Kick Off Is Moved To 35, Stay 20 Touchbacks

NEW ORLEANS (AP)-The NFL kickoff will move up to 5 meters of 35-yard line, touchback to keep the 20 and the number of players in a wedge lock to remain at two.

Players now kick coverage is limited to row 5 yards or less from the starting point of the match.

team owners also voted Tuesday to do all the work test score by the official play and the referee. However, they have submitted a proposal to ban players rush a tackle, and the review in May
Competition Committee of the League suggested the ball may be after 25 touchbacks is a kick off, and by prohibiting the wedge completely. Concerned about the number of cars to make too many changes in kickoff touchbacks also say that more than 5 meters in the field affect the position too. Coaches worried about the increase from 16 percent kickoff touchbacks last season.

"Always a touchback, and now is not getting a 20" Saints coach Sean Payton said: "I think it was perhaps the most dramatic in four or five sites was a rule."

kickoff low risk has been targeted, and Payton believes that met the owners, voting 26-6 for the new rule.

"The main thing is ... the greatest risk of injury to play," he said.

Browns returner Joshua Cribbs Highlights (Notes), was not enthusiastic about the changes, Twitter: "Basically, take the game back on ... the wound is still carried out, why not move back, or eliminate all a whole. "

The touch-backs, "said the chairman of the Competition Committee Rich McKay coaches were concerned about an increase of 35 high kick return teams designed to trap deeply and seriously reduce the number of returns. He also said that two corner pieces has not been a driving force behind the rise in injuries on kickoffs. In fact, most injuries occur in the blanket back on the squad.

As for the six voting no, "said McKay," The opposition was, 'Hey, you affect my team. "Obviously, some teams have good kick return and they said," What if there are 10 per cent lower back? "

"We have no response," said McKay, "but the safety of the players will always prevail over any other consideration."

But the amendment for two players safety was tabled until the league meetings in May A proposal to ban players to launch applications for decision were deferred, as he was to broaden the definition of a defenseless receiver.

McKay said that unites these two additions to the previous rule caused the tank. Each proposal will be made separate amendments before being presented again.

"We did not feel he had enough support to get it," said Giants owner John Mara, a member of the Competition Committee. "A number of people who seemed, in my view, more concerned with the flags to be thrown questionable success. My feeling is that I'm more concerned about concussions useless, so I'm ready to do this work. But I think we only to go back and clarify some of the language, maybe make a little clearer for everyone. "

McKay commended the players to avoid being run during the second half of last season after the league threatened suspensions for flagrant and illegal moves. No suspensions were handed out, but Ray Anderson, head of discipline from the NFL, said they would be involved from the start of next season.

Change playback approved 30-2, with one change: the challenge of the third car of the committee suggested eliminating competition will be retained.

The replay official can call the court hours of the game score. Previously, the replay officials could only provide estimates (the game) and the last two minutes of every time and overtime.
Coaches pressure for change largely because they felt they did not get fair treatment on road games.

"It's a real big competitive disadvantage," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "You do not look the way you get it home. You can not show"

A proposal was approved unanimously, the Commissioner has the power to approve or reject requests to change the color of the playing green. Falcons owner Arthur Blank said the concern was that the sponsors may approach a lot of teams, and suggests that changing the color of the field.

As McKay said with a smile: "I do not want any red areas, like Eastern Washington."

AP Pro Football Writer Howard Fendrich in New Orleans and Sports Writer Tom Cross in Cleveland contributed to this story.

Eight Women, Four Men From The Elite Panel Bonds

San Francisco (AP)-Barry Bonds last Sat the entire class on Monday to 12 people that will consider the greatest home run hitter of all time, lied about the drug.

After a selection process using a day, eight women and four men chosen to hear the case against the federal government 46 years old San Francisco Giants star, who is charged with four counts of lying to a grand jury and one count of obstruction of witnesses in 2003 that drugs never knowingly used performance enhancing.

Among the jurors were not without opinion on the steroid era of baseball or drugs in sport, but everything suggests that they could rule impartially in the case of bonds, which holds the record of home runs in a career (762) and a season (73).

Juror No. 69 was angry Congress investigating steroids in sports "on my dime."

"They should solve problems like debt," he said.

He did it on the panel, although he said Bonds was "probably not (had) a fair trial to the court of public opinion."

The jurors were identified by number rather than name, and U.S. District Judge Susan Illston said that their identity not be revealed until the day after the decision.

"We have a fair and impartial jury selected after an open process," said Bonds' lead attorney, Allen Ruby, said in court.

The initial group of prospective jurors who filled out questionnaires to 19 pages last week, Illston rejected 38 is based on responses that included whether they had participated in the Giants game during the last five years and if they were aware of Mitchell report drugs in baseball or congressional hearings on steroid use. Several were rejected because they said they had formed opinions about the case.

