Top News:
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
MLBPA rejects MLB's offer for federal mediator to enter labor negotiations during lockout — While Major League Baseball continues to insist that federal mediation is the best route to “break the deadlock,” the MLB Players Association on Friday rejected MLB's request for a mediator …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Call to the Pen, AZ Snake Pit, New York Post, NBCSports.com, Dodger Blue, Talking Chop and Gaslamp Ball
RELATED:
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Major League Baseball looks to federal mediator to help end sport's lockout, sources say — Major League Baseball on Thursday requested the immediate assistance of a federal mediator to help resolve the sport's lockout, sources told ESPN, potentially inserting the presence of a neutral party …
Discussion:
Sportico, Redleg Nation, True Blue LA and baseballmusings.com
Evan Drellich / MLB - The Athletic:
Why the players rejected MLB's mediation request and what's next in talks — The Major League Baseball Players Association on Friday rejected the league's request to involve federal mediation in bargaining, an expected decision the players delivered one day after MLB formally proposed the process.
Discussion:
Arizona Sports, Sports Illustrated, AZ Snake Pit, New York Post, NBCSports.com, MLB Baseball News … and Dodger Blue
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
MLB lockout: Players reject league's mediation request as two sides exchange barbs — Watch Video: Joe Buck shares his favorite World Series memories — On Friday, the Major League Baseball Players Association rejected MLB's request to involve federal mediation in their negotiating …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Evan Drellich / MLB - The Athletic:
MLB's push for federal mediation could be ‘win-win’ PR play for owners, source says — As one player agent surmised, Major League Baseball's push for federal mediation in collective bargaining talks is a “win-win” for the commissioner's office, even if MLB knows the players are unlikely to sign on for the process.
Pat Leonard / New York Daily News:
Pat Graham leaves Giants for lateral move to Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator job — The Giants blew up Joe Judge's long-term plan after only two years, and Pat Graham isn't sticking around to help them pick up the pieces. — The Las Vegas Raiders are hiring Graham to be their new defensive coordinator, according to a source.
Discussion:
Mercury News and Just Blog Baby
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Pat Leonard / New York Daily News:
Observations on Brian Flores and coach hirings thru a Giants lens — The Giants called Brian Flores' allegations of a “sham” interview “simply false.” — But people who have known Flores for a long time from various sides of the NFL business — coaches, agents, coworkers, friends …
Discussion:
Patriots Wire, Mercury News, Reading Eagle, New York Post and Giants Wire
Sun-Sentinel:
Dolphins owner fires back at Brian Flores, saying allegations are ‘false, malicious and defamatory’
Discussion:
Mercury News, Boston Herald, The Phinsider, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Rumors, ProFootballTalk and Touchdown Wire
Chris Perkins / Baltimore Sun:
What is the Rooney Rule? Here's what you need to know about the NFL guideline
Discussion:
USA Today, CNN, Boston.com and ProFootballTalk
Baltimore Sun:
Ravens president Dick Cass to retire; former Browns, Wizards executive Sashi Brown named successor — Ravens president Dick Cass will retire after 18 years with the organization and will be succeeded by former Cleveland Browns and Washington Wizards executive Sashi Brown, the team announced Friday.
Shams Charania / The Athletic:
A James Harden-Ben Simmons deal is a possibility before the NBA trade deadline: Sources — The Philadelphia 76ers and president of basketball operations Daryl Morey had been plotting to wait for the offseason to chase James Harden as a free agent and save Ben Simmons for a potential deal …
Discussion:
Nets Wire, New York Post, Liberty Ballers, Betsided, Soaring Down South, Forbes, NBCSports.com, Hoops Rumors, Bleacher Nation, Rockets Wire, NetsDaily, Yahoo! Sports, UPROXX, Sixers Wire, Fear The Sword, DraftKings Nation, Section 215, PhillyVoice, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Hoops Habit, Sports Illustrated, Elite Sports NY, Deseret News, FanSided and Sportsnet.ca
Mitch Albom / Detroit Free Press:
Jim Harbaugh opens up, insists he's a Wolverine for good, wants to win it all — On the first night of the rest of his life, Jim Harbaugh got snowed in. So he kicked back in a Minnesota hotel room, ate a hamburger and french fries from room service, and made phone calls to the important people in his life …
Harriet Ryan / Los Angeles Times:
49ers fan in coma after apparent beating outside SoFi Stadium during NFC championship — Police are investigating the apparent beating of a San Francisco 49ers fan found severely injured in the parking lot of SoFi Stadium during Sunday's NFC championship game against the Rams.
RELATED:
David Furones / Sun-Sentinel:
Saturday's Senior Bowl to showcase some potential Dolphins' draft picks — MOBILE, ALA. — The next Miami Dolphins standout rookie — or draft bust, for that matter — might be found at the Senior Bowl on Saturday afternoon. — The annual college football all-star game that serves …
Discussion:
Boston Herald and Gators Wire
Matt Bonesteel / Washington Post:
Sixteen Penn swimmers say transgender teammate Lia Thomas should not be allowed to compete — Sixteen members of the University of Pennsylvania women's swimming team sent a letter to school and Ivy League officials Thursday asking that they not take legal action challenging the NCAA's recently updated transgender policy.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, New York Post and Sports Illustrated
