Kyle Shanahan praised the aggression of his San Francisco 49ers, but warned they must channel it appropriately after stopping practice earlier in the week due to fighting.

Tuesday's practice was reportedly halted by a scuffle between linebacker Fred Warner and receiver Brandon Aiyuk, with punches thrown.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Shanahan said he wanted to see his players push one another, metaphorically, but that it goes too far when they could potentially cause each other injuries.

"I want everyone challenging each other," Shanahan said. "I don't care how much crap each other talks; I don't care how close they get to fighting.

"They can do whatever they want to get themselves to be as intense as they want and bring the best out of each other, which happens a lot that way. And it's the same on the field.

"But once you throw a punch, you get ejected or you get a penalty... I want people to be irritants, I want people to get as close as they can to all that stuff. I want people to get right on the line where they're about to black out, but you can't black out on the football field or you cost your team."

The disagreement between Warner and Aiyuk reportedly erupted after the former hit receiver Marcus Johnson late, which put Johnson in concussion protocol.

"I love the intensity of it," Shanahan added. "I don't think you have to fight to be intense, though. Scuffles are scuffles but then they lead to other stuff.

"I think that's why we've got a guy in protocol, because he took an unnecessary shot on someone, which led to the big fight and then we had a bunch of haymakers and stuff thrown in there, which only break hands.

"I think our team is pretty tough. I think we're pretty physical. Most probably [we would be] voted the most physical team on tape last year, I think we'd win most of that, and we didn't get in one fight last year. So, I don't think that totally pertains to toughness."

Cleveland Browns guard Wyatt Teller has discussed the uncertainty around quarterback Deshaun Watson, saying he and his team-mates "want to know what is going on and be done with it".

Watson was set to be issued a six-game suspension on Monday following a disciplinary hearing conducted by former US district judge Sue L. Robinson.

The NFL has since formally appealed that suspension in order to seek a harsher penalty for Watson, who had been facing 24 separate civil lawsuits filed by female massage therapists alleging sexual misconduct between 2020 and 2021 during his time with the Houston Texans.

Watson settled 20 of 24 lawsuits in June, with a further three settlements reported on Monday ahead of the hearing verdict.

He has not played since the 2020 season and was traded to the Browns in March, signing a fully guaranteed five-year $230million contract.

While the league appeals the decision, the Browns do not know if Watson will be their starting QB in Week 1, as any ban could be delayed.

Asked about how the developments were distracting from the team's preparations, Pro Bowler Teller told reporters: "It is only a distraction if you turn on the TV and you are listening to it and everything like that.

"It has been pretty quiet in my household at least, but I know that it is the talk of the town and there has to be something to talk about. Obviously, it is big, but we are focused so much on what we are doing.

"Obviously, we want to know what is going on and be done with it. I think that if any team was in that situation, that is what they would want."

As and when Watson does miss games, Jacoby Brissett will be the man to start under center for the Browns.

And Teller is confident the team can still have a productive offense led by the former Miami Dolphins QB, adding: "He is a talented quarterback, and I am excited to see what he has.

"He has been here the whole time. He is studying the playbook. He has been learning." 

Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay said Thursday that the continuing elbow pain quarterback Matthew Stafford is experiencing is unusual for a football player, comparing it to what baseball pitchers often deal with.  

Stafford has been skipping the Rams’ full-team portions of training camp practices and instead has been throwing in individual drills and 7-on-7 setups. The Super Bowl-winning quarterback dealt with an elbow injury last season and received an injection in the affected area during the offseason. 

''It's a little bit abnormal for a quarterback,'' McVay said Thursday. ''Some of this stuff is things that MLB pitchers deal with, so it is something that we're kind of learning about on the fly with his feedback.'' 

While McVay stressed that Stafford could probably play in a game this week, the Rams clearly are trying to figure out how to keep him healthy for the season and are being careful not to overtax his arm. 

"We want to try to have him operate in as little pain as possible,'' McVay said. ''I think anytime that you've played as long and are as tough as he is, I don't know if you're ever truly pain-free, but the goal would be for September 8, and really looking towards 17 games, then hopefully some games after that, if we earn that opportunity. 

"That's kind of the perspective and the big-picture approach that we want to be able to take. I don't know that I would feel as comfortable taking that approach if it wasn't for the experience that he's accumulated.'' 

