Football preparing the ground for first gay players

By Simon Evans

MIAMI (Reuters) - They're big, they're tough, and, presumably, some of them are gay, but so far not a single active NFL player has come out and said so. After NBA player Jason Collins broke that barrier this week, the National Football League is making sure it will be ready for any coming out party.

Earlier this year, at least three college football players said they had been asked about their sexual orientation during NFL recruitment interviews, sparking calls for the NFL to do more to fight discrimination.

Just hours before Collins' coming out statement was published by Sports Illustrated on Tuesday, the NFL - America's most popular sport, with $9 billion a year in revenue - released a ‘workplace conduct statement' regarding sexual orientation.

"The NFL has a long history of valuing diversity and inclusion. Discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation is not consistent with our values and is unacceptable in the National Football League," league commissioner Roger Goodell says in the document.

League spokesman Greg Aiello told Reuters that the timing of the release was purely coincidental and that the document had been worked on for several weeks with no advance notice given to the NFL about Collins's impending statement.

The memo, sent to chief executives, club presidents, head coaches and general managers, highlights a tough policy on reporting acts of discrimination or harassment and makes clear that questions about sexuality are not permitted during recruitment interviews.

Collins' statement, and the reaction to it, has raised expectations that other gay athletes will feel the time is right to come out. Leading players in the NBA, including LeBron James and Kobe Bryant and top coaches such as Boston Celtics' Doc Rivers, expressed support for Collins.

Several reports have indicated that one or more NFL players may be close to coming out.

Earlier this month, Brendon Ayanbadejo, who played in the Super Bowl-winning Baltimore Ravens team last season, said up to four players were considering jointly revealing their sexuality.

"I think it will happen sooner than you think," Ayanbadejo told the Baltimore Sun.

"We're in talks with a handful of players who are considering it. There are up to four players being talked to right now and they're trying to be organized so they can come out on the same day together. It would make a major splash and take the pressure off one guy.

"The NFL and organizations are already being proactive," he said.

Ayanbadejo is a leading member of Athlete Ally, a group which brings together straight athletes in support of gay rights, and one of several gay rights groups that have been involved in behind-the-scenes talks with the NFL.

Former NFL player Wade Davis, who came out as gay after his career in the sport, believes that an American football locker-room is essentially no different than any other workplace.

"You are always going to have a smattering of players who aren't going to be comfortable with it but that's the same in any part of society, sports or otherwise," Davis told Reuters.

But Davis, who left the NFL in 2003 after trying his luck with Tennessee, Seattle and the Washington Redskins, believes there has been a real change in the attitude of players in the past decade.

"When I was playing there were really no conversations about what it means to be a gay athlete. I think the climate has definitely changed and I think also in society you have more people who are gay and lesbian who are coming out, so everyone pretty much knows another person who is gay."

But not everyone is convinced the NFL is ready.

"I don't think football is ready, there are too many guys in the locker-room and, you know, guys play around too much," former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, now a television analyst with NBC, told NBC Sports Radio on Tuesday.

"Hopefully one guy comes out of the closet and (will) be comfortable with himself," Ward said.

"I don't have anything against a gay football player or a gay person period, so if he does, he has support from me. I want people to live their lives for who they are and (they) don't have to hide behind closed doors to do that."

Shortly after the Collins announcement, Mike Wallace, a wide receiver Miami Dolphins, was criticized for a tweet that said: "All these beautiful women in the world and guys wanna mess with other guys, SMH (Shaking My Head)." He later deleted the message and apologized for any offense caused.

Wallace's reaction was not quite on the scale of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver who made headlines before this year's Super Bowl by saying he would not welcome a gay player into the team's locker-room.

Culliver spent a pre-Super Bowl media session with scores of television cameras pointed in his face as he repeated his apology for an hour.

Gay rights groups say that making the locker room ready requires more than just stamping down on homophobic comments on the field or in social media and involves a process of education.

Aaron McQuade, of gay rights group GLAAD, says the NFL has responded well to the group's suggestions that proscribing discrimination isn't enough on its own.

"We are part of a coalition that has been meeting with the NFL and speaking with them for almost a year now about ways to stop coming down hard on guys for saying something that they didn't think about and start educating them," McQuade told Reuters.

"We are still very early in the process but it's moving along fairly quickly," he added. "The NFL is absolutely committed to not just punishing the players that misbehave but actually educating the players about these issues."

(Reporting By Simon Evans; Editing by Claudia Parsons)

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Breaking a sports barrier, NBA's Jason Collins comes out as gay

Veteran basketball player Jason Collins announced on Monday that he was gay, smashing through one of the final frontiers in U.S. sports with a frank personal statement and winning warm praise as a groundbreaker.

Collins, a 12-year player in the National Basketball Association (NBA), became the first active athlete from any of the four major U.S. men's professional sports leagues to come out publicly as gay.

He was quickly enveloped in a wave of support from the White House to tennis player Martina Navratilova, a pioneer for gay athletes in sport.

Collins is not a well-known sports star but is now likely to become famous for his stance. He revealed the secret he had harbored for years in a first-person account published in Sports Illustrated, saying he had gradually become frustrated with having to keep silent on his sexuality.

"I'm a 34-year-old NBA center," his essay began. "I'm black. And I'm gay."

Collins said he had considered coming out years ago but it was the Boston Marathon bombings this month that convinced him not to wait any more for a perfect moment to come out.

"I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, 'I'm different.' said Collins, who played last season with the Boston Celtics and then the Washington Wizards and is currently a free agent. "If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand."

Players, administrators and some politicians applauded him for taking a stance. Some hailed it as a landmark day in American civil rights, perhaps as important as when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball.

President Barack Obama, a big fan of the NBA who regularly plays pickup basketball with his friends, called Collins to express his support, a White House official said.

"I can certainly tell you that here at the White House we view that as another example of the progress that has been made and the evolution that has been taking place in this country, and commend him for his courage, and support him in his - in this effort and hope that his fans and his team support him going forward," said White House spokesman Jay Carney.

DEBATE OVER GAY RIGHTS

Collins' move came at a time of shifting attitudes toward gay rights in the United States, where polls show public opinion is fast moving toward greater acceptance, although a core of social conservatives oppose such change.

Some in sports declined to join the chorus of voices in support of Collins. Sportswriter Chris Broussard, speaking on ESPN television, grouped homosexual acts with adultery and premarital sex, saying he believed this was "walking in open rebellion to God."

In the coming months, the Supreme Court will rule on whether to strike down parts of a federal law that defines marriage as the union between a man and a woman. In 2011, the military repealed a ban on openly gay soldiers.

"Jason's announcement today is an important moment for professional sports and in the history of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community," former U.S. president Bill Clinton said in a statement.

NBA commissioner David Stern said he was proud of Collins for taking a brave stance.

"Jason has been a widely respected player and teammate throughout his career and we are proud he has assumed the leadership mantle on this very important issue," Stern said.

In a country where it is no longer news for politicians and entertainers to be openly gay, there had been questions over the lack of an openly gay player in the big four men's professional leagues: the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, the National Hockey League and Major League Baseball.

Sports, which helped play a key role in changing public opinion on racial discrimination, had come to seem out of step with much of the rest of American society.

Collins, who has played with six different teams during his 12 years in the NBA, said he never had any grand plans to be the first openly gay player, but events off the basketball court persuaded him to come out.

He was inspired by last year's gay pride parade in Boston, he said, but delayed making an announcement due to a desire to protect his team, waiting until the end of the regular 2012-2013 season ended. Collins was also prompted by the April 15 Boston Marathon bombings which killed three people and wounded more than 200, he said.

"The recent Boston Marathon bombing reinforced the notion that I shouldn't wait for the circumstances of my coming out to be perfect," he wrote in Sports Illustrated. "Things can change in an instant, so why not live truthfully?

PRAISE FLOODS IN

Kobe Bryant, one of the NBA's greatest players, was fined $100,000 in 2011 for a homophobic slur. On Monday, he was among the first of dozens of active players who took to social media to applaud Collins.

"Proud of @jasoncollins34. Don't suffocate who u r because of the ignorance of others," Bryant tweeted.

Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash tweeted: "The time has come. Maximum respect."

There are openly gay players in many top professional leagues in other countries in the world as well as smaller leagues in North America and individual sports.

Navratilova, the tennis star who also became a champion for gay rights, said Collins would feel like a burden had been lifted from him.

"Hey Jason Collins-you are now an activist!!! And trust me, you will sleep a lot better now - freedom is a sweet feeling indeed!," she tweeted.

Other gay athletes, including former NBA center John Amaechi, had waited until their retirement to divulge their sexuality publicly, but there was a growing sense that times were changing.

Earlier this year, the American soccer player Robbie Rogers outed himself, although he had just retired. And Brittney Griner, one of the country's top women's basketball players, said she too was gay.

But there were still no currently playing, openly gay athletes from the four biggest men's leagues.

The question came into sharp focus this year around the National Football League (NFL), usually viewed as the most macho of America's pro sports.

