Two more federal lawsuits have been filed in Philadelphia blaming the NFL for concussion-related dementia and brain disease. The latest fraud and negligence suits filed Friday also accuse the National Football League of hiding medical evidence about the risks of concussions and failing to warn players they risked permanent brain damage if they returned to play too soon after a concussion.

Chapel Hill police say the son of new Jacksonville Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey is among three former North Carolina athletes arrested for possession of cocaine. Police say Shane Michael Mularkey was among the three arrested. The 21-year-old Mularkey played in all 13 games for the Tar Heels in 2009, but school spokesman Kevin Best said he left the team after the 2010 season.

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, whose dour demeanor matches his gray hoodie and whose quotes make cliches seem original, actually has a colorful side rarely seen by football junkies. For some reason — and Belichick has a reason for everything — he’s loosened up this Super Bowl week with a season’s worth of smiles, jokes and fashionable attire.

Maybe, just maybe, the Colts and Peyton Manning are done stealing headlines during Super Bowl week. They might save the real news for later. The simmering spat between Manning and Colts owner Jim Irsay bubbled up Thursday night, when Manning’s surgeon sent out a statement saying the star quarterback had been cleared to play.

Tom Coughlin’s pinched face, ever present on the New York Giants’ sideline during his eight seasons, gives way to a smile more often now. He’ll even crack a one-liner or two. Funny how a second trip to the Super Bowl in four years can mellow a guy. In reality, though, the 65-year-old Coughlin is still basically the same coach on the field and definitely the same man off the field.

Sorry, Los Angeles. The only NFL expansion happening anytime soon is to next season’s schedule of Thursday night games. During his annual Super Bowl news conference, Commissioner Roger Goodell said Friday there hasn’t been any discussion about adding to the league’s 32 teams, and indicated he’s not too keen about the idea of shifting a franchise, either.

Chris Doleman is not one of the four Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists who won a Super Bowl. He doesn’t believe that should affect his chances of being elected to the shrine. Nor does Troy Aikman. Doleman terrorized quarterbacks and running backs as a defensive end for the Vikings, Falcons and 49ers for 15 seasons.

Running back Ahmad Bradshaw missed the New York Giants’ Super Bowl practice Friday because of a sore right foot. Coach Tom Coughlin listed Bradshaw as probable for Sunday’s game, and said he expects him to play. Bradshaw has a broken bone in his right foot and it was sore after two days of practice at the University of Indianapolis’ practice bubble.

Another practice, another day of progress for Rob Gronkowski. The All-Pro tight end was listed as questionable for the New England Patriots for the Super Bowl against the New York Giants on Sunday after moving without a limp on Friday as the Patriots walked through their offensive plays. Gronkowski practiced on a limited basis Thursday after being hurt 11 days earlier in the Patriots 23-20 win over…

The NFL is increasing the number of Thursday night games so more of its teams can play in prime time. Commissioner Roger Goodell said that there will be Thursday night games on the NFL Network from the second to the 15th week of the season, giving all of the league’s teams a chance to appear in prime time on some outlet.

Andrew Luck is willing to learn from Peyton Manning. He just wants everyone to know he’s ready to play next season, too. The Stanford quarterback said Thursday he could co-exist as Manning’s teammate even though his preference would be to play immediately. “I think every competitor wants to play, every down, every play,” Luck said when asked about starting as an NFL rookie.

Rob Gronkowski’s playing status for the Super Bowl was listed as questionable on Friday after the star tight end missed the New England Patriots practice for the second straight day with an injured left ankle. Twelve other players also were listed as questionable but participated in practice on a limited basis.

Jake Ballard’s right knee is bothering him a bit. Not enough, though, to keep him out of a game this big. The New York Giants’ tight end was listed as questionable Friday for the NFC championship game at San Francisco after having a “little procedure” on his right knee Thursday night and sitting out practice.

Tough luck, Frisco fans. Eli Manning’s tummy is just fine. The New York Giants quarterback was back at practice Thursday after missing part of the previous day’s workout with “a stomach bug.” “I’m 100 percent,” Manning said after practicing for Sunday’s NFC title game against the 49ers in San Francisco.

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones pleaded guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. Jones entered the plea in Hamilton County Municipal Court just as his non-jury trial was scheduled to begin. A second misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest was dismissed in a plea agreement with prosecutors.

Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin will rejoin the Green Bay Packers for Sunday’s divisional playoff game against the New York Giants after spending the week away from the team to mourn the death of his son. A Packers spokesman says Philbin and the team decided Sunday morning that he would coach in the game.

Braylon Edwards became a disappointment during an injury-plagued year during San Francisco’s resurgent 2011 season. The struggling wide receiver was released by the 49ers on Tuesday three months after undergoing surgery on his right knee that limited him. Edwards tweeted the news early Tuesday, attributing the move to his injury, which “required more time to rehab and hasn’t allowed me…

A mid-February trial date has been set for Green Bay Packers linebacker Erik Walden on a disorderly conduct-domestic abuse charge. He pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor, which stems from a dispute with his girlfriend last month. A judge Tuesday set a trial date of Feb. 16, which is 11 days after the Super Bowl.

Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee has become the NFL’s second player to reach 1,000 yards rushing with three teams after having a 24-yard rush on the second play from scrimmage against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. McGahee entered the game with 990 yards rushing, and broke 1,000 against his former team, Buffalo, which selected him in the first round of the 2004 draft.

The Chicago Bears might be without running back Marion Barber and return star Devin Hester at Green Bay on Sunday. Barber (calf injury) is listed as doubtful and Hester (ankle) questionable. Coach Lovie Smith says it’s “not looking real good” after they sat out practice this week. Things are looking better for linebacker Lance Briggs (ankle) and defensive tackle Henry Melton (shin),…

Matt Hasselbeck will start for the Tennessee Titans against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, barring any setback. Hasselbeck practiced fully on Friday despite an injured left calf. He will be listed as questionable, but is expected to start. “He looked good. Matt was able to do quite a bit,” Titans coach Mike Munchak said.

The NFL says it is not aware of other players involved in the federal drug case against Chicago Bears wide receiver Sam Hurd. League spokesman Brian McCarthy said Friday that the NFL is closely monitoring the case. Asked about a report that authorities have a list of NFL players with a connection to Hurd, McCarthy said: “We are not aware of such a list.” Hurd was arrested Wednesday night…

Prosecutors on Thursday dropped an indecent assault and battery charge against New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman, saying evidence suggests he just briefly grabbed the hand of a woman who accused him of groping her. Edelman, 25, was accused of grabbing the woman’s crotch after reaching under her costume during a Halloween party at a Boston nightclub.

The Dallas Cowboys have put running back DeMarco Murray and safety Barry Church on season-ending injured reserve and signed veterans Sammy Morris and Mana Silva as replacements. Murray broke his right ankle and Church injured his shoulder in Sunday night’s 37-34 loss to the New York Giants. Murray, a rookie who had a franchise-record 253-yard game in October, finishes the year with 897 yards…

Texans guard Mike Brisiel has undergone surgery Monday to repair a broken right leg, and coach Gary Kubiak is hoping he’ll be back in three to four weeks. Houston also waived veteran receiver Derrick Mason. The Texans (10-3) signed the 37-year-old Mason in mid-October, after Andre Johnson went down with a right hamstring injury.

Sam Bradford ran in the pool and rode an exercise bicycle as the St. Louis Rams tried to nurse their quarterback back to health. If Bradford can’t go Monday night at Seattle, the Rams (2-10) will likely be down to a player with zero NFL snaps because backup A.J. Feeley has all but ruled himself out with a broken thumb on his right hand.

The Carolina Panthers placed starting defensive tackles Sione Fua and Terrell McClain on injured reserve on Tuesday. Fua and McClain were both third-round draft picks this year and have been starters since Week 1. Fua strained his right hamstring before Sunday’s 38-19 victory against Tampa Bay and didn’t play.

Kyle Orton replaced Tyler Palko as the Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback for the first play of the second quarter, injured a finger on his right hand and had to leave the game. His return was questionable. Orton, claimed off waivers by the Chiefs after he was released by the Broncos, threw a pass on a flea-flicker and was hit by Chicago defensive back Major Wright on the play as he released the…

Rookie pass-rusher Von Miller is itching to give a helping hand to the Denver Broncos’ playoff push even if that means playing with a cumbersome cast protecting his surgically repaired right thumb. “I’ve just got to block it out,” Miller said. “I went in there on a couple plays today and stuck it in there.