The National Football League and the New York State Attorney General’s office reached agreement on an anti-discrimination policy, measures they hope will protect players from discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation, reports CBSSports.com.

At February’s Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, several draft prospects said they were asked questions about their sexual orientation during team interviews. One prospect said one team asked him, “Do you like girls?”

More from CBSSports.com:

“My office is committed to ensuring equal protection under the law for all employees and job applicants no matter where they work,” Eric Schneiderman, New York’s Attorney General said, “and I applaud the NFL for working cooperatively with our office to address these issues. Together we are sending a powerful message that discrimination and harassment will not be tolerated in any form.”

The more thorough policies will also be distributed to all 32 teams and they will be included as part of the rookie symposium. A statement from Commissioner Roger Goodell reiterating the seriousness of the policy will be part of all player handbooks.

The NFLPA will looking into what happened to cause former Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil to get released. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

The National Football League Players Association will look into what happened when contract documents were not received causing the release of Denver Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil, The Denver Post reports.

The Broncos released Dumervil on Friday because paperwork of his restructured deal that included a 2013 salary cut from $12 million to $8 million did not reach the league office by the 4 p.m. ET deadline.

The Broncos were on the hook for Dumervil’s $12 million guaranteed salary if he was not released by that deadline.

DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFL Players Association, has asked for an inquiry into the tardy exchange of contract documents that led the Broncos to release defensive end Elvis Dumervil.

“Due to the procedural elements that were involved in executing the new proposal, we imposed a 1 p.m. MDT deadline for a decision, one hour before the NFL’s waiver wire at 2 p.m. MDT. Our deadline was clearly communicated to Elvis’ representative,” Broncos president John Elway said in the statement. “At 1 p.m. MDT, we were informed by Elvis’ representative that he declined our offer. We then prepared Elvis’ termination notice to officially file his release with the NFL office.”

The NFL and NFLPA are “closing in” on a deal to implement HGH testing, but complications remain. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

The NFL and the NFL Players Association are coming close to a deal to implement a human growth hormone testing program for the 2013 season, Yahoo Sports’ Michael Silver reported.

Both the league and players association have put forward proposals to the other side. One of the key points preventing a deal from getting done, Silver reported, is players’ “distrust” of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after his handling of the New Orleans Saints’ “bounty” scandal.

“The long and short of it is, we’re not going to agree to a system that doesn’t give the player full due-process rights on HGH,” NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith told Silver. “That’s where we started, and that’s where we’ll end up. We believe in collective bargaining. The fact that the league would rather force us to accept something that’s not fair, rather than bargaining for it, is worrisome.”

The NFL has agreed to hand off appeals of all positive drug tests to a third-party arbitrator, but union officials want that extended to “other appeals” on incidents such as alcohol-related arrests, marijuana possession, and performance-enhancing drugs. A source also told Silver that there is “no way” players would agree to HGH testing on game days, something for which the NFL has pushed.

The NFLPA’s hedging on a potential deal comes amid public pressure from U.S. Reps. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), who earlier this year scolded the NFLPA for its “remarkable recalcitrance” on the issue.

Jerry Richardson has been vocal in demanding collective bargaining concessions from the NFLPA. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

At a time when Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson was a vocal, hardline owner favoring lockouts to “take back our league,” the franchise was actually making more than $100 million in profit according to a Deadspin report.

The report cites a leaked team audited financial statement obtained by Deadspin for the years ending March 31, 2011, and March 31, 2012.

Over the first period, as Richardson argued that the NFL’s business model was hopelessly broken and steered the owners toward a showdown to extract more money from the players, the Panthers recorded an operating profit of $78.7 million. The team had gone 2-14 on the field, but Richardson and his partners were able to pay themselves $12 million.

Over the following year, after the owners had won their lockout and reduced the players’ share of league revenue from 50 percent to 47 percent, the Panthers brought in $33.3 million in operating profit. Richardson began lobbying for public subsidies to renovate his 17-year-old stadium. The team went 6-10.

Professional sports franchises are reluctant to publicly open their books. Duringcollective bargaining in 2011, the NFL Players Association repeatedly asked team owners to reveal their financials, only to be denied. Union execs question teams’ lack of true financial transparency with details such as stadium deals that can so easily be hidden.

Deadspin’s report could put a crimp in the Panthers’ current campaign to obtain favorable public funding toward upgrading Bank of America Stadium. While the city of Charlotte appears willing to help with funds, North Carolina governor Pat McCrory is among state politicians saying there are no funds to be had.

The NFL reportedly wants to make changes to its offseason schedule. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The NFL could soon revamp its offseason schedule and move back the scouting combine, the start of free agency and the NFL Draft, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reported on Thursday.

