NFL-National Football League roundup

Nov 28 (The Sports Xchange) - Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice is eligible to sign with any team after his indefinite suspension was lifted Friday. Judge Barbara Jones, the arbitrator chosen by the NFL and the NFL Players Association, sided with Rice in his appeal of the suspension levied after the release of a video showing him punching his fiancée in an elevator in February. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell initially suspended Rice for two games after a video showed Rice dragging his fiancée, Janay, out of the elevator in an Atlantic City casino. But Goodell made the suspension indefinite after the emergence of a second video showing Rice knocking out Janay with a punch. Jones heard Rice's appeal earlier this month, with Rice, Janay (now his wife), Goodell and Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome among those testifying. The NFLPA argued that Rice was a victim of double jeopardy, being suspended a second time for the same transgression. The league argued that Rice had not revealed the truth prior to the second video emerging. In her 17-page ruling Friday, Jones reportedly wrote that Rice "did not mislead the commissioner" when they met about the incident June 16. In a statement, Rice thanked those who helped him during his appeal, including his wife. He also said, "I made an inexcusable mistake and accept full responsibility for my actions. ... I will continue working hard to improve myself and be the best husband, father and friend, while giving back to my community and helping others to learn from my mistakes." - - Johnny Manziel explained an altercation that occurred last Saturday, saying "a very intoxicated, very aggressive person" approached Manziel and "kept attempting to come at me". The man, 33-year-old Ohio native Chris Gonos, said he approached Manziel to shake his hand and was punched by Manziel's associate, identified by police as Manziel's room mate, Dana Kirk. Gonos also said Manziel punched Gonos' brother. Manziel, the Cleveland Browns' first-round pick this year, said he was returning home to his apartment with Kirk after dinner with Manziel's mother, and they were approached by a man in the lobby. "As I was waiting for an elevator, I was approached by what has been made out to be a fan," Manziel said, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, "and at this point in the night this was a very intoxicated, very aggressive person that approached me in the lobby, putting his hands on me, kind of toying with me as I got back, just kind of trying to mind my own business and get upstairs to my room." Manziel said the man "kept attempting to come at me, just being extremely aggressive, and as we tried to coax him into getting into his elevator and going on about the night, the guy got very aggressive. Luckily for us ... security was able to get things under wraps." - - San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said he and his daughter have apologized to offensive coordinator Greg Roman for her tweet calling for Roman to be fired in the wake of the 49ers' offensive failures in a 19-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday. "My daughter and I both regret that her feelings got the best of her after last night's game and that she chose social media as an avenue to express her feelings," Baalke said in a statement. "We have apologized to Greg for this unfortunate matter. While disappointed, as a father I will use this as a teachable moment to help my daughter grow." After the game, Cassie Baalke, a college freshman, tweeted, "Greg Roman can take a hike. The 49ers don't want you no more." - - Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs was placed on season-ending injured reserve. Briggs suffered a groin injury last Sunday in the Bears' win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and did not play in Chicago's loss Thursday in Detroit. The seven-time Pro Bowler had 63 tackles, 2 1/2 tackles for loss and one interception this season. He also missed three games earlier in the season with a rib injury. - - Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald will be a game-time decision again Sunday when the Cardinals play in Atlanta. Fitzgerald, who suffered a sprained knee in Week 11 against the Detroit Lions, did not play in Arizona's 19-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. It was the first game he had missed since 2007. - - Houston Texans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney will not play Sunday against the Tennessee Titans due to ongoing complications with his surgically repaired knee. - - Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray will not play Sunday against the St. Louis Rams because he did not pass the league's concussion protocol, coach Tony Sparano said. Murray was the catalyst for the Raiders' first victory of the season, rushing for two touchdowns in a 24-20 win over the Kansas City Chiefs last Thursday. Murray ran for a career-high 112 yards on four attempts, scoring from 11 and 90 yards, but suffered a concussion. - - The Seattle Seahawks placed rookie linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis on injured reserve and claimed rookie cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts. Pierre-Louis, a fourth-round pick, suffered a shoulder injury in Week 11 against the Kansas City Chiefs and had missed the Seahawks' past two games. (Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)