NFL Capsules: Brady, P. Manning, Brees: It's time for NFL deal

NEW YORK (AP) — Calling the players’ offer "fair for both sides," star quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees — plaintiffs in an antitrust suit against the NFL — said Wednesday "it is time" to wrap up negotiations on a deal to end the league’s lockout.

At the bargaining table, though, it wasn’t that easy.

On the day Brady, Manning and Brees spoke as a group publicly for the first time, players and owners spent nearly 11 hours meeting at a Manhattan law office before pausing for dinner.

"We’re just taking a break — long day," players’ association chief DeMaurice Smith said.

Asked if they were returning Wednesday night, Smith replied, "Probably. Probably coming back."

Regardless, negotiations were expected to continue Thursday. With each passing day, the need to strike a bargain and end the first NFL work stoppage since 1987 becomes greater.

Deadlines are coming up next week to get training camps and the preseason started on time. Although it seems the sides have agreed on the basic elements of how to split more than $9 billion in annual revenues, among the key sticking points recently have been how to structure a new rookie salary system and what free agency will look like.

In a statement released to The Associated Press via the NFL Players Association, New England’s Brady, Indianapolis’ Manning and New Orleans’ Brees said: "We believe the overall proposal made by the players is fair for both sides and it is time to get this deal done."

They continued: "This is the time of year we as players turn our attention to the game on the field. We hope the owners feel the same way."

In response, the NFL issued a statement saying: "We share the view that now is the time to reach an agreement so we can all get back to football and a full 2011 season. We are working hard with the players’ negotiating team every day to complete an agreement as soon as possible."

Brady, Manning and Brees are among 10 players who are named plaintiffs in an antitrust suit that is pending in federal court in Minnesota. That class-action lawsuit was filed March 11, hours after federally mediated negotiations to arrive at a new collective bargaining agreement broke down, and the old labor contract expired. The NFLPA immediately dissolved itself, meaning players no longer were protected under labor law but instead were allowed to take their chances under antitrust law.

On March 12, the owners imposed a lockout on the players, a right management has to shut down a business when a CBA expires. During the lockout, there can be no communication between the teams and current NFL players; no players — including those drafted in April — can be signed; teams won’t pay for players’ health insurance.

A series of court rulings followed, including one last week from an appeals court that said the lockout could continue.

Talks gained steam in May, overseen by a court-appointed mediator, U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan, who is on vacation this week. Boylan ordered both sides to speak with him in Minneapolis next Tuesday, and the owners have a special meeting set for July 21 in Atlanta, where they could vote to ratify a new deal if one is reached.

That means there’s intense pressure on Smith and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to keep things moving in a positive direction. Disruptions to the planned preseason schedule would decrease the overall revenue pie.

In an added complication, a federal judge has set an Aug. 8 hearing for NFL retirees, who claimed Wednesday that the league and NFLPA "have conspired" to set low retiree benefit and pension payments in the negotiations. The retirees also say they have been illegally and intentionally excluded from the talks.

Smith and Goodell were joined at Wednesday’s meeting by a half-dozen team owners: Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots, John Mara of the New York Giants, Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, Art Rooney of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jerry Richardson of the Carolina Panthers and Clark Hunt of the Kansas City Chiefs.

On the players’ side were Jeff Saturday of the Indianapolis Colts and Tyson Clabo of the Atlanta Falcons.

Texans, Saints call off joint practices

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints will not hold three joint practices leading up to their Aug. 20 preseason games, while they await the end of the lockout.

The teams have practiced together in the previous three training camps, leading up to their preseason game. It’s become a popular event among fans in the cities, separated by only 350 miles.

Last year, the teams practiced in New Orleans before playing at the Superdome.

The lockout is into its fourth month. Negotiations between players and owners continued Wednesday in New York City.

Steelers’ Harrison to magazine: Goodell a ‘devil’

NEW YORK (AP) — Heavily fined Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison calls NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell a "crook" and a "devil," among other insults, in a magazine article.

The 2008 AP Defensive Player of the Year hasn’t been shy about ripping the league after he was docked $100,000 for illegal hits last season. In the August issue of Men’s Journal, his rants against Goodell reach another level of wrath.

"If that man was on fire and I had to piss to put him out, I wouldn’t do it," Harrison told the magazine. "I hate him and will never respect him."

His other descriptions of the commissioner include an anti-gay slur, "stupid," "puppet" and "dictator."

