Eighth U.S. Circuit Court rules lockout remains in place

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday threw out a judge's order lifting the NFL lockout, handing the league a victory as players and owners endured a second straight day of difficult negotiations at a Manhattan law firm.

Players could file another injunction According to legal sources, the language from Friday's ruling creates an opportunity for the NFLPA to file another expedited injunction seeking more rights for rookies and free agents not under contract. More ...

The ruling vacated an April 25 decision by U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson that the lockout should be lifted because players were suffering irreparable harm. The appeals court had already put that order on hold and said in its ruling that Nelson ignored federal law in reaching her decision.

"While we respect the court's decision, today's ruling does not change our mutual recognition that this matter must be resolved through negotiation," the league and the NFL Players Association said in a joint statement. "We are committed to our current discussions and reaching a fair agreement that will benefit all parties for years to come, and allow for a full 2011 season."

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith held a conference call at 3 p.m. ET Friday with player reps from all 32 teams to go over the day's court ruling.

The appeals court ruling allows the players' antitrust lawsuit to move forward, but the court did take issue with the NFLPA's decision to decertify on March 11, a move that cleared the way for players to file their still-pending antitrust lawsuit against the league.

"The league and the players' union were parties to a collective bargaining agreement for almost eighteen years prior to March 2011," the appeals court said in its 2-1 decision. "They were engaged in collective bargaining over terms and conditions of employment for approximately two years. ... Then, on a single day, just hours before the CBA's expiration, the union discontinued collective bargaining and disclaimed its status. ... Whatever the effect of the union's disclaimer on the league's immunity from antitrust liability, the labor dispute did not suddenly disappear just because the players elected to pursue the dispute through antitrust litigation rather than collective bargaining."

Judges Steven Colloton and Duane Benton backed the league Friday, just as the two Republican appointees did in two earlier decisions. Judge Kermit Bye, appointed by a Democrat, dissented both times, favoring the players, and he did so again Friday.

Bye had urged settlement of the dispute to avoid a ruling "both sides aren't going to like."

The sides have been meeting for weeks to try to reach a new labor pact, and negotiations were held again Friday in New York.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Police: Falcons' Owens allegedly trashed ex-girlfriend's place

Police in suburban Atlanta are investigating Falcons cornerback Chris Owens after he allegedly trashed his ex-girlfriend's apartment and threw bleach on many of her valuables, TMZ.com reported Wednesday citing a Gwinnett County Police report.

The alleged incident occurred Sunday night at the residence of LaTia Terry, with whom Owens has a 9-month-old child, according to TMZ.com.

Police spokesman Edwin Ritter stopped short of calling Owens a suspect in the case, telling the Atlanta Journal-Constitution only that “charges will be made once a suspect is developed and probable cause exists for arrest.”

According to the police report, a suspect smashed holes in walls and a giant-screen television, threw lamps and broke the baby's crib. The report stated that the master closet was "piled full of clothes, purses and jewelry. The suspect poured bleach all over the items, leaving discoloration on them and the carpet."

Terry has obtained a restraining order against Owens, who started three games during the 2010 season for the NFC South champions.

The 5-foot-9, 179-pound Owens was a third-round pick out of San Jose State in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Gwinnett court records show a family violence hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. June 22.

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Smith confident in place with 49ers despite free-agent status

Alex Smith is leading throwing sessions in the San Francisco 49ers' players-only workouts -- a completely normal development if not for the business of the quarterback technically being a free agent.

It's just another unusual aspect of a very strange NFL offseason.

Smith will be an unrestricted free agent once a new collective bargaining agreement is reached, but new 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh's public and private comments about the quarterback have left the six-year veteran comfortable that he'll be in San Francisco next season.

"I wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't for the relationship there, to be honest with you," Smith told the Bay Area News Group on Wednesday. "For the feeling I got from Harbaugh, the offensive coaching staff, from every time I've been in there, from before the lockout, from when the lockout ended that day and a half. ... But I have such a good feeling. I feel they've been up front about everything they've told me."

Harbaugh has been so vocal in his support of Smith that the NFL reportedly told the 49ers to stop talking about the quarterback or any free agents during the lockout.

"I laughed when the article came out that they told Harbaugh to stop talking about me," Smith said.

