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

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

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

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

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

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

Pitt's James Conner, Miami's Duke Johnson establish school records

The match itself did not mean all that much — though Pitt did become bowl-eligible by defeating Miami 35-23 — but running backs for each team set remarkable school records.

Pitt sophomore James Conner ran for 2 touchdowns, giving him 24 for the season. The record of 22 have been held by Tony Dorsett, when he was a senior as well as the Heisman winner in 1976. Additionally, Conner raised his ACC single-season touchdown record.

Conner also rushed for 75 yards, giving him 1,675 for the season, which leads the ACC.

Meanwhile, Miami junior Duke Johnson ran for 89 yards, pushing his season total to 1,520 and his career total to a school-record 3,387 yards. The previous record holder was Ottis Anderson, who totaled 3,331 from 1975 78. Johnson has rushed for at least 88 yards in every single match this season and has had six 100-yard games.

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Pitt"s James Conner, Miami"s Duke Johnson establish school records

Jets-Bills available on NFL mobile in select areas

Disappointed that your Bills won’t be in Buffalo Week 12? Don’t worry Verizon’s got you covered.

Select Verizon users will be able to watch the Bills take on the Jets LIVE in NFL Mobile on Monday at 7:05pm ET. The game will be available in the app for users in the following regions only:

»NYC

»Buffalo

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Jets-Bills available on NFL mobile in select areas

Tuesday Tweetbag: Is Mike Gundy a candidate for Florida job?

Week 12’s college football action is in the books, so we decided to fire up the Tuesday Tweetbag to tackle the burning topics on your mind this season, from top pro prospects to the best teams in the sport.

Feel free to submit your questions to @BryanDFischer on Twitter each Monday or early Tuesday morning to get them answered every week. Without further ado, let the smorgasbord of questions commence.

@BryanDFischer Why do my fellow OSU fans seem so eager for Gundy to move on?

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Tuesday Tweetbag: Is Mike Gundy a candidate for Florida job?

Tuesday Tweetbag: Mike Gundy leaving Oklahoma State for Florida?

Week 12’s college football action is in the books, so we decided to fire up the Tuesday Tweetbag to tackle the burning topics on your mind this season, from top pro prospects to the best teams in the sport.

Feel free to submit your questions to @BryanDFischer on Twitter each Monday or early Tuesday morning to get them answered every week. Without further ado, let the smorgasbord of questions commence.

@BryanDFischer Why do my fellow OSU fans seem so eager for Gundy to move on?

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Tuesday Tweetbag: Mike Gundy leaving Oklahoma State for Florida?

TCU stumbles, but escapes trip to Kansas behind Trevone Boykin

For three quarters, Kansas played like they were Baylor.

In the final quarter however, they reverted to form and looked like Kansas.

TCU survived a trip to Lawrence and tough winter conditions by a nose in a 34-30 win over a Jayhawks team that was thinking upset from the start.

The Horned Frogs looked as though they were going to put on another offensive show when they started the game with an opening drive touchdown on a quick, seven-play drive that took just over two minutes. Kansas responded right away with a 17-play, 76 yard drive for a score that showed they would be no push over on Saturday however.

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TCU stumbles, but escapes trip to Kansas behind Trevone Boykin

Star prospect Hroniss Grasu expected to miss couple of games

Oregon finds itself in an enviable spot, entering a bye week as the No. 2-ranked team by the College Football Playoff selection committee.

That doesn’t mean all is well in Eugene, though.

Offensive line woes have been one of the few things hampering the Ducks this season, and those issues will apparently stretch out even longer, as starting guard Hamani Stevens said star center Hroniss Grasu is expected to miss the next couple games after suffering an injury against Utah last week.

» Sources Tell Us: Scout compares Grasu to Pro Bowl center

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Star prospect Hroniss Grasu expected to miss couple of games

Washington"s Shaq Thompson will flip to shield vs. Arizona

The Shaq Attack is back… on defense.

After two starts at running back, Washington’s Shaq Thompson is headed back to his recognizable beginning job as the Huskies’ play-making outside linebacker ahead of the team’s confrontation against Arizona on Saturday.

>> College Football 24/7 Top 25 Power Rankings

"So we are getting our running backs going a little bit, so we are possibly able to balance (Thompson) back over there (on defense) a little bit more," head coach Chris Petersen said Monday at his weekly press conference. & quot;He Will begin on that defensive side and we’ll kind of go from there."

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Washington"s Shaq Thompson will flip to shield vs. Arizona