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Auburn running back Tre Mason has decided to declare for early NFL draft entry despite an evaluation from the NFL Draft Advisory Board that projects him as only a third-round choice.

"After all the thought, talking to family and friends, I talked to my mom and dad, went over it a lot with them, I'm going to declare for the 2014 NFL Draft," Mason said, according to al-com.

Although the junior might only project as a third-round pick, prospects at his position tend to declare early more than others because running backs tend to have the shortest NFL careers. The logic is simple enough: While returning to Auburn could have helped his draft stock for the 2015 draft, it could have also shortened his pro career by delaying its beginning.

Mason broke Bo Jackson's single-season rushing record at Auburn with his final carry in the BCS title game, a 37-yard touchdown against Florida State that gave him 1,816 yards for the year. Jackson, however, played in the era of 11-game regular seasons and without conference championship games.

Mason (5-foot-10, 205 pounds) used a late-season surge to become a Heisman Trophy finalist and elevate his draft stock, rushing for over 100 yards in his last six games, and at least 164 over his last three against Alabama, Missouri and FSU. His departure leaves Auburn coach Gus Malzahn with another hole in his lineup to fill in spring practice, along with left tackle Greg Robinson, who also declared for early NFL draft entry.



Auburn RB Tre Mason declares intent to enter NFL draft - NFL-com

While Johnny Manziel prepares for the 2014 NFL Draft, the brand of Johnny Football will begin to take shape off the field. After a Heisman Trophy, 20 wins and the SEC single-season record for total offense, there should be plenty of opportunities for Manziel to cash in on his superstar status.

Earlier this week, ESPN reported that Manziel has decided to sign with LeBron James' marketing company, LRMR. The Miami Heat superstar addressed his relationship with Johnny Football on Thursday before his game against the Knicks.

via ESPN-com:

Manziel said in a recent interview that he sought out James' advice last summer when he was being investigated by the NCAA this summer for signing autographs for memorabilia brokers.

"We're happy we're able to be a friend of his and be able to help," James said before the Miami Heat played the New York Knicks on Thursday night. "He reached out to me when he was going through a lot of off-the-field things that I didn't really -- that I thought it was just overblown. He's not the only kid who went to a college frat party or the only college kid to have fun. But obviously he's Johnny Manziel, so it is blown out of proportion."

James said he routinely sent text messages to Manziel before and after Texas A&M games to offer encouragement to the QB. Manziel recently spent time in Miami before he made his decision to enter the NFL draft and was seen sitting courtside at a Heat-Golden State Warriors game last week.

James contends that he did not foresee the friendship leading to a business relationship, but he "was happy to help." LRMR is run by Maverick Carter, James' friend and business partner.

"After long discussions with my family, friends, teammates, and coaches, I have decided to make myself available for the 2014 NFL Draft," Manziel told CBS Sports' Bruce Feldman on Wednesday. "The decision was such a tough one for me because of how much I wanted to go back and be with all those guys that I love playing with, and to work with Coach (Kevin) Sumlin and Coach (Jake Spavital) Spav and be part of a program that's continuing to grow. But I felt like this is what's best for me now.

"I feel very relieved. It's a weight off my shoulders. I'm ready to become a professional and dedicate myself to making my dream a reality of becoming the best quarterback I can be."

According to Feldman, Manziel plans on re-locating to San Diego to train with private quarterbacks coach George Whitfield for the next few months before the NFL Combine.


LeBron James 'happy' to help future NFL Draft pick Johnny Manziel - CBSSports-com

Philadelphia police say someone broke into a home belonging to Eagles star receiver DeSean Jackson and stole a handgun and more than $250,000 in cash and jewelry.

Investigators said Saturday the burglary happened sometime earlier in the week at Jackson's home in South Philadelphia, not far from the team's practice facility.

Police say the cash and jewelry was taken from a safe. A silver 9mm handgun is also missing.

No arrests have been made. A police spokeswoman says the investigation is ongoing.

Jackson was the Eagles' leading receiver this season with 82 catches for 1,332 yards and nine touchdowns. He signed a five-year, $51 million contract before the 2012 season.


DeSean Jackson's home burglarized; gun, $250K-plus stolen - NFL-com

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is leaving the door open on medical marijuana use for pro football players.

Although it’s been legal to buy and use marijuana in Colorado since Jan. 1, smoking marijuana is still illegal under the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement.

When asked if a player might ever be allowed to use medical marijuana in states where it’s legal, Goodell told ESPN-com he could envision a time when players use medical marijuana in states where it’s legal.

"I don't know what's going to develop as far as the next opportunity for medicine to evolve and to help either deal with pain or help deal with injuries, but we will continue to support the evolution of medicine," he said.

He said he could envision a time when players use medical marijuana in states where it’s legal.

His remarks were the first comments in the league about marijuana since 2012, when Washington and Colorado voted to legalize pot.

Goodell also addressed the Jonathan Martin bullying case, concussions in the game and whether the NFL was ready for an openly gay player.

On the latter, he said: "Yes. There may be, I don't know, but the answer to that is yes."

Last week, Goodell also said he hasn’t ruled out a Super Bowl taking place overseas.

“I want to grow the game,” he told the New York Post.

Goodell said that London would get a Super Bowl only if it had an NFL franchise.



Goodell might be open to medical marijuana use for NFL players | Fox News

The Super Bowl is being held two weeks early this season.

Not really, of course. They'll still hold the annual week-long, bajillion-dollar festival of pro football while the calendar changes from January to February.

The best game of the postseason, though? The one that features the matchup everyone's been waiting to see, the one that will arguably determine who the best team in the NFL is? That game will be played at CenturyLink Field on January 19.

In just the past three seasons, the rivalry between the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers has become the best in the NFL. Not the longest, nor the greatest but the best. Not only are these two great teams with two great coaches and two of the NFL's most exciting quarterbacks, they both play exciting, explosive, hard-hitting, big-play football.

The Seahawks and 49ers are division rivals who play at least twice a year—and best of all, they can't stand each other.

Fans and media use the word "rivalry" quite a bit; in today's fast-changing NFL, that word usually describes ancient animosity between fans. Plenty of players, coaches and executives from a given NFL team will have ties to its rival's sideline; it's common to see a game hyped as a blood feud become a hugs-and-handshakes family reunion when the game clock shows four zeroes.