Under the proposal, the NFL would delay the start of the scouting combine to early March, move back the beginning of free agency to early April, and hold the draft in early May. It would amount to nearly a two-week push back for the three major events of the NFL offseason. The plan would also call for all teams to begin training camp on the same, “official” day in the summer.

Schefter reported that the NFL is “pushing the plan aggressively,” though the players association must ultimately decide whether to adopt it.

According to Schefter, the NFL favors the plan as one that “lengthens” the offseason and gives each major event its own month of coverage and hype. It also would provide a universal launch of the season in training camp.

Roger Goodell’s handling of the Saints bounty scandal angered many NFL players. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

NFL players are pushing the Players Association to challenge Commissioner Roger Goodell’s disciplinary powers, according to an NFL.com report.

At a Thursday press conference, NFLPA officials said players took Goodell’s handling of the Saints’ Bountygate investigation “personally.” Goodell suspended four current and former Saints players for allegedly participating in a program that rewarded hard tackles and knocking opposing players out of action. The players’ suspensions were later overturned. Goodell also suspended Saints head coach Sean Payton for the season and former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams indefinitely.

Union president Domonique Foxworth told NFL.com’s Albert Breer:

“We’ve already asked the league to revisit it, a number of times, to revisit neutral arbitration and commissioner discipline,” Foxworth told NFL.com. “Our players are intent on making moves in that direction, and any avenue that it requires us to make that move, we’re willing to take because it’s not my responsibility to decide the direction of this organization. It’s my responsibility to hear that direction and lead in that direction. And that’s where they want to go.”

Breer reports that NFLPA sources have suggested the union could introduce altering the commissioner’s disciplinary powers during negotiations over HGH testing. The NFLPA wants a neutral arbitrator to oversee the HGH policy, and could use the issue to attempt to weaken Goodell’s power over disciplining detrimental conduct.

The NFL has stood by Goodell’s power over conduct detrimental as agreed to in the 2011 CBA talks.

The NFL and NFLPA are in hot water with the U.S. Congress over lack of progress on HGH testing. (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

In a letter sent to NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith, members of the United States Congress and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform warned the NFL that their players may be called to testify about human growth hormone testing.

The NFL and NFLPA agreed on August 4, 2011 to start testing for HGH. The Committee says progress toward testing has been “nonexistent” and that the league has “fallen far behind its counterparts in implementing the agreement,” despite being the first professional sports league to implement testing for its players.

The letter asks NFLPA to provide documents and other information, including the NFLPA’s most recent proposal for HGH testing and information regarding any proposals exchanged between the NFL and the NFLPA during meetings, no later than Feb. 8.  Those meetings were planned for last week and it is not clear if they took place.

“We are disappointed with the NFLPA’s remarkable recalcitrance, which has prevented meaningful progress on this issue,” Representatives Darrell Issa (R-Cal.) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) said in the letter to the NFL Players Association.  “We intend to take a more active role to determine whether the position you have taken — that HGH is not a serious concern and that the test for HGH is unreliable — is consistent with the beliefs of rank and file NFL players.”

In the wake of Major League Baseball agreeing on a method to randomly test players for Human Growth Hormone (hGH), NFL Players Association head DeMaurice Smith told his members that the NFL could have beaten baseball to being the first major professional league to develop a testing procedure.

In a letter to players, Smith seems to blame the NFL itself for holding up the process, saying the league is against allowing the players to challenge parts of the hGH test itself. The letter in full, via CBS Sports, is below:

“Men: As you may have heard, MLB and MLBPA reached a collectively bargained agreement with respect to in-season testing for hGH. Critical components of their agreement include: 1) MLB’s Commissioner’s Office must establish the accuracy and reliability of each allegedly positive test; 2) Players may present any evidence to challenge the accuracy, reliability, and thus the underlying scientific support for the test; and 3) all appeals are decided by neutral arbitrators.

If the NFL had adopted the same positions that Major League Baseball has, the NFL could have been the first to implement hGH testing.

However, as you know, the NFL has adamantly resisted allowing Players to challenge the science underlying the hGH test in their proposal. The Board of Player Representatives has insisted on a transparent system and a fair process that allows Players to fully challenge any finding. As you know, this remains your decision. If you have any questions or any desire to change your vote please let us know immediately. Thank you for you leadership.”

Michael Vick was one of three quarterbacks who suffered concussions on Sunday. The NFLPA is calling for independent doctors to assess hits to the head due to inconsistent adherence to concussion policy. (Elsa/Getty Images)

The NFL Players Association has asked the league to hire concussion specialists with no team affiliation to evaluate and treat players, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen:

NFLPA sources said the union wants the league to accept responsibility for creating a disciplined, prompt and safe environment for players who are injured during the course of a game. They said the union wants concussion specialists, paid not by the teams but by the league, to assume the duties of caring for players, in accordance with normal employer workplace oversight.

