NFL – Page 8 – North Platte Post Archive

NFL Extends ‘Sunday Ticket’ Deal with DirecTV

Posted on October 1, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL has extended its contract with satellite provider DirecTV to carry the “Sunday Ticket” package, which allows viewers to watch out-of-market games.

The multiyear deal announced Wednesday expands DirecTV’s rights to stream the package live on mobile devices and online. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Commissioner Roger Goodell says in a release that DirecTV and the “NFL Sunday Ticket” package “have served our fans well for 20 years and continue to complement our broadcast television packages.”

Brain Injury Group: Concussion Award Scheme Flawed

Posted on September 30, 2014

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A national brain injury group says the proposed payout scheme for NFL concussion-related injuries is “deeply flawed.”

The Brain Injury Association of America says it believes the proposed awards favor retired players with memory and neuromuscular problems. The group says it excludes former players battling mood swings, aggression and many other problems.

The group’s Tuesday court filing seeks the right to weigh in when a federal judge in Philadelphia reviews the settlement plan in November.

The NFL has agreed to provide at least $675 million over 65 years to ex-players diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other serious neurocognitive problems. The total settlement, including research and medical testing, is $765 million.

Lead players’ lawyer Christopher Seeger calls the agreement “an extraordinary settlement for retired NFL players and their families.”

NFL Commissioner Visits Domestic Violence Hotline

Posted on September 27, 2014

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is in Texas visiting the headquarters of the National Domestic Violence hotline.

Goodell and several league officials walked into the Austin office about 7:15 p.m. Saturday for what was expected to be a private two-hour meeting. He and the league have been heavily criticized for how they handled the recent suspension of Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, who punched his then-fiancee in the face.

Asked for comment, Goodell only said he’s “doing the work, as they say” and that he was invited to visit the hotline.

The hotline was founded in 1996 and is housed in an unmarked building.

Goodell met with 11 former players earlier this week and was told the league must act immediately when someone is accused of domestic violence.

Judge Recuses Himself in NFL Collusion Case

Posted on September 26, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal judge in Minneapolis who has been the arbiter of NFL labor matters for more than two decades has recused himself from ruling on the latest dispute between NFL owners and the players’ union.

U.S. District Judge David Doty was to hear arguments Oct. 1 in the union’s lawsuit against the NFL’s 32 teams for collusion, alleging they enforced a secret $123 million salary cap per club in 2010 when there was no cap.

Doty wrote in his order that the parties deserve a new examination of the issues by a judge who has not already expressed an opinion on the dispute.

Doty earlier rejected the union’s claim, saying the collective bargaining agreement had expired. A federal appeals court reversed that decision in June and ordered Doty to hold a new hearing.

AP Source: Video Addressed to NFL Security Chief

Posted on September 25, 2014

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — A law enforcement official says he sent the video of Ray Rice punching his then-fiancee to NFL headquarters to the attention of league security chief Jeffrey Miller in April.

Miller unequivocally denied that he had ever watched or received the video, and the NFL has said no league employee saw it until TMZ Sports released the video earlier this month.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he isn’t authorized to talk about the case. He said he doesn’t know if Miller ever saw the DVD. His only communication with the NFL was a voicemail from an unidentified woman from league offices confirming receipt of the package.

The official said he has no plans to talk to NFL investigators about the case.

Goodell Meets 11 Former Players about NFL Conduct

Posted on September 23, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and chief assistant Troy Vincent have met with 11 former NFL players to discuss ways to improve the league’s personal conduct policy.

They met Tuesday with Hall of Famer Mike Singletary, plus Matt Birk, Eddie Mason, Patrick Kerney, Willie McGinest, Roman Oben, Marty Lyons, Charles Way, Tony Paige, Scott Turner and Robert Porcher. More meetings are planned between the league and former players.

Vincent is the NFL’s vice president of football operations.

The NFL has faced heavy criticism of its personal conduct policy after incidents this year involving Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson, Greg Hardy, Ray McDonald and Jonathan Dwyer. Goodell repeatedly has said he mishandled the punishment of Rice for punching his then-fiancee in a hotel elevator, and the league is re-examining how and when it should discipline players for violating the policy.

Goodell: ‘Same Mistakes Can Never be Repeated’

Posted on September 19, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Commissioner Roger Goodell says that “over the past several weeks, we have seen all too much of the NFL doing wrong; that starts with me.”

At a news conference Friday, Goodell made his first public statements in more than a week about the rash of NFL players involved in domestic violence.

The league has faced increasing criticism that it has not acted quickly or emphatically enough concerning the domestic abuse cases.

The commissioner is reiterating that he botched the handling of the Ray Rice case. He says that the “same mistakes can never be repeated.”

Goodell and some NFL teams have been heavily criticized for lenient or delayed punishment of Rice, Adrian Peterson and other players involved in recent domestic violence cases

After NFL, Baseball Addresses Domestic Violence

Posted on September 19, 2014

Representatives of Major League Baseball and the players’ union are opening talks about establishing new policies and punishments for domestic violence.

The first meeting is scheduled for Friday in negotiations that could continue for several weeks or even months.

The recent spate of high-profile domestic violence cases involving Ray Rice and other NFL players prompted the discussions.

Like baseball, other top professional sports organizations surveyed by The Associated Press — including the NBA, NHL, NASCAR, PGA Tour and ATP — currently have rules covering various kinds of inappropriate or criminal behavior away from arenas but do not address domestic violence on its own.

NFL to Partner with Violence Hotline

Posted on September 19, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL is partnering with a domestic violence hotline and a sexual violence resource center.

Responding to increasing criticism that the league has not acted quickly or emphatically enough concerning domestic abuse cases involving players, Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to the clubs late Thursday announcing the partnerships.

The league will provide financial, operational and promotional support to the National Domestic Violence Hotline and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.

Goodell said this will “enable both the hotline and NSVRC to help more people affected by domestic violence and sexual assault.”

Goodell and some NFL teams have been heavily criticized for lenient or delayed punishment of Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson and other players involved in recent domestic violence cases. Less than three weeks into the season, five such cases have made headlines.

PepsiCo Wants NFL to ‘Seize the Moment’

Posted on September 18, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — The leader of Gatorade maker PepsiCo is urging the National Football League to “seize the moment” and put domestic violence and child abuse policies in place immediately once it conducts its review.

PepsiCo Inc. Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi said in a statement that the NFL has a chance to “effect positive change with the situation presented to them.”

PepsiCo is one of several NFL sponsors watching closely as the league investigates how its executives handled evidence in the domestic violence case of former Baltimore Ravens player Ray Rice. The Minnesota Vikings Adrian Peterson is also facing a felony child abuse charge that has placed more attention on the NFL.

Nooyi also expressed confidence that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell would “do the right thing for the league.”