NFL notes: Tom Brady sits after court victory, and Giants top Patriots

Chris Boswell kicked four field goals and the New York Giants finished off the preseason with a 12-9 victory Thursday over the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was among the many starters not playing.

The Patriots left the offense in the hands of third-stinger Ryan Lindley, who completed 22 of 45 for 253 yards with one interception and a late fumble. Giants backup quarterback Ryan Nassib played all but the final few minutes for New York and was 16 for 32 for 193 yards.

Thursday’s highlights

Jets 24, Eagles 18: Tim Tebow threw two touchdown passes and an interception in his final opportunity to make Philadelphia’s roster, and Philadelphia fell to the New York Jets in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Tebow, competing with Matt Barkley for the No. 3 quarterback job, flashed some of the playmaking and inconsistency that have made him so polarizing. He finished 11 of 17 for 189 yards, and added 32 yards on four rushes. Barkley was 4 of 9 for 45 yards and an interception for the Eagles (3-1).

Matt Flynn started for the Jets (3-1) and was 10 of 14 for 136 yards with two TDs and an interception.

Titans 24, Vikings 17: Marcus Mariota threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to Harry Douglas to cap his only series, and Tennessee wrapped up the preseason by beating Minnesota in Nashville, Tennessee.

Mariota, the No. 2 overall pick out of Oregon, played only four snaps for the Titans (2-2). The rookie proved very efficient as he was 2 of 3 for 74 yards, and he concluded the preseason 21 of 30 for 326 yards with one interception and a 102.9 passer rating.

Minnesota went with No. 3 quarterback Taylor Heinicke, giving both Teddy Bridgewater and Shaun Hill the night off along with most of their starters.

Broncos’ T.J. Ward to miss opener

Pro Bowl safety T.J. Ward has been suspended for Denver’s opener against Baltimore over a nightclub incident that happened more than 15 months ago.

Ward was charged with misdemeanor assault and disturbing the peace for allegedly throwing a glass mug at a female bartender at a Denver strip club in May 2014. Those charges were later dropped.

According to court documents, Ward was seen on video surveillance picking up the mug from the bar and throwing it after being told he couldn’t bring a drink into the club.

The incident came shortly after Ward signed a four-year, $22.5 million deal in Denver.

McNary found not guilty of rape

A jury has found former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Josh McNary not guilty of forcing a woman he met in a bar to have sex.

McNary, 27, had been charged with rape, criminal confinement and battery in the trial, which began Monday. The jury decided he was not guilty on Thursday.

The case stems from Dec. 1, when McNary and a woman left a downtown Indianapolis bar and went back to his apartment.

Prosecutors had acknowledged that the woman willingly went home with McNary, and that the two flirted and kissed throughout the night, but they said she did not consent to having sex with him. Defense attorneys had argued that the woman was “confused” and “conflicted,” and that her statements about what happened have changed repeatedly.

After he was cleared of the charges, McNary said he will try to continue his football career, describing the whole experience as “traumatic” and “tragic.”

Mayor makes stadium promises at rally

Stt. Louis mayor Francis Slay attended a rally touting progress of a task force to develop a new stadium on the downtown riverfront, giving fans his “word” there would be a new stadium and the Rams would be playing in it.

Dave Peacock, leader of the group, was a lot more circumspect. Peacock said he and Gov. Jay Nixon met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in New York on Wednesday, and said “I’ve never guaranteed anything.”