That won't happen at the NFC Championship Game.

"I don't know anybody in here that likes anybody on the Seahawks. If you find one, you let me know," 49ers guard Alex Boone told Lindsay H. Jones of USA TODAY Sports.

These two teams truly don't like each other, and they're playing for stakes that couldn't be higher. One of them will go on to the Super Bowl and own bragging rights for the next eight months. The other will be going home, wondering how they came so close and lost to them.



It Starts at the Top

As Doug Farrar wrote for Yahoo! Sports, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh had beef back in 2009, when both were still coaching college ball. Harbaugh's Stanford team had run up the score on Carroll's USC squad to the tune of 48-21—and then Harbaugh went for a two-point conversion.

That said, Carroll told Farrar lots of complimentary things about Harbaugh just before he was hired in San Francisco; it's clear the two men have great respect for the way the other coaches, if not each other.

Of course, since they've put together teams that are all but mirror images of each other, it shouldn't surprise that they appreciate each other's handiwork.

Both teams have nasty defensive front sevens that get after the quarterback and swaggering coverage units that pride themselves on big plays and bigger hits.

Both teams chew up ground with old-school workhorse power backs: Frank Gore in San Francisco and Marshawn Lynch in Seattle. They then come over the top with explosive dual-threat quarterbacks: the 49ers' Colin Kaepernick and the Seahawks' Russell Wilson.

What's that saying about familiarity and contempt?



Three Years of Season-Shaping Games

A real rivalry game is one that means more to the players on the field than the fans in the stands; nothing breeds a true, blood-spattered, spittle-flecked rivalry like when two teams play a lot of high-stakes games in a short time.

Back in Week 16 of the 2011 season, the 49ers were 11-3 and on their way to the first of three straight NFC Championship Game appearances. The Seahawks were 7-7, on their way to a losing record.

Yet when the 49ers came to CenturyLink Field (then called Qwest Field), the Seahawks gave the 49ers all they could handle. Down 19-17 with just over a minute left, driving for a game-winning field goal, Seahawks quarterback Tarvaris Jackson was stripped of the ball by 49ers linebacker Larry Grant, and that was it for the Seahawks' postseason hopes.

"We can play with anybody," Carroll told Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times in the aftermath. "I don't care who it is or where it is. We can play anybody."

When Carroll drafted Wilson to replace Jackson the following April, that hollow boast became rock solid.

In 2012, the 49ers were expected to maintain their hold on the NFC West, but the Seahawks immediately rose to challenge them. They met in Week 7, with both teams at 4-2.

It was trench warfare; a bruising, bloody ground battle. Both teams attempted just 23 passes apiece, per Pro Football Reference, and ran a combined 61 times. The young quarterbacks were kept under wraps: Rookie Wilson completed only nine passes for 122 yards, and second-year understudy Kaepernick watched then-started Alex Smith complete 14 for 140.

Between the two teams, they scored just four field goals and one touchdown. The 49ers won the game, and a crucial edge in the division, 13-6.

The trip to CenturyLink in Week 16 was a rude awakening for the 49ers. They were on a 5-1-1 tear after the first game—primarily with Kaepernick under center. The 9-5 Seahawks had a chance to clinch a playoff berth against the 49ers, though, and they capitalized in style. Their 42-13 blowout win was a three-phase-of-the-game beatdown, including a 90-yard blocked field goal return for a touchdown by All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman.

Sherman, in fact, urged Carroll to settle his long-standing score against Harbaugh.

"I'm not gonna lie to you," Sherman told Yahoo!'s Michael Silver, "I told Pete, 'Let's score and go for two.' He said, 'We have more class than that'."

Class? Possibly. NFC West title? Nope.

The 49ers retained the division crown at 11-4-1, finishing a half-game ahead of the 11-5 Seahawks. The seeding was right for an NFC Championship Game rubber match; if both teams won out they'd fight for the right to party in New Orleans. In the Divisional Round, though, the Seahawks' furious late-game rally wasn't enough to beat the Atlanta Falcons.

The 49ers beat the Falcons and went on to play in the Super Bowl as 3.5-point favorites, per Bet Online (via Bleacher Report). When the

The judge presiding over the proposed $765 million settlement between the N.F.L. and more than 4,500 retired players who sued the league and accused it of hiding the dangers of concussions has raised significant questions about whether there will be enough money for all of the payouts, medical tests and treatment.

In a ruling issued Tuesday, Judge Anita B. Brody of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania rejected the proposed settlement because the league and the plaintiffs’ lawyers had not produced enough evidence to convince her that $765 million would cover the potential costs for 18,000 retirees over the 65-year life of the agreement.

“I am primarily concerned that not all retired N.F.L. football players who ultimately receive a qualifying diagnosis or their related claimants will be paid,” Brody wrote.

The players’ lawyers have said that economists and actuaries they hired said that there would be sufficient money available.

“Unfortunately, no such analyses were provided to me in support of the plaintiffs’ motion,” Brody said. “In the absence of additional supporting evidence, I have concerns about the fairness, reasonableness and adequacy of the settlement.”

The judge’s ruling will probably force the plaintiffs’ lawyers and the N.F.L. to provide documents proving there will be enough money to pay for the retired players’ claims. If the judge remains unconvinced, the league could contribute more to the settlement, change the amount of the payouts to different categories of players, or limit who may be eligible.

Even if the league and the lawyers for the players convince the judge that there will be enough money to go around, this ruling will probably delay when players may be paid. The proposed settlement that the judge reviewed, which was released last week, was to form the basis for mailings sent to retired players. The players would then have several months to approve the settlement or opt out of it.

The rejection of the proposed settlement is a sign that the judge recognizes the importance of the case, which has received global attention and will probably provide a framework for the settlement of other concussion-related lawsuits, including those brought by former hockey players against the N.H.L. and by former college football players against the N.C.A.A. It is also an indication of the thorny nature of the case, which involves hundreds of claims brought by thousands of players concerning injuries that in many cases have not manifested themselves, and may not.

The outline of the settlement, which was announced in late August, has proved to be a lightning rod with former players. Some of them, particularly those with devastating illnesses like Parkinson’s disease, have supported the agreement and argued that it was better to get money to those in need sooner rather than later.