Stafford, 34, played in all 17 regular-season games in 2021 and then played four postseason games, leading the Rams to their first Super Bowl title since returning from St. Louis. He finished with 4,886 passing yards and 41 touchdowns in the regular season, his first with Los Angeles after 12 in Detroit.  

Diontae Johnson arrived at the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp on time but had been sitting out practices while seeking a new contract. 

He will now be reporting to practice after signing an extension with the Steelers with a new three-year contract on Thursday. 

The 26-year-old Johnson was entering the final season of his rookie deal, and in his new contract he’ll be paid $36.71million over the next two years, according to NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo. 

"I felt it in my gut it was the right move for me and my family," Johnson said. "I am just glad to get back to work. I love being a Steeler. I love it here. Just being around my teammates, the atmosphere, the energy they show every day. I feel like I made the right choice to continue to be here for a long time." 

The extension includes $27million guaranteed, and Johnson will be able to hit free agency in 2025, giving him an opportunity to sign another big deal when he’s still in his prime if he’s able to replicate the success he enjoyed last season. 

Johnson had a career year in 2021, tying for fifth in the NFL in receptions (107, along with Mark Andrews) and ranking 10th in receiving yards (1,161) while hauling in eight touchdown receptions to earn a Pro Bowl selection. 

Selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft, Johnson has 254 career receptions – the most for anyone drafted in 2019 – for 2,767 yards and 20 touchdowns. 

Finalising a new deal early in camp was important for the Steelers as it will give Johnson time to work on his chemistry with the three quarterbacks vying for the starting job in Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph and rookie Kenny Pickett following the retirement of future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger. 

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers sent Tom Brady birthday wishes, but left little room for doubt over his intention to retire before the age of 45.

Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, turned 45 on Wednesday. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB retired in February, but reversed that decision just 40 days later and is now set for his 23rd straight season in the NFL.

Rodgers, meanwhile, is ready to go again with the Packers after signing a bumper contract back in March. The 38-year-old was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player for 2021, winning the award for a second year running and a fourth time overall.

But when asked if he planned on matching Brady by playing until he is 45, 38-year-old Rodgers told reporters bluntly: "No. Happy birthday [to Brady]."

Brady topped the charts for touchdown passes last regular-season, recording 43 from 17 games, though Rodgers boasted a better pass completion percentage (68.9 – the third-best in the league) and the NFL's best TD percentage (7.0).

Tua Tagovailoa is confident the Miami Dolphins are "all in" on him despite the team having been punished for allegations of tampering involving Tom Brady.

It was confirmed this week the NFL had taken away two draft picks from the Dolphins and suspended owner Stephen Ross after an investigation found the team violated the league's anti-tampering policy.

The Dolphins were found to have had impermissible communication with Brady during the end of his time with the New England Patriots in 2019 and 2020, as well as in 2021 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and also broke NFL rules by communicating with coach Sean Payton in January.

Miami tried to lure both Brady and Payton to the team but did not go through the proper channels, according to league findings, with the Dolphins losing a first-round draft pick in 2023 and a third-round selection in 2024.

Tagovailoa has struggled with injuries and form during his time in Miami and had to contend with rumours for the first half of the 2021 season that the Dolphins were targeting Deshaun Watson, who was then at the Houston Texans and is now with the Cleveland Browns.

The news has further called into question Miami's confidence in the fifth overall pick of the 2020 draft, who himself has no doubt he has the trust of his team-mates.

"I would say everyone heard about it yesterday when we went into the locker room, seen it on the TV," Tagovailoa said. 

"For me, I have no idea about all the details other than what was shown on TV with the $1.5million fine and then something happening with Brady. 

"I mean, I don't know all the details. I don't even know what happened. But I got to talk to a couple of the guys to kind of find out what was going on, and everyone's wondering the same thing. So, not too sure.

"I remember I came in in 2020, so whatever happened in 2019, I can't even speak on that. I was here in 2020, and I'm still here, and I'm blessed to be here. 

"If it has to do with support from the team, I think the team's all-in with me and all the guys that we have now."

The Dolphins begin preseason against Brady's Buccaneers later this month, before beginning their campaign against the veteran quarterback's former employers the Patriots on September 11.

The NFL has formally appealed the six-game suspension that was handed down to Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson by an independent arbiter earlier this week.

The league is seeking a harsher penalty for Watson, who had been facing 24 separate civil lawsuits filed by female massage therapists alleging sexual misconduct between 2020 and 2021 during his time with the Houston Texans.

