NHL proposes 50-50 revenue split
TORONTO, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- The National Hockey League offered locked-out players a new proposal Tuesday, designed to provide a 50-50 split of revenues and a Nov. 2 start to the season.
Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the proposal after he and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly held an hourlong meeting with National Hockey League Players Association Executive Director Don Fehr and Special Counsel Steve Fehr in Toronto, the NHL website reported Tuesday.
The offer splits hockey-related revenue 50-50 between teams and player salaries, and is contingent on a full, 82-game season being played, beginning Nov. 2, Bettman said, noting the League is not seeking a rollback in player salaries.
Fehr agreed it would be beneficial to play a full season, but otherwise said, "We are not in a position to make any comments about it beyond that at this point."
The league has already canceled regular-season games scheduled to be played from Oct. 11-24.
Haslem approved, Holmgren out in Cleveland
CLEVELAND, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Jimmy Haslam, approved as the new owner of the Cleveland Browns Tuesday, said team President Mike Holmgren will retire following the season.
Haslem got the nod from his fellow NFL owners in a Tuesday vote and told reporters at an introductory news conference Holmgren will step down at the end of season, handing over his duties to former Philadelphia Eagles president Joe Banner.
"With us coming in and taking a more active role, Mike has decided at the end of the year to leave the Cleveland Browns and retire," Haslam said. "Mike will work closely with us over the next four months to make this transition as easy as possible."
Haslem added Holmgren and Banner "will work together to transition, in a seamless fashion, to bring a winner to the Cleveland Browns."
Haslem in August agreed to buy a 70 percent stake in the Browns from Randy Lerner, who will still own 30 percent.
Holmgren, 64, has served as team president since December 2009, but the Browns have managed just 10 wins since then.
Banner resigned as the Eagles' president in June after running their affairs since 1995.
Cardinals QB Kolb out indefinitely
GLENDALE, Ariz., Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Oft-injured Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb is out indefinitely after getting knocked out of Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills.
Team officials said Kolb did not break any ribs or his sternum when two Bills defenders landed on top of him on a running play with 2 minutes remaining and his team trailing by a field goal. He was replaced by John Skelton who led the Cardinals to a score-tying 61-yard kick and back down the field again for what would have been a game-winning 38-yard field goal that kicker Jay Feeley shanked off the left upright.
Bills safety Jarius Byrd intercepted a Skelton pass deep in Arizona territory in overtime, leading to the Bills victory.
Cardinals Coach Ken Wisenhunt has not commented on Kolb's injury and the team hasn't disclosed details on the nature of it.
Skelton won the starting job out of training camp but went down with a sprained ankle in the team's season opener. Kolb took over and has had success, throwing for 1,169 yards and eight touchdowns with three interceptions. His offensive line hasn't done him any favors though, allowing a league-high 27 sacks.
NCAA moving title games from N.J.
TRENTON, N.J., Oct. 16 (UPI) -- The NCAA said it will move five collegiate championships out of New Jersey in response to the state's push to legalize sports betting.
The NCAA, the governing body for collegiate sports, said the affected events are: Division I men's and women's swimming and diving meets; early-round games in the Division I women's basketball tournament; Division III men's volleyball; and Division II and III women's lacrosse.
New Jersey lawmakers have passed legislation legalizing sports betting in 2013, though the NCAA and professional sports leagues are expected to challenge the matter in court, The (Newark, N.J.) Star-Ledger reported Tuesday.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie had harsh words for the NCAA in a statement after the organization announced it is moving the championships.
"The NCAA wants to penalize New Jersey for legalizing what occurs illegally every day in every state and often with the participation of organized crime," Christie said. "But the NCAA looks the other way for that? Ludicrous and hypocritical."