Several high-profile players suffered concussions on Sunday including quarterbacks Michael Vick, Jay Cutler and Alex Smith and running back Fred Jackson. Of the quarterbacks, only Vick was quickly taken out of the game; Cutler and Smith continued playing despite being shaken up before they were eventually taken out, according to NBC Sports.

The NFLPA has been frustrated by inconsistent adherence to concussion guidelines, and Sunday’s developments only exacerbated concerns. Independent doctors would be more likely to insist on checking players after hits and removing them immediately.

Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue will not recuse himself from arbitrating bounty punishments. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Paul Tagliabue has denied a motion from the NFL Players’ Association to recuse himself as the arbitrator for the appeals of those players suspended for their alleged participation in the New Orleans Saints bounty program, according to league sources in Chris Mortensen’s report.

Tagliabue, the former NFL commissioner, was selected by current commissioner Roger Goodell as arbitrator to determine the latest suspensions given to Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, Saints defensive end Will Smith, Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, and free-agent defensive end Anthony Hargrove.

In deciding to hear the case, Tagliabue dismissed the argument of partiality players had made in their motion, citing that he is not only the former commissioner but also is a member of the law firm that represents Goodell in legal matters before a New Orleans federal court.

Tagliabue’s decision not to recuse himself could be overturned by Judge Helen Berrigan who is considering an NFLPA motion to disqualify Tagliabue based on his employment with the law firm that has represented the NFL in bounty-related legal processes, as well as, Tagliabue’s potential role as a witness in the bounty case.

The NFLPA will file paperwork to try to get former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue off the bounty case. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

The NFL Players Association on Wednesday will ask a federal judge to remove former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue from his position as arbitrator in the bounty appeal process and will file the paperwork to do so, the NFLPA announced.

The NFLPA hasn’t asked Tagliabue directly to recuse himself from the case. The bounty hearing is scheduled for Oct. 30.

“To comply with the Court-ordered schedule, we will be making a motion under the CBA to recuse Paul Tagliabue today, and will be subsequently filing those papers with the Court. We will have no further comment related to these filings,” a NFLPA statement read.

The NFL has until 5pm Friday to answer the NFLPA motion. If the league does answer, the NFLPA has until noon on Monday to respond.

The NFLPA is concerned because Tagliabue works for a law firm that represents the league in the bounty case and says he should be not allowed to preside over the bounty case.

Tagliabue wanted more time to respond to NFLPA letter posing questions about recusal, but NFLPA had to file motion now wp.me/p14QSB-6bsZ—
  (@ProFootballTalk) October 24, 2012

Per source, Jonathan Vilma will join in the NFLPA effort to recuse Tagliabue wp.me/p14QSB-6bsZ—
  (@ProFootballTalk) October 24, 2012

The NFL is under fire for it’s “not-for-profit” tax status. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The National Football League is under fire from Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma who issued a “Wastebrook 2012″ report pointing to 100 ways the U.S. government is wasting money including loopholes that allow the league to be exempt from federal tax earnings, according to a report from Ted Barrett of CNN.com:

“Hardworking taxpayers should not be forced to provide funding to offset tax giveaways to lucrative professional sports teams and leagues,” says the report.

Sen. Coburn said in his report that closing these loopholes that allow such tax breaks for the NFL would bring in an estimated $91 million for the Treasury. He said certain professional sports leagues should not be listed as trade or association groups.

But NFL spokesman Greg Aiello responded to the remarks by pointing out that while the league office is in fact listed as a “non-for-profit,” each of its individual teams are taxed because they do make a profit.

Greg Aiello, a spokesman for the NFL, said the league office itself “is classified as a not-for-profit under the tax code because the league office makes no profit.”

In a 2010 interview with Sports Illustrated, DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the National Football League Players Association, said that he raised the issue with over 100 reporters at a press conference before the 2011 lockout:

I asked them raise your hand if you knew the National Football League was a non-profit organization? Silence. It is. It’s a 501 C 6 non-profit.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has ruled on the current and former New Orleans Saints defensive players alleged to have participated in a team bounty program according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.

Sources: Goodell upholds Vilma suspension but keeps game checks on PUP; Fujita reduced 3 games to 1, Hargrove reduced 8 to 7, Smith stays 4—
Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) October 09, 2012

Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma’s one-year suspension has been upheld. Saints defensive end Will Smith’s suspension will remain four games. Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita’s suspension was reduced from three games to one. Free-agent defensive end Anthony Hargrove’s suspension was reduced from eight games to seven.

The players received a brief reprieve when an internal appeals panel recently vacated the suspensions originally doled out by Goodell.