"The NFL notified the NFLPA (NFL Players' Association) that it will appeal Judge [Sue L] Robinson's disciplinary decision and filed its brief this afternoon," the league announced in a statement on Wednesday. "Commissioner Roger Goodell will determine who will hear the appeal."

Judge Robinson, the appointed disciplinary officer for the case, confirmed in Monday's ruling that the NFL sought to have Watson suspended for the entire 2022 season, but stated that a longer ban would be inconsistent with previous punishments levied for players found in violation of the league's personal conduct policy.

"Although I have found Mr Watson to have violated the Policy, I have done so using the NFL's post-hoc definitions of the prohibited conduct at issue," Robinson wrote. "It is inherently unfair to identify conduct as prohibited only after the conduct has been committed, just as it is inherently unjust to change the penalties for such conduct after the fact.

"The NFL is a private organisation and can operate as it deems fit, but the post-hoc determination of what constitutes the prohibited conduct here cannot genuinely satisfy the 'fairness' prong of the standard of review or justify the imposition of the unprecedented sanction requested by the NFL."

Robinson did note in the ruling that she found Watson's behaviour to be egregious and unremorseful, and said that a sterner punishment would be justifiable had it been outlined in the personal conduct policy.

"While it may be entirely appropriate to more severely discipline players for non-violent sexual conduct, I do not believe it is appropriate to do so without notice of the extraordinary change this position portends for the NFL and its players," she wrote.

The Texans held Watson out of all of their 2021 games during a criminal investigation into the allegations, though he was paid his entire $10.54million salary. A grand jury ultimately dropped all criminal charges in March, and Watson's attorneys have since settled all but one of the 24 civil cases.

Houston traded the three-time Pro Bowler to Cleveland in March, and the Browns promptly signed Watson to a five-year, $230m extension that is entirely guaranteed.

According to the Associated Press, the NFL also requested Watson receive a minimum fine of $5m. Robinson did not issue any additional financial penalties beyond the $345,000 in salary Watson will forfeit over the course of the suspension.

The NFLPA announced prior to Robinson's ruling that it would abide by the decision regardless of the result.

Denver Broncos pair Tim Patrick and Damarea Crockett are both set to miss the entire 2022 season after suffering torn ACL injuries during Tuesday's practice.

Patrick made a leaping grab on a pass from Russell Wilson, but upon landing and planting his foot to make a move, his knee buckled and he went down to the ground.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported earlier on Tuesday that the Broncos were concerned he had suffered a significant injury.

It was later reported by Mike Klis of 9NEWS that the diagnosis was not good, with an MRI apparently revealing it to be a torn ACL, meaning Patrick will miss the whole of next season.

Second-year running back Crockett also revealed he had suffered a torn ACL and will miss the season after hobbling off the practice field.

Losing Patrick will be a big blow for Denver as he was expected to see an increased role in first-year coach Nathaniel Hackett's offense with Wilson at quarterback.

The 28-year-old Patrick led the Broncos with five touchdown catches last season, while ranking third on the team in receiving yards (734) and receptions (53). It was his second straight season with 50+ catches, 700+ receiving yards and 5+ TD receptions.

Undrafted out of Utah, Patrick is entering his fifth season after signing a three-year, $34million contract extension with Denver last November.

Denver Broncos wide receivers Tim Patrick and Damarea Crockett are both set to miss the entire 2022 season after suffering torn ACL injuries during Tuesday's practice.

Patrick made a leaping grab on a pass from Russell Wilson, but upon landing and planting his foot to make a move, his knee buckled and he went down to the ground.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported earlier on Tuesday that the Broncos were concerned he had suffered a significant injury.

It was later reported by Mike Klis of 9NEWS that the diagnosis was not good, with an MRI apparently revealing it to be a torn ACL, meaning Patrick will miss the whole of next season.

Second-year running back Crockett also revealed he had suffered a torn ACL and will miss the season after hobbling off the practice field.

Losing Patrick will be a big blow for Denver as he was expected to see an increased role in first-year coach Nathaniel Hackett's offense with Wilson at quarterback.

The 28-year-old Patrick led the Broncos with five touchdown catches last season, while ranking third on the team in receiving yards (734) and receptions (53). It was his second straight season with 50+ catches, 700+ receiving yards and 5+ TD receptions.

