The Sports Xchange

Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate believes it when cornerbacks tell him the secret is out — opponents are successfully identifying offensive plays before the Lions can run them.

Tate, who is in his second season with the team, said that for the third straight game — all losses — defensive backs from the winning team shared claimed the defense knew what plays were coming. The results give Tate reason to suspect they might be right.

Broncos cornerback Bradley Roby and safety David Bruton, both of whom recorded interceptions of Detroit’s Matthew Stafford, said after a win at Ford Field over the Lions on Sunday night that they knew exactly what was coming.

“I’ve had a couple occasions in literally each game where they called out our play, for one, then afterwards been like, ‘Hey, we knew what you guys were doing,'” Tate said Tuesday on 105.1 FM in Detroit. “I don’t know how they know, or what film they’re watching that we’re giving away. That’s something we got to go back and watch our tendencies to figure out where we line up or how we line up or what formation or whatever it may be.

“We’ve got to figure it out because we’re clearly giving it away. All three weeks, a player’s come up to me and said, ‘We knew where you were going to.’ That’s bad.”

–The Cleveland Browns parted ways with offensive line coach Andy Moeller, the team announced.

Moeller, 51, was suspended indefinitely by the Browns while he was investigated for an alleged assault of a woman. The woman, who claimed to be Moeller’s fiance, said during a 911 call that Moeller tried to strangle here.

The Browns did not reinstate Moeller even though he never faced assault charges.

–Wes Welker, Hakeem Nicks and Chris Cooley were scheduled to work out for the New York Giants on Tuesday.

Since releasing drop-prone slot receiver Preston Parker, the Giants were thin at wide receiver. But with Victor Cruz expected to debut this week at Buffalo with his calf injury healed, the Giants are still shopping for help.

–Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles scored three touchdowns in a loss to the Green Bay Packers on Monday, and he said the Kansas City Chiefs weren’t just outplayed.

“It looked like they outplayed us, it looked like they outcoached us, and I feel like (Green Bay) came out with a lot of energy — we didn’t come out with a lot of energy,” said Charles.

“It was my fault. We are not disciplined enough. The whole thing here, offensively and defensively, was my responsibility,” coach Andy Reid said Monday night.

–Audio, not age, was the key factor in the NFL deciding not to pursue further information in the incident between Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and referee Ed Hochuli.

Minus audio from the exchange Sunday in which Newton alleged Hochuli said, “Cam, you’re not old enough to get that call,” the league won’t seek additional information or prolong any investigation.

–The Panthers placed defensive end Charles Johnson on injured reserve with a designation to return after he suffered a severe hamstring injury last Sunday in a 27-22 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

Johnson, who is No. 2 in career sacks for the Panthers, will be eligible to rejoin practice on Nov. 10 and be added to the active roster on Nov. 24.

–While he out with his knee injury, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger said he will assist 35-year-old Michael Vick any way he can to prepare for Thursday’s game with the Baltimore Ravens.

“We brought him in here for a reason,” Roethlisberger said. “He’s got a good group around him here. Everybody’s got to do their job. We’ll be just fine … He’s helped me and I’ll continue to do what I can to help him.”

–Kicker Caleb Sturgis was the last man standing in a tryout with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Sturgis signed to replace Cody Parkey, who was placed on injured reserve along with starting right guard Andrew Gardner.

Parkey is out for the season with a leg injury.

–A missed field goal and extra point cost kicker Randy Bullock his job with the Houston Texans.

Bullock was released two days after missing two close-range attempts in a victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Nick Novak won a five-player tryout following a workout with the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday. The Eagles opted for Caleb Sturgis, who had been on the Texans’ invite list.

–Running back Mike James was waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

James was inactive the first three games of this season.

–The Minnesota Vikings signed wide receiver Donte Foster to their practice squad and released fullback Blake Renaud.

–San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks pleaded not guilty to sexual battery in Santa Clara County (Calif.) Superior Court.

Brooks was not present during the hearing. His attorney, Josh Cohen, entered the plea.

The charges stem from an incident at the house of former teammate Ray McDonald in December when a woman accused Brooks of groping her while she was unconscious.

–The New England Patriots confirmed the acquisition of linebacker Jonathan Bostic in a trade with the Chicago Bears.

No terms of the contract were disclosed by the Patriots, but the Bears announced earlier that they received an undisclosed draft pick, which ESPN reported to be a sixth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

The Patriots released running back Travaris Cadet in another roster move.

–The Chicago Bears signed safety Chris Prosinski and linebacker LaRoy Reynolds and waived safety Brock Vereen in a series of roster moves.

–The San Diego Chargers waived tight end Kyle Miller after he made his first career start and placed guard Johnnie Troutman on season-ending injured reserve.

–The Washington Redskins put guard Shawn Lauvao and cornerback Justin Rogers on injured reserve. Lauvao suffered a sprained left ankle during the first quarter of the Redskins’ 32-21 loss to the New York Giants last week and Rogers has been plagued by plantar fasciitis.

To replace them, the Redskins signed free agent linebacker Mason Foster and promoted cornerback Quinton Dunbar from the practice squad to the active roster.