In the days leading up to this year's Super Bowl in New Orleans in February, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver told reporters he would not welcome a gay teammate into the locker room.

He later retracted his comments but reports later emerged of NFL teams asking college players about their sexuality at a scouting session in February.

This prompted the New York State attorney general to send a letter to the NFL, urging the league to take action and adopt a formal policy on discrimination over sexual orientation.

High-profile NFL players, most notably Chris Kluwe and Brendon Ayanbadejo, began advocating for gay rights, and suggested there were a handful of players ready to come out once someone had taken the first step.

"All of us have huge admiration for what Jason is doing," said Patrick Burke, co-founder of equal rights advocacy group You Can Play.

"Jason's courage in stepping forward with his personal story will provide athletes and fans with a new role model."

(Editing by Frances Kerry and Tim Dobbyn)

View the original article here

Collins finds reaction to coming out "incredible"

NBA player Jason Collins, who became the first gay man to come out while playing in one of America's major professional leagues, said he has been startled by the positive reaction.

"Its incredible, you just try to live an honest genuine life and the next thing you know, you've got the president calling you," he told ABC's Good Morning America on Tuesday.

Collins said President Barack Obama had been encouraging in the telephone conversation.

"He was incredibly supportive and said he was proud of me and said this not only affected my life but others going forward," he said.

Asked about the scale of reaction to his decision to come out, Collins said: "That's kind of mind-boggling... I never set out to be the first," he said.

"I'm ready to raise my hand but, you know, you still look around like, 'OK, come on guys.'

"It's time for someone else in the room to raise their hand and say: 'You know what? Yeah, so big deal. I can still play basketball. I can still help the team win, and that's what's most important,'" he added.

The 34-year-old center revealed his sexuality in an article published by Sports Illustrated on Monday and said he was glad that he was now 'out'.

"I know that I, right now, am the happiest that I've ever been in my life," he said.

"A huge weight has been lifted. I've already been out to my family and my friends, but just to, you know, sort of rip the Band-Aid off and come out on my own terms."

Collins is currently a free agent after spending last season with the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards but said he expects future team-mates to welcome him.

"From my team-mates I am expecting support because that is what I would do for my team-mates, team is like a family and the NBA is like a brotherhood and I am looking it at that we will all support each other on and off the court," he said.

Asked about what advice he would give to a young gay man hoping to make it in the NBA, Collins said he should focus on the game.

"It doesn't matter that you are gay but the key thing is - its about basketball. Its about working hard, its about sacrificing for your team," he said.

Collins could well be the first of several gay players in top sports to come out but he said everyone's decision on how open to be was based on their own circumstances.

"I hope that every player makes a decision that leads to their own happiness. I know that I, right now am the happiest I have been in my life," he said.

(Reporting by Simon Evans, editing by Justin Palmer)

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Collins comes out as first openly gay player in U.S. sports

* First current player in the four big U.S. men's sports

* NBA Commissioner praises Collins for breaking barrier

* Obama calls Collins to express support (Adds Obama call, critical remarks by sportswriter)

By Julian Linden

NEW YORK, April 29 (Reuters) - Veteran basketball player Jason Collins announced on Monday that he was gay, smashing through one of the final frontiers in U.S. sports with a frank personal statement and winning warm praise as a groundbreaker.

Collins, a 12-year player in the National Basketball Association (NBA), became the first active athlete from any of the four major U.S. men's professional sports leagues to come out publicly as gay.

He was quickly enveloped in a wave of support from the White House to tennis player Martina Navratilova, a pioneer for gay athletes in sport.

Collins is not a well-known sports star but is now likely to become famous for his stance. He revealed the secret he had harbored for years in a first-person account published in Sports Illustrated, saying he had gradually become frustrated with having to keep silent on his sexuality.

"I'm a 34-year-old NBA center," his essay began. "I'm black. And I'm gay."

Collins said he had considered coming out years ago but it was the Boston Marathon bombings this month that convinced him not to wait any more for a perfect moment to come out.

"I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, 'I'm different.' said Collins, who played last season with the Boston Celtics and then the Washington Wizards and is currently a free agent. "If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand."

Players, administrators and some politicians applauded him for taking a stance. Some hailed it as a landmark day in American civil rights, perhaps as important as when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball.

President Barack Obama, a big fan of the NBA who regularly plays pickup basketball with his friends, called Collins to express his support, a White House official said.

"I can certainly tell you that here at the White House we view that as another example of the progress that has been made and the evolution that has been taking place in this country, and commend him for his courage, and support him in his - in this effort and hope that his fans and his team support him going forward," said White House spokesman Jay Carney.

DEBATE OVER GAY RIGHTS

Collins' move came at a time of shifting attitudes toward gay rights in the United States, where polls show public opinion is fast moving toward greater acceptance, although a core of social conservatives oppose such change.

Some in sports declined to join the chorus of voices in support of Collins. Sportswriter Chris Broussard, speaking on ESPN television, grouped homosexual acts with adultery and premarital sex, saying he believed this was "walking in open rebellion to God."

In the coming months, the Supreme Court will rule on whether to strike down parts of a federal law that defines marriage as the union between a man and a woman. In 2011, the military repealed a ban on openly gay soldiers.

"Jason's announcement today is an important moment for professional sports and in the history of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community," former U.S. president Bill Clinton said in a statement.

NBA commissioner David Stern said he was proud of Collins for taking a brave stance.

"Jason has been a widely respected player and teammate throughout his career and we are proud he has assumed the leadership mantle on this very important issue," Stern said.

In a country where it is no longer news for politicians and entertainers to be openly gay, there had been questions over the lack of an openly gay player in the big four men's professional leagues: the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, the National Hockey League and Major League Baseball.

Sports, which helped play a key role in changing public opinion on racial discrimination, had come to seem out of step with much of the rest of American society.

Collins, who has played with six different teams during his 12 years in the NBA, said he never had any grand plans to be the first openly gay player, but events off the basketball court persuaded him to come out.

He was inspired by last year's gay pride parade in Boston, he said, but delayed making an announcement due to a desire to protect his team, waiting until the end of the regular 2012-2013 season ended. Collins was also prompted by the April 15 Boston Marathon bombings which killed three people and wounded more than 200, he said.

"The recent Boston Marathon bombing reinforced the notion that I shouldn't wait for the circumstances of my coming out to be perfect," he wrote in Sports Illustrated. "Things can change in an instant, so why not live truthfully?

PRAISE FLOODS IN

Kobe Bryant, one of the NBA's greatest players, was fined $100,000 in 2011 for a homophobic slur. On Monday, he was among the first of dozens of active players who took to social media to applaud Collins.

"Proud of @jasoncollins34. Don't suffocate who u r because of the ignorance of others," Bryant tweeted.

Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash tweeted: "The time has come. Maximum respect."

There are openly gay players in many top professional leagues in other countries in the world as well as smaller leagues in North America and individual sports.

Navratilova, the tennis star who also became a champion for gay rights, said Collins would feel like a burden had been lifted from him.

"Hey Jason Collins-you are now an activist!!! And trust me, you will sleep a lot better now - freedom is a sweet feeling indeed!," she tweeted.

Other gay athletes, including former NBA center John Amaechi, had waited until their retirement to divulge their sexuality publicly, but there was a growing sense that times were changing.

Earlier this year, the American soccer player Robbie Rogers outed himself, although he had just retired. And Brittney Griner, one of the country's top women's basketball players, said she too was gay.

But there were still no currently playing, openly gay athletes from the four biggest men's leagues.

The question came into sharp focus this year around the National Football League (NFL), usually viewed as the most macho of America's pro sports.

In the days leading up to this year's Super Bowl in New Orleans in February, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver told reporters he would not welcome a gay teammate into the locker room.

He later retracted his comments but reports later emerged of NFL teams asking college players about their sexuality at a scouting session in February.

This prompted the New York State attorney general to send a letter to the NFL, urging the league to take action and adopt a formal policy on discrimination over sexual orientation.

High-profile NFL players, most notably Chris Kluwe and Brendon Ayanbadejo, began advocating for gay rights, and suggested there were a handful of players ready to come out once someone had taken the first step.

"All of us have huge admiration for what Jason is doing," said Patrick Burke, co-founder of equal rights advocacy group You Can Play.

"Jason's courage in stepping forward with his personal story will provide athletes and fans with a new role model." (Editing by Frances Kerry and Tim Dobbyn)

View the original article here

Collins is 'happiest' ever, but not everyone celebrates gay NBA player

Veteran basketball player Jason Collins basked in support and declared himself as happy as he had ever been on Tuesday, but not everyone was pleased about his becoming the first openly gay player in North America's four major professional sports leagues.

Collins revealed he was gay on Monday in a Sports Illustrated article, a reluctant pioneer who broke one of the last barriers of American sport.

He was given the presidential seal of approval when Barack Obama personally called to congratulate him, and also received overwhelming support from other professional athletes and celebrities from the entertainment world.

Appearing on a popular breakfast television show on Tuesday, Collins looked and sounded like a man at ease with himself.

