NFL notes: Broncos team buses involved in minor accident

The Denver Broncos are back at their hotel in Santa Clara after their buses were involved in a minor accident following their practice at Stanford Stadium.

Team spokesman Patrick Smyth says nobody was injured in the accident on the southbound lanes of U.S. Route 101.

Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware tweeted a photo of players standing alongside their bus. He posted: “To keep the day interesting, we have a small wreck. Looks like everyone is ok though.”

The Broncos and Carolina Panthers, who meet in Super Bowl 50, make their first public appearances at media day on Monday night.

‘Thursday Night Football’ to air on both CBS and NBC

“Thursday Night Football” will air on both CBS and NBC next season.

The NFL has agreed to a two-year deal with the networks, the league announced. CBS had broadcast games in partnership with NFL Network the past two seasons.

CBS and NBC will each air five Thursday matchups in 2016 and ‘17, increasing the number of games on traditional broadcast TV from eight to 10 per season. Those will again be simulcast on NFL Network.

NFL Network will still televise eight games exclusively, which will include late-season Saturday matchups and other to-be-determined games.

The league is also negotiating with digital companies for a separate streaming rights deal, which will be announced soon.

The NFL launched “Thursday Night Football” on cable channel NFL Network in 2006 with eight games, which grew to 13 by 2012. In 2014, the league partnered with CBS for a 16-game slate – half simulcast on CBS and NFL Network and half solely on NFL Network.

CBS will broadcast the first half of the season and NBC the second. Both networks will use their top broadcasting teams and contribute to the production of the NFL Network-only games.

Raiders DE Justin Tuck retires after 11 NFL seasons

Oakland Raiders defensive end Justin Tuck is retiring after 11 seasons in the NFL.

Tuck says he leaves the NFL with very few regrets.

“After months of praying and careful consideration, I have decided to retire from the game of football,” Tuck said on Facebook. “I’ve had 11 great years and, honestly, I leave with very few regrets.”

Tuck played his first nine seasons with the New York Giants, helping them win two Super Bowl titles. He spent the past two years in Oakland where he was a mentor to All Pro pass rusher Khalil Mack.

“Justin Tuck is a leader and a true professional on and off the field,” Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said. “His commitment to his teammates and the organization was awesome, and he was a pleasure to coach. I wish Justin and his family nothing but the best.”

Tuck was an All-Pro in 2008 when he had 12 sacks. He finishes his career with 66 1/2 sacks, 22 forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and three interceptions in 147 career games. Tuck missed the final 11 games this season with a torn pectoral muscle.

“I want to thank the New York Giants and the Oakland Raiders for giving me a place I could call home all of these years,” Tuck said. “The Mara, Tisch, and Davis families, I’m forever in your debt. To my coaches: thanks for having me ready at every stage – the Super Bowls, Pro Bowls, you name it thank you for teaching me about professionalism, preparation, and the pursuit of perfection. To my teammates: thank you for always going to battle with me each and every game day, but more importantly, thanks for being my brothers for life.”

“And lastly, the fans What an incredible environment you’ve created for me over the years to call a workplace. You all have been so supportive of me and my family, and without you I would have no game to play. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Tuck was the Raiders’ nominee in 2015 for the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. He said he will concentrate on his charitable work with R.U.S.H. for Literacy, a program focused on providing access to books, combating summer learning loss, and closing the educational opportunity gap that exists for low-income Americans. The program has given more than 65,000 books to over 11,000 students across the country.

Browns fans boycotting Johnny Manziel for month on Twitter

Floating on an inflatable swan was one thing. Being hunted by a police helicopter was too much.

Johnny Manziel’s hijinks have driven some fans of the Cleveland Browns to the edge, and they are sacking the headline-grabbing quarterback for a month – or maybe longer.

Tired of Manziel’s off-field transgressions, the latest being a possible assault of his ex-girlfriend over the weekend in Texas, fans have started a “Johnny Free February” movement on Twitter.

“I’m done with him,” said Chris McNeil, a diehard Browns fan whose 8-year-old daughter, Riley, came up with the idea for a social media boycott after hearing about more bad news involving Manziel.

“She asked me what we discuss on Twitter and I told her Johnny Manziel,” he said. “She rolled her eyes and said, `Why don’t you take the month off?’ Out of the mouths of babes.”

McNeil kicked off the campaign on Saturday night “not to tweet, retweet, or mention Johnny Manziel on Twitter in February or until he is no longer a Cleveland Brown.” As of Monday morning, McNeil said more than 1,000 people have signed up with some using the hashtag (hash)JohnnyFreeFebruary.

“It didn’t take very long for it to take off,” McNeil said.

The tipping point for McNeil and others was the latest news concerning the 23-year-old player, who arrived in Cleveland with a party-boy reputation – he was photographed swigging champagne while sprawled across the swan in an Austin, Texas, nightclub – and has had two turbulent seasons with the Browns.

On Saturday, police in Fort Worth, Texas, were called to an apartment complex where an unidentified woman said she was involved in a disturbance with Manziel, who was not at the scene. She told the officers she had concerns about his “well-being.”

Police attempted to call Manziel and searched for him with assistance from the department’s helicopter, Air One Unit. Manziel was later found to be safe and in no danger.

“You just get tired of it,” McNeil said of the constant drama around Manziel. “You can’t make up helicopters. There are 32 quarterbacks in the league and ours is being searched for by a helicopter. That’s a Saturday night. It’s gotten to the point where it’s cliche. We’ve had enough.”

Fort Worth and Dallas police are working to determine if a crime occurred. A Fort Worth spokesperson said there was nothing to report on Monday.

Manziel also could face discipline from the NFL, which is investigating the second domestic incident involving the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner. League spokesman Greg Aiello said in an email that the investigation “is ongoing.”

Manziel was cleared in October of any wrongdoing by the league after it looked into a fight between Manziel and his girlfriend, Colleen Crowley. She told police that Manziel was violent and struck her during their confrontation, which took place as the couple was driving near the QB’s home in Avon, Ohio.

Manziel was not arrested.

It’s not clear if Crowley is the ex-girlfriend involved in the latest matter.

Former Dallas Cowboy Joseph Randle arrested in Texas

Former Dallas Cowboy Joseph Randle has been arrested in Texas after it was determined he was wanted for speeding.

Irving police spokesman James McLellan says 24-year-old Randle was arrested early Monday. McLellan says police were called to a home after a woman said her daughter’s ex-boyfriend was ringing their doorbell at 3 a.m.

Upon arrival, police ran a standard warrant check and discovered Randle was wanted on a speeding ticket warrant in the nearby suburb of Coppell. He was taken into custody and released from jail after $359 bond was posted. McLellan didn’t know of an attorney for Randle.

Randle has had a string of run-ins with the law, beginning with a 2014 shoplifting arrest. The Cowboys released him last fall.

Lions hire Al Golden as tight ends coach

Former Miami Hurricanes coach Al Golden has been hired as tight ends coach of the Detroit Lions.

Golden was fired by Miami in October. He was the coach there from 2011-15 and at Temple from 2006-10.

Golden moves to the NFL after 23 years as a college coach. He was an assistant at Virginia, Penn State and Boston College before taking over at Temple.

He went 32-25 with Miami and 17-18 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, his stint marred by an NCAA investigation and subsequent fallout caused by things that happened before he arrived. Golden’s last game with Miami was a 58-0 loss to then-No. 6 Clemson.