Former NFL exec looks forward to reunion at Super Bowl

TEMPE, Ariz. — The last time the Super Bowl was in Arizona, Ray Anderson was the Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the NFL.

Seven years later, the Super Bowl is heading to Arizona but Anderson won’t have to make the long haul again from NFL headquarters in New York.

Anderson is in his first year as Vice President for University Athletics and Athletic Director at Arizona State University and is relishing the reunion in his new backyard.

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Former NFL exec looks forward to reunion at Super Bowl

Seven injured by lightning strike after Packers-Bucs game

TAMPA, Fla. — Officials with Tampa Fire Rescue say seven people have been taken to the hospital with minor injuries after a lightning strike in a parking lot near the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ stadium.

Spokesman Jason Penny says it doesn’t appear that anyone was directly struck by the lightning Sunday afternoon. He says the lightning did, however, kick up rocks and gravel and knock a few people down. It struck shortly after 4 p.m.

The injuries do not appear to be serious.

Green Bay beat the Bucs, 20-3.

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Seven injured by lightning strike after Packers-Bucs game

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!

Wisconsin hires Paul Chryst as head coach

Wisconsin made Paul Chryst’s homecoming official on Wednesday, announcing he is the Badgers’ new head coach.

Reports in the past week indicated Chryst, who had served as head coach at Pitt, would return to Madison. Wednesday was the earliest Wisconsin could hire Chryst because of university policies.

Welcome home, Coach Chryst. Welcome home. #Badgers pic.twitter.com/yZOpLkX2ak

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Wisconsin hires Paul Chryst as head coach

2014 college football bowl game predictions

CFB 24/7 experts Gil Brandt, Bucky Brooks, Daniel Jeremiah, Bryan Fischer, Chase Goodbread and Mike Huguenin have provided their predictions for all 38 major college football bowl games.

Season records entering bowl season:
Brooks: 104-46
Huguenin: 104-46
Goodbread: 102-48
Jeremiah: 101-49
Fischer: 100-50
Brandt: 98-52

» For more, go to NFL.com/CFB 24/7

Follow College Football 24/7 on Twitter @NFL_CFB.

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2014 college football bowl game predictions

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

Like/dislike: How does one pick an MVP?

Everybody at NFL Media has to

He rode a swan in a pool once

ICYMI: he’ll begin this week!

I kind of enjoyed how the Packers supporters began the MVP chants through the last minutes of the Monday Night Football game. After all, Rodgers might be my private MVP right now, and he is not even on my fantasy football team. (You will want to take a look at the Monday Nightmare for more on that.)

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Like/dislike: How does one pick an MVP?

Virginia"s Eli Harold denotes via Twitter he"s turning professional

Virginia junior defensive end Eli Harold, an athletic advantage rusher who had seven sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss this season, announced via Twitter on Wednesday morning that he’s entering the NFL draft.

To all UVA Enthusiasts, my family, and my close friends and teammates it is been a great ride. I decided to enter the NFL Draft.

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Virginia"s Eli Harold denotes via Twitter he"s turning professional

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

Houston fires head coach Tony Levine after only three seasons

Houston trainer Tony Levine was fired Monday after three seasons in the institution, including two that featured winning records.

Levine was hired following the 2011 season, when Kevin Sumlin left to coach Texas A&M. Levine had been the Cougars’ receivers coach. Houston was 21-17 in three seasons under Levine, including 7-5 this season and 8-5 last season; the Cougars were 5-7 in 2012.

The Cougars will meet Pittsburgh in the Jan. 2 Armed Forces Bowl with defensive coordinator David Gibbs — the son of longtime NFL offensive line coach Alex Gibbs — as the interim coach.

Houston becomes the 12th FBS school which is going to have coaching change this year.

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Houston fires head coach Tony Levine after only three seasons

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

Lane Kiffin early again, and right again, with touchdown call

ATLANTA — Only weekly after Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin observed a touchdown pass to star receiver Amari Cooper before the pass was even thrown, the mastermind of the Crimson Tide’s record-setting offense was at it again.

But this time, his assurance was just as high in Alabama’s No. 2 receiver, DeAndrew White.

Seemingly enjoying the coverage he saw in the catch of the ball yet again, Kiffin lifted his arms only before this 58-yard touchdown pass from Blake Sims to White (see Kiffin, bottom right):

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Lane Kiffin early again, and right again, with touchdown call

Inquire 5: who"s greatest NFL comparison for Missouri DE Shane Ray?

Alabama and Missouri will square off on Saturday in the SEC title match. Every college football supporter in the united states knows Crimson Tide star wide receiver Amari Cooper, but Missouri has some star power, also. Defensive end Shane Ray is among the most effective pass rushers in the nation.

I polled five NFL executives and asked them to get a Ray comparison from an earlier draft course. Here will be the results:

In a weekly show, draft analyzer Daniel Jeremiah surveys five NFL employees executives about college football’s top possibilities.

"he’s an remarkable get-away and he is bendy working the advantage.

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Inquire 5: who"s greatest NFL comparison for Missouri DE Shane Ray?

Michigan fires Brady Hoke after four seasons as coach

Michigan coach Brady Hoke was fired Tuesday after four seasons at work.

"In the end, I believe going in another way is the correct choice," interim AD Jim Hackett said during a Tuesday news conference.

Hoke went 31-20 with the Wolverines, including 5-7 this season. The Wolverines went 11-2 in Hoke’s first season after he replaced Rich Rodriguez, however they were on a steady descent ever since.

Hackett talked highly of Hoke’s character, but also said he believed Hoke had enough time as trainer to justify the move.

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Michigan fires Brady Hoke after four seasons as coach

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