"I know that I, right now, am the happiest that I've ever been in my life," he told Good Morning America.

"A huge weight has been lifted. I've already been out to my family and my friends, but just to, you know, sort of rip the Band-Aid off and come out on my own terms."

Not everyone was applauding Collins, a center who played last season with the Boston Celtics and the Washington Wizards. While most comments seemed positive, there were also critics.

Hines Ward, a former wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL), said the sport would not embrace homosexuality.

"I don't think football is ready," said Hines, now a television analyst with NBC. "There are too many guys in the locker room and, you know, guys play around too much."

Ward was not the first, nor likely the last, from the testosterone-fueled and violent world of American football to express public discomfort.

Sportswriter Chris Broussard, speaking on ESPN television, grouped homosexual acts with adultery and premarital sex, saying he believed this was "walking in open rebellion to God."

Other commentators suggested that Collins' move was easier because he is not a star and not in his prime. A 34-year-old veteran who has played for six different teams in his 12-year NBA career, Collins is a free agent looking for a new team.

His announcement came at a time of shifting attitudes toward gay rights in the United States, where polls show public opinion is fast moving toward greater acceptance, although a core of social conservatives oppose such change.

In the coming months, the Supreme Court will rule on whether to strike down parts of a federal law that defines marriage as the union between a man and a woman. In 2011, the military repealed a ban on openly gay soldiers.

OTHER SPORTS GEAR UP

While Collins is the first active player in the four major men's sports, comprising the NBA, NFL, National Hockey League (NHL) and Major League Baseball (MLB), no one thinks he is the last. The other major sports leagues were making preparations for one of their own to come out.

The NFL has been under fire for its perceived homophobic culture but has been busy scrambling to make up ground.

In the days leading up to this year's Super Bowl in New Orleans, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver told reporters he would not welcome a gay teammate into the locker room.

He retracted his comments but a few weeks later, at least three college football players said they had been asked about their sexual orientation during NFL recruitment interviews, sparking calls for the NFL to do more to fight discrimination.

On Monday, just hours before Collins' admission he was gay became headline news, the NFL - America's most popular sport, with $9 billion a year in revenue - released a ‘workplace conduct statement' regarding sexual orientation.

"The NFL has a long history of valuing diversity and inclusion. Discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation is not consistent with our values and is unacceptable in the National Football League," league commissioner Roger Goodell said.

In the NHL, another rough and rugged league, officials said they had been preparing for years for the arrival of their first openly gay player.

The NHL and the players' union entered into a formal partnership with the You Can Play Project, an advocacy organization that fights homophobia in sports.

"We don't want any segment of society to feel alienated from the game, to be the subject of slurs, to feel uncomfortable, whether as a fan or in the locker room," NFL Commissioner Gary Bettman said.

American media turned to two questions on Tuesday: How many active gay players are out there in the big sports leagues and who is next?

The answer to the second question could be answered soon. Obama told Collins he not only changed his own life but the lives of others. In the case of one soccer player, that seemed prophetic.

In the past, wary of reaction from teammates and fans, players have waited until they retired before announcing they were gay. The most recent was Robbie Rogers, a U.S. national soccer team player.

In February, he announced he was gay on the same day he was retiring. But on Tuesday, he was back at training, accepting an offer to practice with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

(Editing by Frances Kerry and Philip Barbara)

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Bucs CB Barber to retires after 16 seasons

Three-time All-Pro Ronde Barber is retiring after a 16-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that included a Super Bowl title and five Pro Bowl appearances.

The Bucs announced Wednesday night that the 38-year-old twin brother of former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber will not return to play on a defense overhauled since the end of last season. Tampa Bay acquired Darrelle Revis, Dashon Goldson and second-round draft pick Johnthan Banks for its secondary.

The retirement was first reported by Fox Sports.com, who quoted Barber as saying: "I've had a better run than I ever could've dreamed of having."

Tiki Barber, who retired from the Giants after the 2006 season, had a post on his Twitter account that read: "Congrats & happy for my twin, Ronde, who's hanging up the cleats!"

Ronde Barber played cornerback for 15 seasons before moving to safety last year. He played his entire career with the Bucs and is the franchise leader in interceptions with 47. He also scored eight touchdowns and had 28 sacks in 241 games.

"Ronde is synonymous with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, establishing himself as one of our franchise's iconic players over a 16-year, Hall of Fame-worthy career," Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer said in a statement. "When anyone thinks of Ronde, they think of a true professional and leader. He approached every day the same, giving everything he had to make himself and his teammates the best they could be. We will miss him."

Barber was a third-round pick out of Virginia is 1997 and struggled early in his career, appearing in just one game as a rookie. He finished with a stretch of 215 consecutive starts, tied for the sixth-longest streak in NFL history.

A team captain for the past nine years, Barber made the transition from cornerback to safety in 2012, Tampa Bay's first season under coach Greg Schiano.

Schiano's top priority this offseason was revamping a secondary that nearly set a league record for most yards passing allowed in a season.

The Bucs began reshaping the defense with the signing of Goldson, an All-Pro safety last season in San Francisco, to a five-year, $41.25 million deal in free agency. Last month, the team traded the 13th overall pick in the draft to the New York Jets in exchange for Revis, a three-time All Pro cornerback who also got a new six-year, $96 million contract.

With veteran Eric Wright returning and last year's No. 1 draft pick Mark Barron entering his second season at safety, that left little room for Barber in Tampa Bay's plans — especially after Banks was selected in the second round of the draft to compete with Wright for a starting job.

Barber is the only player in NFL history with 40-plus interceptions and 25 or more sacks. He returned eight picks for regular-season touchdowns and clinched Tampa Bay's victory over Philadelphia in the 2002 NFC championship game with a 92-yard return for a TD off Donovan McNabb.

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49ers reach stadium naming rights deal with Levi's

The future home of the San Francisco 49ers will be called Levi's Stadium.

The 49ers and Levi Strauss & Co. announced an agreement Wednesday for a $220 million, 20-year naming rights deal for the team's stadium in Santa Clara.

Levi's CEO Chip Bergh and 49ers CEO Jed York announced the deal at Levi's Plaza in San Francisco. Santa Clara Mayor Jamie Matthews and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee also attended the news conference.

While the stadium will be in the heart of technology-rich Silicon Valley, the San Francisco-based apparel company best known for its jeans will hold the name. The proposal, which also has an option to be extended for an additional five years, will be submitted to the Santa Clara Stadium Authority for approval Thursday.

"Levi's jeans were designed for the 49ers during the gold rush," York said. "It was a good fit for them then and it's a good fit today."

The upcoming season will be the 49ers' last at historic Candlestick Park in San Francisco. The team is planning to move to the new $1.2 billion stadium, about 45 miles south in Santa Clara and adjacent to the 49ers practice facility, for the 2014 season.

The naming rights deal will not only help fund the project, it will likely give another boost to the 49ers' hopes of hosting a Super Bowl soon. The 49ers are bidding for the Super Bowls played in February 2016 and 2017 with hopes of landing one.

A decision on which cities will host the upcoming Super Bowls is expected to be made during the NFL's meetings in Boston from May 20-22. Miami and San Francisco-Santa Clara are in the running for the 2016 Super Bowl and the runner-up will compete with Houston for the following year's game.

The annual average of $11 million is believed to be the second-largest stadium naming rights deal in the NFL and largest for a single team. MetLife Stadium, home to the New York Giants and New York Jets, has a $400 million deal for 25 years.

The 49ers and Levi's both touted their deep roots in the Bay Area in coming together.

Levi's, which reported net revenues of $4.6 billion for the 2012 fiscal year, was founded in 1853 when German immigrant Levi Strauss opened a dry goods store in San Francisco. In 1873, Levi's created the first blue jean by adding copper rivets to denim pants for workers in the American West. The 49ers have won five Super Bowls and were the first major professional sports team to be based in San Francisco more than 60 years ago.

"Levi's Stadium will connect two iconic Bay Area brands that share similar values, a rich heritage and a pioneering spirit," Bergh said. "Joining the incredible legacy of the 49ers organization is a perfect fit for the Levi's brand — and a chance for us to engage with sports and music fans across the Bay Area and around the world."

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Done with Jets, 6 job possibilities for Tim Tebow

NEW YORK (AP) — Tim Tebow was "excited" about coming to the New York Jets. So much so, he used the word 44 times in his introductory news conference in March 2012.

Well, he must be pretty thrilled to leave.

After a failed one-year stint with the Jets, who never found a consistent or effective role for the backup quarterback, Tebow is free to explore other options after New York released him Monday.

Tebow spent most of his time on the sideline with the Jets, except when he was serving as the personal protector on punts, and never earned the confidence of Rex Ryan even when Mark Sanchez was benched. Meanwhile, Tebow did all he could to not show that he was, well, the opposite of excited.

Tebow believes he is still an NFL-caliber quarterback and it appeared his hometown of Jacksonville would be the obvious landing spot — until new general manager David Caldwell insisted that wouldn't happen.

