NFL & NFLPA AGREE TO IMPROVED PLAYER BENEFITS

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
(212) 450-2000 * FAX (212) 681-7573

WWW.NFLMedia.com
Joe Browne, Executive Vice President-Communications
Greg Aiello, Vice President-Public Relations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL-43 7/27/06

The NFL and the NFL Players Association again have agreed to a series of improvements in NFL player benefits for retired and current players, including significant pension increases and other new benefits for retired players, the NFL and the NFLPA announced today.

The improvements are a part of the recently extended NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement and will cost approximately $120 million per year, bringing the annual cost of NFL player benefits to $700 million per year.

This is the fourth time since 1993 that benefit improvements have been made for both current and retired players.

Retired players now receive nearly $60 million per year from the Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle Retirement Plan. In addition, there are three other funds that provide more than $1 million a year in financial assistance to retired NFL players in need. They are the NFLPA’s Players Assistance Trust, the NFL and NFL Alumni Association’s Dire Need Fund, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Enshrinee Assistance Fund.

"We are proud to have the most extensive benefits package in professional sports," said HAROLD HENDERSON, NFL executive vice president of labor relations/chairman of the NFL Management Council.

"These improvements are consistent with our commitment in every negotiation to address post-career issues and improve the benefits of retired players. No other industry reaches back like this to take care of former employees."

"The current players have great respect for the heritage of the NFL and the former players that have contributed to the league's success," said GENE UPSHAW, executive director of the NFLPA. "As they have done on previous occasions, the current players strongly supported the idea of using a portion of their negotiated benefits money to fund improvements for the retired players."

Details of the benefit plan improvements that were announced today:

-- PENSIONS: Pensions of retired players will be increased by 25 percent for the amounts earned before 1982 and by 10 percent for the amounts earned in 1982 and later. The minimum increase for retired players will be $50 per month.

-- WIDOW & SURVIVING CHILDREN BENEFIT: Benefits will be tripled for the survivors of a player who dies before his retirement benefits begin.

-- NUMBER 88 PLAN: Beginning next year, players retired under the pension plan will be eligible for payment of certain medical and custodial expenses, whether provided at home or in an institution, that are a result of dementia, including Alzheimer's, regardless of the age when care becomes necessary.

The benefit will pay the cost of providing up to $88,000 per year for institutional care or up to $50,000 per year for in-home nursing care. There also is agreement to fund research on dementia. The benefit is named in honor of Pro Football Hall of Famer JOHN MACKEY.

-- TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PLAN: For players with at least five credited seasons who retire after the 2006 season, the plan will provide up to $15,000 per year for tuition expenses for the first three years after the player leaves football. Previously, this benefit was available to active players only.

-- HEALTH REIMBURSEMENT ACCOUNT: A new Health Reimbursement Account will be created for current players for use when their NFL health insurance expires (currently four or five years after retirement). The accounts will begin for players who have three credited seasons at $75,000 and increase by $25,000 per year for up to 12 seasons. For example, a 12-year veteran will leave the NFL with a $300,000 health reimbursement account. The accounts can be used to fund post-career medical insurance, including the COBRA premium, and to pay other medical expenses, both for the player and his dependents.

Other CBA benefits for players include a 401K savings plan, annuity program, insurance, severance pay and
disability benefits.

# # #

#1 Ranked Fieldposition.com Podcast Now Features Zennie Abraham (Click For Podcast)

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Roger Goodell - Sportsbook.com Odds Makers Pick Him To Be NFL Commissioner

Press Release Source: Sportsbook.com and Yahoo! Finance

Sportsbook.com odds makers choose Roger Goodell to be next NFL Commissioner
Wednesday August 2, 9:00 am ET

NEW YORK, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ - The new commissioner of the NFL is expected to be decided during an August 7-9 meeting of the selection committee in Chicago. Sportsbook.com, the world's largest online sportsbook and casino, has been following the story since Tagliabue's retirement and has updated odds now that the five finalists have been confirmed.
Roger Goodell, NFL COO continues to be the front runner, with odds of 2-5 to take the top NFL post. The COO has been working with Tagliabue since 1990 when he started as a Director, and is entrenched in all areas of the NFL business.

Goodell's closest challenger is Gregg Levy, the league's outside council, the position Tagliabue held before he became commissioner. As the chief legal consultant Levy maintains close contact with most of the team owners.

"It will be hard for the owners to replace Tagliabue, with his solid relationships with the NFLPA, owners, players and sponsors, but it is clear by the ages of the candidates that they are looking for a man who will commit to the job for many years, much like Tagliabue did," said Alex Czajkowski, Sportsbook.com. "Everybody bets on the NFL, and a shake up in the front office is no exception," added Czajkowski.