All four players can appeal the latest ruling.

ESPN’s KHL slate will include Alex Ovechkin and Dynamo Moscow. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

The ESPN network will carry a minimum of seven Kontinental Hockey League games featuring several big-name NHL stars and the league’s all-star game.

The network’s KHL broadcasts will begin Tuesday, Oct. 9 with ESPN SportsCenter anchor Steve Levy and NHL studio analyst Barry Melrose calling the Lev Praha vs. Dynamo Moscow game live on ESPN2 and ESPN3. Dynamo Moscow’s roster includes Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin. Lev Praha has signed Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara.

The network’s KHL schedule will also include games featuring SKA St. Petersburg led by New Jersey Devils wing Ilya Kovalchuk, and Metallurg Mg featuring Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin and Ottawa Senators defenseman Sergei Gonchar.

The locked out referees are reportedly close to getting back on the field. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The NFL and NFL Referees Association are close to ending the officials lockout and both sides will work to have officials on the field this weekend, ESPN.com reports.

An agreement in principle is at hand, according to one source familiar to talks, although NFL owners have postured with a “no more compromise” stance.

Sources say it could take a week or more to get the 121 officials back on the field, and that the locked out referees are training on the new rules that were installed this season. The call got stronger for the regular officials to get back to work after Monday’s night game between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks ended in controversy.

Commissioner Roger Goodell has wanted the power to “bench” officials who underperform or are downgraded during the season. The NFLRA contends the league already has that ability because there are always between one and four crews that sit home each week and would be more qualified to substitute in such a scenario.

The NFL is reviewing the case of referee Brian Stropolo, who the league pulled from officiating the Saints game Sunday after learning he was a Saints fan. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Brian Stropolo, the referee who the NFL pulled from working the Saints-Panthers game on Sunday after it emerged that he was a Saints fan, is being reviewed by the NFL and will not be allowed to return to work until the review is done.

ESPN reported Monday night that the league was reviewing Stropolo after it discovered Sunday that he expressed his status as a Saints fan on his Facebook page. The NFL had made the decision just hours before the Saints game on Sunday.

“We are reviewing Mr. Stropolo’s status and pending completion of that review, he will not be serving as an on-field game official,” Greg Aiello, the league’s senior vice president of communications, told ESPN Monday.

Stropolo is one of the replacement officials that have faced mounting criticism in the first two weeks of the NFL season. He was an official during the season-opening game between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants in Week 1.

Roger Goodell has met with the NFL Coaches Association. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

With the NFL currently locking out its game officials, only a year after locking out the players over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, another one of the league’s labor partners has reached out to pave the way for better salaries and benefits.

Mike Freeman of CBS Sports reports NFL Coaches Association executive director David Cornwell is “quietly” seeking improved relations with league officials — including Commissioner Roger Goodell — and team owners.

In a letter obtained by CBSSports.com, Cornwell mentions meetings with the league and how the continuation of the NFLPA’s “senseless” and “petty” lawsuit has consumed the association’s funds while it separates itself from the players union.

The coaches association hired Cornwell in February for his “experience and relationships.”

The NFL has reportedly scheduled replacement officials to work for the first five weeks of the NFL season. (Larry French/Getty Images)

Despite a rather woeful first official week from the NFL’s replacement referees, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reported Monday that the referee lockout isn’t on track to end anytime soon.

With no resolution to talks between the NFL and its locked-out referees in sight, the league has devised a schedule for replacement referees through the first five weeks of the season.

The news comes on the heels of increased scrutiny that has been placed on the replacement officials in Week 1. FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer reported Sunday that the NFL Players Association sent a letter to the NFL requesting the return of the officials.

Meanwhile, Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams slammed the replacement refs, saying he was the victim of non-calls all game in the Bills’ loss to the Jets on Sunday.

“It’s not something that’s really going to dictate something, but what are you going to do about it? You’re getting off the ball and getting punched in the face, literally, not an accident, just about every other time,” Williams said, according to The Buffalo News. That’s a penalty. Unless they changed it with the new CBA or something, but last time I checked it was a penalty.”

The officials also mistakenly awarded Seattle an extra timeout late in the fourth quarter, which didn’t end up affecting the outcome of the Seahawks’ loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

The league locked out the officials in early June. The two sides are in dispute over salary, retirement benefits and operational issues.

NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith sent a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell with guidelines the union expects in wake of the Saints bounty suspensions being overturned. (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell received a letter from NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith outlining what the union expects in determining the fate of those players whose suspensions were lifted in the Saints bounty case, reports ESPN.com.

The letter contains issues such as reaffirming the players’ contention no pay-to-injure program ever existed and expressing a willingness to engage in settlement negotiations.