There are plenty of opinions on what the football future holds for Tebow, but here's our Pick 6 of potential job opportunities:

CHICAGO BEARS

The presence of new coach Marc Trestman and former Jets QBs coach Matt Cavanaugh make the Bears a possibility to sign Tebow, who would be a backup again behind Jay Cutler. Trestman worked with Tebow at the Senior Bowl and before the NFL draft in 2010, and raved about his work ethic and potential to become a solid passer.

Trestman, the former coach of the CFL's Montreal Alouettes, has a track record of developing quarterbacks and has also worked with the likes of Cutler, Jason Campbell and Brandon Weeden in recent years as a consultant when they were coming out of college.

Tebow might make for a good fit as the No. 2 quarterback after Campbell signed with the Browns. Whether Trestman would want to start his Bears career by bringing in the hype that comes with Tebow being on the team could be a deterrent.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Philip Rivers took a major step back last season for the Chargers, but still can be one of the league's most productive quarterbacks when he's on his game. So, it's unlikely new coach Mike McCoy will look elsewhere for a starter.

However, McCoy knows all about what Tebow can do when given an opportunity. The two were together in Denver when Tebow pulled off comeback after comeback during the 2011 season and led the Broncos to the playoffs. McCoy, then Denver's offensive coordinator, worked the offense around Tebow's strengths and appeared to be a magician in the process.

While it never truly appeared Tebow was a threat to Sanchez in New York, he could prove to be just that to Rivers — especially with a coach who believes in his abilities. Whether the Chargers, who just drafted Manti Te'o, would want any added attention remains to be seen.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

OK, so it's not exactly the homecoming playing in Jacksonville would be, but Tebow would surely be a big draw in his home state — even if it's as a backup to Josh Freeman.

The Buccaneers' current backups are Dan Orlovsky, Adam Weber and third-round draft pick Mike Glennon, and Tebow might feel he could overtake them on the depth chart as the No. 2.

Tebow has also spent time this offseason working out in Tampa with a former Buccaneers (and Jets) quarterback: Vinny Testaverde.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Sure, it's a long shot, but Tebow wouldn't be brought in to challenge Tom Brady, of course.

Bill Belichick has a knack for bringing in players that other teams discard — Wes Welker, Danny Woodhead, Randy Moss, Corey Dillon, Aqib Talib — and reviving their careers in New England. Tebow has always said he just wants to win, and the Patriots have sure done their share of that. So, playing on special teams — and perhaps as a fullback/tight end — and being a mere piece to the puzzle could satisfy Tebow if the W's pile up.

Two other factors to consider: Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels drafted Tebow out of Florida while he was the coach in Denver, and being able to tweak the Jets always makes Belichick grin a little under his hoodie.

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

The Alouettes hold exclusive negotiating rights to Tebow in the CFL, where some think he might ultimately end up.

Alouettes GM Jim Popp said his team would welcome Tebow — but as a backup QB, since 40-year-old Anthony Calvillo is entrenched as Montreal's quarterback. There's some debate, though, whether his game might be better suited there as a quarterback. With the CFL's wide-open fields and pass-heavy offenses, Tebow's run-first approach could further expose his passing deficiencies. But, he somehow seems to make things happen — when he actually gets some snaps — and might be able to run all over the place in Canada.

He could also consider the recent offer made by Brett Bouchy, the owner of the Orlando Predators who'd love to see Tebow playing in the Arena League.

LECTURE CIRCUIT

This will always be an option for the ultra-popular Tebow, who attracts huge crowds whenever and wherever he speaks at churches and events. He's not shy about sharing his strong Christian beliefs, and his multitude of fans extend far beyond the football field.

Tebow is extremely active with his Tim Tebow Foundation, trying to help and inspire people around the world. When Tebow is done playing football, which he doesn't believe will be anytime soon, he could surely turn appearances as a motivational speaker into a full-time gig.

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Analysis: Collins coming out will encourage more to follow suit

 Times are changing for gays in American sports and National Basketball Association (NBA) player Jason Collins' decision to come out will encourage others in the top leagues to be open about their sexuality.

Two years ago, NBA great Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 for using an anti-gay slur against a referee and on Monday the five-time NBA champion applauded Collins for coming out as the first gay man in a major North American professional sports league.

Bryant's reaction illustrates, at the very least, the shift in what is considered acceptable language and behavior in U.S. professional sports, the days when insulting others by using a reference to homosexuality are coming to a close.

Indeed Collins's very public coming out via the front cover of Sports Illustrated magazine was greeted with a stream of supportive comments from within professional sports in the United States with only the slightest hint of any dissent.

Mike Wallace, a wide receiver with the National Football League's Miami Dolphins, tweeted his incomprehension that any male could prefer to be in a relationship with a man rather than a woman but was soon on the back foot.

"All these beautiful women in the world and guys wanna mess with other guys, SMH (Shaking My Head)," Wallace tweeted before deleting the message and apologizing for any offense caused.

Wallace's reaction was not dissimilar to that of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver who made headlines before this year's Super Bowl by saying he would not welcome a gay player into the team's locker room.

Culliver spent a pre-Super Bowl media session with scores of television cameras pointed in his face as he repeated his apology for an hour.

Whether it is a genuine change of attitude towards gays, reflected in several surveys of U.S. public attitudes, or a an understanding that homophobia is no longer acceptable, there is no doubt that professional sports are turning away from intolerance of gays.

In many ways, sports are simply catching up with so much of American society where homophobic comments are unacceptable in the workplace and no one would even think to ask if gays would be accepted in the office.

'MOVEMENT COMING'

The question now is whether Collins's move - and the widespread support for him - will lead to athletes from other leagues following suit.

"I feel a movement coming," Robbie Rogers, the former U.S. national team soccer player who came out in February, tweeted on Monday shortly after Collins's announcement.

Gay rights and anti-discrimination groups certainly believe that Collins is making things easier for those who will come.

"All of us have huge admiration for what Jason is doing," said Patrick Burke, co-founder of equal rights advocacy group You Can Play.

"Jason's courage in stepping forward with his personal story will provide athletes and fans with a new role model."

Campaigners hope that Collins's move will help break down any fear that non-open gays may still have.

"We hope his actions inspire confidence in others who might have been afraid to live their lives openly until now - both on and off the court," said NOH8 Campaign co-founders Adam Bouska and Jeff Parshley.

Collins, in his Sports Illustrated article on Monday, cited his frustration at not being able to participate openly in the debate about same-sex marriage and that is a reminder that the issue of homosexuality in the sports arena does not exist in a vacuum.

Sociologist Brian Powell at Indiana University Bloomington believes that what follows in sport now may follow a similar pattern to how the debate on marriage has unfolded.

"I don't think there will be a huge number of people coming out but there will be a probably a steady stream of people coming out, not unlike what happened last month when politicians came out in favor of same-sex marriage," he told Reuters.

"One day one person did and the next day another. I think the same will happen - it will be slower but there will be an increased number of players coming out."

The next generation of professional athletes in the United States are currently playing in college sports and Powell believes they will bring with them a fresh attitude.

"What I hear, with college athletes, is the real question for them is whether or not their team mates do their job. Competence and ability to play comes before anything else," he said.

"The more athletes publicly come out, the more other athletes are going to be comfortable with this, simply because they can then stop thinking of it in terms of the person's sexuality and focus on their performance."

(Reporting by Simon Evans in Miami; Editing by Frank Pingue)

(This story was refiled to correct Culliver's position in the seventh paragraph)

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DirecTV beats estimates on Latam growth, shares jump

Satellite TV provider DirecTV easily beat profit estimates for the first quarter on Tuesday, as better-than-expected growth in Latin America helped offset the negative effects of a currency devaluation in Venezuela, sending shares to a decade high.

The largest U.S. satellite television company, with more than 20 million customers, managed to boost subscribers even as cable companies have been losing video customers. Earnings were stronger than even the most optimistic Wall Street estimates.

Brean Capital analyst Todd Mitchell said DirecTV made more money off subscribers by charging higher advanced service fees, instituting price increases and adding more events and movies for customers to buy. It also charges extra for premium products such as NFL Sunday Ticket.

DirecTV, a longtime critic of escalating sports programming costs, left the future of that exclusive football package hanging in the air on Tuesday.

The company pays a reported $1 billion a year to the National Football League, in a deal that allows subscribers to watch football games outside of their local markets on game day. The exclusive package is an important tool for DirecTV to attract new subscribers.

Chief Executive Mike White told investors on a conference call that it has about 4 million Sunday Ticket viewers, with about half of those paying for the service and the rest getting it free as part of their subscription.

But DirecTV did not say whether it plans to renew its contract with the NFL when it expires in 2015. DirecTV has already said it would consider saving on costs by making its next deal nonexclusive and available to rival pay-TV companies.

White said he was "optimistic" about the relationship with the NFL but also hinted that the value to DirecTV of the heavily marketed package may not be what it once was.

"Let's keep in mind we've got a ways to go here" before the current contract expires, he said. "But I would say, you know, it is a pretty mature product as well."

