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Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones to play with no limitations

By The Sports Xchange
Atlanta Falcons star wide receiver Julio Jones will not have any limitations in Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers after nursing a toe injury this week. File Photo by David Tulis/UPI
1 of 9 | Atlanta Falcons star wide receiver Julio Jones will not have any limitations in Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers after nursing a toe injury this week. File Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

--Atlanta Falcons star wide receiver Julio Jones will not have any limitations in Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers after nursing a toe injury this week.

Falcons coach Dan Quinn told reporters that Jones, who aggravated a toe sprain in last Saturday's 36-20 divisional playoff win over the Seattle Seahawks, returned to practice Friday and was a full participant.

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"We were pleased with his response and how quickly he came back and had good bounce," Quinn said Friday. "(He) ran hard, jumped -- so he looked good." Quinn, when asked if Jones would have any limitations on Sunday, replied: "None."

Jones, who initially sustained the injury in a Week 13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, led the Falcons with 83 receptions and 1,409 receiving yards during the regular season despite missing two games. His six touchdown receptions tied wideout Taylor Gabriel for the team lead.

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--Baltimore Ravens linebacker Zachary Orr is just grateful he can literally walk away from the game of football.

The 24-year-old was forced to retire after three seasons because of a congenital neck and spine condition. Orr was initially placed on injured reserve after suffering a herniated disk Christmas day against the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, the career-ending congenital condition was not diagnosed until he underwent a physical after the season.

The condition leaves him more vulnerable to paralysis or even death if he continues to play.

"One thing that helps me be at peace with this is I gave it my all," Orr said at a press conference Friday to announce his retirement. "I don't have any regrets, on the field, off the field. I can leave with a lot of stuff, but one thing I can't live with is regret. I don't have any of that in my body."

--Johnny Manziel craves a return to the NFL and the embattled quarterback said he is now a sober person.

Manziel told ESPN that he achieved sobriety without professional help and is focused on becoming a better person.

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The former member of the Cleveland Browns said he appreciates all the people who helped him "during the truly rough patches" in 2016.

Manziel made reference to his behavior on his Twitter account: "No lie.. I was a douche in 2016 I'm just trying to be a good PERSON again#LostInTheSauce."

--The current injury to Jordy Nelson brought the worst pain of his life, but the Green Bay Packers' leading receiver is determined to be on the field for Sunday's NFC Championship Game despite broken ribs.

Nelson, selected as the 2016 NFL Comeback Player of the Year in voting conducted by the Professional Football Writers of America, did not play at Dallas last week because of the injury and was limited in practice all week as the Packers wrap up preparation for the Atlanta Falcons. For context on his personal pain spectrum, Nelson missed the entire 2015 season with a torn knee ligament.

Coach Mike McCarthy said that Nelson (ribs) and fellow receivers Davante Adams (ankle) and Geronimo Allison (hamstring) would likely be game-time decisions. Nelson started all 16 games as he caught 97 passes for 1,257 yards and a NFL-leading 14 touchdowns.

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But there also is another development to watch -- Nelson, kicker Mason Crosby and quarterback Aaron Rodgers are battling illnesses.

--Atlanta Falcons linebacker Vic Beasley, who led the NFL in sacks, was selected as the 2016 NFL Most Improved Player of the Year in voting conducted by the Professional Football Writers of America..

In 2015 as rookie, Beasley started all 16 games and had four sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles, two passes defensed and 27 total tackles. This season, he led the NFL with 15.5 sacks to go along with 15 quarterback hits, 10 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles and 39 tackles. He took PFWA All-NFL and All-NFC honors at outside linebacker.

Beasley posted two or more sacks in four games, including 3.5 at Denver in Week 5. He became the 10th player in NFL history to post at least three sacks and return a fumble recovery for a touchdown in the same game at Los Angeles in Week 14. He was the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for December after making six sacks and two forced fumbles.

Beasley is the first member of the Falcons to receive Most Improved Player of the Year honors.

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--Bill Belichick considers Donald Trump a personal friend, but when the new President of the United States used the pre-inauguration stage Thursday night to give the New England Patriots a shoutout, the stone-faced coach maintained his game face.

Asked at his Friday press conference ahead of the AFC Championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday whether he's ever been mentioned by a president-elect in an inauguration speech before, Belichick said, "No."

When asked for his reaction, Belichick said: "We have a big game."

Unmoved earlier in the week by the pomp and circumstance of the AFC title game, Belichick did send a letter of support to Trump during the height of the campaign. Quarterback Tom Brady is also a supporter.

--Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison is listed as questionable for Sunday's AFC Championship Game with the New England Patriots due to shoulder and triceps injuries.

The 38-year-old Harrison returned to practice on Friday after missing the previous two days. He said he plans to play in the contest, which would mark his fifth appearance in the AFC title game.

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"It means the same it did the first year I ever played," Harrison told reporters. "I'm excited for every game."

Tight end Ladarius Green (concussion, illness) and running back Fitzgerald Toussaint (concussion) were also listed as questionable for Pittsburgh.

--Three-time Super Bowl champion and Patriots Hall of Fame linebacker Tedy Bruschi will serve as New England's honorary captain for the AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

The Steelers' honorary captain will be receiver Hines Ward, the MVP of Super Bowl XL and two-time Super Bowl champ.

The Patriots will play in the franchise's 13th AFC title game -- the 12th under the ownership of Robert Kraft, the seventh at home and their sixth at Gillette Stadium when they host the Steelers with a trip to Super Bowl LI on the line.

Bruschi and Ward will be part of the pregame festivities when they accompany the team captains at midfield for the coin toss prior to Sunday's contest.

--Chip Kelly, the former Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers head coach, reportedly met with New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

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The friendship between Kelly and Belichick is well known, ever since Kelly's days when he established a fast-tempo offense as head coach at Oregon.

Kelly's trip to New England came after the Jacksonville Jaguars decided this week to stay with Nathaniel Hackett as offensive coordinator, a league source told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.

Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels took his name out of the running for the 49ers' head-coaching job on Monday, deciding to stay with the Patriots for the 2017 season.

--The NFL announced the names of 103 total underclassmen who have been granted eligibility for the 2017 NFL Draft, which is scheduled for April 27-29 in Philadelphia, Pa.

On the official list, 95 were granted special eligibility while eight others already graduated, but had eligibility remaining. The deadline for underclassmen to declare was January 16.

The 103 early entrants is the second-highest number, falling just short of last year's 107 underclassmen. The 95 who were granted special eligibility is third highest all-time behind 98 in 2014 and 96 in 2016.

On the NFLDraftScout.com top-50 Brugler Board, 32 are underclassmen, including 11 of the top 13 prospects led by Texas A&M pass rusher Myles Garrett at No. 1 overall.

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--The NFL announced the dates for two of the four London games scheduled in 2017.

The league confirmed the two regular-season games to be played at Wembley Stadium in Weeks 3 and 4: the Baltimore Ravens-Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 24 and the New Orleans Saints-Miami Dolphins the following week on Oct. 1. The Jaguars and Dolphins are the "host" teams.

The NFL previously announced there would be four 2017 games scheduled in the International Series in London. The other two will take place at Twickenham Stadium.

The Cleveland Browns will play a "home" game against the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams will play a "home" game against the Arizona Cardinals, both at Twickenham Stadium.

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