If the Steelers had defeated the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl, Harrison said, he would have whispered in Goodell’s ear during the trophy ceremony: "Why don’t you quit and do something else, like start your own league in flag football?"

Harrison also criticizes other NFL execs, Patriots-turned-commentators Rodney Harrison and Tedy Bruschi ("clowns"), Houston’s Brian Cushing ("juiced out of his mind") — and even teammates Rashard Mendenhall and Ben Roethlisberger for their performances in the Super Bowl loss.

Harrison calls the running back a "fumble machine" for his fourth-quarter turnover. Mendenhall said on Twitter on Wednesday he didn’t have a problem with what Harrison said "because I know him." But he also included a link to his stats from last season, which show he didn’t have a pattern of fumbling.

Of the quarterback’s two interceptions, Harrison says: "Hey, at least throw a pick on their side of the field instead of asking the D to bail you out again. Or hand the ball off and stop trying to act like Peyton Manning. You ain’t that and you know it, man; you just get paid like he does."

Steelers President Art Rooney II said in a statement that he hadn’t seen the article or talked to Harrison.

"We will discuss the situation at the appropriate time, when permitted once the labor situation is resolved," he said.

Harrison also questions whether a black player is punished more for a hard hit on a white player than the opposite. Beyond the insults, Harrison makes some serious points about what he believes are the league’s misguided attempts to increase safety.

He explains how non-guaranteed contracts make players more likely to hit high, because in the short term, a torn knee ligament is more costly than a concussion.

Harrison suggests the real way to prevent head injuries is to shorten the season to 14 games, start offseason workouts later and trim the length of training camp so "we’re not bangin’ heads so much in August; that’s where the brain trauma comes from."

Wofford prepping for Panthers training camp

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — When Wofford athletic director Richard Johnson wondered if the NFL’s labor troubles would disrupt Carolina Panthers training camp, he had an unimpeachable source to turn to — his former boss and current Carolina president Danny Morrison.

Morrison simply told Johnson the school should continue its preparations as always. "That’s what we’re doing," Johnson said Wednesday.

Wofford has been the summer home of the Carolina Panthers since the team’s first training camp in 1995 when Johnson was its basketball coach and Morrison, who hired Johnson, its AD.

Although the New York Giants, New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens have canceled plans for sleep-away training camps, Johnson has no such worries.

Still, Wofford is about a week behind schedule. Carolina was scheduled to start workouts July 29th, a date Johnson expects they won’t make. Dorm rooms haven’t been switched out — beds for a 300-pound NFL lineman are different than those of a typical student — and the training room isn’t yet set for the NFL team’s specifications.

The Panthers and Wofford are in the second year of a renewal agreement that will keep camp here through 2014, with an option for additional seasons. It’s been a fruitful union for both sides. Morrison was instrumental in wooing the Panthers in the early 1990s, a move that helped Wofford rise from an NAIA program into NCAA Division I. Wofford alumnus and Panthers owner Jerry Richardson helped the school construct its Richardson Physical Activities Building, complete with NFL quality locker rooms, meeting rooms and training facilities.

Panther practice sessions generally draw between 2,000 and 3,000 fans, with that number doubling for some stadium scrimmages.

Then there’s the buzz having the Panthers on campus generates for the liberal arts school of about 1,450 students. "No question, the exposure that we get from them being here is big for us," Wofford offensive coordinator Wade Lang said. "Obviously, we’ve got to move some things around for them a bit. But it’s worth having them here."

Lang, entering his 25th season on Wofford’s staff, said there aren’t many Football Championship Subdivision — formerly NCAA Division I-AA — schools that can match the Terriers’ facilities and that’s a direct result of the Panthers’ involvement.

The NFL club also has helped Wofford stand out from the crowd in some cases.

Richardson and Morrison attended the Southern Conference basketball championship in Charlotte, N.C., two seasons ago when the Terriers earned their first SoCon championship and NCAA tournament berth. Then this past March, former Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox, now Denver Broncos coach, attended the Terriers first-round NCAA game and talked about Wofford on national TV. "You can’t buy moments like that," Johnson said.

If talks stretch to mid-August, Johnson understands it won’t make sense for the Panthers or Wofford to have training camp here. But if the lockout ends soon he’s ready for the frenzy on campus when the Panthers’ first-round draft pick, quarterback Cam Newton, arrives.

"Like everybody else, I want to know if he’s the real deal," Lang said.