LATAM SURGES

In Latin America, DirecTV added 583,000 subscribers in the quarter, while analysts polled by StreetAccount expected some 519,000 subscribers.

DirecTV's subscriber growth in recent years has stemmed from Latin America, where it has been tapping into an expanding middle class with more spending power in countries like Brazil. It also operates in Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, Chile and Ecuador.

DirecTV took a $166 million charge in the quarter related to the devaluation of the Venezuelan currency in February.

In the United States, DirecTV added 21,000 net subscribers. Wall Street expected 25,000 net subscribers, on average, according to StreetAccount.

While the company missed estimates in that regard, it was still in positive territory. Comcast Corp and Time Warner Cable both lost tens of thousands of net video subscribers in the first quarter.

Net income attributable to DirecTV was $690 million, or $1.20 per share, compared with $731 million, or $1.07 per share, a year ago. Earnings per share rose, even though profit fell, as the company's share count declined sharply.

Revenue jumped 8 percent to $7.58 billion.

Analysts expected earnings of $1.07 per share on revenue of $7.5 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

DirecTV shares closed 6.9 percent higher at $61.95 on the Nasdaq on Tuesday. Since a recent low in late February, the stock is up about 30 percent, more than doubling the gains of its closest peers.

(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Matthew Lewis)

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NFL-Football preparing the ground for first gay players

By Simon Evans

MIAMI, April 30 (Reuters) - They're big, they're tough, and, presumably, some of them are gay, but so far not a single active NFL player has come out and said so. After NBA player Jason Collins broke that barrier this week, the National Football League is making sure it will be ready for any coming out party.

Earlier this year, at least three college football players said they had been asked about their sexual orientation during NFL recruitment interviews, sparking calls for the NFL to do more to fight discrimination.

Just hours before Collins' coming out statement was published by Sports Illustrated on Tuesday, the NFL - America's most popular sport, with $9 billion a year in revenue - released a 'workplace conduct statement' regarding sexual orientation.

"The NFL has a long history of valuing diversity and inclusion. Discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation is not consistent with our values and is unacceptable in the National Football League," league commissioner Roger Goodell says in the document.

League spokesman Greg Aiello told Reuters that the timing of the release was purely coincidental and that the document had been worked on for several weeks with no advance notice given to the NFL about Collins's impending statement.

The memo, sent to chief executives, club presidents, head coaches and general managers, highlights a tough policy on reporting acts of discrimination or harassment and makes clear that questions about sexuality are not permitted during recruitment interviews.

Collins' statement, and the reaction to it, has raised expectations that other gay athletes will feel the time is right to come out. Leading players in the NBA, including LeBron James and Kobe Bryant and top coaches such as Boston Celtics' Doc Rivers, expressed support for Collins.

Several reports have indicated that one or more NFL players may be close to coming out.

Earlier this month, Brendon Ayanbadejo, who played in the Super Bowl-winning Baltimore Ravens team last season, said up to four players were considering jointly revealing their sexuality.

"I think it will happen sooner than you think," Ayanbadejo told the Baltimore Sun.

"We're in talks with a handful of players who are considering it. There are up to four players being talked to right now and they're trying to be organized so they can come out on the same day together. It would make a major splash and take the pressure off one guy.

"The NFL and organizations are already being proactive," he said.

Ayanbadejo is a leading member of Athlete Ally, a group which brings together straight athletes in support of gay rights, and one of several gay rights groups that have been involved in behind-the-scenes talks with the NFL.

Former NFL player Wade Davis, who came out as gay after his career in the sport, believes that an American football locker-room is essentially no different than any other workplace.

"You are always going to have a smattering of players who aren't going to be comfortable with it but that's the same in any part of society, sports or otherwise," Davis told Reuters.

But Davis, who left the NFL in 2003 after trying his luck with Tennessee, Seattle and the Washington Redskins, believes there has been a real change in the attitude of players in the past decade.

"When I was playing there were really no conversations about what it means to be a gay athlete. I think the climate has definitely changed and I think also in society you have more people who are gay and lesbian who are coming out, so everyone pretty much knows another person who is gay."

But not everyone is convinced the NFL is ready.

"I don't think football is ready, there are too many guys in the locker-room and, you know, guys play around too much," former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, now a television analyst with NBC, told NBC Sports Radio on Tuesday.

"Hopefully one guy comes out of the closet and (will) be comfortable with himself," Ward said.

"I don't have anything against a gay football player or a gay person period, so if he does, he has support from me. I want people to live their lives for who they are and (they) don't have to hide behind closed doors to do that."

Shortly after the Collins announcement, Mike Wallace, a wide receiver Miami Dolphins, was criticized for a tweet that said: "All these beautiful women in the world and guys wanna mess with other guys, SMH (Shaking My Head)." He later deleted the message and apologized for any offense caused.

Wallace's reaction was not quite on the scale of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver who made headlines before this year's Super Bowl by saying he would not welcome a gay player into the team's locker-room.

Culliver spent a pre-Super Bowl media session with scores of television cameras pointed in his face as he repeated his apology for an hour.

Gay rights groups say that making the locker room ready requires more than just stamping down on homophobic comments on the field or in social media and involves a process of education.

Aaron McQuade, of gay rights group GLAAD, says the NFL has responded well to the group's suggestions that proscribing discrimination isn't enough on its own.

"We are part of a coalition that has been meeting with the NFL and speaking with them for almost a year now about ways to stop coming down hard on guys for saying something that they didn't think about and start educating them," McQuade told Reuters.

"We are still very early in the process but it's moving along fairly quickly," he added. "The NFL is absolutely committed to not just punishing the players that misbehave but actually educating the players about these issues." (Reporting By Simon Evans; Editing by Claudia Parsons)

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Ronde Barber to retire after 16 seasons with Bucs

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Three-time All-Pro Ronde Barber is retiring after a 16-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that included a Super Bowl title and five Pro Bowl appearances.

The Bucs announced Wednesday night that the 38-year-old twin brother of former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber will not return to play on a defense overhauled since the end of last season. Tampa Bay acquired Darrelle Revis, Dashon Goldson and second-round draft pick Johnthan Banks for its secondary.

The retirement was first reported by Fox Sports.com, who quoted Barber as saying: "I've had a better run than I ever could've dreamed of having."

Tiki Barber, who retired from the Giants after the 2006 season, had a post on his Twitter account that read: "Congrats & happy for my twin, Ronde, who's hanging up the cleats!"

Ronde Barber played cornerback for 15 seasons before moving to safety last year. He played his entire career with the Bucs and is the franchise leader in interceptions with 47. He also scored eight touchdowns and had 28 sacks in 241 games.

"Ronde is synonymous with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, establishing himself as one of our franchise's iconic players over a 16-year, Hall of Fame-worthy career," Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer said in a statement. "When anyone thinks of Ronde, they think of a true professional and leader. He approached every day the same, giving everything he had to make himself and his teammates the best they could be. We will miss him."

Barber was a third-round pick out of Virginia is 1997 and struggled early in his career, appearing in just one game as a rookie. He finished with a stretch of 215 consecutive starts, tied for the sixth-longest streak in NFL history.

A team captain for the past nine years, Barber made the transition from cornerback to safety in 2012, Tampa Bay's first season under coach Greg Schiano.

Schiano's top priority this offseason was revamping a secondary that nearly set a league record for most yards passing allowed in a season.

The Bucs began reshaping the defense with the signing of Goldson, an All-Pro safety last season in San Francisco, to a five-year, $41.25 million deal in free agency. Last month, the team traded the 13th overall pick in the draft to the New York Jets in exchange for Revis, a three-time All Pro cornerback who also got a new six-year, $96 million contract.

With veteran Eric Wright returning and last year's No. 1 draft pick Mark Barron entering his second season at safety, that left little room for Barber in Tampa Bay's plans — especially after Banks was selected in the second round of the draft to compete with Wright for a starting job.

Barber is the only player in NFL history with 40-plus interceptions and 25 or more sacks. He returned eight picks for regular-season touchdowns and clinched Tampa Bay's victory over Philadelphia in the 2002 NFC championship game with a 92-yard return for a TD off Donovan McNabb.

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Tebow Time in New York over after Jets cut QB

The possibilities appeared endless for Tim Tebow.

Here he was, perhaps the most popular player in the NFL, in New York as a member of the Jets and maybe the biggest thing to hit Broadway since Joe Namath himself.

There were billboards outside the Lincoln Tunnel in New Jersey welcoming Tebow, and sandwiches named after him at Manhattan delis. He also had a legion of fans who followed him because of his strong Christian beliefs, and in New York, he would be able to take advantage of countless media and marketing opportunities.

And then, it all went terribly wrong.

Or, more like it, the whole idea was completely flawed from the start. For Tebow. And for the Jets.

Tebow was waived Monday morning, the end of an embarrassingly unsuccessful one-season experiment in New York that produced more hype and headlines than production on the field. And it all ended quietly, with a three-paragraph news release.

"Unfortunately," coach Rex Ryan said in a statement, "things did not work out the way we all had hoped."

It also left Tebow's football future very much in doubt.