“It’s great these players were vindicated and able to join their teammates on the sideline,” Smith told ESPN. “But at the end of the day, my hope is that our players and fans understand that any time this kind of thing happens, it vindicates the importance of collective bargaining. It vindicates the importance of fairness and it certainly vindicates the notion that power is not absolute.”

A three-member appeals panel reinstated Saints players Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith, Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita and free agent Anthony Hargrove on Friday. Smith has said that there is no proof those players were ever involved in a pay-to-injure scheme.

“I don’t know, and you know that I never guess,” Smith said. “We believe the three-judge panel indicates that clearly there was a violation of the process. So it seems to me the premium now is on making sure the process is correct and fair.”

Add another party to the list of those wishing for the return of full-time officials to the NFL: NFL players themselves.

FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer reports in two tweets that the NFL Players Association has sent a letter to the league demanding the return of the officials locked out by the NFL after contract negotiations stalled. The letter cites player safety as a primary concern, while the NFL has responded that the NFLPA can send a medical officer to meet with replacement refs.

The league is using replacement officials for the opening weekend of games and will presumably continue to do so until the contract dispute is resolved.

Our @jayglazer exclusively reports the NFLPA sent a letter to the NFL requesting locked out officials return immediately (more)….—
FOX SPORTS: NFL (@NFLONFOX) September 09, 2012

More @jayglazer Letter was sent citing player safety. NFL responds saying NFLPA can send their medical officer to meet w/ rep. officials—
FOX SPORTS: NFL (@NFLONFOX) September 09, 2012

The NFL reportedly offered Jonathan Vilma a new “bounty” hearing. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

ProFootballTalk is reporting that a brief submitted by NFLPA lawyer Jeffrey Kessler reveals that the NFL offered the NFLPA and Jonathan Vilma a new hearing with Commissioner Roger Goodell regarding his one-year suspension for participating in a bounty program with the Saints.

The opportunity for new hearings would also be offered to the other suspended players — Saints defensive end Will Smith, Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, and former Packers defensive end Anthony Hargrove.  The new hearings would have been conducted outside the pending legal actions filed by Vilma and the other players.

The NFLPA claimed the league lacked the authority to reopen the hearing and countered with a proposal for confidential settlement talks that would not be used in the already ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the bounty punishments. Neither hearing/settlement proposals were agreed upon.

ProFootballTalk suggests observers may see the offer as a sign that the NFL is not totally certain of its case:

Some will regard the league’s offer as an indication that the NFL has concerns regarding the quality of the hearing that was provided.  The league would surely say that it was merely reacting to a request that Vilma made, and that the Commissioner had indicated a willingness to consider any evidence the players may want to introduce, even after upholding the appeals.

Kessler’s brief was filed as part of a motion questioning whether his involvement with the NFLPA and representation of three of the suspended players constituted a conflict of interest.

The NFLPA filed a motion in U.S. District Court in New Orleans on Tuesday seeking a temporary restraining order to stop the alleged bounty scandal suspensions for Fujita, Hargrove and Smith and Fujita.

The NFLPA is reportedly investigating agent Drew Rosenhaus. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Drew Rosenhaus is used to seeing his name in the headlines. One of the league’s highest profile agents is often reported playing contract chicken with NFL owners or defending one of his many clients. Today’s Yahoo! Sports headline has sources saying the NFL Players Association is investigating Rosenhaus and a possibly unethical — and illegal — relationship with a former financial adviser.

Yahoo! Sports’ Rand Getlin and Jason Cole report:

According to multiple sources who talked to Y! Sports on the record and for background, Rosenhaus and Jeff Rubin had an unusually close business relationship that spanned upwards of seven years. That relationship might have resulted in Rosenhaus breaching the fiduciary duties all agents who are certified by the NFLPA owe to their clients. The relationship has been scrutinized in part because of a series of issues surrounding Rubin, who is at the center of a bankruptcy filing for the failed casino that cost the players as much as $43.6 million.

Rosenhaus recently “no commented” allegations that he illegally offered a handler cash and trips for his help signing Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant before the 2010 NFL Draft.

One of Rosenhaus’s most memorable moments made the youtube rounds with his flurry of “Next question,” replies during a press conference following Terrell Owens’  suspension from the Eagles.

Both Owens and Bryant have been among several NFL players to since fire Rosenhaus.

Sidney Crosby’s agent said his star client might play in Europe.  (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Penguins teammate Evgeni Malkin was the first player to float the idea that Sidney Crosby might join the expected migration of top-flight NHL players to the KHL or European leagues in the event of a labor lockout. Crosby’s agent isn’t nixing the notion.

Malkin said he’ll play for Metallurg and Crosby might eventually join the KHL.