Undrafted out of Utah, Patrick is entering his fifth season after signing a three-year, $34million contract extension with Denver last November.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick is set to miss the entire 2022 season after being carted off the field with a right knee injury sustained during Tuesday's practice.

Patrick made a leaping grab on a pass from Russell Wilson, but upon landing and planting his foot to make a move, his knee buckled and he went down to the ground.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported earlier on Tuesday that the Broncos were concerned he had suffered a significant injury.

It was later reported by Mike Klis of 9NEWS that the diagnosis was not good, according to sources, with an MRI apparently revealing it to be a torn ACL, meaning Patrick will miss the whole of next season.

Second-year running back Damarea Crockett was also getting an MRI after hobbling off the practice field and it is believed he also suffered a significant knee injury.

Losing Patrick will be a big blow for Denver as he was expected to see an increased role in first-year coach Nathaniel Hackett's offense with Wilson at quarterback.

The 28-year-old Patrick led the Broncos with five touchdown catches last season, while ranking third on the team in receiving yards (734) and receptions (53). It was his second straight season with 50+ catches, 700+ receiving yards and 5+ TD receptions.

Undrafted out of Utah, Patrick is entering his fifth season after signing a three-year, $34million contract extension with Denver last November.

The NFL has penalised the Miami Dolphins, taking away two of their draft picks while also suspending and fining owner Stephen Ross after an investigation found that the team violated the league's anti-tampering policy.

The league's Competition Committee announced on Tuesday that the Dolphins had impermissible communication with Tom Brady during the end of his time with the New England Patriots in 2019 and 2020, as well as in 2021 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and also broke NFL rules in communicating with Sean Payton in January.

Miami tried to lure both Brady and Payton to the team but did not go through the proper channels, according to league findings.

As a part of the committee's ruling, the Dolphins will lose a first-round draft pick in 2023 and a third-round selection the following year.

Ross has been suspended through October 17, barring him from the Dolphins' facility and all NFL events, and has also been handed a $1.5million fine.

The NFL also concluded that the Dolphins "did not intentionally lose games during the 2019 season", despite claims from former coach Brian Flores.

The Dolphins released a statement from Ross on Tuesday, saying: "The independent investigation cleared our organisation on any issues related to tanking and all of Brian Flores' other allegations. As I had said all along, these allegations were false, malicious and defamatory, and this issue is now put to rest.

"With regard to tampering, I strongly disagree with the conclusions and the punishment. However, I will accept the outcome because the most important thing is that there be no distractions for our team as we begin an exciting and winning season. I will not allow anything to get in the way of that."

The Dolphins' vice chairman/limited partner Bruce Beal has also been fined $500,000 and has been suspended from all league meetings for the rest of the 2022 season.

The Denver Broncos have announced that seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has joined the team's ownership group.

The Broncos released a statement on Tuesday from Rob Walton on behalf of the Walton-Penner family ownership group, saying: "We're delighted to welcome seven-time Formula One world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton to our ownership group.

"He is a champion competitor who knows what it takes to lead a winning team and a fierce advocate for global equality, including in his own sport.

"With over 100 race wins, Lewis is considered the most successful F1 driver of all time. His resilient spirit and standard of excellence will be an asset to the ownership group and the Broncos organisation."

Hamilton's 103 race victories are the most in F1 history, and his seven titles are tied with Michael Schumacher for the most all-time. He is winless so far this season and sits in sixth place in the drivers' standings.

He wrote on his Twitter page: "Excited to join an incredible group of owners and become a part of the @Broncos story!!

"Honoured to work with a world class team and serve as an example of the value of more diverse leadership across all sports."

Russell Wilson, the Broncos' new quarterback for the 2022 season, wrote: "Congrats @LewisHamilton. Winning is a Habit! #LetsRide"

An agreement was reached in June for the sale of the Broncos in a deal worth $4.65billion, a record for an American sports franchise. NFL owners are expected to approve the sale this month.

Ownership of the Broncos will be transferred to the Walton-Penner family ownership group, headed by Walmart heir Rob Walton.

It sets a new benchmark for the price of professional sports franchises in the United States by over $2billion, topping the purchase of the New York Mets ($2.4billion) by hedge fund manager Steve Cohen in 2020.

Baker Mayfield's focus is solely on the Carolina Panthers and his "transparent" battle with fellow quarterback Sam Darnold, despite developments in the Deshaun Watson saga at former team the Cleveland Browns.

Mayfield – the Browns' first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft – was traded to the Panthers last month after Cleveland had moved for Watson.

