Ravens’ Rice receives two-game suspension from NFL

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice received a two-game suspension from the NFL on Thursday following his offseason arrest for domestic violence.

Rice will miss the season opener against AFC North champion Cincinnati on Sept. 7 and the Sept. 11 game on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The six-year veteran was arrested following a Feb. 15 altercation in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in which he allegedly struck then-fiancee Janay Palmer. The 27-year-old Rice has been accepted into a diversion program, which upon completion could lead to the charges being expunged.

Rice met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell last month after joining the diversion program. Goodell ultimately decided to suspend the running back for two games without pay and fine him an additional game check "for conduct detrimental to the NFL in violation of the league's Personal Conduct Policy."

Despite the court's decision not to impose criminal punishment, "the Commissioner determined, as he advisedRice, that the conduct was incompatible with NFL policies and warranted disciplinary action."

In a letter to Rice, Goodell wrote: "As you acknowledged during our meeting, your conduct was unquestionably inconsistent with league polices and the standard of behavior required of everyone who is part of the NFL. The league is an entity that depends on integrity and in the confidence of the public and we simply cannot tolerate conduct that endangers others or reflects negatively on our game. This is particularly true with respect to domestic violence and other forms of violence against women."

Rice's suspension will begin on Aug. 30. He will be eligible for reinstatement Sept. 12 after the Pittsburgh game. Rice may participate in all aspects of training camp and preseason games.

"It is disappointing that I will not be with my teammates for the first two games of the season, but that's my fault," Rice said in a statement issued by the Ravens. "As I said earlier, I failed in many ways. But, Janay and I have learned from this. We have become better as a couple and as parents. I am better because of everything we have experienced since that night. The counseling has helped tremendously."

Falcons WR White agrees to extension

The Atlanta Falcons agreed to a four-year extension with receiver Roddy White on the eve of training camp on Thursday.

Terms haven't been released.

With players reporting for camp throughout the afternoon, White was not available for comment.

Coming off a 4-12 season, Atlanta is counting on a return to full health for both White and receiver Julio Jones.

White, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, missed three games last year with ankle and hamstring injuries before finishing with 43 catches for 502 yards and two touchdowns over the last five weeks.

Jones, a Pro Bowl invitee in 2012 and the sixth overall draft pick three years ago, broke his foot in an Oct. 7 home loss to the New York Jets. He was leading the NFL with 41 catches and ranked second in yards receiving at the time.

Atlanta picked up the 2015 option on Jones' contract in April.

White holds the team records for career receptions (685) and yards receiving (9,436). But he battled ankle and hamstring injuries last season, missing three games.

Peterson reports to camp — with a ring

Adrian Peterson has arrived at training camp with a different look: a ring on his finger.

The star running back reported Thursday with the rest of the Vikings to the Minnesota State University campus and confirmed he married his longtime girlfriend, Ashley Brown, just five days earlier. They got engaged July 4, and Peterson called that "a pretty exciting and explosive night."

Peterson says the couple was planning on simply making the marriage official in court but decided on an intimate ceremony at their house. He says they tried to keep the news quiet, but the secret started to spill out with their presence in Minnesota for a charity gala the night after the wedding.

AP source: Gordon to meet with league Aug. 1

The Browns may soon learn whether they'll have Josh Gordon this season.

The Pro Bowl wide receiver will have an appeal hearing with NFL officials in New York on Aug. 1, a person with knowledge of the meeting told The Associated Press on Thursday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the discussions.

The game-breaking playmaker is facing a possible one-year ban for violating the league's substance abuse policy for at least the third time. Gordon, who had a history of marijuana abuse in college, was suspended for the first two games last season. He still led the NFL with 1,646 yards receiving.

The 23-year-old player is expected to report to training camp Friday and he'll be on the field Saturday as the Browns have their first practice under new coach Mike Pettine.

According to reports, Gordon recently checked himself into rehab following an arrest in North Carolina. ESPN's Adam Shefter said Gordon spent two weeks at a facility in California.

The Browns have been patiently waiting for a resolution on Gordon's playing status, and his uncertain future has left a cloud over the team. The Browns first learned of a potential extended suspension on the second day of the NFL draft in May. The ESPN report doused the optimism created after the Browns, who have had only two winning seasons since 1999, drafted quarterback Johnny Manziel.

Jaguars name Luke Butkus interim coach

The Jacksonville Jaguars have named Luke Butkus interim offensive line coach, tabbing him to fill in for cancer-stricken assistant George Yarno.

Yarno left the team last month and returned home to be with his family in Spokane, Washington, while he undergoes treatment.

Butkus, entering his seventh NFL season, is a nephew of Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus.