NFL roundup: Art Modell dies

Former Browns and Ravens owner Art Modell died Thursday morning of natural causes at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

He was 87.

Modell purchased the Browns in 1961 and was instrumental in launching "Monday Night Football" as the head of the NFL's Broadcast Committee for 31 years.

However, he might be most remembered by fans for moving his franchise to Baltimore in 1995, a moved necessary to avoid bankruptcy and losing the team.

Modell's franchise won two Super Bowls, one with the Browns in 1964 and one with the Ravens in 2000.

"Art Modell was one of the greatest owners in the history of the NFL," said Giants president and CEO John Mara. "He contributed in so many ways to the success of this league, and he deserves a place in Canton. More importantly, he was a decent man and a great friend to my family. We will miss him dearly."

In a statement, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said.:

"Art Modell's leadership was an important part of the NFL's success during the league's explosive growth during the 1960s and beyond. As the longtime chairman of the league's Broadcast Committee, Art was a visionary who understood the critical role that mass viewing of NFL games on broadcast television could play in growing the league. Art played important roles in many other league matters as a key advisor to Pete Rozelle and Paul Tagliabue, and also built championship teams in Cleveland and Baltimore. His skills as an owner and league contributor were matched only by his great sense of humor. Any conversation with Art included laughs. He always left you with a smile on your face. We extend our condolences to John, David and the rest of the Modell family."

Modell sold the Ravens in 2003 to Steve Bisciotti.

---The Arizona Cardinals signed inside linebacker Daryl Washington to a new six-year contract Thursday.

Washington, a second-round pick in 2010, led the Cardinals in tackles with 107, had five sacks and two interceptions.

--Suspended Saints defensive end Will Smith is unlikely to be available for Sunday's opener in New Orleans.

Smith is one of four players, including free agent Anthony Hargrove, who were punished for their alleged involvement in the Saints' pay-for-performance "bounty" program.

The NFLPA filed a request for a temporary restraining order on behalf of Smith, Browns linebacker Scott Fujita and Hargrove earlier this week hoping to have their suspension repealed in time for Sunday's games. Smith issued a statement through the NFLPA on Thursday indicated he's not likely to be on the field Sunday against the Redskins.

--Relaxed NFL blackout restrictions didn't help in Tampa.

The Buccaneers accepted reduced requirements for game tickets sold from the NFL, which afforded all teams the opportunity to drop capacity requirement as low as 85 percent of the stadium's general seating.

According to reports, the Buccaneers were several thousand shy of the threshold need to grant local TV carriage.

--Texans running back Arian Foster was tweeting MRI exam results on his injured hamstring to his legions of fans and fantasy football types at this time last season.

He won't have Houstonites and others on pins and needles going into the opener this season, even after leaving Thursday's practice with a knee injury the team said was minor.

"He's OK," coach Gary Kubiak said Thursday.

Foster and the Texans fully expect the running back to be in the lineup against the Miami Dolphins.

--Ben Roethlisberger is about to become a dad, and he's not taking the life-changing event lightly. That includes being present for his son's arrival -- even if that means missing a game.

"I'm not missing the birth of my child," he said, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "There's no chance. I know some fans probably don't want to hear that, but there's no chance."

Roethlisberger would not share the exact due date of his first born, but it's somewhere in the middle of the season according to the 30-year-old veteran.

--Cornerback Dominique Franks was re-signed by the Falcons, who waived-injured wide receiver Tim Toone.

Franks was a fifth-round pick by Atlanta in 2010 and has 22 tackles and three interceptions over the past two years.

--NBC's 16.5 overnight Nielsen rating for the Cowboys' victory over the Giants on Wednesday night marked a 4 percent decline over the 2011 regular-season opener between the Saints and Packers, according to the Sports Business Daily.

The Cowboys-Giants game faced competition from the Democratic National Convention, where former President Bill Clinton was speaking. However, NBC's broadcast was still the fifth-best primetime game on the network.

--- Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison sat out practice on Thursday, and indicated he would not say anything about his status for Sunday's season-opener against Denver until Friday.

Harrison had knee surgery last month and was activated last week. But he was limited in practice on Wednesday, and after missing practice on Thursday, he posted a pair of signs near his locker, according to CBSSports.com.

Harrison did post a message on Twitter, saying, "I will be practicing tomorrow and (will) have a better (idea) if I'll be ready to go on Sunday night."

---Even though Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano has suggested wide receiver Austin Collie would probably play in the opener, Collie himself is unsure, NFL.com reported.

Collie has been bothered by concussion-related problems after sustaining his fourth concussion in two years during the preseason. He said he can't tell yet whether he'll be able to play against the Bears.

Collie has been practicing with the Colts but requires medical clearance to play on Sunday.