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NFL roundup: Champ Bailey reaches end, retires
Champ Bailey’s long and distinguished NFL career came to an end Tuesday.
Bailey’s agent, Jack Reale, said the 12-time Pro Bowl selection decided to retire after 15 seasons in the league with the Washington Redskins and the Denver Broncos.
The cornerback had been out of a job since he was released during final cuts before the season by the New Orleans Saints. Reale indicated that several teams had shown interest in Bailey since then, but he chose not to go that route.
The 36-year-old Bailey ends his career with 12 Pro Bowl selections, tied for second most all time with linebackers Ray Lewis and Junior Seau. Reggie White is the leader with 13.
After missing much of last season with a foot injury, Bailey returned to help the Broncos reach the Super Bowl. He was released in the offseason to create salary cap space. The No. 7 overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft came to the Broncos in 2004 after a trade with the Redskins for running back Clinton Portis. He finished his career with 52 interceptions, including a personal-best 10 in 2006 for the Broncos.
—Tony Romo is likely to be on the field for the Cowboys this week when the Arizona Cardinals visit Dallas, coach Jason Garrett said Tuesday.
Romo was diagnosed Monday with a back contusion and missed two drives in the overtime loss to the Washington Redskins while in the locker room, where X-rays were negative but a pain-killing injection was needed.
Garrett said Tuesday that the injury appears to be unrelated to the herniated disc that led to surgery for Romo at the end of last season.
Romo convinced medical personnel he was ready to play and despite two scoring drives led by backup Brandon Weeden — one field goal and a touchdown pass to tight end Jason Witten — returned to the game with 1:52 remaining in regulation.
—Cowboys linebacker Justin Durant tore his right biceps in the second half of Monday’s loss to the Washington Redskins, but coach Jason Garrett isn’t ruling out a return during the 2014 season.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said earlier in the day that Durant was likely out for the rest of the season. Rookie Anthony Hitchens could be pushed into a starting role or the Cowboys might contemplate moving linebacker Bruce Carter back to the weak side.
Durant is the team’s leading tackler for the season after replacing injured middle linebacker Sean Lee as the team’s defensive play-caller. He was credited with 10 tackles on Monday night against the Redskins.
—The Washington Redskins have won consecutive games for the first time since 2012 and could get quarterback Robert Griffin III back on the field when they kick off the second half of their regular-season schedule at the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Griffin has not played since dislocating his ankle in Week 2, but coach Jay Gruden said Tuesday that he thinks “Robert is very, very, very close, and we just have to decide if he’s ready.”
The biggest obstacle in Griffin returning this week could be the fact the Redskins are on a short week after Monday night’s overtime victory at the Dallas Cowboys that lifted Washington to 3-5 for the season and within 2 1/2 games of the Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East.
—Wide receiver A.J. Green plans to play Sunday after missing three games with a toe injury suffered in the Cincinnati Bengals’ season-opening victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
Green was back on the rehab field last Wednesday and was hopeful of playing Week 8 but sat out the following two days and was inactive Sunday against the Ravens.
“I was at 40 percent last week and I feel about 80 percent today. I haven’t had any soreness after I’ve worked out,” Green said Monday.
—The Tampa Bay Buccaneers dealt safety Mark Barron to the St. Louis Rams and reserve linebacker Jonathan Casillas to the New England Patriots before Tuesday’s trade deadline. According to reports, the Rams gave up future fourth- and sixth-round draft selections for Barron, a first-round pick in 2012. The Rams did not offer details on the picks involved.
The Patriots did not disclose terms of the trade for Casillas. In another roster move, New England released offensive lineman Chris Barker.
Barron was second on the team in tackles this year with 49 in seven games for the Bucs. The 25-year-old started 37 games in three seasons for Tampa Bay and had three interceptions.
—The New Orleans Saints placed wide receiver Joe Morgan on the reserve/suspended list Tuesday with providing an explanation.
Morgan had not played since he started the Saints’ opener.
—Injured defensive tackle Nick Fairley might not return for the Detroit Lions this season.
While coach Jim Caldwell is not ruling him out, he called a report that Fairley will be one month with a right knee injury “didn’t come from my office.” Caldwell said Fairley’s status will be determined down the line. The Lions are off this week after rallying to beat the Atlanta Falcons 22-21 at Wembley Stadium in London. Top reserve C.J. Mosley is also unavailable. He was sent home from London and suspended two games for violating team rules.
—Linebacker Chase Blackburn was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury by the Carolina Panthers, who signed offensive lineman Mike Remmers from the St. Louis Rams practice squad and waived running back Darrin Reaves.
To take Reaves’ spot on the 53-man roster, the Panthers promoted safety Robert Lester from their practice squad.
—The Buffalo Bills placed safety Kenny Ladler on season-ending injured reserve with an arm injury, the team announced Tuesday.
Ladler played in two games after he was promoted from the practice squad and had four tackles.
—Veteran safety Charles Godfrey signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday.
Godfrey was released a week ago by Carolina after seven seasons with the Panthers. To make room on the roster for Godfrey, the Falcons waived safety Sean Baker.
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