Many other players have opposed the deal, saying that the N.F.L. should have offered more money, and that the terms of the deal were too opaque. A few retired players have started new suits, an indication that they oppose the deal and hope to keep fighting the league.

“The judge understands that it’s controversial,” said Ted Frank, the president of the Center for Class Action Fairness, a nonprofit public interest law firm. “Over the last five years, appeals courts have scrutinized class-action settlements, especially in the Third Circuit, where she sits. Given that this is going to draw objections, she’s doing the right thing in saying, We can’t just take your word for it.”

The league and plaintiffs’ lawyers said they would provide the judge with the evidence she requested.

“We respect Judge Brody’s request for additional information as a step towards preliminary approval,” the N.F.L. said in a statement. “We will work with the plaintiffs’ attorneys to supply that information promptly to the court and special master.”
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Christopher Seeger and Sol Weiss, the lead counsels for the retired players, said, “We look forward to working with the court and special master to address their concerns, as they rightfully ensure all class members are protected.”
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Last month, Judge Brody appointed Perry Golkin as special master to help her assess “the expected financial complexity of the proposed settlement.”

One of the critical questions Golkin must consider is if there is enough money set aside not just for retired players with injuries, but also for players whose conditions worsen in years to come. The provisional settlement includes at least $675 million to pay monetary awards, $75 million for medical testing and monitoring, and $10 million for research.

But the science related to traumatic brain injuries and illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease is still evolving, so it is far from clear how many players might have significant issues in the coming years, and how many of those can be eligible for payouts of up to $5 million, as is stipulated in the proposed agreement with the N.F.L.

Frank said the case was thorny because the N.F.L. and the plaintiffs’ lawyers have an incentive to reach a settlement quickly. The lack of an adversarial side in the case leaves open the possibility that the terms of the deal are not scrutinized closely enough.

“You know, we had our actuaries, the N.F.L. had their actuaries, and the court has now appointed a special master who is an adviser only to the court to look at all of this information,” Seeger said in a

As a fearless, hard-hitting NFL linebacker, Steve Hendrickson won a Super Bowl ring in 1990, but these days the former San Francisco 49er whose addled brain suffered at least 12 concussions struggles to get by and hopes for a piece of the $765 million pie being offered to former pro football players.

Hendrickson, 47, now has trouble remembering what he had for dinner a day ago and often needs to use a calculator for basic math. The University of California graduate, once quick to find the precise word, now struggles with his vocabulary and has been unable to maintain steady employment since leaving the league in 1995.

“My short-term memory – I swear to God I wasn’t somewhere on Monday and then I look back at my notes and see that I was,” Hendrickson told FoxNews-com from Escondido, Calif. “I also have a hard time remembering what I had for dinner last night. My short-term memory is just terrible.”

When a federal judge warned on Tuesday that the settlement agreed to by NFL team owners and some 4,800 former players may not be enough, she was likely thinking of men like Hendrickson. The divorced father of two is not currently part of the agreement, but if he agrees to be tested and can show he suffered cognitive damage from his career, he'll be due a check.

Henrickson – whose 18-year-old son also plays linebacker and has received interest from major college programs – said he now receives $50,000 annually from the league’s pension plan, which is provided to any player with at least three seasons in the league. But Hendrickson said he remains classified as disabled from “non-football causes,” making him ineligible for higher payments despite being diagnosed in 2007 with trauma-related brain damage. As a result, Hendrickson said he struggles to make ends meet.

“Especially if you went through a divorce, like most of us,” he said. “The ex-wife gets half of that, so trying to live off of that and raise two kids is really difficult.”

U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody denied a motion on Tuesday intended to serve as a preliminary approval for the settlement, seeking more information from the parties. Brody noted that the class of approximately 20,000 could overwhelm the fund, even if only 10 percent of its members file claims against the $675 million set aside to pay claims, working out to $337,500 per player. The maximum payments in the settlement include $5 million for a younger retiree with Lou Gehrig's disease, $3 million for serious dementia, and $25,000 for an 80-year-old with early dementia, The Associated Press reports.

Attorneys for the former players, in a statement to FoxNews-com, said they’re confident the settlement will be approved after Brody conducts “due diligence” on its fairness and adequacy.

“Analysis from economists, actuaries and medical experts will confirm that the programs established by the settlement will be sufficiently funded to meet their obligations for all eligible retired players,” the statement read. “ … We believe this is an extraordinary settlement for retired NFL players and their families, and have received overwhelming support as they have learned about its benefits. We look forward to finalizing this agreement so they can soon begin taking advantage of its benefits."

Hendrickson said he has “no idea” as to what to expect once the dust settles, but he did offer suggestions on how to make the game he still loves safer for those who play, including his son Kyle.

“I would’ve made sure that I had a better helmet,” he said. “Helmets have come a long way in the last couple of years, and I probably wouldn’t have led with my head so much. But back then, when you had your bell rung, you were told, ‘No big deal, get back in there.’ It wasn’t until I started having blackouts that it started to concern me.”

Those blackouts began in just Hendrickson’s third year in the league, he said. Still, he has zero regrets about devoting his life to the game.

“It’s a double-edged sword,” he said. “I love the game, but there’s so much risk involved, risk we all took. But now you knowingly take the risk. Before, we didn’t know that the problems were going to be there down the road.”

Despite that risk, Hendrickson said he’s not overly frightened that his only son likely has a violent career ahead of him as well.

“It concerns me a lot, but like I said, they have a lot better equipment now and they’re changing the rules a bit,” he said. “You don’t see as many concussions as you did before and they’re aware of it now.”

Kyle Hendrickson, who has drawn interest from major programs like Alabama, said his father’s plight has not dampened his outlook on the game.

“I still want to play football,” he told FoxNews-com. “I still love the sport; I’m an inside linebacker, just like my Dad.”



Ex-NFL players eye $765M settlement, even if they haven't signed on | Fox News

Let's all be the first to admit: We are not cut out to be NFL general managers. Don't fool yourself. You don't have the business acumen, the inside NFL knowledge or the foresight of a football scout.

Perhaps, you know what you see, but what you have seen is in the past. That makes free agency a dangerous proposition, because you will be paying for what has happened and not what will.