The other three finalists are Frederick Nance, a Cleveland lawyer, Robert L. Reynolds, of Concord, Mass., the vice chairman and chief operating officer of Fidelity Investments and Mayo A. Shattuck III of Baltimore, chairman of the board, president and CEO of Constellation Energy, all are listed at 10-1 odds to become the next NFL commissioner. The successor will require votes from 22 of the 32 NFL teams.

Who will be the next NFL Commissioner?

Candidate Odds

Roger Goodell 2-5
Gregg Levy 2-1
Robert L. Reynolds 10-1
Mayo A Shattuck III 10-1
Frederick Nance 10-1

For more NFL odds please visit sportsbook.com.

About Sportsbook.com:

Sportsbook.com is the largest sportsbook and casino on the planet, where millions of adult Americans bet on sports, play poker and enjoy blackjack and other casino games online in a regulated and licensed jurisdiction. Named the "Best US Sports Book" by the industry's top magazine, eGaming Review, Sportsbook.com has been leading the online gaming industry since 1996. Dwarfing its nearest competitors in the US, Sportsbook.com has been the first to achieve every significant industry milestone, from record turnover to active users to number of bets - achieving a peak of fifteen bets per second. As the US online gaming leader, the firm and it's products have been featured on CBS 60 Minutes, CNN, ESPN, Wall Street Journal, Barrons, Financial Times, USA Today and in every major newspaper in the US.

Sportsbook.com is the flagship brand for Sportingbet PLC, (LSE: SBT - News), the world's leading publicly traded online gaming company. Sportingbet PLC, headquartered in London, England, has been voted number one in the industry for two years in a row by the authoritative eGaming Review Power 50 Survey.

Jerry Porter, I Don't Care Who You Are, The Raiders Are A TEAM

Thank you Raiders Head Coach Art Shell. Thank you for bringing things just a touch back into focus. Thank you for returning to the sideline and showing some of these players that not every schmuck who's made a mint in the NFL thinks they write their own rules.

Jerry Porter is a talented wide receiver. He's big. He's fast. He has everything it takes to be star. But, he has never had 1000 yards receiving. He whined that Jon Gruden didn't give him a chance to shine and then merely flickered when Callahan and the Turner tried to ignite him. And now he wants a trade because has to work out with his stinking teammates. Well cry me a salty sweaty stinking river.

Art Shell and receivers coach Fred Belitnikof (ever heard of those guys? Yeah, me too) put their foot down. They told Porter that he could work out in the Raiders off season conditioning program. You know why? Because he's a starting wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders. You know, that team that pays a lot of money to work out everyday and play football? Everyone else on that team is buying in. They love the game, they love the tough love Shell has for the game. They know that if they want to win, following Shell leads to wins. If they love football, they don't need Shell to tell them that chemistry with your teammates starts off the field. It happens in the weight room. It happens on the practice fields when practice is over or hasn't begun.

Porter needs to get his priorities straight. He has the whole off season to chill in Florida. I'm curious, what would happen if I were to walk in to the office and tell my boss that I feel like I deserve to work from home even though all the other guys don't. I'd especially be curious as to her reaction if I said something like that after underperforming for four straight years.

Jerry Porter is up for grabs. The Raiders have set the price at two first round draft picks. They have also moved Doug Gabriel up the depth chart. The high price though, tells me they aren't really wanting to lose Porter. Not a team in the league is going to give up one number one for Porter let alone two of them. I just hope he comes to his senses.

Joseph Addai - Impresses Colts In Training Camp

Edgerin, who?

PLAY OF THE DAY - COLTS.COM

Joseph Addai impressed Colts personnel officials enough while in college to be the team’s first-round draft selection last April.

So far in camp, he has continued impressing.

On Monday, Addai -- a running back from Louisiana State University -- had a long run over the right sideline that was the highlight of the day. On Tuesday, Addai got open down the left sideline and caught a 20-yard out from Colts quarterback Peyton Manning

Indy Colts Suffer Heat Wave In Training Camp - Colts.com

EYE ON CAMP - COLTS.COM

The heat has taken a toll on the Colts in the first two days of practice.

A few players have left practice because of heat, and there have been times the tempo has been a bit less than Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy might have liked.

Still, Dungy said Tuesday afternoon the first two days have been productive and that Training Camp 2006 is proceeding as planned.

