NFL UPDATE -- AUGUST 27, 2014TITANS PARTICIPATE IN ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE IN HONOR OF FORMER PLAYER TIM SHAWAll football storylines took a back seat last Wednesday as the ' organization accepted former linebacker Tim Shaw's ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Shaw, a two-time team captain who spent three years as a linebacker and special teams ace from 2010-12, announced the day before on the team's web site that he had been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) -- also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.Doctors diagnosed Shaw in April of this year -- a devastating verdict after he had been feeling weakne s in his muscles since late in 2012."It's the hardest thing I've ever had to hear," said Shaw. "Every thought runs through your mind, but as a man you have a choice. What are you going to do? Are you going to stand up and fight for your life, Gary Carter Jersey or are you going to accept what someone else tells you is reality? As staggering as that news was and as shocking is it was to hear, I made that choice to live life to the fullest."More than 120 players, coaches and staff took part in the challenge, while team president/CEO Tommy Smith offered to match any donations made by the organization to ALS research. cornerback invited Shaw to challenge fans at their preseason home finale as well.BROWNS OWNER JIMMY HASLAM SUPPORTS HEADS UP FOOTBALL WITH LETTER TO LOCAL YOUTH FOOTBALL LEADEREarlier this month, owner Jimmy Haslam sent a letter encouraging Ohio high school principals, athletic directors and coaches to seek more information about and implement USA Football's Heads Up Football initiative within their programs in an effort to advance player health and safety throughout the sport. The full text of the letter is .The also visited Cleveland Muny Football League players and coaches during a practice last week to present them a $20,000 grant, as well as surprise the group with 200 tickets to the team's preseason home opener. The supported Heads Up Football throughout Northeast Ohio this summer with events including the Youth Football Camp, High School Player Development Program and Moms Football Safety Clinic, joined by Keith Hernandez Jersey Foundation president Dee Haslam and Vernet Farmer, wife of general manager Ray Farmer.NFL HOSTS INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SPORTS CONCUSSION RESEARCH THINK TANKEarlier this week, scientific and medical officials representing preeminent international sports organizations convened at the NFL offices for a two-day 'Think Tank' on concu sion research, diagnosis, management and treatment. The International Profe sional Sports Concu sion Research Think Tank was a sembled by Dr. Rich Ellenbogen (chairman, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington co-chair, NFL Head, Neck and Spine Committee), and three co-chairs of the 4th International Consensus on Concu sion in Sport: Dr. Jir Dvork (chairman, FIFA Medical and Research Centre; chief medical officer, FIFA); Dr. Paul McCrory (a sociate profe sor, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne, Australia) and Dr. Willem Meeuwi se (profe sor, University of Calgary Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre and Hotchki s Brain Institute).Following a discu sion on approaches to concu sion management and research among sports, attendees identified areas where collaborative research among the sports leagues holds the promise to make sports safer for athletes at all levels. The group intends to support research that enhances sideline a se sment tools for concu Tom Seaver Jersey sion. "This will change the paradigm," Dr. Ellenbogen said of such cooperation among sports. "How can we accelerate the information? This can provide a unique perspective to get people back to health. There are a lot of big ideas that can come out of this that resonated with all the leagues that may have not come up if they had done it in isolation.""This is an exciting development in the science of sports concu sion," said Dr. McCrory. "Working with international sports leaders not only benefits athletes in profe sional sports but amateur participants throughout the world."To read more, ARIZONA CARDINALS HOST "PLAY 60" CAMP; BUILD CHARACTER WITH LOCAL KIDSThe recently hosted an NFL PLAY 60 Character Camp at University of Phoenix Stadium.More than 400 youngsters -- boys and girls ages 9-13 -- spent two days inside the stadium learning football skills, while also learning about building Pete Alonso Jersey good character, team-building and emphasizing exercise. The two-day non-contact camp featured former players including tackle Anthony Clement and safety Kwamie La siter, as well as cheerleaders and team mascot Big Red. The program was run in collaboration with USA Football and its NFL FLAG curriculum, which introduces children to football by teaching basic skills in a non-contact setting. The teamed up with the Muoz Agency, run by NFL r Anthony Muoz's son, Jeurys Familia Jersey Michael Muoz, to execute fun-filled days for the camp participants.CHIEFS HOST ANNUAL CHARITY GAMEThe hosted the annual Charity Game during the home preseason game on Aug. 7. Since 1984, this outreach initiative has helped to raise dollars and awarene s for local charities with a focus on underserved children. This year, the Charity Game raised more than $600,000 for Big Brother Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City (BBBSKC), the second-highest amount raised in the history of the event. In the three years that BBBSKC has been the recipient of the Charity Game, more than $1.5M has been donated to the outreach organization. Since 1984, more than $6.5 million has been generated for local children's charities since the game's inception. In addition, the announced that the 2015 Charity Game beneficiary will be The Children's Place. Since 1978, The Children's Place has been committed to meeting the developmental and mental health needs of the youngest survivors of abuse, neglect and other trauma.-- NFL Communications