Some things we can all agree on, though: Like the numbers put up by the likes of the Carolina Panthers' Greg Hardy, New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham, Denver Broncos' Eric Decker and Washington Redskins' Brian Orakpo. That quartet will easily break the bank in free agency this winter, because they are talented, in their prime and at positions NFL decision-makers put a premium on.

If you ever want to see what the NFL prioritizes, just look at the annual drafting trends. Hint: They love quarterbacks, cover corners, pass-rushers and speed. They also like young players who are durable, too.

They don't put so much emphasis on the fleeting career of an NFL running back. See, that's where NFL general managers most differ from casual observers—particularly those who get sucked into fantasy football.

Now that we have all that squared away, let's give you a slideshow on the Top 10 pending free agents who are guaranteed to break the bank this winter.


NFL Free Agents 2014: Who's Guaranteed to Break the Bank? | Bleacher Report

We have reached the time of year where the business of the NFL exists in a state of limbo, sandwiched between the end of the 2013 season and the start of the 2014 league year, beginning in March. The 20 teams that played their last game on Dec. 29 have long since turned the page and are well into preparations for 2014 (with seven of them changing coaches). Even for those teams still competing, management is planning out personnel and financial moves for when the bell rings March 11 at 4 p.m. Eastern.

Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick have scheduled 2014 salaries of $662,000 and $974,000, respectively, in the third and fourth years of mandatory four-year contracts required for all draft choices per the CBA. And, in Wilson’s case, there is no opportunity to improve his financial situation until 2015, as the CBA further requires three seasons played for drafted rookies before the prospect of an improved contract. Kaepernick, a year ahead of Wilson, would be able to renegotiate should the 49ers choose, yet the 49ers have the leverage of a year remaining at less than $1 million.

These fixed and reasonable rates at the game’s most important position give the Seahawks and 49ers valuable flexibility and resources to use in their short-term team building. It is no coincidence that they were two of the most active teams in the NFL this offseason, with acquisitions including Anquan Boldin in San Francisco and Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril and Percy Harvin in Seattle.

Solid drafting, player development and securing core players to long-term extensions are keys to sustained success in the NFL. That strategy is made easier with premier quarterbacks in rookie contracts, allowing resource allocation to core veterans in second or third contracts. Wilson and Kaepernick’s fixed and reasonable rates give the Seahawks and 49ers beneficial elasticity in managing their roster.
But what about when the teams have to pay Wilson and Kaepernick?

This is a valid concern, and certainly one anticipated by the Seahawks and 49ers. Good management, which both teams clearly have, projects out various scenarios for future spending, staggering larger contracts and projecting deletions of expensive veterans down the road. Both teams are certainly planning around that prospect. For instance, the Seahawks know they might not have the luxury of acquiring short-term veteran quick-fixes such defensive ends Bennett and Avril, who are making a combined $11 million this year, and will look to develop that position through the draft. And the 49ers are always thinking toward the future, even using draft picks on future assets such as “redshirt” running back Marcus Lattimore.

Yes, there will likely come a day when the cap and cash numbers of the quarterbacks in the NFC Championship Game will look like those of the quarterbacks in the AFC Championship Game, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. The Seahawks and 49ers’ preparation for that prospect and strategic development of the roster around Wilson and Kaepernick—assuming their continued strong play—will determine how long this run of sustained success continues.

How is postseason pay calculated?

The playoffs are league (not team) events, with player compensation from pay for this postseason:

Wild-Card Round, Division Winner: $23,000 per player
Wild-Card Round, Wild Cards: $21,000
Divisional Playoff Game: $23,000
Conference Championship Game: $42,000
Super Bowl, Winner: $92,000
Super Bowl, Loser: $46,000

Players on teams with first-round byes do not get paid that week (though practice-squad players still get their stipends). Thus, the maximum a player can make for winning the Super Bowl is $180,000, with a maximum of $157,000 for players from teams receiving first-round byes.
If the NFL expands the playoffs, would players receive more postseason pay?

Yes, but not a lot. Another set of teams in the playoffs would require the league to factor in additional payments similar to those listed above for the wild-card round, relatively trivial numbers for the league.

On a macro level, NFL postseason revenue is shared with the players in the CBA calculation of each year’s salary cap. Thus, new revenue from expanded playoffs would factor into the owner/player revenue split. But as to whom would benefit more from expanded playoffs, the owners or players, it is safe to say it would be the side advancing that discussion, the owners. And the NFL would not have to collectively bargain expanded playoffs or renegotiate postseason pay.
Is the NFL considering reseeding the teams?

No. That is a nonstarter with Roger Goodell, who has repeatedly mentioned rewarding teams for winning their division. As for the inequities that are always pointed out this time of year, the league’s position is that this is cyclical and eventually evens out, with division strength varying year to year.
What are reserve/future contracts now being signed?

In this transitory period following the end of the 2013 season, but before 2014 business can be transacted, contracts now being signed do not technically activate until the start of the league year. Thus, between now and March 11, they are in this reserve/future category. These players fill out the roster and will report for offseason workouts in April.

Most reserve/future players were on practice squads during the 2013 season and are re-signing “real” contracts with the same team, although a few will sign with a different team for a perceived better opportunity. Unfortunately, the majority of these players will do everything asked by their team over the next eight months yet likely will be released by Labor Day.

Although it is rare, teams can uncover some true gems. One such player we signed at the Packers as a reserve/future was Cullen Jenkins, who went on to be a highly productive player for the Packers, Eagles and now Giants.

Why aren’t player contracts guaranteed like coaching contracts?

As with any negot

If you're a football fan, Sunday is kind of like Christmas.

Two conference championship games will determine the teams that advance to the Super Bowl, and the matchups couldn't be more exciting: Denver vs. New England (Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady). And some would say the other game, pitting San Francisco against Seattle, might just feature the two best teams in the league.

America shows its love for the sport in many ways beyond breathless anticipation of big games. It also gives back to the National Football League with tax breaks and publicly funded stadiums.

But does the multibillion-dollar business really need the help, or is the NFL getting a free ride?

