tuesday night, when it releases its sixth set of top 25 positions.

Fresh off a thrilling Week 14, here are some speculations for who’ll make the committee’s top four and who is going to be left wondering what they should do to move up. Remember, it is a review of the playoff image right now and not a projection of triumphs and losses the remainder of the season.

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College Football Playoff: Calling the sixth pair of positions

Mississippi State"s Dan Mullen was not bullish on playoff opportunities

Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen was not convinced his Bulldogs would’ve made the College Football Playoff even if they’d defeated Mississippi on Saturday.

Well, he sort of believed that, anyhow.

Mississippi State was ranked fourth in this week’s College Football Playoff positions, but after Saturday’s loss Mullen told CBSSports.com, "I did not believe we were getting in the playoff anyway."

Mullen subsequently talked more about it — and did not look almost as certain.

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Mississippi State"s Dan Mullen was not bullish on playoff opportunities

Winners and losers from Week 14 college football matches

Week 14 of the college football season brought us emphasizes galore as well as several surprises that nobody could have called earlier in 2013. While we understand who won and who lost the matches in the box scores, who actually came out of Saturday competent to hold their heads high?

TCU: Saturday could not have been scripted considerably better for the Horned Frogs, who found Mississippi State go down in front of the box and Ohio State lose their starting quarterback. Combination in Baylor fighting against lowly Texas Tech and TCU is in far better standing to reach the College Football Playoff.

Memphis: The Tigers won seven matches united in 2012 and 2013 but continued their extraordinary turn around under trainer Justin Fuente with their ninth victory of the season on Saturday over UConn. That gave the team a share of the AAC tournament and made the boxscores coach an even hotter commodity this offseason.

Georgia Tech: It was not pretty but the Yellow Jackets stormed back to defeat their instate competition in wild way and send themselves into the ACC Championship Game next week on a high.

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Winners and losers from Week 14 college football matches