NFL
– Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reports the players do not expect to vote on the owners’ CBA proposal on Thursday night. FB Heath Evans accuses the owners of “trying to slip” details into the proposal without coming to agreement with the players. One NLFPA source said, “They will never learn.” Players react with competitive fire when backed into a corner, which is case after the owners’ “publicity stunt” Thursday. The players have until Tuesday to recertify and vote on the CBA. On a positive note, a high-ranking NFLPA official expressed optimism to Profootballtalk that the situation will be resolved.
– The NFL has canceled the August 7 Hall of Fame game between the Rams and Bears. Commissioner Roger Goodell said that there’s simply not enough time to pull off the preseason opener. Players have suggested safety issues would be an issue with so few practices leading up to the game. The first preseason contests are now Jaguars at Patriots and Ravens at Eagles on Thursday, August 11.
– NFL Network’s Albert Breer reports the owners have voted to ratify a global settlement of the Brady v. NFL antitrust case and collective bargaining agreement. The final tally was 31-0 with the Raiders abstaining. The owners also approved a new revenue sharing system. Although the Hall of Fame game has been canceled, NFL facilities will open Saturday and the league year is schedule to begin Wednesday, July 27. Multiple reports suggest the owners’ approval will lead to a conditional lifting of the lockout as long as the players vote to approve the settlement and agree to recertify in an 8:00 p.m. ET conference call. Whether the players go along with the owners’ settlement terms remains to be seen.
– The player rep for Steelers’ OLB James Harrison (back) indicated the he is “80-85%” recovered from two offseason surgeries. The agent suggested that Harrison played at far less than 100% late season due to numbness in his legs and pain in his shoulder. Harrison is expected to be ready for “Day One” of camp.
– Free agent RB Ahmad Bradshaw sent out mixed messages in a Miami area radio interview Thursday, suggesting he would be happy with the Giants or the Dolphins. Bradshaw said there is a “75-85%” chance he will re-sign with the Giants one minute, then said he’d look good in a Dolphins uniform the next. “You could almost hear him trying increase the Giants’ offer through the airwaves,” writes Jeff Roberts of the Bergen Record. Bradshaw made it clear that the Giants have the “upper hand” and that he won’t sign for less money elsewhere. Bradshaw will also make a “business” decision, so the Giants’ offer must be competitive.
MLB
– D’Backs’ SS Stephen Drew (fractured right ankle) underwent surgery to repair on Thursday afternoon. Drew suffered the injury Wednesday while sliding into home plate. He’s not expected to return this season and will finish the 2011 campaign having posted a .252/.317/.396 slash line in 86 games.
NBA
– The Pistons are set to offer Celtics assistant Lawrence Frank their head coaching job, sources tell Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Frank has beaten out Mike Woodson to replace John Kuester. Frank should get the team back on one page again, and also ran a consistent rotation in New Jersey.