"We got a little sloppy at the end with some fatigue, but all in all, it's been pretty good," Dungy said after a morning practice at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

The temperature reached the high 80s with a heat index near 100 in the morning, and reached 93 and 104 by mid-afternoon, when the Colts held a one-hour special teams only practice.

The Colts practiced in full pads Monday morning, then went in shorts and shells Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning. Dungy said the Colts follow a schedule during training camp that he has used for many years, with rest and recovery time already planned.

"We'll get them a chance to get their legs back a little bit," Dungy said, "but all in all, we had a good first two days."

In other Colts news Tuesday, safety Mike Doss missed practice with a calf strain and cornerback Kelvin Hayden missed after heat issues Monday.

"We just wanted to make sure he’s recovered," Dungy said.

Also, backup quarterback Jim Sorgi did not practice Tuesday and defensive tackle Montae Reagor missed with a knee injury.

"We're just trying to make sure we don’t overwork his arm,” Dungy said of Sorgi. "I think Jim's going to be fine."

Dungy said he didn't believe Reagor's injury to be serious, but that he might miss a day or two of practice.

Tom Brady - New England QB Back, But Deion Branch Is Still Out - NFL.com

Brady's back, but the real story is Deion Branch. Ouch! $14,000 a day in fines? Deion Branch should tack the cost of each day he misses camp due to his poor contract to the level of increase he wants. It's only logical. Think about it. Really. The Patroits know he's unhappy with his level of pay, so why take more money away from him? That's stupid.

Brady back at Patriots camp after absence
NFL.com wire reports
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (Aug. 1, 2006) -- Tom Brady returned to the field Tuesday after missing three straight practices with the New England Patriots, but the team didn't say why the quarterback had been absent.

Brady participated in all four practices on Friday and Saturday, the first two days of camp, before sitting out Sunday's single session and both on Monday.

That left No. 2 quarterback Matt Cassel to play a bigger role. He is entering his second season after seeing little playing time at Southern California.

Deion Branch, Brady's top wide receiver, held out for a fifth day on Tuesday. He is in the final season of a five-year contract and wants a new deal. He is subject to a $14,000 fine for each day he misses camp.

Michael Vick's Reported Injury Is False According To Profootballtalk.com

Two years ago, Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick tore his hamstring during a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. On Tuesday, August 1st, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported a similar accident at this year's training camp, but Profootballtalk.com says the AJC report is overblown. We have both articles here for you to read.


FALCONS TRAINING CAMP

Vick sits with tweaked hamstring
QB might miss two practices after Tuesday injury

By STEVE WYCHE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/01/06

Flowery Branch -- Falcons quarterback Michael Vick suffered a mild right hamstring strain during Tuesday evening's practice and could be held out of Wednesday's workout and possibly Thursday's drills as a precaution, coach Jim Mora said.

"Mike tweaked his hammy a little," Mora said. "He told me when he was walking off that he felt it [pull] so he pulled up, so that was good. He didn't pull it all the way. This is the third training camp right in a row that he's tweaked his hammy a little bit but I don't think this one is significant at all.

"We'll obviously be careful with it."

Vick suffered the injury while scrambling during team drills. As he approached the sideline, he slowed down and grabbed his hamstring but did not to appear to be in pain.

He walked with a team trainer to an area behind the offensive huddle and was briefly examined by the medical staff. Moments later an ice pack was taped to the back of his right leg and he walked off the field unassisted to the training room during practice. He did not return.

Quarterbacks Matt Schaub, Bryan Randall and D.J. Shockley finished the offensive drills.

The scene was far different than when wide receiver Brian Finneran went down with a knee injury Sunday night, when there was a flurry of activity and widespread panic.

In a side note, shortly after Vick left the field, cornerback DeAngelo Hall pulled up on a play holding his right hamstring but he suffered a mild cramp and was walking around moments later.

Here's Profootballtalk.com's corrective article:

VICK INJURY OVERBLOWN BY AJC

We're hearing from some of our industry connections that the supposed injury suffered by Falcons quarterback Mike Vick is being grossly exaggerated by A. Scott Walton of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Walton reported that Vick injured his knee in a collision with a reserve tight end who had fallen off of his blocking assignment, that Vick was on the ground for a "five-count," and that after Vick got up he shook his head in "momentary dejection."

Said the source: "Vick got nudged, hit the ground, and sat there for maybe one second (five count my ass) and then got up. And he was shaking his head because he was pissed that his own guy ran into him. And the reason Matt [Schaub] took over was because they were rotating the quarterbacks."

NFL's Adam Schefter: Matt Leinart Still Unsigned - Returns to Cali..In Private Jet?