-- Pete Iacobelli

Martz: Bears could be ready quickly for Hall game

CHICAGO (AP) — The way Mike Martz sees it, the Chicago Bears could play in the Hall of Fame game on a day’s notice if necessary.

Of course, that’s not realistic and he wouldn’t want to try. But if they absolutely, positively had to?

"If we report to camp and they say, ‘Tomorrow, you’re playing the game,’ that’ll be plenty," Martz, Chicago’s offensive coordinator, said Wednesday.

The Bears are scheduled to open training camp at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill., late next week and play St. Louis in the Hall of Fame game on Aug. 7. All that is in doubt at the moment because of the lockout.

Chicago star Devin Hester said he thinks players would need a week-and-a-half of practice to prepare for the Rams game. Martz wouldn’t say exactly how much time they would need, but he did say they could be ready rather quickly.

"You don’t do game plans for those games, anyway," he said. "It’s not like a regular-season game at all. There’s not a whole lot of game preparation. You look at personnel, things of that nature, and clean things up execution-wise. The preparation for preseason games, particularly the first one, is not real hard."

Coming off a wild season in which they made a big turnaround and advanced to the NFC championship game, the Bears might be in a better spot than most teams to withstand an offseason in which there were no organized team activities and no real opportunities to work with the coaches.

Most of their core players are under contract.

They’ve been running the same cover-2 defense for years under Lovie Smith and are entering their second season in Martz’s offense, so they won’t have to adapt to new systems. That could work in their favor.

There are, however, some question marks on the offensive line and at wide receiver, although Martz insists he’s happy with what he has.

He’s assuming veteran center Olin Kreutz will re-sign once he’s allowed, that first-round pick Gabe Carimi will adjust to the line quickly and a unit that was a mess early last season because of injuries and poor play will build on the progress it made over the second half, giving Jay Cutler the protection he needs and Matt Forte the holes he wants.

The pounding Cutler took last season was well-documented. The Bears gave up a league-leading 56 sacks, but got better using the same five players over the final nine weeks.

They ran the ball more often, too, giving up 2.8 sacks per game after allowing 4.4 over the first seven weeks. Forte wound up with 1,069 yards rushing, and Martz said the model they followed in the second half is one they will continue to use.

"The biggest issue was the offensive line," he said. "When (Roberto) Garza came back (at right guard), it allowed us to run the ball. That whole side got established. The right tackle got his feet on the ground. We’ve got a great back. We want to mix this in there pretty good. We’ll be kind of judicious in the passing game. It’s a little bit different feel. Matt’s ability as a runner is substantial. The offensive line, the biggest improvement was made in the run blocking which allowed us to do all those things."

He also expects bigger things from Hester as a receiver and doesn’t necessarily think the Bears need more height there.

"Size doesn’t make any difference," Martz said. "It makes absolutely no difference. With Matt as a runner and our ability to run the ball, we get a lot of one-on-one coverage, and you have to have receivers that can beat corners one on one. And generally, the guys that can change direction and run fast — those are the kinds of guys that you’re looking for. If he’s a big guy that can do all that, that’s a rare find. A lot of times, those guys are more 5-10 guys."

He said the Bears need to get Hester the ball more after he caught 40 passes for 475 yards, and he thinks they can do that without diminishing his contributions on special teams. Hester finally returned to his record-setting ways on returns after several down seasons, running back three punts for touchdowns and averaging 35.6 yards on 12 kickoff returns.

The Bears don’t want to lose that threat. The NFL is moving kickoffs from the 30 to the 35-yard line, raising the likelihood of more touchbacks, but few can do what Hester can with the ball in his hands.

"We don’t want to do anything to diminish that," Martz said.

-- Andrew Seligman

Metrodome roof up again, nearly ready for Vikings

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have a roof over their helmets once again.

Seven months after the Metrodome’s Teflon-coated fiberglass ceiling collapsed in a snowstorm, forcing the Vikings to play their final two home games last season elsewhere, the new roof has been raised in plenty of time for the first preseason game.

Stadium officials and construction workers inflated the roof Wednesday morning as a test. No problems popped up, so the roof of the 29-year-old stadium will stay up while the finishing touches are put on a rebuilding project that began in March.

"There doesn’t seem to be any issues whatsoever," said Ted Mondale, the chairman of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, the agency that operates the facility officially known as Mall of America Field.

