49ers QB Alex Smith facing higher expectations (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 18:24:17 PDT)
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) Alex Smith looked one way, then another, finding open receivers with such ease that the toughest part might've been deciding whose turn it was in the rotation.

NFL roundup: Players union files suit, accuses owners of collusion (The SportsXchange)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 16:30:14 PDT)
The NFL Players Association filed a lawsuit on Wednesday that accused NFL owners and the league of collusion during the 2010 NFL season.

Five NFL Players that Should Return for 'Dancing with the Stars' All-Star Edition (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 15:47:00 PDT)
NFL stars seem to dance as well as they play. In the 14 seasons of "Dancing with the Stars," numerous NFL stars have success on the dance floor, including the Season 14 champion Donald Driver.

Manning, Giants focused as they return to field (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 15:42:09 PDT)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) As far as Eli Manning is concerned, the fulfillment of teammate Justin Tuck's claim that the New York Giants can turn into an NFL dynasty began Wednesday with the first organized team activity.

Ex-Eagle, Giant admits failing to file tax returns (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 15:39:19 PDT)
CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) Federal prosecutors in New Jersey say a former New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles player has admitted he intentionally failed to file federal income tax returns for several years.

Bears agree to 1-year deal with DT Collins (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 14:32:49 PDT)
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) The Chicago Bears have agreed to a one-year contract with defensive tackle Nate Collins.

Ex-NFL player admits failing to file tax returns (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 14:16:21 PDT)
CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) Federal prosecutors in New Jersey say a former NFL player admitted that he intentionally failed to file federal income tax returns for several years.

Woodson preps for new 'title' for Packers (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 13:56:35 PDT)
MILWAUKEE (AP) There has been plenty of talk about whether Charles Woodson is going to move to safety for the Green Bay Packers.

Players union files collusion suit versus NFL
(Wed, 23 May 2012 11:08:22 PDT)
(Reuters) - The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) filed a federal lawsuit on Wednesday accusing the NFL and its owners of collusion to establish a secret salary cap during the 2010 season. According to the complaint, NFL teams operated with a $123 million salary cap in 2010 even though the season was played without a spending limit under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement that expired after the season. "When the rules are broken in a way that hurts the game, we have an obligation to act," NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith said in a statement. ...

NFLPA files collusion lawsuit (The SportsXchange)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 10:31:10 PDT)
The NFL Players Association filed a lawsuit on Wednesday that accused NFL owners and the league of collusion during the 2010 NFL season.

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."

2012 free-agent tracker, by position (Pro Football Weekly)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 09:19:34 PDT)
Updated May 23, 2012 @ 12:20 p.m. ET

Jerry Jones says Cowboys need to win now (The SportsXchange)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 08:41:34 PDT)
The Dallas Cowboys' window for contending is closing, and Jerry Jones sees it.

Report: Most NFL players would have no problem with an openly gay teammate (Shutdown Corner)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 07:27:34 PDT)
If football isn't the ultimate masculine/gladiator sport, it's certainly right up there. As a result of that factor, not to mention the perceived group-think of the locker room, meeting room and huddle, and supposed "caveman" mentality some believe it takes to play the game, there are some who would tell you that no openly gay player would be able to survive (literally or figuratively) in the NFL. But in a recent series of interviews with current and former NFL players , OutSports.com found that the perception is not reality. If the small group interviewed represent the majority, attitudes have definitely come around about any NFL player who would choose to come out. Former star defensive end Jevon Kearse, who once lived with an openly gay male cousin, told OutSports that as long as such a teammate did what was expected of him between the lines, the personal stuff wouldn't really matter -- and that was the overriding message from the players interviewed. "In the game of football, it's like a war out there," Kearse said. "Once you get out on the field, all that stuff is to the side. You're on my side. I played in the NFL for 11 years, I'm sure there were at least one or two guys along the line that were gay." Kearse's former teammate with the Tennessee Titans, running back Eddie George, said the same, and added that he didn't believe an openly gay teammate would have been ostracized on any of his teams. "I just don't care about that," George said. "If that's what you do, that's what you do. I don't hate you because of it or dislike you because of it. That's not my personal preference, but I respect your decision. I'm not going to like you less or not be your friend because of that." That tolerance goes back further than you think. Vince Lombardi, seen as the ultimate authority figure, and championed as a pillar of supposed "clean-cut" values for generations of football fans, had an openly gay brother, and often told his players that anyone who had a problem with the concept of homosexuality could not play for him. It was the same as any other kind of bias to the coach -- and in an era where he had to wait far longer than he should have for a head-coaching job because of his Italian heritage, Lombardi despised prejudice of any kind. No NFL player has ever made his homosexuality public while playing in the league, but the sheer odds tell us that just about every professional football player in at least the last two generations has had at least one gay teammate through his career. The sheer odds also tell us that there will be a wide variety of views on the subject on any roster. Former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan added his support to New York's same-sex-marriage legislation right about the time that former teammate David Tyree was telling an anti-homosexual publication that same-sex marriage would lead America to "anarchy." "How can marriage be marriage for thousands of years and now all the sudden because a minority, an influential minority, has a push or agenda ... and totally reshapes something that was not founded in our country," Tyree said. Strahan clearly disagreed. "I have plenty of gay friends, and I don't judge them. I want them to have all the same rights I have, and all the opportunities I have to be in a relationship, a great relationship, with the person that they're in love with." So, maybe the picture isn't as rosy as OutSports paints it. Former running back Ahman Green, who has a gay sister and brother , isn't so sure about the acceptance of a player who admitted his homosexuality while still playing in the league.