A year after he threw a TD pass to win a playoff game in overtime for Denver, the Heisman Trophy winner with two college national titles at Florida and a nationwide following may have suited up for the last time.

Tebow took to Twitter a few hours after being waived, citing a bible verse: "Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding," Tebow wrote, "in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

No NFL team has made a pitch to get him. The only nibble so far came from the Montreal Alouettes. They hold his rights in the Canadian Football League and said he could come compete for a job — as a backup.

"Had this happened back in February, he might have had a chance to at least participate in free agency," said 2002 NFL MVP quarterback Rich Gannon, now an analyst for CBS Sports and SiriusXM NFL Radio. "I don't think there would have been a strong market for him, but at least he would've had that opportunity."

Gannon added that it's an even tougher situation for Tebow now because more than 20 quarterbacks were either drafted or signed as undrafted free agents in the last few days.

"Look, it's a two-way street, though," Gannon said. "It's a business. The Jets were trying to find somebody, a dance partner. Sometimes that goes into the draft and teams are calling around. I'm sure the Jets were trying to shop Tebow, and I'm sure they kept getting denied."

This is the same guy who led the Broncos to the postseason in 2011, but became expendable when Denver signed Peyton Manning as a free agent. The popular backup quarterback was acquired by the Jets in March 2012 for a fourth-round draft pick and $1.5 million in salary. He was introduced at the Jets' facility to plenty of fanfare at a lavish news conference, with Tebow repeatedly saying he was "excited" to be in New York.

It turned out to be one of the few high points in Tebow's stay with the Jets. Along with his shirtless jog from the practice field in the rain during training camp, of course.

The Jets never figured out a way to use Tebow effectively, and he never forced the issue by being a good enough player in practice to make Ryan and his coaches put him on the field more in games.

"If he were to happen to call me, I would say, 'Look, you're starting over,'" former NFL GM Ted Sundquist said. "Tim Tebow needs to redefine who Tim Tebow is, in my opinion. He's no longer a first-round quarterback."

Even recently retired Jets special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff labeled the way the team used Tebow an "absolute mess."

It all cost Tebow his job, along with former general manager Mike Tannenbaum and former offensive coordinator Tony Sparano — both fired in part because of their roles in what was one of the NFL's messiest quarterback situations in recent memory. It also seriously clouds Tebow's NFL future, which might be extended only, in some people's opinion, if he considers a position change.

"I don't see any team giving him a chance because teams don't want to deal with the following that comes with Tebow," ESPN analyst and former NFL offensive lineman Damien Woody said. "Maybe Canada."

Added Gannon: "I don't know. He's just in a bad spot."

Tebow was brought to New York to be a dynamic addition to the offense, a complement to Mark Sanchez and a merchandising touchdown for the Jets. Instead, he attempted just eight passes for 39 yards and rushed 32 times for 102 yards — and stunningly had no touchdowns.

Through it all, Tebow tried to hide his frustration, but acknowledged late in the season that things didn't turn out quite how he expected in New York.

"I think it's fair to say," Tebow said, "that I'm a little disappointed."

It's an amazing fall for a player whose No. 15 Broncos jersey ranked second in national sales to Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers in 2011.

"He seems like a great kid," Sundquist said, "and it seems like he could bring some positives to a club if he can just bury this whole thing about him being in your quarterback mix and just let him be No. 39 on your roster, one of your back-end guys who can go somewhere and help you win."

The Jets and new general manager John Idzik drafted former West Virginia star Geno Smith in the second round of the NFL draft Friday, giving New York six quarterbacks on its roster — and creating uncertainty about Sanchez's future as well.

Tebow, who dropped about 15 pounds in the last few months, arrived at the team's facility in Florham Park, N.J., early Monday and was told he had been cut.

"Tim is an extremely hard worker, evident by the shape he came back in this offseason," Ryan said. "We wish him the best moving forward."

But, where to next for Tebow?

The Jacksonville Jaguars have already ruled themselves out of giving Tebow a happy homecoming. But maybe the Chicago Bears, whose new head coach Marc Trestman tutored Tebow before the NFL draft in 2010, could give him a look as their backup.

Perhaps the San Diego Chargers would take a chance on him, adding to the circus-like atmosphere they'll likely have because they drafted Manti Te'o. New coach Mike McCoy was Tebow's offensive coordinator in Denver during the 2011 season, when the quarterback took over the offense and led the Broncos to comeback after comeback.

What about Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots? They're no strangers to turning discarded players — Wes Welker, Danny Woodhead, even Randy Moss — into big-time playmakers, and it would give Belichick another chance to tweak the Jets.

Then, there's always the Canadian Football League, but whether Tebow would even be open to a move north of the U.S. border is uncertain.

"If you can find a club that's mature enough to handle it as an organization, then you're going to find the right spot for him," Sundquist said. "What I mean by that is all the media mania and that sort of thing. The club says, 'Look, this is the reason we're bringing him on. We feel he can bring X, Y, Z and A, B, C to the table.' Explain it to Tim, explain it to the media, explain it to your fan base and explain it to your organization."

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Sixty years after his death, Jim Thorpe's family feuds over body

By Joe McDonald

JIM THORPE, Pennsylvania (Reuters) - The tiny hamlet of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, could lose its namesake, an American sports hero whose interment put the town on the map.

A family squabble has turned into a federal court battle over the remains of the legendary Native American athlete and Olympic medalist, who died in 1953 and whose life was depicted in "All American," a 1951 movie starring Burt Lancaster.

The dispute could take an important turn this week, when the borough court will announce on Thursday whether it will appeal a federal district court judge's decision that could eventually clear the way for Thorpe's remains to leave town.

Town Mayor Michael Sofranko said the council will respond to the input it gets from local residents--who number less than 5,000, according to the 2010 U.S. Census.

"Residents need to say, ‘I want the body to stay here,'" he said.

Jim Thorpe never lived in the eastern Pennsylvania town that took his name, but his remains were placed in a mausoleum here in an agreement with his widow allowing the settlement to be named after him.

Six decades later, a feud over where Thorpe should be buried has pitted his two sons, who want to move him back to native lands in Oklahoma, against his grandchildren, who want him to stay in the Pennsylvania town that erected statues and a monument "to one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century."

The battle escalated last month, when senior U.S. District Court Judge A. Richard Caputo issued a ruling in Harrisburg, PA, that upheld a federal law protecting Native American remains and ordered the borough to comply with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. The order requires the borough to hire an archaeologist who will conduct an inventory of the remains.

After the ruling became front-page news in the local media, a resident of the nearby town of Lehighton, Jim Deeble and his wife Lorraine, said he was driven to visit the site after hearing that the body could be moved out of town.

"I think he should stay planted where he is," said Deeble, 73, a retired engineer, as he gazed at the memorial. "I don't see any purpose moving him around."

John Thorpe, 56, a grandson who lives in South Lake Tahoe, California, agrees. The grandson said he spoke to a traditional healer during a sun dance in Bastrop, Texas. "He told me that my grandfather made contact with him, and my grandfather told the medicine man, ‘I'm at peace and want no more pain created in my name.'"

Another grandson, Mike Koehler, 74, who lives in Minocqua, Wisconsin, said the remains should be left where they are.

"Leave the man alone!," said Koehler. "For God's sake, let him rest in peace."

The current burial site of his grandfather, who played professional baseball and football and won gold medals at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden, happened by chance. The renowned athlete's third wife, Patricia, now deceased, was looking for a place to bury her husband when she saw a television report about two small towns, Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk, that were seeking to merge under a new name in 1953.

"She felt something needed to be done and she was in Pennsylvania at the time," John Thorpe said. "Patsy and the town came up with an agreement he would be buried there and the town would change its name and erect a monument."

One of Thorpe's sons, Bill Thorpe, 84, of Arlington, Texas has a different take on how his father's body ended up in Pennsylvania. He said his father's wife "farmed" his remains around to several cities after Thorpe died of a heart attack in California, where he lived a near-destitute existence in a mobile home.

"I think she was shopping his body, really," said Bill Thorpe.

He and his brother, Richard, are plaintiffs along with the Sac and Fox Nation, in the 2010 suit which lays the groundwork for the possible return of Thorpe's remains to Oklahoma.

If the borough does lose its namesake, few people think it would be the death knell for its vibrant tourist industry, which features train rides, whitewater rafting, quaint shops and restaurants, and tours of the old jail and gallows where migrant Irish coal miners known as the Molly Maguires were hanged in the 1880s.

(Reporting by Joe McDonald; Editing by Barbara Goldberg, Arlene Getz and Alden Bentley)

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Underwood to sing 'Sunday Night Football' theme

 Carrie Underwood will take over the theme song for "Sunday Night Football," with NBC sticking to the formula of a female country music star for its intro.

Underwood steps in for Faith Hill, who announced last month that she would not be back for a seventh season. Underwood will sing a new version of "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night," the network said Tuesday.

Producer Fred Gaudelli said that after Hill informed him in February, Underwood was the only performer he pursued. She was under consideration for the role when NBC first broadcast the Sunday night NFL games in 2006.