“I think he won’t go to the KHL right away. He will see how the situation develops. I see that the league and the PA have started to come closer. Perhaps the lockout won’t continue for the entire year. That’s why a lot of North American players won’t go to Europe until the very last moment. A lot of them are a bit afraid of Russia. But the best hockey league in the world after the NHL is here.

“And if the lockout is announced for the entire season, then Crosby may come. He loves to play and won’t be able to live an entire year without hockey.”

Today, Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Tribune tweets that agent Pat Brisson confirmed his client’s potential interest.

Agent Pat Brisson confirms Sidney Crosby would at least consider playing in Europe if there's a long lockout in the NHL …—
Dave Molinari (@MolinariPG) August 30, 2012

… Pat Brisson: "If at one point there’s a lockout and the lockout goes long … Sidney wants to pay hockey."—
Dave Molinari (@MolinariPG) August 30, 2012

Pat Brisson also confirmed that Crosby is just one of a number of CAA clients European teams have inquired about if there's an NHL lockout.—
Dave Molinari (@MolinariPG) August 30, 2012

The National Football League and the NFL Players Association have agreed to push the trade deadline from Week 6 to Week 8, according to tweets from ESPN’s Adam Schefter and a report from Joel Thorman of SBNation.com.

As Thorman explains, the logic behind pushing the trade deadline back is perhaps to encourage more transactions; teams believe they still have a chance in Week 6 but reality usually sinks in by Week 8 and therefore there could be more movement by teams positioning for the following season.

The two sides have also agreed to implement a new injured reserve rule, which aims to give teams more flexibility in designating players to the injured reserve list. Previously, once a player was on the list, he was ineligible to play for the rest of the season. Under the new rule effective next season, one player per season can come off the list to play again if he is healthy, according to Schefter:

Only players with a “major injury” who are placed on Reserve/Injured after 4:00 p.m., New York time, on Tuesday, September 4, or thereafter during the season, will be eligible to be reactivated at a later time.

NFLPa Agreed to move trade deadline back and the new IR rule.—
Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 30, 2012

The NFL season will reportedly start off using replacement officials. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

The NFL will start the season with replacement officials after the league was not able to reach a deal with the NFL Referees Association, reports CBSSports.com.

The reports says that the league sent a memo to each of the 32 NFL teams letting them know that those replacement officials that have worked the preseason will be in place when the league kickoffs the season next Wednesday when the Dallas Cowboys play the Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

“We believe that if the National Football League fails in that obligation we reserve the right to seek any relief that we believe is appropriate,”  NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith told SI.com. ”The NFL has chosen to prevent the very officials that they have trained, championed and cultivated for decades to be on the field to protect players and — by their own admission — further our goal of enhanced safety. That is absurd on its face.”

The NFL has been talking with the referee association for the past couple of weeks and there hasn’t been much progress to get a new deal done.

Dez Bryant’s advisor accused Drew Rosenhaus of illegal offers. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Agent Drew Rosenhaus’ desire to sign Dez Bryant before the 2010 NFL Draft allegedly included a cash offer to one of Bryant’s advisors, according to a Yahoo Sports! report.

David Wells has accused Rosenhaus of breaking NFL Players Association agent rules and regulations by offering a cash payment and a trip to Miami for his help in signing Bryant. Rosenhaus eventually got Bryant to sign on the dotted line, but was fired earlier this month.

According to Yahoo Sports! Jason Cole and Rand Getlin:

The offers, through a series of text messages prior to the 2010 NFL draft, are apparent violations of the NFL Players Association’s regulations on agents.

Wells, whom Bryant lived with in high school and parts of college, showed Y! Sports a series of text messages from an apparent Rosenhaus phone number starting in mid-December 2009 and ending in January 2010. In one of the messages, Rosenhaus allegedly offers Wells $10,000 to donate to a charity he works with.

According to Wells, Rosenhaus started contacting him around Thanksgiving 2009 in an attempt to sign the former Oklahoma State Cowboy as a client.

The progression of alleged messages from Rosenhaus – from a number that matches one on file for Rosenhaus – to Wells reads:

• Dec. 16, 2009, Rosenhaus wrote in a text to Wells: “Also will have 10K for you to give to your community center..”

• Dec. 17, 2009, Rosenhaus wrote in another text: “Dnt [sic] mean to put pressure but we want this bad ! Were ready to put u on a private jet and get this done.. Miami’s callllinnnnnggggg!!!”

• Dec. 21, 2009, after Wells said he did not respond to Rosenhaus’ text messages, the agent wrote by text: “Never heard back my man.. We raised the guarantee … You’ll be happy..”

• Jan. 3, 2010, Rosenhaus wrote in a text: “Whatever it takes man … whatever … Just give us a shot.”

