NFL notes

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison met Thursday with NFL investigators looking into allegations linking him to performance-enhancing drugs. Julius Peppers and Clay Matthews of the Green Bay Packers did so Wednesday.
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison met Thursday with NFL investigators looking into allegations linking him to performance-enhancing drugs. Julius Peppers and Clay Matthews of the Green Bay Packers did so Wednesday.

NFL

PED talks

photo

AP Photo/File

File Photos showing Green Bay Packers' Clay Matthews, in 2016, Packers' Julius Peppers, in 2015

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison and Green Bay Packers defensive players Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers met this week with NFL investigators looking into allegations linking them to performance-enhancing drugs, the players' union said Thursday.

Matthews and Peppers met with league representatives on Wednesday, while Harrison did so on Thursday, according to the NFL Players Association.

Last week, the league threatened Harrison, Matthews, Peppers and free agent Mike Neal with indefinite suspensions if they did not meet with investigators. All of them were mentioned in an Al-Jazeera television interview with Charlie Sly, who worked as an intern at an anti-aging clinic. In the December report, Sly made claims of PED use by several athletes, including Harrison, Peyton Manning and the three others, but later recanted his claims.

The since-retired Manning was cleared after a separate NFL investigation in which he granted interviews and provided all records sought by league investigators.

The league's deadline for cooperation from the four current players was Thursday. The NFL first notified the four on Jan. 11 about the investigation into the Al-Jazeera report.

NFLPA attorney Heather McPhee sent a letter to the NFL last week accusing it of trying to "bully and publicly shame" Harrison without offering evidence beyond a brief mention in the Al-Jazeera interview. McPhee's letter said Harrison would meet with the NFL at 5 p.m. Aug. 30 at the team's facility, and would only discuss the portion of the Al-Jazeera interview that mentioned the 14-year veteran.

But Harrison agreed to take the meeting before the NFL's deadline, and so did Matthews and Peppers.

Harrison is a longtime leader for the Steelers who won NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2008. Matthews and Peppers are key cogs in the Packers' defense. Neal spent the past six seasons with Green Bay.

BROWNS

Mingo traded

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns have traded disappointing linebacker Barkevious Mingo to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2017 fifth-round pick.

The teams announced the deal on Thursday.

The Browns selected Mingo with the No. 6 pick in 2013. The former LSU standout has recorded just seven sacks in three seasons and spent much of last season on special teams.

Mingo's size -- 6-foot-4, 240 pounds -- and speed have made him intriguing, but none of Cleveland's coaching staff has found the best way to utilize him. The Browns moved the 25-year-old Mingo from outside linebacker to inside earlier this summer.

Cleveland declined to exercise the fifth-year option on Mingo's rookie contract in May. With the trade of Mingo, left tackle Joe Thomas and cornerbacks Joe Haden and Justin Gilbert are the only first-round selections by Cleveland from 2007 to 2014 that are still with the team.

The Browns now own Philadelphia's 2017 first-round pick, Tennessee's 2017 second-round pick, New England's 2017 fifth-round pick, Indianapolis' 2017 seventh-round pick and Philadelphia's 2018 second-round pick. Cleveland has conditionally surrendered its 2017 fourth-round pick to Philadelphia and its 2017 sixth- or seventh-round pick to San Francisco.

It is the second move New England has made this week after dealing center Bryan Stork to Washington.

While the Browns have had trouble finding somewhere to play Mingo, he has shown a diverse skillset while registering 97 career tackles and seven sacks in 46 career games.

The Patriots don't have a great deal of depth behind veteran linebackers Dont'a Hightower, Jaime Collins and Jonathan Freeny, so Mingo could possibly make an impact there.

There's also an opportunity for him on the outside, with two of the Patriots' pass rushers that were projected to have key roles this season -- Rob Ninkovich and Jabaal Sheard -- working their way back from recent injuries.

DOLPHINS

Mosquito control

MIAMI -- The Miami Dolphins said they've intensified mosquito-control treatments at their stadium because of the Zika virus.

The Dolphins' stadium is more than 10 miles from the nearest area of the virus outbreak. Even so, the Dolphins said they decided weeks ago to undertake additional treatments as a precaution.

Construction workers are at the site daily completing the latest phase in a $500 million renovation. The first home preseason game is Thursday against Tennessee.

Treatments at the 265-acre Dolphins stadium site include the parking lot and follow recommendations by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention using chemicals approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. Those treatments are expected to continue through the football season and beyond.

Backpack foggers will be used every two weeks, with treatments timed for a few days before games. The Dolphins' pest control provider also has removed standing water and treated larvae.

The University of Miami opens its season at the stadium Sept. 3 against Florida A&M.

Zika causes a mild illness in most people but can lead to severe brain-related birth defects if women are infected during pregnancy.

Sports on 08/26/2016

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