Union leader says facts prove NFL collusion claim (The Associated Press)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 15:49:32 PDT)
WASHINGTON (AP) NFL players union chief DeMaurice Smith says his group's claim of collusion will stand up in court.

Vegas has spoken, NFL season win totals are live (National Football Post)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 13:06:06 PDT)
Four picks to keep an eye on this summer as we approach the start of the 2012 season.

Robert Griffin III will be first NFL player with Roman numerals on his jersey (Shutdown Corner)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 07:20:30 PDT)
Hail to the Redskins!/Hail, Victory!/Braves on the warpath!/Make jersey history!!! When Robert Griffin III was introduced at last month's NFL draft, many took note of the fact that the back of his Washington Redskins jersey included the Roman numeral at the end of his surname. According to Paul Lukas of Uni Watch, it's a historic inclusion. Lukas says, as far as he can tell, Griffin will become the first player in major American sports to have a Roman numeral on the back of his jersey. [ Related: Redskins rookie Robert Griffin III reveals his romantic side ] The NFL changed the rule this offseason and it allows Roman numerals and Jr./Sr. distinctions. The III has a special connection to Griffin but is also a killer marketing tool. Lukas thinks it may run deeper than that: And that's not the only kind of branding at work here, because the Roman numeral III can also be viewed as three stripes -- which happens to be the visual signature of adidas, which signed Griffin to a big endorsement contract back in February. In fact, Uni Watch suspects Griffin chose adidas over Nike specifically in large part because of the potential marketing synergies between the Roman numeral and the stripes. If Uni Watch is right -- and when it comes to uniforms, that's almost always the case -- Griffin is even more savvy than advertised. [ Yahoo! Sports Shop: Buy Robert Griffin III gear ]

Wednesday's Sports in Brief (The Associated Press)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 04:08:45 PDT)
The players union claimed Wednesday that the NFL imposed a secret salary cap during the uncapped 2010 season that cost the players at least $1 billion.

Collusion claim the latest NFL-union feud (The Associated Press)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 03:48:17 PDT)
The lockout was easier than all this.

Detroit Lions' Legendary WR Herman Moore 'Loves' Watching Stafford and Johnson, Optimistic for 2012 (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 19:50:00 PDT)
COMMENTARY| Legendary Detroit Lions wide receiver Herman Moore knows the value of having a quarterback who is in tune with his receivers. And if current Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and star receiver Calvin Johnson continue their pace, they'll be in rhythm for quite some time, Moore says.

NFL union files suit against league over 2010 cap (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 16:05:35 PDT)
The players union claimed Wednesday that the NFL imposed a secret salary cap during the uncapped 2010 season that cost the players at least $1 billion.

NFL counting on Vincent to get message across to players (The SportsXchange)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 14:11:25 PDT)
ATLANTA -- As a rookie cornerback with the Miami Dolphins in 1992, Troy Vincent recalled that, from Day 1, he had iconic coach Dan Shula screaming at him from one side about how to become a productive player in the league, and veteran linebacker John Offerdahl whispering in his opposite ear about preparing for life after football.

NFL players' union charges owners with collusion
(Wed, 23 May 2012 10:22:11 PDT)
The National Football League Players Association charged the league, its clubs and team owners with collusion during the 2010 season in a complaint filed on Wednesday.

