The Sports Xchange

Ted Wells, the NFL’s lead investigator in the “Deflategate” scandal, will be present Tuesday when New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady appeals his four-game suspension.

Wells authored a report that commissioner Roger Goodell relied on when he issued the suspension and corresponding punishment for the New England organization.

The Patriots defeated the Indianapolis Colts 45-7 in the AFC Championship Game. During the game, the Colts believed that Brady and the Patriots were using footballs that were improperly inflated.

An investigation ensued and Wells discovered it was “more probable than not that New England Patriots personnel participated in violations of the Playing Rules and were involved in a deliberate effort to circumvent the rules.”

—The Cleveland Browns claimed wide receiver Terrelle Pryor off waivers.

To make room on the 90-man roster, the Browns waived defensive back Landon Feichter.

The Cincinnati Bengals released Pryor last Thursday, and an ESPN report Monday indicated they were upset that he had posted practice video on Twitter.

His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said the erstwhile quarterback was willing to switch to wide receiver in an attempt to salvage his NFL career.

—Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, a former Olympic long jumper, reportedly has been added to the roster for the U.S. Track and Field Championships this weekend in Eugene, Ore.

Goodwin was allowed to participate in the long jump through a petition by men’s track chairman Ed Gorman. The petition was granted because of Goodwin’s history in the sport; he won two NCAA titles, jumped 8.33 meters at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials and finished 10th at the London Olympics with a jump of 7.8 meters.

If Goodwin were to place in the top three in Eugene, he would qualify for the World Championships in Beijing, Aug. 22-30. Bills training camp runs through Aug. 25, and Goodwin is working to keep a spot on the roster behind Sammy Watkins, Percy Harvin and Robert Woods.

—Two NFL assistant coaches, Dick LeBeau and Tom Moore, along with retired assistant coach Dante Scarnecchia, were selected as the Class of 2015 for the Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman Award, announced Monday by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).

The Dr. Z Award is given for lifetime achievement as an assistant coach in the NFL. The award is named for Zimmerman, who covered the NFL for 29 years as Sports Illustrated’s lead pro football writer.

In his 43rd season as a NFL coach, LeBeau is in his first year as assistant head coach/defense for the Tennessee Titans. In his 37th season as an NFL assistant coach, Moore is in his third season with the Arizona Cardinals as assistant head coach/offense. Scarnecchia spent 32 seasons as a NFL assistant coach, 30 with the New England Patriots.