PHOENIX -- The NFL wont be adding playoff teams for 2013, and the champions of last season, the Baltimore Ravens, could open on the road because of a conflict with the Orioles. Nike Air Max 90 Herr Billigt . As the owners meetings opened Monday, scheduling was a main topic. Traditionally, the season has opened with the Super Bowl winners playing host on the Thursday night after Labor Day. The Ravens wont have that opportunity unless baseballs Orioles, who share parking lots at Camden Yards with the Ravens M&T Bank Stadium, will move their night game Sept. 5 to the afternoon. So far, theres been no progress, and Sept. 4 is not an option because its the first night of Rosh Hashanah. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell twice has spoken with his MLB counterpart, Bud Selig, seeking a solution. "Unfortunately, the only (other) option is to take the Ravens on the road," Goodell said. "We think that is wrong for the Ravens fans. We would not want that to happen. "We are working on parallel tracks for a couple more weeks. Clearly, we are getting to a point where we have to make that decision." Last year, the NFL moved the opener to a Wednesday night to avoid conflicting with President Barack Obamas acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention. Goodell also said the playoffs will not expand this season, but it will be discussed for the future. Last December, Goodell spoke about adding two or four teams to the current 12-team format. "The competition committee looked at some of the issues," said Goodell, who added the league needs to discuss expanded playoffs with the players union, too. "Now, we have a little bit of work to do before we can advance it. It clearly wont be happening for this year if there was any doubt about that." Surrounded by six Pro Football Hall of Famers at a news conference, Goodell and Jim Brown announced that the league will pay $42 million as part of a settlement with a group of retired players who sued over the use of their names and images without their consent. "We have a common good fund in our agreement that will allow us to reach out and help a lot of our players who really need help," Brown said, "and not only that, but to help their spouses who some are suffering. We have individuals who are homeless. "Today is like a coming back together because we can publicly say that we are doing something together that is going to be a landmark happening for people who truly need it." Moments later, Goodell came down hard on teams that consider asking questions about a players sexual orientation at the scouting combine. Michigan quarterback-turned-receiver Denard Robinson, Colorado tight end Nick Kasa and Michigan State running back LeVeon Bell indicated they were asked about it last month in Indianapolis. "We have been following up with the players and their representatives directly," Goodell said. "We are also this afternoon working with all of our executives that lead in that position to make sure they understand what you cant ask and what you can ask. Were a professional organization. Thats unacceptable. We will do things the right way. We will give them that education and that training. I hope that that will solve the problem." Goodell also dismissed the notion that problems caused by the third-quarter blackout during the Super Bowl will damage New Orleans chances of hosting the game again. The league believes New Orleans authorities discovered the source of the problem that caused a 32-minute delay. "They did a great job," Goodell said. "I mentioned that this morning to our membership and I think they deserve another Super Bowl." Goodell also: --Said there will be no change to the $36 million salary cap reduction the Washington Redskins were hit with in 2012; $18 million last year and $18 this year. Redskins general manager Bruce Allen recently called the penalty "a travesty of fairness." --Admitted there was improved effort in the players performance at the Pro Bowl and there will be further discussions here on its future. --Reiterated the leagues desire to place a franchise in Los Angeles. He even thought Philip Anschutzs decision not to sell AEG, which has interest in building a stadium downtown, is "very positive." "We want to get back to Los Angeles, but we are going to look at every alternative we have to do that successfully," he said. --Said the league is expanding a relationship with Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Nike Air Max 90 Dam Online .Y. -- Mark Steenhuis scored four goals and added two assists to lead the Buffalo Bandits over the Toronto Rock 12-10 in National Lacrosse League action on Saturday. Nike Air Max 1 Leopard Sverige . "I cant say much, we agreed not to say much, but talks are ongoing and Andrei wants to stay in Montreal," agent and former NHL player Sergei Berezin told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun on ESPN.com on Friday. "Well