Wife says husband cut because of protest

Terricka Cromartie believes the Indianapolis Colts cut her husband, Antonio, because of his national anthem protest.

On Thursday, she took her claims public on Instagram and noted comments from team owner Jim Irsay as confirming it. Irsay called the protests not “a positive thing.”

Cromartie’s wife wrote, in part: “one things for sure I know my husband was told Not to take a knee and he went with his heart and took one. And that cost him his job.” He was the only Colts’ player to take a knee and raising his fist.

Team spokesman Avis Roper responded by citing coach Chuck Pagano’s previous answer about making the best decision for the team.

Bills

LeSean McCoy was healthy enough to at least watch part of practice from the sideline Thursday, though it’s unclear whether he can play Sunday at Miami. A person with direct knowledge of McCoy’s hamstring injury told the AP the Bills running back is “a game-time decision.” Coach Rex Ryan used the word “hopeful” in providing an update a day after McCoy left practice complaining of tightness in one of his hamstrings.

Giants

Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has returned to practice on a limited basis and hopes to play against the Los Angeles Rams this weekend in London. Beckham, 23, missed Wednesday’s workout because of a hip pointer in Sunday’s win against Baltimore.

Jets

The team will honor the late Dennis Byrd in a pregame ceremony Sunday. He was killed last weekend in a car accident in Oklahoma. Byrd, 50, was an inspiration to many after he overcame brief paralysis and walked again just a few months after injuring his neck during a play in 1992. The defensive lineman played for the Jets for four seasons.