Read this carefully -- Leinart has his own private jet from what this reads. Am I wrong about that? It says "One person spotted Leinart exiting his plane in the Orange County Airport, a long way away from Cardinals training camp."

Bush and Leinart in a role reversal

By Adam Schefter - Special to NFL.com

Adam Schefter's "Around the League" reports and commentaries can be seen regularly on NFL Total Access.

(July 31, 2006) -- By Aug. 1, we already have our first significant upset of the football season.

Running back Reggie Bush is in training camp before his former college teammate, quarterback Matt Leinart.


Because Reggie Bush stayed out for so long, the other RBs got more reps.
For weeks, Bush was expected to be the training camp holdout and Leinart was expected to be the happy camper. Now, Bush is the happy camper and Leinart is the training camp holdout.

Bush signed a six-year, $51 million contract that included $26.35 million worth of guaranteed money, according to one source close to the deal. He was scheduled to arrive in Jackson, Miss., on July 31 and begin practicing with the Saints the next day. The deal, notably, makes Bush the highest-paid running back in football history, earning more than LaDainian Tomlinson or Shaun Alexander.

Yet even though the deal is done, the Saints were not entirely celebrating. Bush missed seven practices and missed any potential flights Sunday to tend to personal business he did not wrap up until Monday. The Saints were disappointed Bush did not get in sooner. But they should forget the first time Bush wraps his hands around the football and takes off the way he regularly did at USC.

At USC, it was Leinart that was getting Bush the football. But now Leinart isn't getting what he wants, so much so that on Sunday night, Leinart decided to up and leave Arizona to fly back to Southern California. One person spotted Leinart exiting his plane in the Orange County Airport, a long way away from Cardinals training camp.

Still, both sides are optimistic that they will be able to reach a deal before the week is through. But it certainly doesn't seem as if there will be any breakthrough in the next 24 hours.

Leinart's contract should be easy enough to figure. The players drafted directly in front of and behind him, linebacker Ernie Sims in Detroit and quarterback Jay Cutler in Denver, have signed. Yet Leinart apparently is seeking more money than the No. 10 overall pick typically has been paid. So far, no go.

Leinart spent much of last week in Arizona, working out, training and throwing. But now, for the time being, Leinart will be doing his work in Southern California. All while waiting to get the call to fly back to Arizona.

Roger Goodell One More Step Closer To NFL Commissioner

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
(212) 450-2000 * FAX (212) 681-7573
WWW.NFLMedia.com

Joe Browne, Executive Vice President-Communications
Greg Aiello, Vice President-Public Relations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL-43 7/30/06
SEARCH COMMITTEE SELECTS FIVE CANDIDATES
TO SUCCEED NFL COMMISSIONER TAGLIABUE

The special eight-man Search Committee appointed by NFL Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE to recommend
candidates for his successor today announced the names of five individuals to be placed before NFL club owners at a
meeting on August 7-9 at the Renaissance Hotel in Chicago.

The five nominees, according to Committee co-chairmen DAN ROONEY of the Pittsburgh Steelers and JERRY
RICHARDSON of the Carolina Panthers, are:

- ROGER S. GOODELL, 47, New York, New York. Executive Vice President and COO, NFL.
- GREGG H. LEVY, 53, Washington, DC. Partner, Covington & Burling law firm.
- FREDERICK R. NANCE, 52, Cleveland, Ohio. Partner, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey law firm.
- ROBERT L. REYNOLDS, 54, Concord, Massachusetts. Vice Chairman and COO, Fidelity Investments.
- MAYO A. SHATTUCK III, 51, Baltimore, Maryland. Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Constellation
Energy.

In addition to Rooney and Richardson, the Search Committee includes AL DAVIS, Oakland Raiders; CLARK HUNT,
Kansas City Chiefs; WOODY JOHNSON, New York Jets; JERRY JONES, Dallas Cowboys; ROBERT KRAFT, New
England Patriots; and MIKE MC CASKEY, Chicago Bears.

The finalists were nominated by the committee from a group of 185 candidates which was narrowed to 11. These 11
candidates were interviewed by the Search Committee in Detroit earlier this week. All candidates underwent an
extensive interview process assisted by the executive search firm of Korn Ferry.

The balloting procedures set forth by Commissioner Tagliabue, who will chair the meeting, will be as follows:
- Each candidate will make a presentation to the 32 clubs on August 7th in Chicago.
- Each club will be represented by an owner or owner designee.
- After these presentations, the clubs will divide into subgroups. Each candidate then will be interviewed by
owners or club representatives in each subgroup for a specific period of time.
- When these interviews and subsequent discussions among the league’s members are completed, the voting
will begin.
- Procedures will be set for determining whether particular ballots will be secret or open.
- commissioner. Attendance by every club in the league is mandatory.
- Deloitte & Touche USA will count the votes.

