ekansekans's blog: "df"

PHILADELPHIA -- An arbitrator expects to rule within a week on arguments presented Wednesday concerning the Saints use of the NFLs franchise tag on quarterback Drew Brees, NFL Players Association outside counsel Jeffrey Kessler said. Arbitrator Stephen Burbank, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, is handling the matter of how to interpret language in the NFLs collective bargaining agreement, which requires any club that designates a player as a franchise player for the third time to give that player a 44 per cent raise. Brees, once a franchise tag player with San Diego, has been designated New Orleans franchise player in 2012. The QB seeks clarity on whether the raise for third-time franchise players applies to his career, or only his stint with one team. Burbank "said he will have a decision within one week and were going to eagerly await that decision," Kessler said. The ruling could affect Brees ongoing efforts to reach a long-term contract with the Saints, and also could set a precedent for other players who face the prospect of being named a franchise player multiple times. If Burbank decides the 44 per cent raise would kick in when Brees receives the tag for the third time in his career, the Saints would have to pay him more than $23 million in 2013 if they made him their franchise player a second year in a row. However, if Burbank rules for the NFL and the Saints, then Brees would only be due a 20 per cent raise to about $19.6 million. Attorney Ben Block argued the case for the NFL. The franchise tag gives NFL teams the ability to maintain exclusive negotiating rights with one player each season. New Orleans designated Brees, 33, its franchise player in March after the club was unable to reach a new long-term extension with the record-setting quarterback before his previous six-year, $60 million contract expired. Brees and the Saints still have until July 16 to negotiate a new long-term deal. Otherwise, Brees would have the option of signing his franchise tender of about $16.3 million for the 2012 season. He could also sit out, but has said this week he does not intend to do so. Kaepernick Elite Jersey . The 31-year-old Victoria native became the first Canadian to win one of cyclings three major tour races when he won the Giro dItalia last month. Authentic Kaepernick Jersey . Rookies Jordan Pacheco and DJ LeMahieu each homered, leading the Rockies to a 7-5 win over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday for a three-game series sweep. http://elevatedcolor.com/new.html . Strong-armed fill-in Colin Kaepernick made all the right throws, looking every bit a capable NFL No. 1. Kaepernick passed for 243 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start in place of the injured Smith, and the 49ers whipped the Chicago Bears 32-7 on Monday night in a highly touted NFC showdown that hardly lived up to the hype.HONG KONG -- Defending champion Rory McIlroy finished nine shots behind leader Javier Colomo after the first round of the Hong Kong Open on Thursday. McIlroy admitted to feeling lethargic after shooting a 3-over 73. Colomo, ranked 506th, recorded a career-best 64 in overcast and windy conditions on the suburban Fanling course. That earned him a one-stroke lead over fellow Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez and Australias Andrew Dodt. The 48-year-old Jimenez would break his own record as oldest Hong Kong champion from 2008, and oldest ever winner on the European Tour if he were to capture the title a third time this weekend. "I am like a good bottle of rioja because I just get better and better with age," Jimenez said with a smile. Countryman Jose Maria Olazabal put himself in position to end a seven-year winless drought on the tour, playing alongside Jimenez and being among five players signing for 67s. Olazabal also won in Hong Kong, in 2002. McIlroy bogeyed his first hole and made his only birdie at the par-5 third hole. He dropped a shot at the sixth after being forced to play his second shot left-handed from beside a bush, and bogeyed 14 and 15. "I just lacked a bit of energy out there, I felt a bit lethargic and mentally more than physically, if I am being honest," he said. "I bogeyed the first, but then just got more frustrated as the round went on.ddddddddddddI just felt like I was hitting some decent shots and just not really converting any chances for birdies and I just let it go a little bit." McIlroy believes hes just going through a comedown after securing the tour money title last weekend in Singapore. "I suppose after last week, and winning the Race to Dubai title, it was always going to be a bit of a letdown," he said. "I feel as though I am playing well enough, but I just need to get my head and the golf to match up and Ill be OK." Colomo found everything in synch in his Hong Kong Open debut. He began his round on the back nine and after 10 straight pars he stormed to the top of the board with six birdies over his closing eight holes. Colomo lost his card last year on Europes secondary Challenge Tour and this season has been competing on the Asian Tour. "After losing my card on the Challenge Tour, I was lucky to qualify for the Asian Tour and Im 33rd on the rankings," Colomo said. "Thats perfect, because I now get to play co-sanctioned tournaments like this on the European Tour. "So its been a good chance for me to improve, and why not try and win a tournament and get myself onto the European Tour." ' ' '