Smith said it felt good to read about Harbaugh's positive thoughts on him.

"You know, this is the first for me, to have an offensive head coach, especially someone who played the position and really knows what it's like to sit back in the pocket and all the different things that can impact your play," Smith said.

Smith told The Sacramento Bee that plans are in the works for a minicamp-style practice involving the 49ers' offensive players. Smith said the session would begin "shortly" and that the 49ers could have a number of them throughout the summer, depending on the status of the work stoppage.

"Becoming familiar with the terminology, the formations, the motions, the concepts -- things like that," Smith said when asked to describe the goal of the workouts. "So that whenever this (lockout) ends, you're not having to re-learn that."

Harbaugh might have great faith in Smith, but that doesn't mean the 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick has a long future as San Francisco's signal-caller. The team drafted Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft in April.

Is it strange to have Smith's future replacement stand next to him during these workouts?

"No question," he said. "Oh, it's new. I guess I've slowly dealt with it, though. I don't think I've had a year without competition really in the last four years, though."

Smith spoke about the circle of life for an NFL quarterback, thinking back to when he was the hotshot from draft day.

"It did remind me a lot of when I came in, and Tim Rattay, to be honest with you," Smith said, referencing the quarterback whom he replaced in the 49ers' starting lineup. "... And I did think back about how good Tim was. How easy it would be to be bitter and to be an ass. Those guys did it the right way with me, and I'm going to do the same thing."

Kaepernick might be the future, but it appears that Smith remains the present in San Francisco. But he's not assuming he's the No. 1 guy just yet.

"I don't really view it like that," Smith said. "You're going to get into camp, and anywhere you go, the best guy's going to play. I mean, that's the way it's going to be. That's the way I view it. I know he (Harbaugh) said that, but for me, this is going to be wide open, and I'm going in with that mentality."

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Broncos place kicker Prater on IR with groin injury

The Denver Broncos have placed kicker Matt Prater on season-ending injured reserve.

To fill the open roster spot, the Broncos promoted offensive lineman Jeff Byers from the practice squad to the active roster, the team announced Thursday.

Prater has missed the last two games with a groin injury. Steven Hauschka has filled in, connecting on 5 of 6 field-goal attempts in games at Arizona and Oakland.

In his career with the Broncos, Prater has made 71 of 87 field-goal attempts, the best accuracy rate in team history for anyone with a minimum of 50 attempts.

Known for a booming leg, Prater has made nine field-goal tries of 50 or more yards in his career, including two this season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Bengals place leading receiver Owens on injured reserve

The Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday announced they have placed wide receiver Terrell Owens on injured reserve, officially ending his first season with the team.

Owens, 37, had surgery on his left knee Monday in Birmingham, Ala., after being examined by Dr. James Andrews.

The receiver tore cartilage in his left knee two weeks ago, but kept playing. He aggravated the injury while making a cut on the opening series of a 19-17 win over Cleveland on Sunday, forcing him to hobble off the field.

Owens signed a one-year deal with a $2 million base salary at the start of training camp, when the Bengals were one of the few teams interested. He proved he could still play, leading the team with 72 catches for 983 yards and nine touchdowns.

He ranked among the NFL's top six receivers in yards and catches heading into the game against Cleveland. He's a free agent after the season, and he has said he hopes to play for two or three more years.

Despite Owens' big numbers, the Bengals (3-11) had one of their worst seasons. The victory over Cleveland ended a 10-game losing streak that matched the longest in club history for one season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Lions place RB Smith on IR, promote ex-Army star Campbell

The Detroit Lions placed veteran running back Kevin Smith on season-ending injured reserve for the second consecutive year and signed linebacker Caleb Campbell off the practice squad in time for Sunday's showdown with the Dallas Cowboys.

The Detroit Free Press reported Saturday that the Lions shelved Smith, who injured his thumb during last week's 14-12 loss to the Buffalo Bills, to open up roster room for the season's final stretch.

The Lions officially announced the roster moves Sunday.

Smith had surgery on the thumb Thursday and hoped to shed a hard cast for a splint by next week, according to The Free Press.

Smith, who led the Lions in rushing in 2008 and 2009, missed the first three weeks of this season while on the mend from knee surgery.

Running back Maurice Morris will assume the No. 2 running back role behind starter Jahvid Best.

