NFL-National Football League roundup

Aug 30 (The Sports Xchange) - Rookie defensive end Michael Sam was released by the St. Louis Rams in their final roster cuts Saturday afternoon. Sam, the 2013 Southeastern Conference co-Defensive Player of the Year, was one of four defensive linemen released as the Rams reduced their roster to 53 players. Among the other cuts was quarterback Garrett Gilbert. A seventh-round pick of the Rams, Sam made national headlines in February when he announced he was gay. He became the first openly gay player drafted into the NFL. - - - Despite the holdout of guard Alex Boone, the San Francisco 49ers parted with offensive lineman Adam Snyder, according to CSNBayArea.com. The team will reportedly go with Joe Looney to start at right guard and will use younger players to fill backup roles. Snyder, 32, started four games for San Francisco last season. He has 87 NFL starts overall. - - - Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison announced Saturday that he is retiring. Harrison, 36, spent 12 seasons in the NFL. Harrison worked out for the Arizona Cardinals earlier this week, but the team passed on him. - - - The New Orleans Saints released 12-time Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey. A foot injury hampered Bailey, 36, throughout the preseason, and the Saints decided to release him despite a $500,000 guarantee. The Saints also released veteran receiver Robert Meachem. - - - Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey of the Miami Dolphins was activated from the physically unable to perform . Pouncey will have a spot on the active roster spot despite being at least a few weeks from returning following hip surgery. - - - The Philadelphia Eagles released 19 players, including running back Matthew Tucker and kicker Alex Henery. - - - The Kansas City Chiefs released five-year veteran kicker Ryan Succop and handed their kicking duties over to rookie Cairo Santos. - - - The Denver Broncos released defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson, who had started 41 games for the team, including 11 games last season. - - - Coach Dennis Allen said the Oakland Raiders probably will know by Monday whether veteran Matt Schaub or rookie Derek Carr will start at quarterback in the opener against the New York Jets, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Allen wants to determine the extent of Schaub's right elbow injury. - - - The Cincinnati Bengals placed rookie quarterback AJ McCarron on the reserve/non-football injury list. The former Alabama star has battled shoulder soreness for most of the offseason. - - - Fifth-round draft pick Shaquille Richardson and seventh-round pick Rob Blanchflower were among the players released by the Pittsburgh Steelers. - - - The New York Giants will place wide receiver Mario Manningham and kick return specialist Trindon Holliday on season-ending injured reserve. Manningham strained a calf muscle during Thursday's exhibition win against the New England Patriots while Holliday had a hamstring injury throughout training camp. - - - The New York Jets released wide receiver Stephen Hill after they were unable to trade him. - - - The Cleveland Browns released veteran wide receiver Nate Burleson. He had been dealing with a lingering hamstring injury. - - - Quarterback Kyle Orton came out of his brief retirement by agreeing to contract terms with the Buffalo Bills. - - - Rock star Jon Bon Jovi parted ways with the Toronto-based group that hopes to buy the Buffalo Bills, the New York Post reported. The leaders of the group - Larry Tanenbaum, the chairman of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, and Edward Rogers, chairman of Rogers Communications - believe they are in a stronger position to make a successful bid for the Bills without Bon Jovi. - - - The Tennessee Titans settled on Travis Coons as their kicker after cutting Maikon Bonani. - - - The NFL on Saturday upheld Washington Redskins safety Brandon Meriweather's two game suspension, which was levied for an illegal hit on Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith. It was the sixth time he has been flagged for an illegal hit. He will sit out the Redskins' first two games of the season. - - - The Chicago Bears cut offensive lineman Eben Britton. Britton was a second-round draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2009. He played 13 games with the Bears last season. - - - The New England Patriots released defensive tackle Jerel Worthy and wide receiver Josh Boyce. - - - The Indianapolis Colts waived linebacker Kelvin Sheppard, who started seven games and played in 15 last season. (Editing by Gene Cherry)