During an hour-long interview with Yahoo! Sports, Rosenhaus answered “no comment” to 11 questions regarding his relationship with Bryant and/or Wells. Rosenhaus, who claims to represent more than 140 NFL players, cited the confidential nature of any agent-player relationship.

Wells told Yahoo Sports! he came forward with the information because he is tired of a system that, “takes advantage of athletes, particularly African-American athletes.”

Suspended New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

NFL.com and NFL Network reporter Steve Wyche is contradicting an ESPN report that the NFL “has made a settlement offer.”

Wyche reported a source said the lack of an offer at this time does not mean a reduced suspension might not be offered in the future.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league had no comment on the report.

The NFL and Vilma are scheduled to appear before a U.S. District court judge on Friday to discuss settlement options.

Vilma was among four current and former Saints suspended by the NFL for the roles in the “bounty” programs that allegedly rewarded defensive players for injuring or knocking opponents out of games.

The NFL Players Association is reportedly looking to the Jacksonville Jaguars about whether they can fine players $10,000 for discussing injuries. (Rick Dole/Getty Images)

The NFL Players Union has enough issues on their hands concerning the New Orleans Saints bounty program.

Now, reports are surfacing saying they are investigating the Jacksonville Jaguars.  The Jaguars are fining their players $10,000 for talking about injuries, reports the Florida Times-Union.

The union agrees and is looking into the situation, according to a source. It’s possible the union may fight the Jaguars on this, a source explained. From what I can tell, there is a great deal of anger in the locker room about this. Word has already spread to union reps across the sport and they believe the Jaguars are acting with great extremism.

Jacksonville players say they don’t have any objection to the fine.  Any rule must be approved by the NFL before it is implemented by the team

“This is one rule,” cornerback Rashean Mathis said. “The big picture fine, we’re not concerned about that as a player standpoint. We’re supporting the coach and that’s what it’s all about. It’s nothing but positive things coming from, we like his attitude, we like how he’s being honest with us. I think that’s the big picture. We have his back because we know he has ours at the end of the road.”

Congress is asking the NFL and NFLPA to implement HGH testing for NFL players. (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

The United States House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce is sending a strong message about how they feel about performance-enhancing drugs in sports.  The committee sent a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith asking them start testing for human growth hormone (HGH).

“As the upcoming Olympics reminds us, performance enhancing drug testing is a critical tool for protecting athletes,” the letter states. “The integrity of the games they play and the health and safety of aspiring athletes. It is time for the NFL to follow the Olympic model and start testing for HGH. Until you do, questions will remain about the commitment of the athletes and the owners of the NFL to health, safety and fair play.”

The committee also wants to protect the youth athletes and their health and wanted the league to implement testing before the 2011 season, but it didn’t happen.

“It is well past time to fulfill last year’s agreement,” the letter says, “protect the health and safety of your players and their youngest fans and guarantee the integrity of the National Football League that is beloved by millions of Americans.”

Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma’s hearing to lift his one-year suspension ended today without a ruling. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma will have to wait another time to learn if his one-year suspension levied by the NFL will go away.

His hearing today in New Orleans after more than eight hours of testimony ended without a ruling, reports Profootballtalk.com. The NFL suspended Vilma in May for the 2012 season for his alleged role in the Saints bounty program.

The judge in the case, Helen G. Berrigan, said she planned to wait and hear from the NFL Players Association before making a judgment in the case.

She said she plans to wait to hear from the NFLPA, whose brief opposing an effort by the league to dismiss lawsuits filed by Saints defensive end Will Smith, Packers defensive end Anthony Hargrove, and Browns linebacker Scott Fujita is due on Friday, August 3.

Vilma will more than likely miss most of training camp even if the judge rules in his favor.

Hearing adjourned with no ruling from judge. Judge indicated she will wait to hear from NFLPA. Their brief due August 3.—
Gabe Feldman (@SportsLawGuy) July 26, 2012

Suspended Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma recently asked a judge to overturn his suspension so he can return to the NFL. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

A settlement conference to consolidate cases filed by the NFL Players Association and suspended Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma is set for July 23, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. 

According to the reports, the sides are not likely to reach a settlement agreement at the hearings.

The NFL Players Association filed a lawsuit against the NFL on behalf of three players suspended in connection with the league’s bounty investigation.

Vilma is suing NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and asked a judge to overturn his year-long suspension.  Goodell then filed a motion to dismiss defamation claims that Vilma made in his first lawsuit against Goodell in May.