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.

Some new faces for Packers (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 02:11:21 PDT)
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) Practicing together for the first time since being upset in the playoffs, the Green Bay Packers agreed on one thing: It was nice to be back on a football field.

Vikings getting ready for longer camp (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 02:04:00 PDT)
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minnesota Vikings suffered from the limited preseason practice time during last year's work stoppage as much as any other NFL team.

49ers' Williams motivated by NFC title game gaffes (The Associated Press)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 18:08:14 PDT)
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) Kyle Williams walked out of San Francisco 49ers headquarters Tuesday ready to talk about - and move past - the most miserable moment of his career.

Jaguars CB Mathis nearing return from knee injury (The Associated Press)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 14:06:04 PDT)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis is seemingly way ahead of schedule.

Tom Coughlin talks about being energized (National Football Post)
(Tue, 22 May 2012 13:10:13 PDT)
Giants coach reiterates he's ready for the grind

Tom Brady's father would be 'very hesitant' to let his son take up football in concussion era
(Tue, 22 May 2012 09:50:48 PDT)
Tom Sr. waited until his only boy was 14 to let him play football, and he would be more reluctant now.

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.

Bills' Williams could be latest rushed to left end (The SportsXchange)
(Mon, 21 May 2012 11:21:17 PDT)
Not since 2003, when the New York Giants' Michael Strahan registered 18.5 quarterback takedowns, has a defender who played predominantly on the strong side led the NFL in sacks.

Lawrence Taylor’s Super Bowl ring sold for $230K; Osi Umenyiora was not the buyer (Shutdown Corner)
(Sun, 20 May 2012 11:30:42 PDT)
Lawrence Taylor's Super Bowl XXV ring was sold at auction for more than $230,000 to a buyer who wasn't New York Giants star Osi Umenyiora. The Giants defensive end had vowed to buy LT's ring and return it to him if he was able to reach 500,000 followers on Twitter. Umenyiora fell far short of his goal. His account, @osiumenyiora, had just over 55,000 followers by the Saturday night deadline. When Umenyiora saw the final sale price, he tweeted out a good-natured expression of relief. "Yikes! I guess the 450,000 let me off the hook!" Why didn't he buy the ring in the first place? Umenyiora said it was because he didn't know Taylor personally. "If im going to spend that kind of money, it will be because people love him and show it," he tweeted. The ring was put up for auction by Taylor's son, TJ. The Hall of Fame linebacker said he had no prior knowledge of the sale but supported his son's decision. "He's fine with whatever TJ decided," a Taylor rep said in a statement.

LT's Super Bowl XXV ring sells for $230,401 (National Football Post)
(Sun, 20 May 2012 07:56:04 PDT)
Auction house gets big bucks

Umenyiora will buy LT's ring if he gets 1 million Twitter followers (National Football Post)
(Sat, 19 May 2012 07:20:13 PDT)
But auction ends tonight and Osi isn't close