NFLPA files collusion claim against NFL, claiming salary cap arrangement in uncapped year (Shutdown Corner)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 10:05:06 PDT)
The question we were asking all along when it came to the "spirit of the salary cap" penalties handed down to the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints was, of course, "How on earth can teams be in violation of salary cap rules when there is no salary cap in place?" Turns out, the NFL Players Association was asking the same question, and now, they will do so in court. On Wednesday morning, the NFLPA released this statement in part: The Class Counsel under the Reggie White settlement agreement and the NFL Players Association today filed a complaint, on behalf of the NFL players, charging the NFL, its clubs and their owners of collusion during the 2010 NFL season. The complaint details a conspiracy to violate the anti-collusion and anti-circumvention provisions in the White Settlement Agreement (SSA) by "imposing a secret $123 million per-Club salary cap for that uncapped 2010 season." The written claim is filed with the United States District Court of Minnesota, which oversees the SSA and alleges that the league and owners acted illegally and "solely by self-interest, unconstrained by their clear and unambiguous SSA obligations." The claim was filed just one day after Special Master Stephen Burbank dismissed the appeal filed by the Redskins and Cowboys. Clearly, the NFLPA had this one on a tripwire. The Cowboys and Redskins were the hardest-hit by the league; the Redskins were docked $36 million in salary cap room over two seasons, and the Cowboys $10 million, for the offloading of onerous player contracts during the uncapped year of 2011. At that time, there was no official rule regarding just how much salary and other player income a team could dump during that time, but as it turned out, the NFL had verbally warned all teams that any nebulous violation of the rules that could be perceived during a capped year would be dealt with severely. Of course, the uncapped year occurred during the lockout, after the old collective bargaining agreement ran out, and the salary cap with it. Until a new agreement could be struck, the NFL could not possibly send out written instructions for teams to avoid either offsetting or "overpaying" its players without providing the NFLPA with a boilerplate collusion case.  According the NFLPA, the penalties handed down, and the language used by the league and the Management Council, is enough to warrant the complaint. "When the rules are broken in a way that hurts the game, we have an obligation to act. We cannot stand by when we now know that the owners conspired to collude," said NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith. "Our union recently learned that there was a secret salary cap agreement in an uncapped year. The complaint today is our effort to fulfill our duty to every NFL player. They deserve to know, above all, the facts and the truth about this conspiracy," added NFLPA President Domonique Foxworth. ''The claims have absolutely no merit and we fully expect them to be dismissed,'' the NFL said in a statement. ''On multiple occasions, the players and their representatives specifically dismissed all claims, known or unknown, whether pending or not, regarding alleged violations of the 2006 CBA and the related settlement agreement. We continue to look forward to focusing on the future of the game rather than grievances of a prior era that have already been resolved.'' The complaint centers around one very damning quote from New York Giants owner John Mara, who also serves as the Chair of the NFL Management Council Executive Committee. When the penalties were handed down in March, Mara was asked about the reasoning. "What they did was in violation of the spirit of the salary cap," Mara said. "They attempted to take advantage of a one-year loophole … full well knowing there would be consequences."

Tuesday's Sports in Brief (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 04:33:08 PDT)
ATLANTA (AP) The NFL made thigh and knee pads mandatory equipment for the 2013 season, a move that drew criticism from the players' union and some of the players.

NFL making thigh and knee pads mandatory in '13 (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 03:09:07 PDT)
ATLANTA (AP) The NFL's move to make thigh and knee pads mandatory equipment for the 2013 season already has drawn criticism from the guys who will have to wear them.

NFL roundup: Cap penalties against Cowboys, Redskins upheld (The SportsXchange)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 15:50:15 PDT)
The special master who heard the appeal of the Cowboys and Redskins granted the NFL's motion to dismiss a grievance, upholding two-year penalties structured to dissolve $36 million of cap space for Washington with Dallas losing $10 million.

NFL wins salary cap fight with Redskins, Cowboys (The Associated Press)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 13:56:36 PDT)
ATLANTA (AP) An arbitrator upheld the NFL's salary cap reductions on the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins for this season and next.

Ruling cuts salary spending for NFL Cowboys, Redskins
(Tue, 22 May 2012 12:35:25 PDT)
The Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins will have salary caps reduced over the next two years as a punishment for 2010 contract moves, the National Football League said on Tuesday.

Cowboys, Redskins have cap-fine appeal dismissed (The SportsXchange)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 11:41:09 PDT)
The special master who heard the appeal of the Cowboys and Redskins granted the NFL's motion to dismiss a grievance, upholding two-year penalties structured to dissolve $36 million of cap space for Washington with Dallas losing $10 million.

Cowboys, Redskins issue joint statement over cap issue (National Football Post)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 11:40:07 PDT)
Clubs concede penalties are a done deal

Report: Cowboys, Redskins lose battle over salary-cap penalties (National Football Post)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 10:10:15 PDT)
Appeal dismissed by arbitrator

Seau's suicide prompts worries about post-NFL life (The Associated Press)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 09:42:21 PDT)
Junior Seau's suicide is troubling NFL players.

Landry a no-show for Jets first OTA (National Football Post)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 08:46:07 PDT)
Free-agent acquisition coming off Achilles injury.

Monday's Sports in Brief (The Associated Press)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 03:27:04 PDT)
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) The Magic fired coach Stan Van Gundy on Monday and agreed to part ways with general manager Otis Smith, severing ties to two of the architects of one of the most successful runs in franchise history.