Pink sang the opening tune, set to Joan Jett's "I Hate Myself for Loving You," for that first season before Hill came on.

"For me, it just always seemed like something that would be fun to do," Underwood said during a conference call. "To watch Faith do it week after week, to see that hype for the game, it's something that's so cool."

Underwood plans to adapt the intro to her style, with the lyrics remaining the same. NFL stars will again appear in the video sequence.

A former "American Idol" champion and six-time Grammy winner, Underwood is married to hockey star Mike Fisher of the Nashville Predators. The 30-year-old Oklahoma native sang the national anthem at the 2010 Super Bowl.

Underwood said her husband, who's friends with several NFL players, was thrilled about her foray into his profession.

"He's a sports dude," she said. "Yeah, he plays hockey, but he definitely loves football, as do I."

The first Sunday night game is Sept. 8, when the New York Giants visit the Dallas Cowboys. "Sunday Night Football," which averaged 21.8 million viewers last season, is TV's top-rated prime-time show.

Gaudelli said he contacted Hill's reps Tuesday to let them know of the hire. Underwood said she expected to get pointers from Hill the next time they cross paths.

Underwood is signed up to star in NBC's live broadcast of "The Sound of Music" this year. While her familiarity with the network helped, she said, the two deals weren't connected.

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Tebow Time over in New York as Jets cut quarterback

 The New York Jets cut quarterback Tim Tebow on Monday, ending his ill-conceived stint in the Big Apple and leaving one of the most hyped players in the National Football League (NFL) facing an uncertain future.

The Jets notified Tebow of their decision to waive him after just one season at a voluntary team workout on Monday morning.

"We have a great deal of respect for Tim Tebow," Jets' head coach Rex Ryan said in a statement. "Unfortunately, things did not work out the way we all had hoped.

"Tim is an extremely hard worker, evident by the shape he came back in this offseason. We wish him the best moving forward."

The decision to release Tebow came just two days after the Jets acquired West Virginia University quarterback Geno Smith at the 78th annual NFL Draft.

The Jets already had five quarterbacks, including former first-round draft pick Mark Sanchez, who struggled so badly last season that he lost his starting spot, prompting speculation that someone had to go.

It was little surprise that it was Tebow, who won the Heisman Trophy as most outstanding U.S. college football player in 2007, that got the chop.

His tenure with the Jets was brief and hugely unsuccessful, both for him and the team. One New York newspaper described it as a circus.

Tebow, a devout Christian whose public displays of religiosity polarized public opinion, did not make any public comment about his axing but did post a Bible verse on his Twitter account.

"Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding...in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight," he tweeted.

CULT FIGURE

Tebow had previously been with Denver, taking the Broncos on an improbable run to the 2011 playoffs, despite criticism and reservations about his ability as a passer.

He had quickly become a cult figure. Deeply religious and with a clean-cut image, he became a magnet for sponsors, signing a range of massive endorsement deals, which earned him an estimated $4 million a year.

His jerseys were among the biggest sellers in the NFL and his trademark touchdown celebration, where he kneeled down in prayer, became known as "Tebowing."

In early 2012, the Broncos signed future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning after he had become a free agent, and traded Tebow to the Jets.

The Jets said they planned to use Tebow on special teams and 'wildcat' plays, as a complement to Sanchez, but the experiment failed and Tebow-Mania never quite took off in the New York.

Tebow, 25, spent most of each game stuck on the bench and the Jets, who missed the playoffs, were ridiculed for acquiring him and not playing him when Sanchez struggled.

Tebow's immediate future remains uncertain. Most NFL pundits said he was unlikely to be claimed in the short term because of his high salary, but once he clears waivers, he would be able to sign with any team as a free agent.

He had previously linked with the Jacksonville Jaguars, his hometown team, but the Jaguars had ruled that out. Other teams have said they might interested in him, in a different position from quarterback.

FINANCIALLY SECURE

Another option could be the Canadian Football League, although he would not be guaranteed a starting spot there either.

"If he wants to come to Canada he would be in the same situation as the one he was in with New York," Jim Popp, the general manager of the CFL's Montreal Alouettes, told TSN.

Financially, Tebow's future looks secure. Of his five corporate sponsors, three did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and two said they were undeterred by the quarterback's departure from the Jets.

" is not based solely on football and Tim exceeds his status as a football player," said Steve Wymer, a spokesperson for TiVo.

"Hopefully he'll have a better season this coming year than he did last year, since this clearly this has been a crazy season with the NY Jets."

Lan Kennedy-Davis, the chief executive of SOUL electronics, said her company was "100 percent behind Tim Tebow regardless of his team."

"We support Tim, we like Tim, and he's our ambassador because he stands for greatness - not just in football but in what he does in his life," she said.

(Additional reporting by Atossa Abrahamian in New York; Editing by Frank Pingue)

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Stadium decision hurts Miami's Super Bowl chances

 As Dan Marino campaigned for Miami to be chosen the site of the 50th Super Bowl, he made no pretense about being objective on the subject.

"In my opinion," the former Dolphins quarterback said, "every Super Bowl should be here."

Instead, the NFL championship game might not return to Miami for a long time. Last week the Dolphins were denied public money for a stadium upgrade by the state Legislature, which removes South Florida from serious contention for the 50th Super Bowl and perhaps subsequent NFL and college title games as well.

The defeat in Tallahassee also raises questions about the future of the Dolphins under multibillionaire owner Stephen Ross. He contends $350 million in stadium improvements are badly needed, but he's unwilling to foot the entire bill himself, and ruled out a less expensive, scaled-down renovation.

The Dolphins say they're already heavily in debt and one of the NFL's most leveraged teams, making upgrades impossible without taxpayer help.

"I don't think there is a clear alternative at this point," chief executive officer Mike Dee said. "I don't think there is a road to a Plan B without legislative action in Tallahassee."

Ross, 72, hasn't indicated any desire to bring aboard a co-owner to help finance a stadium project. He hasn't threatened to move the Dolphins, and it's unlikely the league would abandon South Florida, with several NFL franchises in smaller markets more logical candidates for relocation to Los Angeles or elsewhere.

The Dolphins could try again next year for legislative approval, but they may have burned that bridge with their criticism of House Speaker Will Weatherford, who killed the plan by not putting it up for a vote.

"He'll still be the speaker of the House next year," Dee said, "and I don't see him changing his opinion."

The stadium owned by Ross opened in 1987, and the Dolphins have argued upgrades are essential to keep Miami competitive in Super Bowl bidding. The city has hosted the game 10 times, and Miami and San Francisco are finalists for the 50th Super Bowl in 2016.

"The House leadership has made our efforts to bring the Super Bowl back to Miami and South Florida much more difficult," said Rodney Barreto, chairman of the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee.

Without legislative approval, the Dolphins were unable to go forward with a planned May 14 referendum on the issue in Miami-Dade County. The team had sought up to $289 million from an increase in the county hotel tax, and up to $90 million in state sales tax rebates. The bill would have also allowed other professional sports teams in Florida to compete for a share of state tax dollars.

The referendum outcome was uncertain, with opponents complaining the plan constituted corporate welfare. The Dolphins had already spent millions in campaign money, with such former players as Marino, Bob Griese and Jason Taylor lobbying on their behalf, arguing voter approval would significantly strengthen Miami's Super Bowl bid.

Now San Francisco's the heavy favorite when NFL owners choose the host city May 21. The site of the 2017 Super Bowl will also be chosen, with owners selecting either the runner-up city for the 2016 game or Houston.

"This is not the stadium we had hoped we could include in the bid," Dee said. "But we will be there when the NFL owners vote, and we'll put our best foot forward."

Houston Texans owner Bob McNair said his city won't become complacent about its chances of hosting the 2017 game.

"Certainly what happened doesn't help Miami's bid. There's no doubt about that," McNair said. "But that doesn't say that the owners couldn't decide to still go to Miami."

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said stadium upgrades would help keep Miami competitive in Super Bowl bidding. He visited Tallahassee last week and lobbied legislators to pass the Dolphins' bill.

The league declined to comment Monday on the stadium situation.

Miami has hosted the Super Bowl 10 times, most recently in 2010, and league owners love the destination. But the multipurpose stadium can't compete with more modern NFL counterparts.

Joe Robbie built the stadium with his own money for $115 million, and former owner Wayne Huizenga spent $250 million on renovations in 2007. The latest improvements envisioned included adding about 3,600 seats close to the field, along with a partial canopy roof to shield fans from sun and rain.

Now those plans are in limbo. Might Ross seek to move the franchise?

"He has said he will not, and he stands by that," Dee said. "Long-term for a subsequent owner, without a solution to this, the prospects are challenging in Miami-Dade County."

Does Ross want to sell the team?

"I don't think that's where he is today," Dee said. "But this is still raw. He loves this team. He loves the community. But long-term, the prospects are uncertain."

In a statement released after last week's legislative defeat, Ross said nothing about selling or moving.

"I will continue to do all I can," he said, "to build a winning team for the people of Miami-Dade."