see where it goes. Hes played 13 seasons with Montreal. NEW YORK -- After more than two weeks of mostly misery, the Texas Rangers werent about to start patting themselves on the back for winning one game. Robinson Chirinos hit an early three-run homer, Adrian Beltre connected again and Texas ended a six-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the New York Mets on Saturday night. "I know we finally won a ballgame, but weve got to win more than just today," manager Ron Washington said. Alex Rios had three hits, including an RBI double off longtime Texas nemesis Bartolo Colon in a four-run first, and Colby Lewis (6-5) pitched six steady innings to help the banged-up Rangers win for only the third time in 17 games. They snapped a 10-game skid on the road, their longest since a club-record slide of 12 games in 2003, with their first win away from home since June 16 in Oakland. "Its been a rough season and weve talked plenty about this, and its a shame that it happened to us with as good of a team that we were going to have," Rios said. "But we just have to go out and play like we did tonight, have fun and enjoy what we do." Travis dArnaud homered for the Mets, who have dropped five of six and eight of 10. David Wright had a double in four at-bats as he returned to the lineup after missing seven games with a bruised left rotator cuff. Colon (8-7) went seven innings but lost his second consecutive outing after going 6-0 with a 1.58 ERA in his previous seven starts. The 41-year-old right-hander fell to 20-9 in 34 starts against the Rangers, his most wins against any team and the most by any pitcher vs. Texas. The first inning has been a bugaboo for Colon all season. "I have no idea why," he said through a translator. "I was just having trouble getting my pitches where I wanted them that first inning." Lewis allowed three runs -- two earned -- and eight hits. He struck out seven, walked none and pitched around Wrights leadoff double in the fifth, retiring his final six batters to protect a two-run lead. The right-hander has lasted at least six innings in three straight starts, compiling 21 strikeouts and no walks during that stretch. Shawn Tolleson escaped an eighth-inning jam after Texas turned Juan Lagares hard grounder into a double play. Joakim Soria, pitching for the first time in six days, worked a one-hit ninth for his 16th save in 17 chances. "Were supposed to be winning more ballgames right now," Beltre said. "All the injurries and stuff -- we still have a pretty good team, and we shouldnt be losing as much as weve been. Nike Free Run Dam. No excuse. We should be playing better, and thats what we expect." Elvis Andrus and Rios hit consecutive doubles in the first to put Texas ahead. Colon had a chance to get out of the inning down by only one, but Chirinos drove a 1-2 pitch the other way to right-centre for his eighth home run. He has six homers and 15 RBIs in his last 20 games. Beltre, who also homered Friday in the Rangers first visit to Citi Field, made it 5-0 in the third with his sixth career home run off Colon. Curtis Granderson hit an RBI double, and Bobby Abreu had a run-scoring single in the bottom half, but Lewis limited the damage. With the bases loaded, Wright flied out to shallow centre, Lucas Duda struck out, and Lagares grounded out. "Just fell short tonight," said dArnaud, who hit a leadoff homer in the fourth. Chirinos was a bit shaken up in the fifth when a foul ball hit him in the mask. After a trainer and Washington came out for a look, Chirinos and his manager playfully shoved each other before the catcher returned to his spot behind the plate. "Were not out of this thing," Lewis said. "Its only the All-Star break, so you never know what can kind of happen." NOTES: The Mets said right-handed reliever Buddy Carlyle was on his way from Triple-A Las Vegas to New York, and manager Terry Collins confirmed "there is a possibility" left-hander Jonathon Niese will be placed on the disabled list with shoulder trouble. "We will make the announcement (Sunday)," Collins said. "We are going to wait to see when he gets in here, how he is doing." ... The Rangers fielded a different lineup for the 20th straight game. Theyve used 45 players this season, most in the majors and one shy of their total from last year. ... Washington said he would encourage Yu Darvish to participate in the All-Star game if the Japanese right-hander is chosen for the AL roster on Sunday -- but he doesnt want his ace throwing more than 20 pitches. Darvishs next scheduled start is Wednesday against Houston. ... Texas 1B Carlos Pena snapped an 0-for-20 slump with an eighth-inning double. He is 4 for 36 (.111) since getting called up from Triple-A Round Rock on June 24. ... Wright extended his hitting streak to 11 games. ... RHP Nick Tepesch (3-3) starts the series finale Sunday against Mets RHP Zack Wheeler (3-8). wholesale nfl jerseyswholesale jerseys ' ' '