Skins QB Griffin says he 'can help this team win' (The Associated Press)
(Mon, 21 May 2012 13:52:07 PDT)
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) The question put to Washington Redskins receiver Santana Moss by a reporter after Monday's first full-squad workout made no reference to Robert Griffin III by name: ''What were your impressions of the kid?''

Redskins' Mike Shanahan knocked down at workout (The Associated Press)
(Mon, 21 May 2012 10:36:43 PDT)
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan was knocked to the turf when defensive back Brandyn Thompson slammed into him on a play during the team's first full-squad workout in its new indoor practice field.

Report: Mid-field collision leaves Mike Shanahan woozy (National Football Post)
(Mon, 21 May 2012 09:50:18 PDT)
Redskins coach tangled up with receiver, defensive back

Tanier’s Team Reviews: The Kansas City Chiefs, via Todd Haley (Shutdown Corner)
(Sun, 20 May 2012 07:30:30 PDT)
Any website can post "offseason grades" for NFL teams, mixing the draft and free agency into transaction soup, then straining it through the mind of some sportswriter who doesn't know who half the players are. Only the Shutdown Corner has the resources to get actual players, coaches, and executives from each team to evaluate their own offseasons! That's right: over the next few weeks, you will get transaction evaluations straight from the horse's mouths: straight talk about who was signed, who was lost, who was drafted, and why. (For the satirically challenged: all player, coach, and executive remarks are made by an impersonator). In this segment, former Chiefs coach Todd Haley breaks down the offseason moves of the team that fired him at the end of last season. We have a bad feeling about this. TODD HALEY: Wash your windshield, mister? I don't scrub windshields for the money. I have a coaching job now as offensive coordinator for the Steelers. I carry this slop bucket because I like it. It's comforting to wash windows while the mad clown stares at me with his dead, gray eyes, whispering razor truths mortals dare not speak aloud, truths that pierce flesh and cut an inky scarlet line against the throat of the he-goat … Sorry, my thoughts meander sometimes. The Chiefs had a productive offseason. At the skill positions, they added Peyton Hillis to a running back committee that already includes Dexter McCluster and Jamaal Charles, who is ahead of schedule rehabbing his knee injury. Kevin Boss joins Tony Moeaki, also on schedule to return from a knee injury, to give the Chiefs two tight ends who can block and catch. Two rookie wide receivers, Devon Wylie and Junior Hemingway, will provide extra depth behind Dwayne Bowe, Steve Breaston and last year's top pick Jonathan Baldwin, who started to come on late in the season. Matt Cassel, yet another player who missed much of last season with injuries, won't have to worry about throwing to the likes of Keary Colbert or Anthony Becht. That's right, everyone gets to come back to Kansas City but me, the guy who got blamed for not being able to build an offense around Tyler Palko and Terrance Copper, while the dead-eyed clown stares back at me from the mirror and cackles. "You ever played cornhole with the devil, son?" he asks, his raspy voice a rusty hypodermic needle scraping gutter concrete. "He don't use no beanbags, boy." And that he-goat just brays and brays like he sees the end coming and don't know whether to fight it or welcome it. Moving on to the defense, Dontari Poe was one of the most physically gifted specimens in this year's draft class. The Chiefs have a bad habit of striking out with big defensive tackles, from Ryan Sims to Glenn Dorsey, so my former assistant Romeo Crennel will have to be careful about Poe's development and role if he doesn't want Poe to become an overpriced space-eater the greasepaint smears and the sharpened steel glints in the pickup truck headlights behind the barnyard. The loss of Brandon Carr is going to hurt at cornerback, because Stanford Routt is an adequate No. 2 corner behind Brandon Flowers. But the defense will be better if it is not  on the field as often, and when the muffled brays fade to pitch-black silence, vengeful darkness sated all-too-briefly by the still-quivering sacrifice .

Daniel eager to work with Saints' starting offense (The Associated Press)
(Fri, 18 May 2012 15:30:15 PDT)
METAIRIE, La. (AP) Chase Daniel has completed 75 percent of his passes during his first three years in the NFL, which would rank him among the league's top quarterbacks if not for the fact that he's only thrown eight passes.

AP source: Jets agree with S Bell on 1-year deal (The Associated Press)
(Fri, 18 May 2012 12:37:52 PDT)
NEW YORK (AP) Yeremiah Bell is joining the other side of the Dolphins-Jets rivalry.