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PHOENIX - Domestic violence. Questionable discipline. Player safety. Confusing officiating. Deflated footballs.The disturbing headlines that began last February never slowed down for the NFL this season. The problems — most of them made worse by the ineffectual handling — mushroomed into an imperfect storm that hurt the leagues credibility and turned the lead-up to Sundays Super Bowl into a time for damage control, not celebration.It never ceases, said Orin Starn, a Duke professor who studies sports in society. It was one crisis and PR challenge after another and I didnt envy Roger Goodell at all.At the commissioners contentious news conference Friday — Goodell fielded one question about whether he thought he should be fired and another about taking a pay cut — he was hit with a barrage of questions that spoke to the wide range of problems that punctured the leagues integrity, though not its popularity.On the one hand, youve got a league thats never been more profitable, never been more popular, agent Leigh Steinberg said. On the other hand, there was less-than-deft handling and anticipation of some major issues that have hit the third rail. Theyve transcended the hardcore football fans to become household issues.Its a tribute to Americas obsession with football that what feels like a trivial tale about flatter-than-normal footballs hasnt abated as the weeks top story, even with a looming matchup between New England and Seattle. The Patriots were accused of providing under-inflated footballs for their AFC championship win, and an investigation will be concluded after the title game. That was the lead story on all three major-network news broadcasts one evening.Another story that wont end: Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynchs refusal to play nice with the media and the NFLs uncertainty about how, or whether, to enforce rules that compel players to do interviews.I did 35 radio interviews this week, Steinberg said. Thats all anyone wanted to talk about.But its issues such as Deflategate, the confusing rules and the competence of the NFLs officials that could damage the league most.Theres a general assumption, Steinberg said, that the contests are performed with equal rules, equal officiating and the games turn on coaching and players who play on the field.Any suggestion that something else is happening, that there may be cheating or unfair enforcement, is an existential threat to the NFL, he said.The domestic violence crisis that exploded when Ray Rice — the former Baltimore Ravens running back — punched his fiancee and Adrian Peterson — the Minnesota Vikings star — whipped his son with a tree branch has been treated mostly in general terms this week.Goodell used the words domestic violence only once during his nearly 50-minute news conference, instead referring to it more than once as part of a set of complex issues.Domestic violence accusations against players garnered as much attention for the NFLs handling of them — most notably, Rices two-game suspension that was made indefinite when video of the punch surfaced, then overturned by an arbitrator — as the charges themselves.That doesnt thrill people on the front lines in fighting domestic abuse, though they do give the NFL credit for pumping money into increasing awareness. The NFL is footing the bill for a 30-second public-service announcement during the Super Bowl (half-minute spots are selling for around $4.5 million) about domestic violence that will reach tens of millions.Id call it the first step of the NFL taking this conversation to the next level, said Ruth Glenn, the executive director for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.Neither the domestic violence crisis, nor the ongoing murder trial of former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, nor any other off-field issue deterred fans or sponsors — who foot much of the bill for a $9 billion business that Goodell hopes to grow by more than double over the next decade. NFL games accounted for 45 of the 50 most-watched shows from Labour Day to the end of 2014. The Super Bowl, as always, is a near lock to be among the most-watched programs of all time.Its not guaranteed to last forever, said George Daly, a Georgetown professor of management who consulted the NFL decades ago.All these things are risky, Daly said. If you look back to, say, 1950, the NFL title game brought in less money than the Rose Bowl. Things can change.The health and safety of the leagues players poses another long-term threat. While the NFL used the week to tout a 25-per cent decrease in concussions recorded this season, another study spelling out the dangers football presents to children made headlines, as well. So did an Associated Press report detailing flaws in about three-fifths of state youth concussion laws passed in all 50 states since 2009 at the urging of the league.News about overuse of painkillers, the leagues implementation of a human growth hormone testing program that isnt as effective as it could be and the efficacy of the leagues penalties for marijuana also made headlines.All this comes against the backdrop of lawsuits. Most notably, the NFL is waiting for final resolution of a lawsuit by former players who accused the league of hiding what it knew about brain injuries so they would stay on the field. The proposed settlement is worth an estimated $1 billion.Its money the league can afford.But this season exposed some unseemly chinks in the NFLs armour —forcing leaders to rethink the way they do business. Already, theyve revamped their investigative process, are considering changes among their officiating crews and announced theyll hire a new chief medical officer.They have to look and say, What are the threats and what are the opportunities? Daly said. From what I see, there are real threats out there.