NFL-National Football League roundup

Aug 9 (The Sports Xchange) - Pro Football Hall of Famer Frank Gifford, who led the New York Giants to the 1956 NFL championship, died Sunday. He was 84. The NFL legend went on to a successful second career as a broadcaster on "Monday Night Football," teaming up with Howard Cosell and Don Meredith in the TV booth. "Frank Gifford was the ultimate Giant. He was the face of our franchise for so many years," Giants president John Mara said in a statement. "We loved him and will miss him terribly." Eight-time Pro Bowler Gifford, drafted number one overall by the Giants in 1952 out of USC, played halfback, defensive back and flanker during his NFL playing career spent entirely with the Giants from 1952 to 1964. Gifford was named NFL Most Valuable Player in 1956, the year he led the Giants to the championship, beating the Chicago Bears in the title game. --- Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank said contract talks with Julio Jones are progressing and he wants to make the Pro Bowl wide receiver a "lifer for the Falcons." Jones, who set a franchise record with 1,593 receiving yards last season on 104 catches, has one year left on his rookie contract and will earn $10.176 million this season. --- Buffalo Bills guard Richie Incognito, who has been given a second chance this season after his bullying scandal, calls NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's "absolute power" part of the problem with the Deflategate investigation. Incognito said the NFL punishment system is "bogus" and there was nothing "independent" about Ted Wells' investigations of the Miami Dolphins when he played there, and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's alleged role in using underinflated footballs in the AFC Championship Game in January. --- New York Jets quarterbacks Geno Smith, who has had an interception-free training camp, still heard booing from impatient fans attending a scrimmage at MetLife Stadium. Smith heard the boo-birds from the more than 10,000 fans attending Saturday night's scrimmage when, on his second series in 11-on-11 drills, he was sacked and fumbled the ball. "In two years, I've developed some really thick skin," Smith said. "I know how to handle it now." --- The Bills signed cornerback Nickell Robey to a contract extension. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Robey was eligible to sign an extension after two seasons because he entered the league as an undrafted college free agent. Since joining the Bills from USC in 2013, Robey has played in all 32 games and made eight starts, totaling 84 tackles, 18 passes defensed, four sacks and one interception. (Editing by Larry Fine) ))