m-high since the Big 12 was formed.Our football team

MINNEAPOLIS -- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodells power to freely punish Adrian Peterson has prevailed, two seasons after the Minnesota running back became embroiled in a child-abuse case that heightened the dispute over league discipline.A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that an NFL arbitrator acted within his rights by upholding Goodells six-game suspension of Peterson in 2014. That came under the personal conduct policy the league toughened up following a brutal act of caught-on-video domestic violence committed by Baltimore running back Ray Rice.The 8th Circuit ruling overrode the decision issued Feb. 26, 2015, by U.S. District Judge David Doty that found NFL arbitrator Harold Henderson overreached his authority in handling the NFL Players Associations appeal on behalf of Peterson.Appellate judges James Loken, Diana Murphy and Steven Colloton heard the leagues arguments Oct. 19, 2015.The dispositive question is whether the arbitrator was at least arguably construing or applying the contract, including the law of the shop, Colloton wrote for the panel. The arbitrator here undoubtedly construed the Rice decision in reaching his decision. Disagreement with his conclusion is not a valid ground on which to vacate the decision.The NFL had no immediate comment on the ruling, issued about 27 months after the injuries to Petersons then-4-year-old son were reported.The NFLPA issued a statement of resignation.Our union pursues all claims because we believe in due process, fundamental fairness and in the spirit of collective bargaining agreements. While the NFLPA disagrees with the decision, we accept this loss, the union said. When negotiation or collective bargaining fails to resolve our differences, we will always fight and pursue every recourse for our players rights.The leagues primary argument was that a judge should not be able to intervene in a collectively bargained labor dispute like this, and the appeals court agreed.Doty had sided with the NFLPAs contention that the six-game ban, announced by Goodell on Aug. 28, 2014, couldnt apply retroactively to Peterson since the boy was hurt more than three months before the enhancement of the personal conduct policy. Peterson was indicted on Sept. 12, 2014, by a grand jury in Texas after it found him guilty of disciplining the boy with a tree branch. He eventually pleaded no contest to misdemeanor reckless assault.Peterson was on paid leave for nine games. Then Goodell issued the unpaid suspension with six games left on Minnesotas schedule. The league collected half of the roughly $4.1 million that Peterson was to forfeit, the proration over a 17-week basis from his $11.75 million salary for that year. It held off on the remaining three-game fine, pending the NFLPAs petition to Doty to vacate Hendersons decision.After playing in only one game in 2014, Peterson returned to the Vikings last year and led the league in rushing with 1,485 yards. The dispute in front of the 8th Circuit, then, boiled down to power, principle and about $2 million.The league has gotten its share of court losses to the union, but not lately and not at the higher level.Three weeks ago, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York issued a rejection of requests by the NFLPA and Tom Brady to reconsider a decision that reinstated a four-game suspension of the New England Patriots quarterback. Brady was punished for his role in deflated footballs during the AFC championship game after the 2014 season.As with Deflategate, the Peterson case was ultimately about the scope of Goodells power over player discipline and well beyond the initial behavior that landed him in trouble in the first place.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Air Max 720 . Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., team took control of the game early. Air Max 720 Outlet Sale . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. http://www.airmax720outlet.com/ . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No. Air Max 720 Wholesale Free Shipping . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. Air Max 720 Cheap Wholesale . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- If you missed Victor Cruzs clutch return to the NFL last week after missing more than a season, the 29-year-old New York Giants receiver offered an encore in Week 2.Cruz, who had a winning fourth-quarter touchdown catch against Dallas last week, hauled in a 34-yard third-down pass from Eli Manning to set up Josh Browns winning 23-yard field goal as time expired and the Giants got off to their first 2-0 start since 2009 with a 16-13 win over New Orleans Saints on Sunday.I just wanted to work my way in, catch things that are in front of me, make the plays that are presented to me, said Cruz, who had four catches for 91 yards. To make the game-winning catch a week ago and today to make a pretty decisive catch on the sideline to seal the game, I couldnt draw it up any other way. I just go out and play the game and I think Im getting better as the weeks go on.Browns third field goal capped an 11-play, 70-yard drive that featured two key third-down passes by Manning and a pass interference call on a pass to Odell Beckham Jr.The game was also redemption for the Giants defense. After allowing Drew Brees to throw for 511 yards and an NFL-tying seven touchdowns, New York limited him to one touchdown, 263 yards passing and 288 yards in total team offense in handing the Saints their second straight loss.It always comes down to a few plays but literally, we needed one more play in each of those games, and we are potentially sitting there at 2-0, said Brees, who did not complete a pass longer than 23 yards.The Saints rallied to tie it twice in the fourth quarter. A 17-yard touchdown pass from Brees to Willie Snead IV evened things at 10 early in the quarter. After Brown, who returned from a one-game suspension, gave New York a 13-10 lead with a 19-yard field goal on the next series, Brees led an eight-play, 47-yard drive that ended with Will Lutz kicking a 45-yarder to tie it with 2:54 to play.The Giants dominated the first half, but they were iin danger of falling behind just before halftime when James Laurinaitis recovered Mannings fumble at the New York 25 after he was sacked by Michael Mauti.ddddddddddddAn offensive pass interference on first down forced Lutz to attempt a 38-yard field goal. Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins came up the middle and blocked it and Janoris Jenkins jogged 65 yards for a go-ahead touchdown with 2:30 left in the half.Lutz hit a 39-yarder late in the half to get the Saints on the board.The Saints forced three turnovers, and still only scored 13 points.Its very satisfying, Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie said. That guys a Hall of Famer. Anytime we can perform like that, youve got to give credit to yourself.SPECIAL TEAMS: The last time the Giants returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown was Dec. 7, 2008, when Kevin Dockery returned one 71 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles. Coincidentally, Gene Steratore was also the referee in that game.SECONDARY CONCERNS: The Saints are hurting at cornerback. Delvin Breaux is out with a broken leg, and fellow starter P.J. Williams left in the first quarter against New York with a possible concussion and concern about his spine. Recently signed Sterling Moore and reserves DeVante Harris and Ken Crawley finished the game.MORE BREES: Brees finished 29 of 44. The 37-year-old passed Dan Marino (61,361 yards) for No. 3 in NFL history.VICTOR: The chants of Cruzzz greeted Cruz in his first game at MetLife Stadium since 2014. However, the 29-year old who caught the game winner against Dallas last weekend, fumbled at the end of a 40-yard catch after being hit by Crawley, spoiling his biggest play, until he came through at the end.GIANTS BIG THREE: Cruz, Beckham and rookie Sterling Shepard combined for 294 yards and no touchdowns.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '