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Three months after House Democrats issued a report concluding that the NFL improperly sought to influence a major government study on football and brain disease, their Republican counterparts called for an independent review into the controversy.In a 21-page letter to the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services, Republican leaders from the Energy and Commerce Committee requested the review to determine whether proper procedures were followed by officials with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its fundraising arm.The letter suggests that NIH officials engaged representatives from the NFL throughout the process and tried to resolve the conflict by offering a compromise solution -- reinforcing the perception that there was nothing improper about the NFLs actions.The questions and concerns raised by these events are vital to the integrity of research and the grant award decision-making process, concluded the letter, written by Reps. Fred Upton of Michigan, Tim Murphy and Joseph Pitts of Pennsylvania, and Michael Burgess of Texas.In May, Democratic leaders from the committee issued a 91-page report that described a behind-the-scenes campaign by top NFL health officials to strip a $16 million grant from a prominent Boston University researcher who has been critical of the league. The Republican letter provided little new information about the NFLs campaign, but it suggested that the league may have been convinced that its input was welcomed by senior NIH officials who agreed to discuss the matter, in possible violation of NIH regulations.The Democratic report stemmed from interviews with officials at the NIH and the Foundation for the NIH (FNIH) as well as the NFLs top health and safety official. It also cited emails between the parties. The report singled out Dr. Richard Ellenbogen, the co-chair of the NFLs Head, Neck and Spine Committee. Ellenbogen was a co-investigator on a competing grant proposal, which the report said NFL officials tried to convince the NIH to fund. Ellenbogen was a primary example of the conflicts of interest between his role as a researcher and his role as an NFL adviser, according to the report.Ellenbogen, however, was not interviewed by the Democrats, and he denied to the Republicans that he ever had sought to influence the NIH process, as he had previously to Outside the Lines and other media outlets.Ellenbogen, the chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Washington, is the subject of an internal investigation at UW over the findings by the Democrats.The Republican letter said the review was necessary because this controversy has tarnished the reputations of some leading brain trauma experts.We stand by our findings that the NFL improperly attempted to influence NIH on its brain injury research, and that FNIH did not adequately fulfill its role of serving as an intermediary between NIH and the NFL, an Energy and Commerce Democratic Committee spokesperson wrote to Outside the Lines.The controversy stems from a $30 million donation the NFL made to the NIH in 2012. At the time, the league described the grant as unrestricted, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell insisted that the league would let NIH make the decisions on how best to spend the money. The first $12 million of that funding was allocated in 2013 to two groups to study the defining characteristics of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the brain disease that has been found in dozens of deceased NFL players and that experts have linked to repetitive head trauma. However, Outside the Lines reported in December that the NFL had backed out of using most of the remaining funds on a $16 million study that had been awarded to Robert Stern, a prominent Boston University researcher.Soon after, the Democratic committee launched its investigation.The league has said that its officials expressed concerns about Stern but that they did so appropriately. And the Republicans letter suggests that if the NFLs actions were inappropriate, the NIH should have addressed that with the league rather than encouraging ongoing discussion.The NFL issued a statement Thursday afternoon repeating prior comments that it had never wavered in its commitment to advance the science and understanding of concussions and that it looked forward to cooperating in a review.Ellenbogen and three other members of the NFLs Head, Neck and Spine Committee issued their own statement, saying they welcome a fair and balanced review and look forward to engaging fully in the process, a courtesy we were not provided by the committees minority staff.The Republican letter comes one day after the NFL announced a $100 million initiative designed to focus on concussion research and technologies to lessen head trauma.Nike Air Max 90 Nz Womens .C. Lions has come to an end. 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Cheap Air Max 90 Nz . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss.NFL Nation reporters give the rookie classes for all 32 teams a grade and pick the best, most improved and most disappointing rookies of the season. Click the links after each team to view the full posts.Grade: ADallas Cowboys:?The Cowboys are looking at one of their best draft classes. Much of the focus is on Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott, but they have received better-than-expected contributions from?others.?Read more.Grade: A-minusNew York Giants:?The Giants have leaned heavily on their rookie class, including starting four of its members Sunday night against Dallas. Wide receiver Sterling Shepard has evolved into the teams No. 2 target.?Read more.San Diego Chargers:?Selected No. 3 overall, defensive end Joey Bosa was a surprise pick by the Chargers. He has 5.5 sacks in eight games and has been a key contributor to San Diegos stout run defense.?Read more.Grade: B-plusBaltimore Ravens:?The Ravens recent drafts havent lived up to the franchises gold standard. But the 2016 class is making an immediate impact and is a big reason why they are in the thick of the playoff race.?Read more.Chicago Bears:?The Bears season went off the rails weeks ago, but the organization can take solace in the rookie class. Six rookies have started games, and three have all but locked up starting jobs for 2017.?Read more.Denver Broncos:?All eight players in the Broncos draft class made the 53-man roster, and running back Devontae Booker, who is now the teams primary back, is leading the way.?Read more.Kansas City Chiefs:?The Chiefs rookie class has been better than expected, and second-round defensive lineman?Chris Jones and fifth-round wide receiver Tyreek Hill both have made a major impact.?Read more.New Orleans Saints:?The Saints appear to have hit on both of their 2016 second-rounders, and this class has the potential to become one of the strongest draft classes in the Sean Payton-Mickey Loomis era.?Read more.Oakland Raiders:?The Raiders had 14 rookies on their 53-man roster entering Game 13, including all seven draft picks. In fact, five of the seven picks have started at least two games.?Read more.Pittsburgh Steelers:?That early-1970s Steelers defensive lineup was harder to crack, but what corner Artie Burns, safety Sean Davis and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave are doing is still quite impressive.?Read more.Grade: BBuffalo Bills:?The Bills rookie class has been the NFLs toughest to evaluate because of injuries to first-round pick Shaq Lawson and second-round pick Reggie Ragland.?Read more.Detroit Lions:?Bob Quinns first draft class as Lions general manager featured a lot of linemen, a backup quarterback for the future and a long-snapper. But so far, it has been a pretty strong.?Read more.Indianapolis Colts:?The Colts went into the draft needing to improve their offensive line, and they picked four linemen. Two of them -- Ryan Kelly and Joe Haeg -- have been fixtures in the starting lineup.?Read more.Jacksonville Jaguars:?It looks as if theres at least one future Pro Bowler, potentially a double-digit sack guy, and at least two other starters among the Jaguars top four picks.?Read more.Miami Dolphins:?The Dolphins are in playoff contention, partially because of immediate production from their rookie class, including first-round pick Laremy Tunsil and third-round pick Kenyan Drake.?Read more.New England Patriots:?The Patriots didnt have a first-round pick, but third-rounder Joe Thuney was inserted into the starting liineup at left guard on Day 1 of?spring practices and hasnt moved off the spot.dddddddddddd?Read more.Philadelphia Eagles:?Its no secret that the Eagles class will be defined by the career of Carson Wentz. The next decade will be largely shaped by their decision to aggressively move up to secure the No. 2 pick.?Read more.Tampa Bay Buccaneers:?The Buccaneers are not only getting significant contributions from their rookie class this season, but these players are a big reason for the teams turnaround -- particularly on defense.?Read more.Grade: B-minusNew York Jets:?General manager Mike Maccagnans second draft has a chance to get better with age, but its short on star power. The wild card is quarterback Christian Hackenberg.?Read more.San Francisco 49ers:?The results have been mixed, with three members of the class looking like potential long-term starters, another flashing some upside and three already gone from the organization.?Read more.Tennessee Titans:?GM Jon Robinsons first draft class produced two starters, one regular contributor, one capable player stuck behind an excellent starter and one guy whos getting a late-season look.?Read more.Grade: C-plusAtlanta Falcons:?Three of the Falcons top four picks -- first-rounder Keanu Neal, second-rounder Deion Jones and fourth-rounder DeVondre Campbell -- are starters on defense.?Read more.Cincinnati Bengals:?While the Bengals rookies could prove to be valuable down the road, theyre mostly a cast of unknowns at this point. Thats nothing new for Cincinnati.?Read more.Grade: CHouston Texans:?Aside from glimpses of potential from the Texans first and last picks, the rookie class has not been a major contributor through 12 games.?Read more.Seattle Seahawks:?First-round pick Germain Ifedi has started 10 games at right guard and flashed the potential the team was excited about when it used the 31st overall pick on him in the spring.?Read more.Grade: C-minusCarolina Panthers:?The Panthers draft class was mostly about replacing Pro Bowl cornerback Josh Norman and upgrading the defense in general. Its still a work in progress.?Read more.Green Bay Packers:?Like usual, the Packers kept all seven of their draft picks coming out of training camp, and theyre all still on the roster. But their impact has been minimal.?Read more.Los Angeles Rams:?No. 1 pick Jared Goff spent the first 10 weeks of the season on the bench, but he seems to grow more comfortable every week. It?is difficult to assess him until he gets a bit more help, however.?Read more.Washington Redskins:?The early returns havent been good, save for a couple of bright spots, in part because of three injured players. In two years, the contributions from this class could be a lot more significant.?Read more.Grade: D-plusCleveland Browns:?The Browns drafted 14 players, and all of them made the roster coming out of training camp. None has had a sit-up-and-take-notice kind of season, however.?Read more.Grade: DArizona Cardinals:?This has been the most unproductive Cardinals rookie class of the Bruce Arians-Steve Keim tenure. None of the five still on the roster has been an active part of the offense or defense. Read more.Minnesota Vikings: The?Vikings rookie class hasnt yielded many immediate contributions, and first-round pick Laquon Treadwell has only one catch in 12 games. Read more. ' ' '