NFL players should be safer during games thanks to several rules changes passed at the league meetings. They also might be playing longer in regular-season overtimes.

The NFL passed rules Wednesday to further protect defenseless players, including ball carriers who lose their helmet during a play. Seven of eight overall rules proposals were adopted, then several owners said they also expect the modified overtime for the playoffs that passed the previous day to be revisited in May to include the regular season.

New York Giants owner John Mara added he expects discussion and possibly a vote on using the new OT system to occur at the owners meetings in Dallas in May. The change was proposed only for the postseason by the competition committee and was passed 28-4 Tuesday.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league wants to meet with the players and the networks for some input and further discuss the ramifications of expanding the OT change.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

In a continued effort to strengthen its offensive line, the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday reached agreement on a one-year contract with temperamental guard Richie Incognito, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

he 26-year-old Incognito, a five-year veteran, spent his entire career with St. Louis after being drafted in the third round in 2005, but his tenure ended late last season following his second benching of the season by the Rams.

In a 40-point December loss to the Titans, Incognito drew two personal foul penalties for head-butting opponents, was benched by coach Steve Spagnuolo and watched the second half from the bench with a poncho over his head.

Incognito, who was named the dirtiest player in the NFL earlier in 2009 by The Sporting News, was later fined $50,000 by the NFL for the head butts.

Click here to read the full article – By of ESPN.com

Green Bay Packers tight end Spencer Havner was arrested this week on suspicion of drunken driving after crashing his motorcycle in Northern California, suffering a broken shoulder blade.

The California Highway Patrol says the 27-year-old Havner was arrested Monday after the accident about 2:45 a.m. some 50 miles north of Sacramento.

Mark Humenik, whose agency represents Havner, says the player should be “fully recovered in short order.” Messages left with the Packers and the NFL were not immediately returned Wednesday.

The district attorney’s office in Nevada County, Calif., say they are awaiting the police report before deciding whether to file any charges against Havner.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Shawn Andrews’ star-crossed career in Philadelphia is over.

The Eagles released the former All-Pro right guard on Wednesday in a move that was expected. Andrews, who missed the 2008 training camp because of depression, has played in just two games the past two years because of back injuries.

“We appreciate the efforts and contributions of Shawn while he was in Philadelphia,” coach Andy Reid said in a statement. “We have, however, decided to move in another direction.”

Andrews wrote “Bye, Bye Birds” on his Twitter page. He also said he plans to continue playing.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Although many expected the Redskins to sign former Broncos quarterback Chris Simms, Washington made a different move at the position.

The Redskins reached agreement Wednesday with former Bears and Texans quarterback Rex Grossman on a one-year deal, the team announced.

The deal reunites Grossman, 29, with Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who also spent last season in Houston.

Grossman, whose career stats include 33 touchdowns, 36 interceptions and 6,197 throwing yards, led the Chicago Bears to the Super Bowl after the 2006 season.

But he played in only 12 games the next two seasons, and left the Bears as a free agent in 2009.

Click here to read the full article – By Adam Schefter of ESPN.com

On the heels of an impressive workout at Florida’s pro day, league sources say that Tim Tebow is among those players who have been invited to New York for the NFL draft April 22-24.

Tebow, who unveiled his new throwing motion for scouts, coaches and general managers in his workout, has accepted the invitation from the league, according to an official. Two NFL personnel men told ESPN that Tebow’s workout on Wednesday boded well for the Gators quarterback, especially with those teams that were considering him as a high draft prospect.

The league did not release the entire list of players invited, though it is expected to include at least four quarterbacks — Tebow, Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford, Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen and Texas’ Colt McCoy.

The league traditionally invites players who are projected to go in the first round. A league official said that even though Tebow could be a first-round selection, the new three-day draft format also motivated the NFL to double its invitation list from nine players in 2009 to 18 at next month’s draft.

Click here to read the full article – By Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com

NFL owners will vote next week whether to allow each team a possession in overtime in the playoffs if the team winning the OT coin toss kicks a field goal on the first series.

Previously, the game would end whenever either side scores, as happened in the NFC Championship Game in January, with New Orleans beating Minnesota 31-28 on Garrett Hartley’s kick. But NFL competition committee chairman Rich McKay says a trend has developed showing too strong an advantage for teams winning the coin toss to start overtime.

If the team that falls behind by three points on the first series also kicks a field goal, then the game would continue under current sudden death rules.

The proposal is only for the postseason.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Quarterback Jake Delhomme completed his visit to Cleveland last week and drove to the airport for a flight to New Orleans. He never made it.

Travel delays forced Delhomme to return to Charlotte, N.C., where he chose to sign with the Browns without visiting his hometown Saints. The chance to start was more important than being a backup in his home state.

Delhomme, who grew up in Breaux Bridge, La., and spent his first five years with the Saints, would have been a backup to Drew Brees with the Super Bowl champions. In Cleveland, he is the favorite to win the starting job after team president Mike Holmgren and the Browns parted ways with Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn.

Delhomme’s main competition will be Seneca Wallace, whom the Browns acquired in a trade with Seattle.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

The Arizona Cardinals and former Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson have agreed to a two-year contract worth $7.25 million, a source told ESPN.com Wednesday.

The source said the deal includes $3.25 million guaranteed, and with incentives would max out at $18.25 million.

Anderson would compete with current Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart for the starting job.

Arizona’s deal for Anderson came on the heels of free-agent quarterback Charlie Whitehurst telling San Diego Chargers management earlier Wednesday that he will sign a one-year restricted free-agent tender offer. The development will allow the Chargers to begin trade talks on his behalf, a source told ESPN.com’s John Clayton.

Whitehurst has indicated he prefers to go to Seattle, according to a source; at one time, Whitehurst, who is a restricted free agent with third-round compensation, was considered a possibility to connect with the Cardinals. Because the Seahawks don’t have a third-round choice, the Chargers and the Seahawks would have to work out a trade.

Click here to read the full article – By of ESPN.com

Perhaps the greatest quarterback debate of this generation is whether or not Tom Brady is better than Peyton Manning. Although Tom Brady has the rings and the dynasty, Peyton Manning isn’t a huge pussy.

Exhibit A:

Tom Brady Commercial

Not only is saving the earth the least cool thing for a bloodthirsty football player to take part in, look at him. I’m not sure if that’s Tom Brady or Bon Jovi. Not only does he look like a lost European, but his acting skills are on par with Carrot Top. Brady’s only saving grace with this commercial is the giant slab of meat resting on the counter. The only way Brady gets points for this commercial is if that’s fresh WWF panda meat resting on the counter top.

Exhibit B:

Peyton Manning Commercial

Not only is Peyton an exceptional actor, he chooses to do commercials that make him look like the man. While Tom tries to save the earth, Peyton is pillaging it for all of its spoils. Would you rather be saving the Earth from a kitchen remodeled in the 80s, or traveling the world, blowing cash on your MasterCard, driving your Ford and relaxing seaside in a robe?

The jury is out and the evidence is overwhelming. I don’t know who the better quarterback is, but Peyton is definitely the man.

-Zach Superior

Indianapolis Colts Sports Memorabilia
and other Indianapolis Colts Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for Peyton Manning.

New England Patriots Sports Memorabilia
and other New England Patriots Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for Tom Brady.