NFL-National Football League roundup
Sept 3 (The Sports Xchange) - The Dallas Cowboys signed defensive end Michael Sam to their practice squad and he took the field with America's Team on Wednesday. Sam, a seventh-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Missouri who thrust himself into the spotlight after becoming the first NFL player to openly say he's gay, was cut by the St. Louis Rams last weekend. - - The New Orleans Saints re-signed wide receiver Robert Meachem on Wednesday, four days after he was released in the final cut-down to the 53-man roster, and signed linebacker Junior Galette to a four-year extension. The Saints also officially added kicker Shayne Graham to the active roster. - - Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker has been suspended four games for using performance-enhancing drugs, specifically amphetamines. Welker tested positive in May and appealed two weeks ago. Participants were notified Tuesday that his appeal was denied, and head coach John Fox said Wednesday that he was not particularly fond of the NFL's timing of the ruling. - - Former linebacker Junior Seau's family will reject a proposed NFL concussion settlement between the league and thousands of former players, according to a lawyer representing the family. Seau, one of the league's most popular players who played 20 years in the NFL, committed suicide in 2012 that put the concussion crisis on the national agenda. - - Cornerback Tharold Simon, scheduled for so-called minor knee surgery, is one of five Seattle Seahawks declared out of Thursday night's season opener against the visiting Green Bay Packers. Also listed out are tight end Cooper Helfet (knee), running back Christine Michael (hamstring), offensive lineman Lemuel Jeanpierre (neck) and linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis (hamstring). - - The Green Packers held a closed practice Wednesday before they left for Seattle for Thursday night's NFL 2014 season opener against the Super Bowl champion Seahawks. Inside linebacker Brad Jones, who missed the final preseason game with a quadriceps injury, took part in the practice and is expected to start alongside fellow veteran A.J. Hawk. - - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed rookie running back Charles Sims on the injured reserve/designated for return list and re-signed safety Major Wright on Wednesday. Sims will be eligible to play for the Bucs beginning in Week 9. He had surgery to repair an ankle injury last month and was expected to miss 12 to 14 weeks. - - Versatile running back Jamaal Charles declared he felt "great" after the Kansas City Chiefs' Wednesday practice in preparation for Sunday's season opener against the Tennessee Titans. Charles, who finished No. 3 in NFL rushing last year with 1,287 yards and caught 70 passes for another 693 yards, has not played since the Chiefs' first preseason game. He was held out by coaches who wanted to save his body for the real season. - - The Minnesota Vikings signed rookie safety Ahmad Dixon to the practice squad Wednesday. Dixon was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2014 draft but was waived this week. - - The Oakland Raiders reached a tentative agreement on the construction of a new stadium in Oakland, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Wednesday. According to the newspaper, Oakland's mayor has proposed giving free land to the team and for city and Alameda County taxpayers to pay off $120 million they still owe for the 1990s overhaul of the Coliseum, which would be demolished. (Editing by Frank Pingue)