But when the Panthers play the Browns in Week 1, Watson will be absent, following news of his suspension by the league on Monday.

Former US district judge Sue L. Robinson advised the NFL that Watson should be banned for six games with no additional fine following a disciplinary hearing.

Watson faced 24 civil lawsuits following sexual assault and misconduct allegations. He was not charged by two grand juries and has strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

The NFL could yet appeal that decision and pursue a longer suspension, but both the Browns and the NFLPA have accepted the punishment.

Jacoby Brissett will instead fill in until late October, but that is of no interest to Mayfield, who told reporters: "Honestly, it's none of my business.

"I don't play against the other quarterback. I know that's the most cliched thing to say, but that's just the truth.

"When it comes down to it, I'm game-planning against their defense, and if I'm playing or not, I'm trying to help this team win. That's my mindset going into it, so I've got to keep getting better.

"But I'm not focused about Week 1 right now. We'll handle that when it comes, but for now it's about getting the Panthers better and our offense continuing to get better as well."

Indeed, there is no guarantee Mayfield will be starting either, as he faces competition from Darnold – the third overall pick in the same 2018 draft – for the starting spot.

Mayfield is happy with how that tussle has been treated by his new team, though.

"Everything has been extremely transparent," he said. "They're telling us exactly how they're handling it.

"It's not being said to one person and Sam hears another thing; it's right there in front of us and clear and concise."

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is set to miss a minimum of five days of his side's training camp after testing positive to COVID-19.

Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury confirmed the news on Monday, revealing Murray's symptoms were "minor".

The Arizona quarterback, who had missed practice on Saturday due to a sore wrist, is the only Cardinals player to test positive currently.

The news comes in light of a busy few weeks for Murray, who agreed terms on a bumper five-year extension with the Cardinals last month. The deal made Murray the NFL's second-highest paid player in terms of average annual salary.

Murray stayed in the spotlight after an "independent study" clause was inserted into the contract, mandating four hours of study each game week, which was later removed.

Murray, a former standout baseball player at Oklahoma as well who was taken ninth overall in the 2018 MLB draft, led the Cardinals to their first playoff appearance in six years with an 11-6 finish to the 2021 season.

The 24-year-old began last season as an MVP candidate as Arizona got off to a 7-0 start, with Murray producing a 116.8 passer rating with a 73.5 per cent completion rate and 17 touchdown passes during that stretch.

However, his play dropped off over the season's second half, as Arizona went 2-5 over his next seven starts, and he struggled with a no-touchdown, two-interception performance in the Cardinals' 34-11 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the opening round of the playoffs.

Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are "heartbroken" about the knee injury that looks set to keep Ryan Jensen out of the entire 2022 season.

Jensen, Tampa Bay's starting center since 2018, was carted off after suffering a left knee injury during Thursday's training camp practice.

It appears unlikely Jensen will feature this year, although the door has not been slammed shut on that possibility quite yet.

Speaking on Monday, Brady urged second-year pro Robert Hainsey to show he can be a capable deputy.

"He's worked really hard," said Brady, when Hainsey was mentioned. "Obviously everyone's heartbroken with what happened to Ryan, so that will take a little time, but 'Hains' has got to step into the job and do a great job.

"He's worked hard last year, really gained the trust of a lot of people, and he's got to go earn it. Like all of us, it's not how hard you worked in the off-season, it's how good a football player are you, and that's to be determined for all of us."

Jensen has not missed a game since signing with Tampa Bay in 2018 following a four-year stint with the Baltimore Ravens, and he was named to his first career Pro Bowl last season.

The 31-year-old re-signed with the Bucs in March on a three-year, $39million contract that includes $23m in guarantees.

The Buccaneers currently do not have any other players with starting experience at center. Hainsey, a 2021 third-round pick, saw just 31 offensive snaps as a rookie, featuring in nine games last season without making a start.

Superstar quarterback Brady, who backtracked on retirement plans, will not let injuries affect the objective as the Bucs look to get back to the Super Bowl, having triumphed in the 2020 season.

"I don't think there's any excuses," said 44-year-old Brady. "You either get the job done or you don't. There's only one team that's really happy at the end of the year and that's the team that wins. So you've got to come out the next year and put yourself into position.

"We're going to just do the best we can do. There's a lot of time. Nobody knows what the team's going to look like. You think you have a center and then he gets injured, so the team's different in one day."