Not For Profit

If you walk into NFL headquarters on Park Avenue in Manhattan, "you think you're in the headquarters of Goldman Sachs," says Gregg Easterbrook, author of King of Sports: Football's Impact on America.

The NFL is registered as a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization — even with a commissioner who makes nearly $30 million a year. From the tax code to big stadium deals, critics say the NFL is getting millions of public dollars that would be better spent elsewhere.

The NFL league office is organized as a 501(c)(6), a part of the tax code that exempts thing like business leagues, chambers of commerce and trade associations.

But that's just the league office, not the 32 individual franchises. "There is no tax break at the NFL for revenue earned from things like ticket sales or jersey sales or corporate sponsorships or television money," says Jeremy Spector, outside tax counsel for the NFL and a partner at Covington and Burling LLP.

Spector tells NPR's Arun Rath that the NFL, including its teams, brings in around $10 billion of annual taxable income.

"None of those revenues are escaping tax. It's the league office — that organizational or administrative arm — that's exempt," Spector says.

The administrative arm handles things like writing the rulebook, hiring referees, running the college draft and negotiating stadium deals.

Republican Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma says it's absurd to call the NFL a "trade association." He's proposed changing the tax code to end the exemption and start collecting taxes from pro sports organizations.

"In a time when we have a $640 billion deficit — and that's the best we've had in five years — shouldn't very wealthy ... sports leagues pay their share?" he asks.

Spector, lawyer for the NFL, says sports organizations are being unfairly singled out.

"I think it's very dangerous if Congress starts picking and choosing which industry or which industry trade associations are eligible for the tax exemption," he says.

If You Build It ...

Besides the tax exemption, the NFL can also get a break through big stadium deals. Take, for example, the Dallas Cowboys.

In the late 1990s, the Dallas Cowboys and the team's owner, Jerry Jones, began plans to expand their stadium or build a new one. Jones shopped in and around Dallas for years, asking for public assistance to fund the stadium.

He found an audience in Arlington, a city just outside of Dallas. The price tag for the public was $325 million. (Jones was responsible for the balance of the money for the $1.2 billion stadium. says Jones' contribution "was paid with commercial loans, league funding and proceeds from a ticket and parking tax.")

Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck saw an opportunity for the city, and a tough sell to voters.

"It was difficult, it certainly was," he says. "We explained to them how it was going to work, where it was going to be located, the amenities it would contain. So after we explained it thoroughly, it really was not very difficult."

To pay for that, voters in Arlington agreed to raise taxes: a higher sales tax, plus hikes on rental cars and hotel rooms.

Cowboys Stadium opened to the public in May 2009.

Cluck says the economic benefits are tangible: Groups use the stadium throughout the year, not just on game days. Plus, he says, building the stadium has increased property values in the surrounding area. All in all, he says, the stadium was worth it.

"I'm sure you can find somebody who is against it. I have not seen that person since it was completed. I think people are very, very happy with it," Cluck says.

Dan O'Connell, who manages a sports grill about a mile away from the stadium, says he originally voted against the tax increase. "But in retrospect, I think it was probably a good thing for the city," he says. "It seems to draw a lot of people in on the weekends and during games."

Resident Jordan Fitzgerald doesn't agree — and doesn't like the tax bill. "It was not worth it, whatsoever. Why? Because my tax money went to a ... stadium instead of my own benefit," he says.

But resident Robert Henning thinks the stadium put Arlington on the map.

"It's a worldwide icon for football, which I think is the greatest sport on the planet, and it's bringing a lot of income to our city," he says. "And it's bringing more people here. They see the promise, and that's what we want."

A Local Boost?

Easterbrook says he's heard this argument before — that stadiums boost local economies. But he says it doesn't stand up to scrutiny. He says investment in infrastructure like roads and bridges "has a multiplier effect every day of the year." Spending on stadiums, on the other hand, "has a multiplier effect 10 or 12 days of the year." "In terms of civic investment, football makes no sense at all — not only its lack of multiplier effect on the local economy, but far more importantly, all the owners are billionaires," he says. "It can pay for its own stadiums."

Compared to similar businesses, NFL stadiums pay little or no property taxes.

"Research shows that about 70 percent of the cost of building and operating the NFL stadiums has been paid for by the public," Easterbrook says. "I estimate if you roll it all together — subsidies, tax favors etc. — it's ro

Richard Sherman did a CenturyLink Leap.

Golden Tate grabbed a 12th Man flag and circled the field with it.

Even team owner Paul Allen made an appearance and gave a victory speech. The Seattle Seahawks are headed to the Big Apple for the Super Bowl.

"To see all our work that we put in -- the mornings, the nights, the weights, all your life, as a young player and in the NFL," Malcolm Smith said after his end zone interception with 22 seconds remaining clinched the 23-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. "It's amazing."

Seattle's top-ranked defense forced three fourth-quarter turnovers, and Russell Wilson threw a 35-yard touchdown pass on fourth down for the winning points. Seattle will meet Denver (15-3) for the NFL title in two weeks in the New Jersey Meadowlands. It's the first trip to the big game for the Seahawks (15-3) since they lost to Pittsburgh after the 2005 season.

The conference champs had the best records in the league this year, the second time the top seeds have gotten to the Super Bowl in 20 seasons. It also is a classic confrontation of Denver's record-setting offense led by Peyton Manning against the NFL's stingiest defense. Denver opened as a 1-point favorite over Seattle on the Glantz-Culver Line. "It will be a great matchup," coach Pete Carroll said. "I think it's an extraordinary opportunity to go against a guy that set all the records in the history of the game."

Moments after Sherman tipped Colin Kaepernick's pass to Smith for the interception, the All-Pro cornerback jumped into the stands behind the end zone, saluting the Seahawks' raucous fans. With 12th Man flags waving everywhere, and "New York, New York" blaring over the loudspeakers, CenturyLink Field rocked like never before.

"That's as sweet as it gets," said Sherman, who also went into several rants about 49ers wideout Michael Crabtree, whom he called a "sorry receiver."

"This is really special," added Carroll, who has turned around the Seahawks in four seasons in charge. "It would really be a mistake to not remember the connection and the relationship between this football team and the 12th Man and these fans. It's unbelievable."

San Francisco (14-5) led 17-13 when Wilson, given a free play as Aldon Smith jumped offside, hurled the ball to Jermaine Kearse, who made a leaping catch in the end zone.