Joseph Addai - Video Shows Talents No Other Indy Colt RB Has

Joseph Addai could very well be the steal of the NFL Draft at least considering that he hung around long enough to drop into the lap of the Indianapolis Colts.

This video you're about to see shows a running back with a great combination of size and speed, who not only can catch out of the backfield, but has done this deep downfield several times. He's not as quick as Reggie Bush in the video, but check the competition: Arizona State, Miami, and other speedy teams. Bush had his best games against teams like Fresno State. I'm not taking anything away from Bush at all, just putting things into perspective.

Also note that Addai played in a system very much like that of the Colts: single-running-back formations, runs out of the shotgun formation, and so on. If I'm Head Coach Tony Dungy, QB Peyton Manning, and Colts Offensive Coordinator Tom Moore, I'm excited.

Here's the video:

Saints WR Joe Horn - Press Conference - Scout.com

The Saints Joe Horn talks to the local media. Here is the transcript...

Q: Can you discuss your first impressions of this camp?

Joe Horn: "I've been in this game 11 years now, so it was camp. The first day of camp is usually like that. We ran a little bit this morning, so it was kind of hard, the evening practice. It's football; it's all a part of training camp."

Q: What was the first practice like under Coach Payton as opposed to Coach Haslett?

Joe Horn: "It was fun. I was more happy for Coach Payton, because in his first year as a head coach he gets to show the world what he can do as a head coach. I was more happy for him. It was too hot and I wasn't thinking about Coach Haslett. He's doing his thing in St. Louis."

Q: Do you think Drew Brees is progressing?

Joe Horn: "Sure, he's getting more reps and obviously his arm is strong enough to throw the passes that people didn't think he'd be able to throw right now. He got through today throwing the ball very well and I'm sure they'll be highlighting that a lot tonight on ESPN."

Q: What does he bring to this team that Aaron Brooks couldn't bring?

Joe Horn: "Next question."

Q: How is this team offensively different aside from the addition of Drew Brees?

Joe Horn: "Obviously we added some talent in terms of drafting Reggie Bush and some other guys we got on the roster. We'll see. You can always talk about guys you got on your team, but until that first snap on Sunday when the bullets start flying, you really can't tell, but we definitely have some talented guys that we drafted and some free agents that we brought in here."

Q: What do you think of Reggie Bush not being here?

Joe Horn: "He has to do what he has to do. Every guy is blessed to get drafted, they have to take their time and weight out their options. Reggie Bush is not the first one who sat out training camp being the second pick in the first round. I understand. Reggie was here in the off-season and OTAs and the mini-camps, so he showed New Orleans, Mississippi and the whole world that he wanted to be with the New Orleans Saints. I'm sure he'll be here soon."

Q: How important is it that he be here sooner rather than later?

Joe Horn: "I think it's more important for him because he wants to show the world what he can do. He wants to get in here and learn the plays. He wants to show everybody that he's ready to go. We definitely want Reggie here, but he has to take his time and sort out his options and get the best deal for him and his family."

Q: What kind of impact has Drew Brees had on this team?

Joe Horn: "Big-time leadership from day one when I met Drew, he was 150 percent downhill ready to go. Then when he got on the football field, knowing he couldn't throw the ball, he was still involved. He was still trying to be the general, still trying to be the leader and I like that. I expected that out of Drew and he showed it once he started throwing the ball. He basically told the guys what he expected as the leader of this football team and that's what he stated. He wanted everyone to know that he was the captain; he was the leader of this football team. We didn't have to vote on who the captain of this football team would be, because we all knew Drew would come in here and made that a fact."

Q: Did that happen yesterday?

Joe Horn: "Yes."

Q: What do you think of holding the camp in Jackson as opposed to Metairie?

A: "I think the fans there in New Orleans, they've had us there so many years, and after Katrina, the people in Mississippi and New Orleans, a lot of people suffered and I think for us to be here, you should tip your hat off to the fans in New Orleans. We're here in Mississippi. We're giving the Mississippians a chance to come out and see us practice and be a part of the New Orleans Saints. Some of them couldn't go down to Airline Drive to see us after they get out of work for us on Friday and Saturday. It's good for us to be here and Mr. (Tom) Benson is definitely showing his love here to the fans in the Mississippi area. They should be grateful and I'm sure that they are."