Florida Sports Wire

  The Tampa Bay Buccaneers   announced that the team has promoted linebacker J.J. Russell from the practice squad to the active roster, and signed linebacker Vi Jones, cornerback Quandre Mosely and wide receiver Raleigh Webb to the practice squad.   Russell  (6-1, 225) has appeared in nine career games for the Buccaneers, including being elevated for Weeks 2-4 of this season. In his career, he has logged four tackles and three special teams tackles. The Grenada, Mississippi, native played collegiately at Memphis (2017-21), starting 50-of-61 games and compiling 306 tackles (24 for loss), eight passes defensed, 5.0 sacks, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one interception and one blocked kick. He was first-team All-AAC (American Athletic Conference) in 2021 after leading the AAC in solo tackles per game (6.5) and total tackles per game (10.2). Russell originally entered the league as a college free agent with the Buccaneers in May 2022. He wears No. 51 for Tampa Bay.   Jones  (

  NEW YORK   — The 32 player nominees for the ninth annual Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award have been finalized, the NFL announced today. Each NFL team nominated one of its players for the award, which recognizes players around the league who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field. Created in 2014, the award honors the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Rooney Sr. A panel of former players from the NFL Legends Community  — Warrick Dunn, 2014 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award recipient Larry Fitzgerald, Pro Football Hall of Famer Curtis Martin and Leonard Wheeler —  will select eight finalists (four in the AFC and four in the NFC) from the 32 nominees. The eight finalists will be listed on the Pro Bowl ballot under the NFL Sportsmanship Award category when players vote in December. “Sportsmanship is the core of the game, the vanguard of public confidence, the keeper of game integrity,” said Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of

  TALLAHASSEE  –   Florida State was No. 5 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday night. The Noles are No. 4 in the Coaches Poll and No. 5 in the Associated Press poll. “We’ve got great players in all three phases, and I think we’ve shown that throughout the course of this season,” head coach Mike Norvell said on ESPN following the ranking release. “Ultimately, we’ve got to control the things we can control, go out and improve and continue to get better.”   FSU’s 17-game winning streak is the third-longest active streak in the country, tied for the second-longest in program history and tied for the third-longest in ACC history. The Noles are one of just five teams to not allow 30 points in a game this season and have the third-longest streak without allowing 30 points, at 11 games.   Florida State improved to 11-0 with a 58-13 win over North Alabama Saturday in the home finale at Doak Campbell Stadium. The Lions completed 15 passes for just 83 yards and the Se