Steven Hauschka then kicked his third field goal following Kam Chancellor's pick, and Smith intercepted in the end zone on the 49ers' final possession.

"This feels even sweeter, with the amazing support we have had from the 12th Man," Allen said, comparing this Super Bowl trip to the previous one.

Until Seattle's top-ranked defense forced a fumble and had two interceptions in the final period, the game was marked by big offensive plays in the second half. That was somewhat shocking considering the strength of both teams' defenses.

And those plays came rapidly.

Marshawn Lynch, in full "Beast Mode," ran over a teammate and then outsped the 49ers to the corner of the end zone for a 40-yard TD, making it 10-10.

Kaepernick then was responsible for consecutive 22-yard gains, hitting Crabtree, then rushing to the Seattle 28. His fumble on the next play was recovered by center Jonathan Goodwin, who even lumbered for 2 yards.

Anquan Boldin outleapt All-Pro safety Earl Thomas on the next play for a 26-yard touchdown.

Then, Doug Baldwin, who played for 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh at Stanford, stepped up -- and through San Francisco's coverage -- on a scintillating 69-yard kickoff return that made the stadium shake for the first time all day.

That set up Hauschka's 40-yard field goal. And a frantic finish.

Seattle took its first lead on Wilson's throw to Kearse with 13:44 left, and CenturyLink rocked again.

The place went silent soon after when Niners All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman sustained an ugly left knee injury midway and was carted off. Bowman, who was having a huge game, had forced a fumble at the San Francisco 1, but Lynch recovered.

"I never heard him yell like that, or even stay down for a moment," teammate Patrick Willis said of Bowman.

The Seahawks had gotten their first turnover moments earlier when Cliff Avril stripped Kaepernick and Michael Bennett recovered. But Lynch and Wilson botched a handoff on fourth down on the play after Bowman's injury.

It took only two plays for Chancellor to haul in Kaepernick's underthrow to Boldin, and Hauschka's 47-yarder ended the scoring. But not the excitement.

Kaepernick, who rushed for 130 yards, got San Francisco to the Seattle 18 with his arm. But his pass for Crabtree was brilliantly tipped by Sherman to Smith.

"We knew it would come down to us in the back end to win this thing," Sherman said.

The final play was similar to last year's Super Bowl ending, when Kaepernick missed Crabtree in the end zone from the 5 and Baltimore survived.

"It's tough. Any time you get this close to the Super Bowl and lose, it's pretty upsetting," tight end Vernon Davis said. "We just didn't get it. We've been down this road before in the same kind of situation. It's hard."

Whether it was nerves or just a great play by Aldon Smith, Wilson fumbled on Seattle's first snap. Smith got credit for a sack and a recovery, too -- a defender's dream -- at the Seahawks 15.

More staunch defense followed, this time by Seattle, which held and only gave up Phil Dawson's 25-yard field goal.

Seattle simply had no answers for Kaepernick's runs, looking either flat-footed or plain-out lost when he took off. He gained 98 yards on the ground in the first half, including a 58-yard second-quarter run, the longest of his three-year career and the longest Seattle's defense allowed all season.

But he was less effective in the second half and was plagued by turnovers.

Wilson came up with a huge improvisation of his own moments after Kaepernick's long jaunt. Wilson avoided the rush with some nifty scrambling

Jadeveon Clowney surprised no one by forgoing his final season at South Carolina and entering the 2014 NFL draft, but few could have fathomed how many players would make the leap to the pros early.

The superstar Gamecocks defensive end is a big headliner, but Clowney is just one of a record 98 underclassmen to declare themselves eligible and take their games to the professional level.

A report from NFL-com on Sunday, Jan. 19, posted all the players who are hoping to have their names called between May 8 and 10 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

Ben Volin of the Boston Globe noted how much the numbers increased from last year's record of 73:

With increasing concern over player safety issues in football, it makes sense that promising prospects are attempting to capitalize on their physical primes and see how they stack up in the NFL.

Many of those choosing to cut their collegiate careers short have excellent chances to succeed. Clowney is the clear standout on defense in this class, and he feels confident he will wow scouts at the impending combine, per The State's Josh Kendall:

But there seems to be a breadth of talent on offense more than Clowney's side of the ball among these precocious players. Given the importance of the quarterback position, it's likely that the first three signal-callers chosen will be underclassmen.



NFL Draft 2014: Jadeveon Clowney Highlights Record 98 Eligible Underclassmen | Bleacher Report

The Seattle Seahawks not only have risen to prominence on the field, they've also achieved relevancy off of it.

Three Seahawks -- quarterback Russell Wilson, running back Marshawn Lynch and cornerback Richard Sherman -- are among the top 10 best-selling jerseys in the league, according to sales rankings provided to ESPN-com from the league's official store, NFLShop-com.

Sales have been tallied from the start of the NFL's fiscal year on April 1, 2013, through last week.

Wilson has the second best-selling jersey behind his Super Bowl counterpart, Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. Lynch comes in at No. 6, behind San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

Sherman breaks the top 10 for the first time. He is the only defensive player in the top 10.

Sherman jumped three spots in January alone, passing the likes of Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, who sold more jerseys last year than any NFL player ever had sold in a single season. No Seahawks player ever has finished the season in the top 10 since the league began collecting data for its best-selling jerseys in 2001.

Wilson and Lynch finished last year's best-selling jerseys list at No. 14 and No. 15, respectively. The only other Broncos player that appears on the list so far this season is wide receiver Wes Welker at No. 23.


2013 NFL playoffs -- Three Seattle Seahawks players rank among NFL's top 10 best selling jerseys - ESPN

If an NFL team isn't sure it has a franchise quarterback, it doesn't. There are no "maybes" when it comes to the most important player on the field. And the old adage is you can't pass on a franchise quarterback in the draft unless you have a franchise quarterback on the roster.

Twenty of the league's opening-day starters at quarterback in 2013 were first-round picks. That leaves teams like Houston, Cleveland, Minnesota, Jacksonville, Oakland and others scouting the college ranks for a signal-caller who could change their fortunes.

Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater leads the discussion as the presumptive No. 1 pick, the top quarterback in the draft with a quarterback-needy team (Houston) making the pick.