As Smith's season was ending, Campbell's was just beginning.

"Just got activated! Headed to Dallas. Ill take that!" Campbell tweeted Saturday.

Campbell was selected by the Lions out of Army in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

At the time, Army policy would have allowed the West Point graduate to serve as a recruiter if he made the team. A subsequent Department of Defense policy superseded that 2005 Army policy, and Campbell was ordered to give up professional football for "full-time traditional military duties."

Campbell was released from his active duty obligations in May 2010 and joined the Lions' practice squad before the start of this season.

Lions linebackers have fought injuries in recent weeks. Isaiah Ekejiuba (knee) is questionable to play against the Cowboys, and Bobby Carpenter (toe) and DeAndre Levy (groin) are probable.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Falcons hang on to defeat Bucs, take sole possession of first place

ATLANTA -- With a powerful running back, a balanced passing game and a gutty goal-line stand, the Atlanta Falcons showed they're the best in the NFC South.

At least for this week.

The Falcons overcame a dismal display on special teams and the boasts of Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris, coming up with a huge defensive stop in the closing minutes to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-21 Sunday and take over sole possession of first place in the NFC South.

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Michael Turner rushed for 107 yards and two early touchdowns, and the Falcons (6-2) compensated after Roddy White went out for a while with a knee injury. Tony Gonzalez had eight catches and undrafted rookie Michael Palmer scored his first career TD.

"We know how to win," cornerback Dunta Robinson said. "This team has done a great job of finishing. When our backs are against the wall, we can find a way to win the football game."

Their backs were certainly against their own goal line when the Buccaneers (5-3) drove down to the Atlanta 2 with less than 3 minutes left, facing fourth-and-1.

Josh Freeman faked a handoff to Ryan Purvis, a tight end lined up at fullback, and then gave it to LeGarrette Blount for a run over right tackle. But safety Thomas DeCoud charged up to stuff the slow-developing play, and Coy Wire finished off Blount to make sure he couldn't stretch out for the first down.

"I told the defensive line, 'Get penetration, get penetration,' and the guys in the back will come up to make the play," linebacker Mike Peterson said.

That's just what happened. The ball went over to the Falcons, who ran out the clock after Turner picked up the necessary first down with three straight runs totaling 14 yards, leaving him with 24 carries and his fourth 100-yard performance in the past six games.

Give the Bucs credit. Morris had proclaimed his team the best in the NFC, and it looked like Tampa Bay might back him up. Micheal Spurlock returned a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown in the final minute of the third quarter and Freeman threw a pair of touchdown passes.

The Falcons held at the end, though.

"They're a good football team, make no mistake about that," Morris said. "We were big-time resilient against a big-time team."

The Falcons thoroughly dominated much of the game and Freeman -- who had been doing a good job not turning the ball over -- had a pair of interceptions. Spurlock was Tampa Bay's most dangerous weapon, also returning a kickoff 66 yards to set up Freeman's first TD pass.

"We lost by a yard," Bucs rookie Gerald McCoy said. "That's what this league is about."

Turner scored on runs of 2 and 10 yards to stake the Falcons to a 14-0 lead. Freeman cut the gap to 17-14 by halftime with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Arrelious Benn and a 58-yarder to Mike Williams.

On the third play of the second half, Freeman threw a wobbly pass under pressure from Kroy Biermann and it landed right in the arms of defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux. That set up a 5-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan to Palmer, the first career score for the undrafted rookie.

Matt Bryant added his second field goal, pushing the Falcons ahead 27-14.

Back came the Bucs.

The ensuing kickoff landed between Spurlock and Maurice Stovall in an apparent mix-up. But Spurlock picked up the bouncing ball at the 11, slipped through a hole, somehow stayed inbound when kicker Michael Koenen took a dive at him along the sideline and streaked the rest of the way for the touchdown that again made a game of it.

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Trying to seize on that momentum, Tampa Bay appeared to get the ball back when kicker Connor Barth recovered an onside attempt. But the Falcons challenged, and the replay showed that the ball touched Barth's left knee just before it covered the necessary 10 yards, giving it over to Atlanta.

The Falcons got a big scare in the first quarter when White, leading the NFL with 54 receptions through seven games, twisted his right knee making an 11-yard catch along the sideline.

