NFL notes: Seahawks penalized for too much hitting
The Seattle Seahawks will forfeit two days of on-field minicamp practices next offseason after being penalized by the league for excessive physical contact during their 2014 minicamp.
The league confirmed the penalties on Tuesday. ESPN.com first reported the violation and that Seattle would be fined $300,000 for the infractions.
Seattle will be docked the first two days of its 2015 mandatory minicamp and will be permitted one 21/2-hour practice on the final day. Seattle's players will be paid for all three days of the camp. The minicamp this past June was highlighted by a fight between All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman and wide receiver Phil Bates that was caught by television cameras.
Seattle also lost a pair of organized team activities during the 2012 offseason due to excessive contact.
Broncos acquire kicker
Broncos • Denver acquired first-year kicker Brandon McManus from the New York Giants for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2015, and released Mitch Ewald, a rookie from Indiana. McManus will fill in for Matt Prater, who is suspended for the first four games of the season due to a substance-abuse violation. McManus, from Temple University, connected on both of his field goal attempts, from 46 and 47 yards, and recorded touchbacks on 10 of 11 kickoffs for the Giants this preseason.
Steelers • A pair of the splash plays wasn't enough for linebacker Vic So'oto to keep his job. Pittsburgh made So'oto, from BYU, one of 15 cuts on Tuesday as the team trimmed the roster to 75. So'oto forced a fumble that teammate Howard Jones returned for a touchdown in the exhibition opener against the New York Giants. So'oto did it again a week later, stripping Buffalo quarterback Ryan Nassib in the final seconds. Jones jumped on the ball to set up the winning field goal.
Buccaneers • Tampa Bay obtained six-time Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins from the New England Patriots for tight end Tim Wright and a draft pick.
Bills • Thad Lewis is out and Jordan Palmer is in following Buffalo's late preseason shuffle of backup quarterbacks. Palmer was signed Tuesday, two days after being cut by the Chicago Bears, where he lost the backup competition to Jimmy Clausen. In five NFL seasons, Palmer has appeared in just four games and completed 10 of 15 passes for 59 yards and two interceptions. Lewis' release comes as a surprise after he went 2-3 last year while filling in for injured rookie starter EJ Manuel.
Raiders • Cornerback DJ Hayden will miss at least the first six weeks of the season after being placed on the physically unable to perform list Tuesday with a stress fracture in his right foot. Hayden has struggled to get on the field because of a variety of ailments after being drafted 12th overall in 2013.
Chiefs • Quarterback Alex Smith said that he has not given any thought to breaking off negotiations on a long-term contract, though that remains a possibility with the start of the regular season just over a week away. Smith said earlier in training camp that he wanted to end discussions by Sept. 7, when Kansas City opens its season against Tennessee. Smith is in the final year of the three-year contract he signed with the 49ers, and is due to make $8 million this season.