MORE COVERAGE: Mock 4.0: Bridgewater No. 1 to Texans | Prospects to watch at Senior Bowl

But can he turn the Texans around? Is he the sort of elite No. 1 overall pick capable of shifting the tide for a team saddled with a culture of disappointment last season?

"I've seen a lot of Teddy. I don't have him in [Andrew] Luck's class as a prospect," one veteran NFC scout told SI.com.

"I don't see Bridgewater as a franchise savior like RGIII was in Washington ... Now if he went to the Houston Texans, which is a damn good team already, could he turn them around kind of like the Chiefs did this year? Yeah, he could."

When asked to compare Bridgewater to recent No. 1 picks at the quarterback position, the scout wasn't sold on how Bridgewater stacks up.

"I think when you look at a guy like Sam Bradford, he was damn good in college. I loved that guy. He was pinpoint accurate, with ball placement, timing, arm strength. He had all those areas [better than Bridgewater]. "

It's important to remember that how a player projects as a prospect doesn't preclude him from outperforming that grade as a pro. Just look at Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers. Bradford has underwhelmed as an NFL player, but remember, the former Oklahoma standout was an elite prospect entering the draft.

In fact, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers team operations coordinator Joe Bussell believes Bradford is the closest comparable recent quarterback to Bridgewater.

"I think a good comparison -- and one that might scare people away -- is Sam Bradford. Bradford's mediocre production in the NFL will frighten some, but if you remove access to those results, Bradford is one of the most highly-touted quarterbacks ever, coming out of the 2010 draft," Bussell explained.

"He received high grades in accuracy, congruent with what I see in Bridgewater. While, [Matthew] Stafford was one of those QBs that [needed] a couple years to grow in the NFL as we've seen, Bridgewater is the type [that] can come in and start immediately, while making minimal mistakes as he learns on the job."

It was clear, speaking with NFL evaluators current and former, that Bridgewater isn't in the tier of players like Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, or even Matthew Stafford in terms of pure physical ability and talent. But that doesn't take the shine off his potential star in the NFL.

In fact, the comparison many have favored when speaking of Bridgewater is Russell Wilson, a former third-round pick. Bridgewater is taller, 6-foot-3, but is slight of build and doesn't have the cannon arm of other elite prospects like Stafford or even Bradford. Coincidentally, many said of Wilson at Wisconsin that if he were taller, he would certainly be a first-round pick.

Like Wilson, Bridgewater is an efficient, accurate passer, who can improvise and beat defenses with his feet when the play breaks down. It's hard to see a play like the touchdown pass he threw against Cincinnati in December and not see flashes of Russell Wilson. His ability to throw on the move with accuracy has even been compared to Aaron Rodgers, the best in the league at beating defenses from outside the pocket

"The thing I love about Bridgewater is that we don't have to worry [about] what he is because he's so consistent in everything he does, " Bussell insisted.

"His poise allows him to not get thrown off his game. He's accurate with the football, both from the pocket and on the move."

In the play above, Bridgewater throws to a wide-open receiver by NFL standards, but on the move, from more than 30 yards away, Bridgewater puts the ball the only place he can: to the back corner, with enough room for the receiver to make the catch in bounds.

NFL Films guru and respected talent evaluator Greg Cosell sees the Russell Wilson comparison physically. But while some point to congruencies between the two as leaders and people, Cosell dismisses the notion of the "je ne sais quoi" we often speak of with quarterbacks.

"Everything, when all is said and done, manifests itself physically," Cosell said. "You have to make throws. You can't make throws just because you're a neat guy and take your offensive linemen out to dinner.

"If a guy has big-time talent, and can play the position physically and mentally, the fact that he may have the same interpersonal skills as say Russell Wilson, doesn't matter ... I think that's what people say when they're not sure of what they're evaluating."

Cosell points to Bridgewater's lack of elite arm strength as a question in the NFL -- "Can he drive the ball?" -- and says Bridgewater's footwork also needs work, but crucial touchstones like accuracy are certainly there.

One of the central questions for Bridgewater is the competition level he faced in the Big East, which later became the AAC. He simply wasn't running up against elite-level defenses on a consistent basis.

"He'd have two games on his resume that you feel really comfortable about," former Philadelphia Eagles scout John Middlekauff told SI.com.

"It's so much easier to see a guy in the SEC or Pac-12 and every week he's got Anthony Barr or Will Sutton running at him."

Even so, Middlekauff believes Bridgewater is a legitimate Day 1 starter, but he isn't in the Matthew Stafford catego

He reached 10,000 rushing yards faster than all but two running backs in NFL history. He ran for more yards in a season than all but one. He racked up more yards in a game than anyone else has ever done.

But Adrian Peterson has never taken a handoff in the Super Bowl. His counterparts around the NFL would like to see that change.

In ESPN's NFL Nation Confidential, an anonymous survey of more than 320 players around the league, players voted the Minnesota Vikings running back the player they would most like to see in a Super Bowl who hasn't been there yet.

Peterson, who won league MVP honors in 2012, claimed 18 percent of the total ballot with 59 votes, three more than Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez. Eighty-eight players received at least one vote.

"That's pretty cool," Peterson said. "It feels good. I guess guys are able to see the passion that I play with, the desire I play with, and they respect it enough to make that type of statement.

"It says a lot, and it means a lot."

Peterson came tantalizingly close to reaching the Super Bowl in the 2009 season, when the Vikings faced the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship Game. He scored three times, but his botched handoff led to Brett Favre's fumble at the Saints' 4-yard line in the second quarter and the Vikings went on to lose in overtime.

"I don't think I watched [the Super Bowl that year]," Peterson said. "We gave that one away. We gave a championship away. The NFC Championship Game was pretty much the Super Bowl that year.

"Not to take anything away from the Colts [who lost to the Saints in the Super Bowl] -- that was a good team -- but just how it balanced out, neither one of us was a good matchup they wanted to see in the Super Bowl. That was a tough one."

This year marked the fourth time in seven seasons that Peterson and the Vikings missed the postseason. Each year, he said, it hurts a little more not to be in the playoffs. Would he want to go elsewhere if the Vikings don't seem to be on the road to a championship?

