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NFL roundup: NFL reinstates Williams; Titans keep Johnson

The Tennessee Titans brought back a coach from their past and kept a key player from their present on Thursday.

Nearly a year after being suspended indefinitely for allegedly coordinating the New Orleans Saints' bounty system, Gregg Williams is returning to the NFL as the Titans' Senior Assistant/Defense after his reinstatement by the league.

"Commissioner Roger Goodell today notified Gregg Williams and the Tennessee Titans that Williams' contract with the Titans has been approved and that he has been reinstated," the team said in a statement. "The commissioner cited several reasons for the reinstatement, including Williams' forthcoming acknowledgement of and acceptance of responsibility for his role in the bounty program at the Saints, his commitment to never again be involved in a pay-for-performance or bounty system, and his pledge to teach safe play and respect for the rules at all levels of the game."

Williams returns to the organization where he began his NFL career and coached from 1990-2000, including four years as the defensive coordinator.

Williams is the final person associated in the scandal to be reinstated by the league. New Orleans head coach Sean Payton had his suspension lifted on Jan. 22.

Also, Titans running back Chris Johnson will return to the team in 2013, according to an ESPN report.

The Titans kept Johnson following a conversation between their star and Titans head coach Mike Munchak. The Titans had to make a decision Saturday, when $9 million of Johnson's $10 million salary would have become guaranteed if he remained on the roster.

---Minnesota Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson had surgery on a sports hernia, the team announced.

Peterson, the 2012 Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player, finished the season with 2,097 rushing yards, the second most in NFL history behind Eric Dickerson.

---Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome told reporters that he's "optimistic" of retaining Super Bowl MVP quarterback Joe Flacco.

Flacco doesn't have a contract for next season. Newsome added that the sides were close before the season, but mutually agreed to halt talks until the end of the season.

Without an agreement, the Ravens will slap Flacco with the franchise tag, preventing him from becoming a free agent, but taking up $20 million in cap space.

---The New York Giants re-signed defensive tackle Shaun Rogers. Rogers joined the team in April 2012. He started the preseason opener in Jacksonville, but experienced swelling in his calf. He was later diagnosed with a blood clot in his leg and placed on injured reserve Aug. 31.

---The Philadelphia Eagles have hired Billy Davis as defensive coordinator, according to multiple reports.

Davis had served as the Cleveland Browns linebackers coach for the past two seasons. He interviewed last month with new Eagles coach Chip Kelly.

---The Cleveland Browns have hired John Settle as their running backs coach, according to multiple reports.

Settle and new coach Rob Chudzinski worked together with the Carolina Panthers.