GREG HARDY

Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson was suspended for 11 games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy following accusations of sexual misconduct made against him by two dozen women in Texas when he played for Houston.

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Aldon Smith had already been suspended from the NFL several years when his ailing grandmother implored him to change his life before she died of complications from Lou Gehrig's disease. Before that, Smith was a rising star in San Francisco when his legal troubles began in 2013. The Raiders still had his contractual rights two years ago before releasing Smith after San Francisco police issued an arrest warrant over allegations of domestic violence. His path to Dallas is special and unique, said McCarthy, who faced Smith and San Francisco four times in a span of two seasons as Green Bay's coach. San Francisco reached the Super Bowl in his second season, losing to Baltimore, and played in the NFC championship game each of his first three years.

The former NFL star picked up his sixth career victory at UFC 249, as he outpointed Yorgan De Castro in a unanimous decision. In the second round, Hardy began to press forward, dictate the pace and land the better shots. The heavyweight bout opened up the UFC 249 main card at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. Up-to-the-minute UFC 249 results include:Gallery Greg Hardy def. Yorgan De Castro at UFC 249: Best photos view 12 imagesGallery UFC 249: Official scorecards from Jacksonville, Fla. view 11 images

Facing growing controversy, Carolina Panthers deactivate Greg Hardy There’s more fallout over the NFL’s handling of domestic violence cases. Just before game time on Sunday, the Carolina Panthers said they were deactivating defensive end Greg Hardy, who is appealing a July domestic violence conviction. Vladimir Duthiers reports.