Another was abandoned because of the death of a grandmother last weekend, and two others, and it said that a jury would be a limitation. Illston has refused three requests from other difficulties.

Thirty-six underwent 70 minutes of questions Illston in the morning and another hour of prosecutors and defense attorneys in the afternoon. After a pause, Secretary Illston read the 12 numbers and two alternates selected under the four originally planned. Two jurors, both women are black and 10 whites in a case that could see the race to become a problem.

Juror No. 24, a veteran of the Air Force who was not elected, has spoken at the examination. "I think so, it was stressed because of his race," said the man.

Jury N ° 56, one of the selected black women, said that baseball and the NFL office of the High Commissioner should deal with "steroids. "I think they are and not the government to participate," he said.

Bonds, who in his playing relaxed, leaning back in his black leather chair in the corner of the Giants flag, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and tie and money sitting in a swivel chair brunette d approximately 20 feet of the judge the floor 19 of the Phillip Burton Federal Building. Bonds spent most of the day talking quietly with his lawyers and looking at the jurors, as it responds to questions.

A short distance to the prosecution table on his return to the Bonds, Jeff Novitzky, the federal agent who pursued athletes for alleged drug in eight years with a stubborn intensity. Bonds is the biggest star to stand trial because of his efforts.

Bonds' legal team, which extended to a bedside table and the first row of spectator seats, more numerous than the government of 13-5. When his lawyers Elementary, Ruby and Cristina Arguedas C., gave their name to the file, Illston said, "Is this it?"

Arguedas said that the key to the collection of the jurors had been collected, which are only presented evidence of the courts and keep the facts discussed publicly until now.

"These people become real experts," she told reporters.

Bonds earned $ 192,800,000 for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants in 23 professional seasons, including 22 in the majors, according to an analysis of its contracts by The Associated Press, it is not surprising that he can not afford the best defense money can buy.

About a dozen photographers outside the ground, but few fans came to see Bonds' walk from the courthouse.

Several jurors said they could keep an open mind, even if they had heard much about the case because they believed the media about the obligations or inaccuracies or omissions.

However, some of the spotlight in this case, was too much to deal with.

"I would be reluctant to make a verdict on a great athlete as bonds," No. 24, a juror, one man 61-years living on disability benefits, Illston said. "This would be the color of my discernment." He was not elected.

No. 74 Jurado said his experience working as a flight attendant years ago, it would be difficult for her to be fair.

"I'm still on my charters baseball," she said.

Therefore, the procedure could be heard in two other rooms of the palace of justice, secretary of Illston, Tracy FORAKIS, walking with a handheld microphone to speak to jurors.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew A. Parrella asked if the jurors were Giants fans, and nine raised their hands. When asked Parrella of the Giants were the study, no one responded. Three of the jurors raised their hands when asked if Bonds had the inspiration or someone to watch.

"It was a good player and all the fans hitting the ability to" juror No. 94 said, adding that because the defendant are treated differently. The woman was not selected.

Illston said the trial should take about four weeks.

When juror No. 94 said she had a trip planned for early April 25th Illston checked his calendar, looked up and said in a surprised voice: "Well, you know, me too"

Tressel Wants To Sit In 5 Games, Too

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)-Now that the NCAA has completed its decision that the five football players at Ohio State who took undue advantage is suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season, "coach Jim Tressel wants Buckeyes same sentence.

On Thursday night, the NCAA denied the appeal on behalf of Ohio State players, including star quarterback Terre Pryor, reiterating that they have to sit in the first five games this fall selling autographed memorabilia and get a small tattoo.

Tressel was given a two-game suspension in a separate study by Ohio State after it was discovered that he had not notified the NCAA's Ohio State governors or compliance department of the school he was ready for more than nine months, including all of its 12-1 team of the season in 2010-the players unfair advantages.

"Throughout all this, my players and I are committed to meet our mistakes and more of them and we can do together successfully," he said in a statement. "I talked to the athletic director (Gene) Smith, and our student athletes, saying that my mistakes need to share the same part of the sanctions."

Ohio State had learned from his players know Tressel "NCAA violations as they prepare a seven-page appeal to the NCAA by suspensions of players. On March 8 Tressel said the university would serve the first two matches the 2011 season.

But before the NCAA could rule on his sentence, he added three games for his punishment.

"Coach Tressel has called for the first five games of the 2011 season. I accepted your request and we will take steps to inform the NCAA," Smith said in a statement. He declined further comment.

The NCAA announced the decision Thursday night for half the basketball tournament of the first men of today. The new football can not overshadow the basketball team opens the NCAA tournament. The Buckeyes are the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament and play Texas-San Antonio in the second round to Cleveland on Friday.