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AP Sports Writer Kristie Rieken in Houston contributed to this report.

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Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

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NFL-National Football League roundup

 New York Jets' head coach Rex Ryan liked what he saw from rookie quarterback and second-round pick Geno Smith, which was more than he could say for his 2012 first-round pick, Quentin Coples.

Ryan's assessment of Smith's first practice: "He can really spin it," Ryan said of Smith's tight spirals to open the Jets' minicamp Friday.

Smith was projected as a first-round pick but was bypassed by every team but the New Orleans Saints before the Jets used their third pick in the 2013 draft to add Smith to a depth chart that includes five quarterbacks.

Ryan voiced his displeasure with 2012 first-round pick Coples, who Ryan said at the end of last season would be one of the team's breakout players in 2013. Apparently Ryan wants to see more commitment to conditioning from the massive defensive lineman after observing him Thursday.

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The Jets announced they signed four draft choices: third-round guard Brian Winters, fifth-round offensive lineman Oday Aboushi, sixth-round guard Will Campbell and seventh-round fullback Tommy Bohanon.

The team also signed 14 undrafted free agents.

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The University of Minnesota's Board of Regents signed an agreement to allow the Minnesota Vikings to play their home games at TCF Bank Stadium for at least the 2014-15 seasons, according to the Minneapolis-Star Tribune.

The Vikings are entering the final year of their lease with the Metrodome and are waiting for the construction of their new stadium in downtown Minneapolis.

The Vikings say they will pay the University $300,000 per game, with a maximum of $3 million for each NFL season."

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Linebacker Karlos Dansby has a chance to finish his career where it started after signing a one-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals. Dansby was released by the Miami Dolphins in March but has started 91 of his last 92 games.

The Cardinals are seeking insurance with Daryl Washington suspended for the first four games of the 2013 season. Washington was also recently arrested on domestic assault charges.

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Linebacker Aaron Curry, who has had a motley career since the Seattle Seahawks made him the fourth overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft, tweeted that he signed with the New York Giants.

Curry's original contract with the Seahawks, a six-year, $60 million deal that included $34 million guaranteed, reportedly the most guaranteed for a non-quarterback to that point in NFL history.

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San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates does not like being rated No. 73.

Gates took issue with his ranking on the NFL Network's "Top 100 Players of 2013" countdown Thursday night.

"Apparently they don't watch football," he told host Lindsay Rhodes, NFL Network analyst Warren Sapp, NFL.com's Dave Dameshek, defensive back Charles Woodson and Yahoo! Sports' Michael Silver.

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The San Francisco 49ers announced that they signed five draft picks: fifth-round defensive tackle Quinton Dial, sixth round linebacker Nick Moody, and seventh round quarterback B.J. Daniels, tackle Carter Bykowski and cornerback Marcus Cooper.

Also, former Oakland Raider and Green Bay Packer defensive back Charles Woodson said his chances of becoming a 49er are "pretty much out the door."

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The Buffalo Bills signed four more of their picks from the NFL Draft. Third-round wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, fourth-round defensive back Duke Williams, fifth-round defensive back Jonathan Meeks and sixth-round kicker Dustin Hopkins signed deals with the team.

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The Kansas City Chiefs signed two picks from the NFL Draft: sixth round offensive lineman Eric Kush and seventh round linebacker Mike Catapano.

The Chiefs also signed rookie free agents Tyler Bray, Darin Drakeford, Otha Foster, Frankie Hammond, Demetrius Harris, A.J. Hawkins, Colin Kelly, Rob Lohr, Brad Madison, Josh Martin, Brad McDougald, Rico Richardson and Ridge Wilson.

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The Cincinnati Bengals announced they signed two players they selected in the recent NFL draft.

They signed offensive tackle Reid Fragel, a seventh-round pick out of Ohio State, and center T.J. Johnson, a seventh-round selection from South Carolina.

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The Green Bay Packers signed their nine draft picks drafted after the third round, including fourth-rounders running back Johnathan Franklin and offensive linemen David Bakhtiari and JC Tretter.

Fifth-round selections Micah Hyde (Iowa) and Josh Boyd (Mississippi State) also signed, as did sixth-round pick Nate Palmer (Illinois State) and three seventh-round picks: wide receivers Charles Johnson (Grand Valley State) and Kevin Dorsey (Maryland) and linebacker Sam Barrington.

The Packers also signed nine undrafted free agents. (Editing by Frank Pingue)

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Tim Tebow appears at lecture, but no word on plans

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Eleven days after he was cut by the New York Jets, Tim Tebow's future plans remain up in the air.

Since his release, Tebow has not spoken publicly about the dismissal or what his next move will be. Does he feel jilted by the Jets? Does he have any other NFL prospects? Would he consider the Canadian Football League?

Tebow didn't offer any insight Thursday night during a roughly hour-long keynote address before a crowd of about 3,000 at Lake Michigan College. The lecture was part of the Economic Club of Southwest Michigan's annual speaker series, and Tebow had been booked last summer, when he was still an active NFL player.

Tebow accepted no questions from the press at the event, and was quickly whisked out a back door by police escort afterward.

Instead of discussing the past two weeks or his future, the 25-year-old, wearing a dark suit and purple tie, sat on stage and engaged in an easygoing exchange with a moderator. Tebow spoke of his intensely competitive nature, his Christian faith, his love of family, and his record-setting high school and college careers. He only briefly touched upon his rookie season with the Denver Broncos, when he led the team to an improbable playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

But he said nothing about the Jets.

The closest Tebow came to shedding light on what he might do next was when he repeated one of his favorite sayings: "I don't know what the future holds, but at the end of the day I know who holds my future."

Tebow says it's a reference to a strong faith that remains a driving force in his life.

Last season, Tebow got few chances from Jets coach Rex Ryan, despite starter Mark Sanchez struggling throughout the season while leading New York to a dismal 6-10 record.

Still, a Forbes.com survey released this week called Tebow America's most influential athlete. Tebow finished ahead of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps (25 percent), Jamaican track star Usain Bolt (23 percent) and Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (22 percent).

"That's a huge honor," Tebow said. "I see it as a great responsibility to be a role model for future generations. That's something I care about more than winning football games. If I can take the game of football and can transcend football . go to hospitals and make kids smile, I'll be doing things that matter."

He hinted about finding a life of fulfillment after the game.

"What I want to do with my life is impact lives. When a kid in a hospital is fighting for his life and I'm trying to win a football game, what really matters? This game isn't as important as a lot of us make it out to be. If I can give him a little bit of hope, I can do something that matters. That's what I want my legacy to be about. That's how I want to be remembered."

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Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania to appeal ruling on namesake athlete

The small Pennsylvania hamlet named for early 20th century sports hero Jim Thorpe has decided to appeal a recent federal court ruling that could clear the way for the athlete's remains to be moved from his resting place in the town to tribal Indian lands in Oklahoma.

The Jim Thorpe Borough Council, in a unanimous vote late on Thursday, agreed to hire a lawyer and petition the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals this week in a case that pits the athlete's two sons against his grandchildren.

The sons are seeking to move the remains of their father, who was of mixed Native American and European ancestry, to Oklahoma, where he was born. The grandchildren want his grave kept in Pennsylvania.

Thorpe would have been buried in Oklahoma in the first Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk place, his family said, but for a disagreement between his widow and the state's governor over the athlete's burial.

As a result, she "farmed" his remains around to several cities, finally settling on two Pennsylvania towns - Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk, said Bill Thorpe, 84, of Arlington, Texas. Bill Thorpe said his father always intended to be buried in Oklahoma.

Jim Thorpe never lived in the eastern Pennsylvania towns that took his name. But he was buried there 60 years ago, and a monument was erected in his honor, on the basis of an agreement with his widow allowing the borough to call itself Jim Thorpe and potentially giving the town a new way to draw more tourists.

William Schwab, an attorney who has been representing the town on a pro bono basis, has said the appeals process will probably take a year or longer, especially if the case were to wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Thorpe, considered one of the greatest figures in modern sports, earned two gold medals for multi-discipline track events at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, played college and professional football and professional baseball and basketball.

His life, one of alcoholism and poverty in his last years, was depicted in "All American," a 1951 movie starring Burt Lancaster.

Moving Thorpe's remains to Oklahoma could expose the borough to a breach-of-contract lawsuit, possibly one brought by the athlete's grandchildren. Fighting the case in court, on the other hand, would likely cost tens of thousands of dollars, borough Councilwoman Joanne Klitsch said.

"We're basically between a rock and a hard place," she said.

The matter ended up court in 2010 when Thorpe's sons, Bill and Richard Thorpe, joined with the Sac and Fox Nation in a lawsuit seeking burial of Thorpe's remains to Oklahoma.

The dispute escalated last month, when a U.S. district court judge issued a ruling in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, upholding a federal law protecting Indian remains and ordered the borough to comply with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

The order requires the borough to hire an archaeologist to conduct an inventory of the remains. (Editing by Steve Gorman, Scott Malone and Steve Orlofsky)

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