NFL teams brawl

Geno Smith’s hopes for a breakout season with the New York Jets took a major blow – to the jaw.

The quarterback will be sidelined at least 6-10 weeks with a broken jaw after being punched by teammate Ikemefuna Enemkpali in the locker room Tuesday morning at Florham Park, New Jersey.

Smith, entering his third season, will require surgery to repair the injuries. He hadn’t yet undergone the procedure as of late Tuesday afternoon.

“It had nothing to do with football,” coach Todd Bowles said. “It was something very childish, and he got cold-cocked, sucker-punched – whatever you want to call it – in the jaw.”

Bowles made the stunning announcement in an impromptu news conference before training camp practice was scheduled to start. Enemkpali (EN-um-PAL-ee), an outside linebacker in his second season, was immediately released by the Jets.

No regrets for Newton in scuffle

Cam Newton is defending his role in a scuffle with Carolina Panthers’ teammate Josh Norman that put the star quarterback at risk of unnecessarily getting injured.

Newton said he would do it again.

Most quarterbacks around the league, including Newton, wear a red jersey at practice designed to protect them from contact and reduce the risk of injury.

They normally keep a distance from fights.

Newton, however, took matters into his own hands on Monday after Norman stiff-armed him during an interception return. An angry Newton turned and ran down Norman near the goal line after the play had been blown dead by coaches. The two players got into a scrap and wound up at the bottom of a pile of players – Newton without his helmet.

They eventually had to be separated by teammates.

Newton said he has spoken to Norman and the rest of the team and there are no hard feelings.

Buccaneers play down camp dustup

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers shrugged off a scuffle between two players during practice, calling it a typical training camp dustup.

No punches were thrown when offensive tackle Demar Dotson and defensive end George Johnson tussled briefly after getting tangled up on a 9-on-7 running drill on Tuesday.

Order was restored quickly.

‘Deflategate’ judge pushes settlement

A federal judge took a peacemaker’s role Tuesday, urging New England quarterback Tom Brady and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to find common ground to settle differences before he lowers the gavel on a controversy over deflated footballs.

U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman asked Brady and Goodell to “engage in further good faith settlement efforts” a day before they meet in Manhattan federal court for the first time.

Brady was not at Patriots training camp on Tuesday.

Berman directed lawyers, along with Brady and Goodell, to update him in private Wednesday about settlement negotiations a half hour before they appear in court.

Ex-Dolphins OL coach files suit

Jim Turner, the former Dolphins offensive line coach who was fired in the wake of the 2013 bullying scandal, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Ted Wells and his law firm in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Turner is seeking damages from Wells, the independent investigator hired by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and Wells’ law firm, New York-based Paul Weiss. Turner hasn’t worked in the NFL since the Wells’ report documented his role in the bullying scandal.

Wells’ report was released Feb. 14, 2014, and led to the Dolphins firing Turner. It found, in part, that guard Richie Incognito, center Mike Pouncey and guard John Jerry were involved in harassing offensive tackle Jonathan Martin.

NFL owners ponder new L.A. stadiums

NFL owners met in suburban Chicago to hear more about moving at least one team to the Los Angeles market. The Chargers and Raiders presented a proposal for a stadium in Carson that includes eight-plus acres of rent-free land for the league to use as it sees fit, and Rams owner Stan Kroenke also talked about his plan for a facility in Inglewood.

While Goodell said no voting of any kind occurred at the meeting, it was clear the momentum was rolling toward at least one relocated team in the Los Angeles area possibly as soon as the 2016 season.

Los Angeles hasn’t had an NFL team since the Rams and Raiders departed after the 1994 season.

Rodgers will likely play in opener

Aaron Rodgers expects to play. Clay Matthews is preparing to do so, too.

When Green Bay opens the preseason schedule Thursday night at the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, Packers coach Mike McCarthy is planning to go with what he has.

With one caveat, however.

“Whoever travels to New England will play,” McCarthy said.

Around the League

Former San Francisco 49ers right tackle Anthony Davis is talking about an NFL return next year at some point, just two months after he announced his early retirement at age 25 following a head injury last season. … Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was injured during Tuesday afternoon’s practice. Peterson did not return to practice, but a Vikings source said that Peterson appears to be fine. … The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Garrett Hartley after Shaun Suisham injured his left knee in a preseason loss to Minnesota on Sunday night. … The Buffalo Bills have signed free-agent cornerback Lavelle Westbrooks, and designated receiver Caleb Holley as waived/injured. … Arizona Cardinals starting right tackle Bobby Massie has been suspended for three games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, a person with knowledge of the situation said. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the suspension has not been officially announced, said the suspension has been appealed. … The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed former Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Tony McDaniel and activated receiver Louis Murphy from the active/non-football injury list. … The New England Patriots have acquired guard Ryan Groy from the Chicago Bears for rookie linebacker Matthew Wells.