White limped off the field, got treated on the sideline, then went back in the game. His return didn't last long, and he walked slowly to the locker room late in the first half.

After everyone had emerged from the tunnel for the second half, White finally came trotting back out. He made a couple of sharp cuts on the sideline to test the knee, ran on the field after Babineaux's interception and made a crucial catch for first down at the 1.

"I came down kind of funny," said White, who finished with four receptions for 49 yards. "(The medical staff) did some good things for me, put my brace and just see if I can go. I went out there and didn't feel much pain, so I kept going."

Unlike Morris, the Falcons were making no boasts about being best in the NFC.

"We definitely feel good to be number one in our division," Robinson said. "But we won't be determining the best team until (early) next year."

Notes: The Bucs came up on the wrong end of turnovers in a game for the first time this season because of Freeman's interceptions. Tampa Bay had been plus-8 in turnover margin, ranking second in the league. Atlanta didn't have any interceptions or fumbles. ... The Bucs converted 8 of 13 third downs, while the Falcons were 8 of 14. Atlanta also converted its only try on fourth down. ... Blount was held to 46 yards on 13 carries after totaling 192 the two previous games.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Best place for Moss? Titans believe its Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans don't believe like they took a chance claiming Randy Moss off the waiver wire.

They think they got lucky and hit the lottery.

The Titans are confident the move will translate into wins -- maybe even the missing piece that could deliver owner Bud Adams and coach Jeff Fisher their first Super Bowl.

Fisher, the NFL's longest-tenured coach, is known as a player's coach who holds his guys accountable. The Titans (5-3) are winning with a strong locker room hungry for the franchise's first postseason win since January 2004, which should keep Moss focused for their eight-game playoff push.

All reasons why, although no one else in the NFL wanted the 13-year veteran, the Titans think Moss now is on the right team at the right time.

"This is a great opportunity for him," Fisher said. "It's a fresh start. We've got a great locker room. They'll accept him. I'm confident he'll accept his new teammates as well."

Fisher himself is the biggest reason this can work.

He has dealt with egos -- Adam "Pacman" Jones and Albert Haynesworth and running back LenDale White -- coaxing out big punt returns, interceptions, sacks and touchdowns before those players wore out their welcome in Tennessee. The Titans eventually traded away Jones and White and let Haynesworth walk via free agency.

Now in his 16th full season, Fisher has enough clout to make personnel decisions as he sees fit. Fisher is a former player with a good feel for when to practice longer or turn a session into a walkthrough, and his players notice.

Not that the Titans are expecting any issues.

They did their homework on Moss, including a conversation with backup quarterback Kerry Collins. Moss and Collins were teammates for a year in Oakland, and Collins calls him a great teammate. Fisher also talked to Moss and said the receiver is excited to come to Tennessee.

"We think that he can help us, and I'm looking forward to seeing him run under those deep balls," Fisher said.

That's where Moss fits best.

He gives offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger the best option he's had to throw downfield. The Titans have been trying to do just that the past few weeks, attempting to stretch the field for running back Chris Johnson. Kenny Britt had 225 yards receiving Oct. 25, the best day in the NFL this year, and Nate Washington had a career-best 113 yards in last week's 33-25 loss to San Diego.

Vince Young is the NFL's top-rated passer at 103.1 for the first time in his career, although the Titans rank 24th with 187.6 yards passing per game. Moss is expected to change that.

"He should be a difference-maker for the offense and other individual players on our offense," Heimerdinger said.

The biggest benefactor could be Johnson.

He is the NFL's third-best rusher with 721 yards, but defenses stack the line against him. And although the Titans are the NFL's second-highest scoring team (28 points per game), with Britt out a minimum of two weeks with a strained right hamstring, things were bound to get tougher for Johnson.

"I know for a fact they can't put all those guys in the box with that guy out there," Johnson said Thursday in quotes shared by the team after a closed practice.

Johnson isn't the only player excited about the arrival of Moss and his 153 career touchdowns.

The Titans missed the playoffs last year and lost in their previous two postseason appearances, and they are a half-game behind Indianapolis (5-2) in the AFC South at their bye with five divisional games to play down the stretch.

They expect Moss to be ready to work when they return to practice Tuesday after their bye week.

