NEW YORK — The New England Patriots asked the NFL to reinstate the suspended employees at the heart of the Deflategate scandal.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Wednesday that the request is under review.

The team suspended equipment assistant John Jastremski and officials locker room attendant Jim McNally as part of the investigation into whether the footballs the team provided for the AFC title game were improperly inflated. In one of the more damning texts uncovered in the probe, McNally referred to himself as “the deflator.”

The team was fined $1 million and docked two draft picks as punishment. Quarterback Tom Brady had his four-game suspension vacated by a federal judge. The team has denied any wrongdoing, but it suspended McNally and Jastremski.

The NFL said the two could not be reinstated without permission from the league.

SAINTS: Police are looking into allegations that defensive end Cameron Jordan touched a woman inappropriately at a New Orleans night club and then tried to physically intimidate her boyfriend.

JETS: Coach Todd Bowles said Brandon Marshall had a “well-warranted” opinion when suggesting that race could influence decisions on discipline in the NFL, but adds that the wide receiver needs to “be smarter” when discussing controversial topics.

Marshall, a regular on Showtime’s “Inside The NFL,” created headlines when he suggested that many NFL players believe that white players are treated differently by the league when it comes to discipline.

Bowles said he has no issue with players speaking their minds but they need to be cautious on sensitive topics.

Marshall’s comments came while the show’s in-studio panel discussed New England quarterback Tom Brady having his four-game suspension being dropped by a federal judge last week.

RAMS: Coach Jeff Fisher named veteran backup Tim Barnes the starting center.

SEAHAWKS: Coach Pete Carroll said holdout strong safety Kam Chancellor has not shown up at the team’s practice facility and won’t play Sunday in the opener against St. Louis.

Carroll said he’s disappointed Chancellor has chosen this route to express his displeasure with his contract situation.

Chancellor didn’t report when the Seahawks gathered for training camp at the end of July..

GIANTS: Two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul is not ready to play.

Coach Tom Coughlin announced the decision after the team examined the right hand that Pierre-Paul injured in a fireworks accident on the July Fourth holiday.

While saying Pierre-Paul was in good shape and in an outstanding frame of mind after reporting Monday, Coughlin said the team did not feel he was ready to come back.

Coughlin said there’s no timetable for his return.

Pierre-Paul returned to Florida to continue working out. He has not signed his franchise tender, worth $14.8 million for the season.

• The Giants signed linebacker Jasper Brinkley, who was released by the Cowboys on Monday.

BROWNS: Coach Mike Pettine called the allegations involving suspended offensive line coach Andy Moeller “disturbing.”

Moeller was suspended indefinitely by the team on Monday following a weekend incident at his home.

On Tuesday, police released an incident report and a 9-1-1 emergency tape on which a woman claimed Moeller tried to strangle her and has been violent in the past.

SUSPENSIONS: All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell and star tight end Antonio Gates are among 26 players who will begin the NFL season on suspension.

Pittsburgh’s Bell will be idle for the Steelers’ first two games, including the season’s kickoff Thursday night at New England. His suspension for violating the substance abuse policy was reduced from three games.

San Diego’s Gates, one of the most prolific receivers at his position in league history, was docked four games under the performance enhancers policy.

Also out are three standout defensive linemen: the Cowboys’ Greg Hardy (personal conduct, four games), the Jets’ Sheldon Richardson (substance abuse, four games) and the Bills’ Marcell Dareus (substance abuse, one game).

Three players have suspensions that could last the entire season. Cleveland WR Josh Gordon (substance abuse, indefinite), Miami DE-LB Dion Jordan (substance abuse, season), and Arizona LB Daryl Washington (substance abuse, indefinite).

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