"I try to stay in stride with what's going on and play my cards as they're dealt to me," he said. "I've always said I would love to finish here, with the Vikings, so I'll just stick with that."

Adrian Peterson of Minnesota Vikings picked as player that peers would most like to see in Super Bowl -- ESPN survey - ESPN

The NFL has fined Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman $7,875 for taunting tied to the recent NFC Championship Game, a league spokesperson said Friday.

The NFL official did not specify whether the fine stemmed from an on-the-field or off-the-field infraction.

Sherman was penalized during the game for putting his hands to his throat in a choking gesture directed at the San Francisco 49ers quarterback. Sherman had just deflected a pass that saved the victory for Seattle.

Immediately after the game ended, Fox Sports sideline reporter Erin Andrews interviewed Sherman and he boasted to being "the best" and maligned one of his San Francisco opponents, receiver Michael Crabtree.

Those remarks soon became national news as many fans and commentators derided what they characterized as Sherman's poor sportsmanship.



NFL fines Seattle's Richard Sherman for taunting - CNN-com

Richard Sherman's on-field celebration in the NFC Championship Game has come at a cost.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday that the Seahawks cornerback has been fined $7,875 for unsportsmanlike conduct/taunting.

After his pass deflection led to the game-sealing interception by linebacker Malcolm Smith, Sherman sprinted to San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree and offered a handshake. Crabtree responded to the mocking treatment by shoving Sherman in the facemask.

Sherman also flashed a "choke" gesture in the direction of Niners quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Sherman was penalized by officials for the behavior.

The fine is not related to Sherman's now iconic postgame interview with Erin Andrews that took place minutes later.

We'll bring you Sherman's reaction to the discipline when we get it. Should be any second now ...



Richard Sherman fined $7,875 for on-field celebration - NFL-com

The NFL wanted to manufacture excitement with the new Pro Bowl Draft format and changes to the rules. They got it.

Alex Smith led a final-minute game-winning touchdown drive as Team Rice defeated Team Sanders 22-21 on a rain-soaked field Sunday at Aloha Stadium.

Carolina Panthers fullback Mike Tolbert dove into the end zone for the two-point conversion, giving Team Rice the one-point edge it would not relinquish.

"Philip (Rivers) told them to give it to me. My old teammate, he made them give it to me," Tolbert said.

After the play he mocked Panthers teammate Cam Newton's Superman celebration.

"I told Cam I was going to mess with him if I got in the end zone, so I had to," Tolbert said laughing.

Defense ruled the day, which is not something we've seen out of recent Pro Bowls. But while the scoring stayed low, the sloppy conditions actually added to the early excitement.

Turnovers were key as Team Sanders coughed it up for three fumbles, while Team Rice fumbled twice. The teams combined for nine sacks.

Nick Foles of Team Sanders was named offensive MVP, while Derrick Johnson of Team Rice won the defensive award.

Vontaze Burfict made a fantastic diving interception for Team Rice in the first quarter as he snagged a tipped ball off the hands of Andrew Luck.

Team Sanders defensive tackle Dontari Poe returned the favor, grabbing a batted ball and returning it to the 7-yard line to set up a Newton touchdown run.

The defensive lines dominated from the start. Drew Brees was hit twice on the first drive, including a blindside sack from Gerald McCoy. On the other side, Newton was sacked four times in the second quarter alone; obviously Ron Rivera didn't ask his D-linemen to go easy on his franchise quarterback.

The teams combined for nine sacks.

"Early there was a lot of turnovers because of the weather. There was a lot of rain. and obviously that is part of the things that factor into it," Team Sanders' captain J.J. Watt said after the contest.

A bevy of exhilarating plays ensued from the outset.

Team Prime opened the scoring with a flea-flicker touchdown from Luck to DeSean Jackson. DJax snatched the ball away from Team Rice defenders to put his team up 7-0.

Team Sanders ended the first quarter with an Eric Berry interception of Brees. Given the new rules (in which possession changes at the end of each quarter), a pitch drill ensued and Darrelle Revis almost broke loose. It's the type of exciting play the NFL was hoping to manufacture with the new format.

Injury Notes: Buffalo Bills safety Jairus Byrd suffered an undisclosed injury early in the first quarter. He did not return. Byrd tweeted during the contest that he felt fine. Byrd is a 2014 free agent. Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy suffered an ankle injury.



Team Rice defeats Team Sanders in NFL Pro Bowl - NFL-com

Former NFL greats are blitzing the city to cash in on Super Bowl fever — lining up lucrative deals to appear at corporate events, private parties, even one-on-one special dinners as long as the price is right.

The average pay for most players is $10,000 to $15,000 a pop. But a draw like legendary ex-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana could command as much as $60,000, one sports executive said. “Anyone who is a good storyteller and has some connection to the NFL or football has a chance to make some money,” said Joseph Favorito, a Columbia University professor and sports management consultant.

And this year, the game’s in the Big Apple. “Normally, big corporations, hedge funds, Wall Street firms have to go wherever the game is,” he said. “This year, the game has come to them — and that gives former and current players unprecedented opportunities.”

Carl Banks, the star former Giants linebacker, told The News this week will be like one long two-minute drill until kickoff Sunday.

He’d already done about four media appearances on local sports shows Monday before heading to a paid gig. “It’s been a little bit nutty. We’ve already had a few events,” said Banks, who has deals lined up at hotels, conventions and even local stores like Bed, Bath & Beyond.

He’ll do a “chalk and talk” for a corporate client Saturday, with a coach and an NFL analyst. “A lot of these players were only in the NFL a few years, and didn’t make tons and tons of money — especially guys from the 1970s, ’80s and to some extent the ’90s,” said Rob Tuchman a sports management and entertainment consultant.

“This is how they supplement their income and the chance to do multiple events in a short period of time really helps them,” he said.



Ex-NFL players cash in on Super Bowl events in New York City - NY Daily News

The 2014 Hall of Fame class is loaded with legendary pass-rushers, stud offensive linemen and iconic wide receivers, which will make the voting process extremely difficult.

From Michael Strahan to Will Shields to Andre Reed, in all likelihood, a handful of deserving players will ultimately have to wait until next year to hear their name called to be enshrined into the Hall of Fame.

Let's take a stab at predicting this year's class.