"We need to make sure we are here to play, we are here to win, and that is what it is all about," linebacker Will Witherspoon. "I think coach Fisher said it himself: Anytime you have a chance to improve the roster, you need to try to make that move if you can. I think they had the opportunity and took full advantage of it."

Although the man with the West Virginia drawl can be moody, snarling at reporters or responding with candor and wit, past teammates have nothing but good things to say about the 6-foot-4 receiver.

Even if Moss didn't give 100 percent, Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre said he was dangerous.

"So, did he hustle on every play? I don't know if Randy has ever hustled on every play. That's just Randy," Favre said. "But he knows what his value is. He figures, 'Heck, two guys follow me everywhere I go.' ... They may watch and say, 'He's jogging, jogging, jogging.' Boom! Seventy-yard touchdown."

Vikings receiver Greg Camarillo credited Moss with making him better. Adrian Peterson tweeted he knew Johnson was excited and that he enjoyed his time with Moss. Tom Brady still calls Moss a "great friend."

Saints fullback Heath Evans said Moss had young receivers in the weight room at 6 a.m., bugging coaches to open the doors early so he could start work.

"As an old teammate, any time I hear negative news about him it angers me, because I know the guy," Evans said. "Listen, he's the type of guy you want on your team on Sundays."

That's the Moss the Titans believe they've got.

Tennessee tight end Bo Scaife said, "Thank you, Jesus," once they landed the veteran.

"I hope he's mad at those other teams passing him up, and he comes in and gives us the best eight games of his career," Scaife said.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Giants place DE Kiwanuka on injured reserve with neck injury

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka's season is over, and there is a chance his career with the New York Giants could be at an end, too.

The Giants placed the five-year veteran on injured reserve Thursday with a herniated cervical disk after waiting more than a month to see if rest would fix his neck.

With Kiwanuka's contract up after this season, it's unknown if the Giants are willing to re-sign a player with a neck problem.

"It's painful for us to go this route with Kiwi, but we've exhausted all of our options," Giants general manager Jerry Reese said. "What's most important is for him to get healthy. We're praying and hopeful that by next fall he will be back at 100 percent and playing for the New York Giants."

Kiwanuka was having an outstanding season, with four sacks in the first three games. He was diagnosed with a cervical disk problem before the Giants played the Chicago Bears early this month and missed the past four games.

"We held out hope as long as we could," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "Finally, by consensus, the doctors came to this decision. You have to make the right choice, and the decision was made that he could not play again this season. My concern is for Mathias. He loves the game, he loves to play, he's proven his versatility this year beyond any question."

This is the second major injury for Kiwanuka, the Giants' first-round draft pick in 2006. He broke his left leg in November 2007, the season the Giants beat the previously New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl.

"Like I said before, I felt like, given enough time, I could've made it back this season, but it's the nature of the business," Kiwanuka said. "The Giants had to move on, and I had to be OK with it. Regardless of what happens to me as an individual, I'm definitely still going to work with the Giants' organization throughout the term of my contract. I know this team is going to be successful, so I'm excited to watch it."

Kiwanuka, who said he isn't in pain, hopes to avoid surgery.

"The consensus is that if I take the proper amount of time off, there is a very good chance that it'll heal on its own," he said. "That's what the goal is right now. If it doesn't happen, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Regardless of whether or not it requires surgery, I'll still be back by the opening of training camp."

Defensive back and return specialist Will Blackmon was signed to take Kiwanuka's place on the roster. He spent the past four seasons with the Green Bay Packers.

Blackmon was Kiwanuka's roommate during their senior season at Boston College. The two had dinner Wednesday night.

"It's tough, because we were a couple of weeks away from playing together again," Kiwanuka said. "He got his papers from Green Bay, I was excited and heard there was a chance that he might come here, so I've been talking him up around the locker room. Man, he's a great player."

The Giants' return game has struggled this season with Darius Reynaud handling most of the kicks. Blackmon worked out for the team Wednesday.

"We expect him to get into the mix quickly on special teams," Reese said. "He has experience and production as a return specialist and cover specialist. He also has played both safety and corner, which gives us some flexibility there as well."

Blackmon played three games last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury Oct. 5 at Minnesota. He was in camp with the Packers this summer, but the sides reached an injury settlement Sept. 5.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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