___Follow Eddie Pells on Twitter at http://twitter.com/epels___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Grover Cleveland Alexander Jersey . Burris threw for 247 yards in one half of a game -- on pace for a nearly 500-yard outing -- as the Redblacks downed the woeful Montreal Alouettes 26-10 in CFL pre-season play Friday night at Percival Molson Stadium. Philadelphia Phillies Store .com) - Even-money favorite Liams Map proved a little too tough down the stretch and won Saturdays $100,000 Harlans Holiday Stakes at Gulfstream Park. https://www.cheapphilliesjerseys.us/1537...hillies.html.55 million euros (US$18.6 million) to Spanish tax authorities on Monday to cover any potential irregularities in its signing of Neymar, all the while maintaining its innocence of the fraud charges levied against it. Adonis Medina Jersey .C. -- Duke sophomore Rodney Hood is entering the NBA draft. Jonathan Papelbon Jersey . -- Jonathan Vilmas season is over and his future on the football field is in doubt.WINDEMERE, Fla. - Tiger Woods appears to be on the road to recovery again, only its no longer a question of how soon before he reaches full speed.There are a lot more cars on the road now.Faster ones, too.Woods acknowledged as much before the Hero World Challenge began when he jokingly said, Father Time remains undefeated.He still has plenty of power when hes healthy and swings freely. But theres a long list of players who hit it farther.We all eventually are losing some of the things we are able to do when we were younger, Woods said. But theres other ways to go around a golf course. ... You can win at a very late age because you dont have to physically dominate anybody. You dont have to physically beat anybody. You just have to beat the golf course.Thats a recipe for winning, but not for being the best in the sport.That label belongs to 25-year-old Rory McIlroy, an undisputed title at the moment. The most consistent threat in the majors this year was 25-year-old Rickie Fowler, who played in the final group twice and finished in the top five in all of them.The latest arrival is 21-year-old Jordan Spieth, who showed off his potential not because of the fields he beat (strength or size) but because of the stamps in his passport. In three weeks in three corners of the world, Spieth finished one shot out of a playoff in Japan, won by six shots in the Australian Open against a field that included McIlroy and Adam Scott, and then overwhelmed an 18-man field of top-50 players in Florida with a 10-shot victory.One of the more telling comments after he won at Isleworth was how Spieth defined his target.In order to take it to the next level and try and win majors, Ive got to look to Rory, Spieth said. Hes the youngest guy, the one with the most success. Hes No. 1 in the world and setting the bar. Hes the one were all chasing.Woods is now part of the chase.He did not say where he would start in 2015, but heres a sobering thought: If Woods does not play better than he did at Isleworth, theres a mathematical chance hell fall out of the top 50 by March and not be eligible for the first World Golf Championship at Dorral.ddddddddddddThis isnt the first time Woods has returned from an injury-induced layoff. But its the first time he is coming back from injury and retooling his swing under a new coach. This could take time, and thats something Woods doesnt have at this stage in his career. He turns 39 at the end of the month.Can he get back to where he was? Probably not.Can he get back to No. 1 in the world? Certainly. The last time he was in this position, it took five victories for Woods to climb back to No. 1, along with a mini-slump by McIlroy. Both are capable of doing that again.Woods is so popular as a golfer, and he demands so much attention, that its easy to fall into a trap of measuring his progress without considering the rest of the field.When he opened with a 77 at Isleworth, it was easy to blame that on rust because he had not faced any competition since the PGA Championship. Except that Steve Stricker had not played since the PGA and he opened with a 67.Woods made progress in the second round. He was attacking. He was making birdies. He was 4 under through 16 holes, which ordinarily would seem like a good score. Except that the guy playing alongside him, Patrick Reed, was 9 under through 16 holes.The competition has never been deeper — and as it relates to Woods, younger.He is responsible for that. Most of these rising stars, if not all, grew up watching Woods destroy his competition. They learned by watching him. It was different for an older generation of players who only saw Woods when he arrived on the PGA Tour, and then didnt know what hit them.He was the best anyone had seen, Reed said. He was so much better than anyone else at the time. With me growing up and watching that, I tried to copy his mental strength and go from there.And how does one copy mental strength?Be stubborn, Reed said. Focus on what youre doing and not anyone around you. You could see it just by looking at him in the eyes. If looks could kill, he would literally kill you. Its not because hes not a good guy. He was just so focused and determined to play well. And he obviously gets it. Thats what Im trying to do. ' ' '