The new roof sits a little lower than before, to better withstand strong winds and help prevent snow from piling up in drifts. But it still sports the puffy, muffin-top look that frames the east side of the downtown Minneapolis skyline. The 10-acre surface, just one-16th of an inch thick, is held up by several 100-horsepower fans.

MSFC director of facilities and engineering Steve Maki sat in the football press box as the roof was quietly and steadily lifted to full height in about 45 minutes. Workers with poles watched from the upper deck to make sure the inner lining didn’t snag on the way up. Five others kept watch on top, casting silhouettes in the morning sun as they walked back and forth.

Most of the construction work should be done by Aug. 1, which will trigger a $500,000 bonus for Amherst, N.Y.-based contractor Birdair Inc., the company that also designed and installed the original roof. The project cost $22.7 million, including $18 million for the roof itself, and it’s covered by the MSFC’s insurance.

The artificial turf was also damaged when the roof broke open and snow poured in, and that might have to be replaced, too, but Maki said that work, if necessary, would be done by Aug. 18. The surface, installed just last summer, has been covered in plywood during the project. Bids are in, and Maki said a decision on whether new turf is needed will be made by the end of next week.

The Vikings are scheduled to play their first home preseason game on Aug. 27, assuming the NFL lockout is over. Vikings vice president for public affairs and stadium development Lester Bagley said the team is appreciative of the work.

"We’re going to get our home-field advantage back," Bagley said.

The roof collapsed after a storm that brought 17 inches of snow in a 24-hour span and high winds that prevented stadium workers from clearing the roof. No one was hurt, but the Vikings were forced to shift home games to Detroit’s Ford Field and then to the University of Minnesota, losing both times.

It was the fourth roof collapse at the facility, but the first since 1983.

Enough damage was done that the entire roof needed to be replaced, rather than just the damaged diamond-shaped panels. Under the new roof, some of the dinginess is gone and the inner lining is smaller, allowing more sunlight. New acoustical panels were also hung from the roof to improve the stadium’s sound quality.

Mondale credited Maki for his leadership of the project. Workers, who endured 100-degree-plus heat on the roof plus plenty of rain and wind over the last four months, appeared to enjoy themselves. A paper airplane was even spotted flying through one of the vent holes.

The Vikings don’t plan to play under their new roof for long, though.

They’re in the final year of their lease at the Metrodome, actively seeking a new stadium in Arden Hills, a suburb north of downtown. That effort has been stymied in part by the state’s budget deficit and government shutdown, an impasse between Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat, and the Republican-majority Legislature.

"We’re going to need to raise revenue to do this, and there really hasn’t been a lot of synergy on how that would happen at this point," Mondale said. "So we’re waiting. But we’re working. We’re being creative, and we’re being solution-focused. I think there’s still a pretty good shot that we’ll have a good proposal ready for the elected leaders to take a look at — and hopefully in the right timeframe. I know the governor wants to get this done. He wants to get this done this year."

The Vikings have been waiting for a budget deal to be struck first.

"Once that comes together, we’re confident that we’ll be ready and be in position to have a good discussion about a stadium solution," Bagley said.

-- Dave Campbell

Solar power coming to Redskins home field

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — The Washington Redskins are going solar.

The team announced Wednesday that solar power panels will be in place at FedEx Field and in the stadium’s parking lot this September. The system will provide a portion of the stadium’s electricity on game days and all of its electricity on non-game days.

NRG Energy will install 8,000 panels as well as covered parking that the team said will protect fans from inclement weather and enhance tailgating.

Panels will cover 850 parking spaces and provide two megawatts of electricity. The agreement includes an NRG-branded entry plaza at Gate A that will inform fans about renewable energy. The plaza will feature 10 electric vehicle charging stations from the company’s charging network.

NFL retirees still seeking inclusion in talks

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — NFL retirees say they have fresh complaints against the league and players they accuse of negotiating a new labor deal without them.

Hall of Fame defensive end Carl Eller is the lead plaintiff for the retirees.

Attorneys for the Eller plaintiffs asked a judge Wednesday for permission to update an existing complaint signaling their intent to sue both sides for allegedly leaving them out of the labor talks. The retirees say a federal appeals court decision upholding the lockout is one of the reasons an update is needed and so are the "unlawful" ongoing talks that don’t include them.

The retirees say the NFL and NFLPA "have conspired" to set low retiree benefit and pension payments.

A hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 8 in Minneapolis on the retirees’ complaint.