“Jonathan’s defamation lawsuit focuses exclusively on statements Mr. Goodell has made publicly and outside the confines of the CBA,” Vilma’s attorney, Peter Ginsberg, said in an email. “Mr. Goodell cannot escape responsibility for those public statements based on an argument that statements in a different forum and in a different context might have avoided judicial scrutiny. Mr. Goodell, like all citizens, must abide by certain standards and laws. Having the title of ‘Commissioner’ does not provide Mr. Goodell with a license to make the accusations and allegations he has made against Jonathan in public forums without facing the same scrutiny as other citizens.”

Vilma would likely need an injunction from a judge to prevent his suspension from being implemented.

Roger Goodell filed a motion on Thursday to dismiss the defamation lawsuit being brought against him by Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell filed a motion on Thursday morning to dismiss the defamation lawsuit brought against him by New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, according to Albert Breer of NFL.com:

Goodell’s reply claimed that Vilma’s claims were all “relating to and emanating from Commissioner Goodell’s imposition of discipline for conduct detrimental to the integrity of, or public confidence in, the game of professional football,” according to the court document. That refers back to the power Goodell wields over the appeals process in cases under the personal conduct policy, under which “conduct detrimental” falls.

In response to the filing, Vilma’s lawyer contended that there are still a lot of questions to be answered by the Commissioner for what he had done to his client:

“As Williams Gladstone, the British scholar, said, ‘Justice delayed is justice denied.’ Jonathan deserves justice and the commissioner should answer for what he has done to Jonathan. Simply because the commissioner’s attorneys can file motions, and delay the defamation claims from proceeding at the moment, does not mean it is the proper way to proceed. Jonathan, the NFL, its fans, and all of its players, deserve a transparent and open airing of this serious situation.”

With oral arguments now set to begin at a hearing on Aug. 1 in a Louisiana court, Vilma tweeted Thursday afternoon, “and we’re off…”

and we're off…—
Jonathan Vilma (@JonVilma51) July 05, 2012

Arbitrator Stephen Burbank has ruled in favor of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees in his dispute over the Saints’ use of the franchise tag, reports ESPN’s Chris Mortenson on Twitter.

Arbirtrator Stephen Burbank rules in favor of @drewbrees and NFLPA - next year will count as his 3rd and last franchise tag. #NFL32 #ESPN

—
Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) July 03, 2012

Thus, in case longterm deal does not get done and #Saints tag @drewbrees again in 2013, his guaranteed salary projects to about $23.5 mill

—
Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) July 03, 2012

The Collective Bargaining Agreement contained vague language about the use of the franchise tag. There was uncertainty over whether each team could use the tag three times on a player or if the tag could be applied only a total of three times to a player throughout his career.

The San Diego Chargers used the franchise tag on Brees in 2005, and the Saints used the tag this season. The key dispute was whether the Chargers’ tag counted toward how many times the Saints can use their tag. The arbitrator ruled that it did. If the Saints want to use the tag next season, it would count as the third use of the tag on Brees. (The NFL could still appeal the decision).

The main difference in Brees’ case is money: On the third use, a player receives 140 percent of his previous salary. On the second use, its only 120 percent. For Brees, the difference amounts to nearly $4 million.

In theory, the ruling helps all NFL players going forward, but Brees is only the second player ever franchised by more than one team, meaning the application could be limited.

But in Brees’ case, the key effect will likely come in the quarterback’s negotiations for a new long-term contract. Brees now has’ additional leverage because of the higher price tag for next year. That could result in additional guaranteed money for the veteran quarterback.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees has yet to sign his franchise tender worth $16.4 million. (Joey Foley/Getty Images)

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is expected to learn within a week if he will be able to collect $4 million if he is franchised for a third time next season, according to NFL.com.

Brees attended a grievance hearing in Philadelphia on Wednesday to sort out franchise-tag rules and the compensation involved. He is represented by the NFLPA, which says that Brees is due to receive a raise of $7 million from the franchise tag if tagged again in 2013. Brees has yet to sign his franchise tender for this season, worth $16.4 million.

The franchise issue has to be resolved by July 16 or Brees will be forced to play under the $16.4 million franchise tender for 2012. Brees is looking for a contract extension worth around $18-$20 million.

NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith says he wants HGH testing for players by September. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith says he hopes that the league has human growth hormone testing for players by the beginning of the season. The NFL season starts on Wednesday, September 5.

“I hope so, because our players want a clean game,” Smith told Profootballtalk.com, when asked if an HGH program will be in place by the start of the season. ”The players of the National Football League believe that we should be doing everything to make sure that the game is fair and clean.”

The latest collective bargaining agreement had language in it where both sides agreed to the testing, but the players still remain reluctant to pursue it because they question the reliability of a blood-based test and have not approved any process to conduct a program.

Others in the NFL are not so sure if the program will be in place by September.

“It would be a nice surprise,” NFL general counsel Jeff Pash said. “I’m certainly not optimistic.”