Spring league set to begin in April

A spring league run by independent investors separately from the NFL to help develop players will launch in 2017, the NFL Management Council said Thursday in a notice to teams.

The league will have four teams consisting of veteran free-agent players and experienced NFL coaches. The teams will train at Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, WVa., from April 5 to 26. The four teams will play a total of six games.

This won’t be a league in which teams can develop their own young players. NFL clubs are not allowed to allocate players to the league.

Some of the coaches already have been determined. Terry Shea will coach quarterbacks, Mike

Westhoff will be in charge of special teams and Bob

Valesente will work with defensive backs. Beckham fined: Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was fined $18,000 by the NFL for wearing unapproved cleats against the Lions

Beckham wore cleats honoring the late broadcaster Craig Sager, who lost his lengthy battle with cancer last week. Beckham planned to auction off the cleats for charity.

The oft-fined Beckham noted that Cowboys rookie

Ezekiel Elliott was not fined for jumping into a large Salvation Army kettle after a touchdown and called it “double standards.” Kuechly should sit: Quarterback Cam Newton said it makes no sense for the Panthers to play threetime All-Pro middle linebacker Luke Kuechly the remainder of the season following his second concussion in two years.

Kuechly has missed the last four games.

With the Panthers’ playoff chances being “minimal,” Newton said Kuechly should rest and prepare for future seasons when the team has a realistic chance to make the postseason. Haden to have surgery: Browns two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden revealed he has been playing despite two groin injuries and will have offseason surgery.

Haden said he will have the operations soon after the Jan. 1 finale at Pittsburgh. Matthews better: Packers linebacker Clay Matthews said his left shoulder injury is improving and he hopes to get more snaps in Saturday’s game against the Vikings.

Matthews has been playing through the injury he suffered Nov. 28 when Eagles lineman Allen Barbre hit him with a blindslide block. Matthews has no sacks and just two tackles in a limited role the last three weeks.

Extra points: Rams rookie QB Jared Goff cleared concussion protocol and is set to start against the 49ers on Saturday . ... Giants Pro Bowl CB Janoris Jenkins sat out Thursday night’s game against the Eagles with a back injury . ... Eagles RT Lane Johnson returned after serving a 10game suspension for violating the league’s PED policy. ... All-Pro WR Julio Jones, who missed the last two games with a sprained toe, practiced for the third straight time and will play against the Panthers.