Pryor, with starting offensive lineman Mike Adams, the leading rusher Daniel Herrera, the first team receiver Forward Posey and backup defensive lineman Solomon Thomas, admitted selling rings, trophies and clothing in 2009. Besides being in the first five games against Akron, Toledo, University of Miami, Colorado and Michigan, which must also return to the charity of equivalent benefits they received from $ 1,000 to $ 2,500.

"As in my players, I am very sorry that I made mistakes," Tressel said in a statement. "I ask that my university sanctions now in five games, so players and I can deal with this adversity."

Ohio State has shown the proposed penalties of six players (the second was estimated to be only the suspension of a game) in December. But the NCAA may be all to play for Buckeyes in '31-26 win Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl.

Tressel had repeatedly told investigators that he knew nothing of the players 'rights'. His contract stipulates that they must disclose any violations or to shoot. Yet, he signed the form on NCAA data, last September that he was not aware of any violations, even though he had exchanged e-mail in April and June, the Columbus attorney who said of his players with a tattoo owners lounge Columbus and the interests of the players had received.

Tressel said he did not tell anyone because he felt bound by confidentiality, since the tattoo parlor owner has been under investigation for drug trafficking in the federal government. 11.-year coach of the Buckeyes said he was concerned about security and his players said he had never even thought about the players accepting the undue advantage may affect their eligibility.

In addition to the initial suspension of two games, including Ohio State said Tressel has to pay a fine of $ 250,000 of his annual salary estimated at $ 3.5 million, must attend a compliance seminar will receive a Public reprimand and must apologize for his actions. In several interviews last week in front of fan support, over his appearance was greeted with a standing ovation, Tressel said he regrets his actions and apologized for embarrassing the university.

There is no timetable for further action from the NCAA on Tressel. Even with the appeal is rejected, the penalty for players now closed.

The NCAA could leave the 2010-season because Tressel knowingly used the eligible players.

Goodell E-mail All Active NFL Players

NEW YORK (AP)-Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote to the NFL on Thursday, outlining the latest proposal and the Union League warned that "every day brings our game and our economy is still common in danger."

Goodell ended the letter, a copy was obtained by The Associated Press, telling the players: "I hope you will encourage your union to return to the negotiating table and conclude a new collective agreement."

Talks between team owners and NFL Players Association broke down last Friday, the day 16 of the federal mediation in Washington. The union dissolved in the afternoon, to allow players to file an antitrust class action lawsuits in federal court. A few hours later, the owners locked players, creating a work stoppage in the NFL since 1987.

"I told the guys to take a letter and set it on fire. We are not so stupid," said Seattle Seahawks guard Chester Pitts ,whose reaction was mediated by an assistant director to George Atallah NFLPA.

Titans linebacker Will Witherspoon called "very unpleasant" for Goodell to send such a letter.

"If we were in the yard, I would look for a lawyer trying to keep control," Witherspoon texted AP Thursday night. "I duly protested against the fact that it has highlighted its highlights, but do not give them reason to stand on!"

Goodell wrote that the NFLPA "is out of office ... and the federal mediator brought a lawsuit." He also said the owner's will to resume negotiations at any time. "

"We must unite, and soon," Goodell wrote.

He says he wants players to "understand the offer we made," a proposal made during the last day of negotiations.

"We believe that the offer presented a solid and equitable for the continuation of negotiations for the new league year and free will to begin with and increase our participation in the years to come," said Goodell.

His letter goes on point by point through the 10 categories included Goodell said the NFL's latest proposal. Among them:

- Salary and benefits would be $ 141,000,000 club Fri in 2011, an increase of 161 million U.S. dollars by 2014;

- The free agency after four seasons;

- Minor Works offseason and less padded practice in the preseason and regular season;

- Maintain 16-game regular season, at least the next two seasons, and that no change of 18 games without the consent of the Alliance;

- Provide up to $ 1 million for the second year of the contract if it is injured and can not return to play;

- A new recruit compensation system;

- A neutral arbitrator appointed jointly for all drugs, and calls for steroids.

Documents: 4 Auburn Ex-players For The Roles Of Robbery

Auburn, Ala. (AP)-Court documents show that four former Auburn football players have admitted participating in a robbery.

Pledge to do good from Friday that safety Michael McNeil and kitchen freshman Shaun Goodwin Dakota Mosley Antonio and has made statements about the rights of flight guidance. The four were released by the team and are charged with first-degree robbery and theft.

Possibility of witnesses and victims say the four were living in small arms and demanding items, such as mobile phones and laptop safe. Auburn police pulled over a vehicle on the four and said they found stolen property inside, and a pistol and air pistol.

McNeil and Mosley are both on bonds while kitchens and Goodwin are still imprisoned.