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02/10/2012 - Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NCAA Football Rules Committee wrapped up three-day meetings Thursday by recommending several rules proposals for the 2012 season that are intended to enhance player safety.
The proposed changes include:
*Moving kickoffs to the 35-yard line from the 30 and limiting the running start of the kicking team players to five yards or less, and moving touchbacks on free kicks to the 25-yard line from the 20.
*Making a player ineligible for the next play if he loses his helmet during a play other than by the result of a foul by the opponent (the helmet removal will be treated like an injury).
*Allowing offensive players in the tackle box at the snap who are not in motion to block below the waist legally without restriction.
*Disallowing the receiving team's player from leaping over the shield blocking scheme of the punting team.
*Affording a kick returner additional protection to complete a catch before allowing contact by the kicking team.
"In all of our proposals, we are continuing the annual effort to find ways to make our game safer where we can," Scot Dapp, chair of the committee and athletics director at Moravian College told ncaa.org. "Without question, these changes will enhance student-athlete safety and we feel very comfortable based on the data we collected that the impact will be significant."
The recommendations have been sent to NCAA member schools and must be approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which meets via conference call Feb. 21.
<< Milan hopes to end poor run of form at Udinese
Udine, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - AC Milan will try to return to the win column
on Saturday at Udinese after a dip in form has left the Rossoneri staring up
at Juventus in the Serie A standings.
A run of seven wins in eight matches in all
<< Dortmund tests 14-game run against Leverkusen
Dortmund, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Borussia Dortmund returned to the summit
in the Bundesliga last weekend, but the defending champions will face a stern
test Saturday against Bayer Leverkusen.
Dortmund is unbeaten in 14 straight, and w
<< Fish gives U.S. 1-0 lead against host Swiss
Fribourg, Switzerland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mardy Fish outlasted Stanislas
Wawrinka in a five-set thriller Friday, as the visiting United States grabbed
a 1-0 lead against Switzerland in their best-of-five opening-round Davis Cup
showdown.
<< More knee problems for Bayern's Breno
Munich, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bayern Munich defender Breno saw his
comeback effort take a step back as it was confirmed that the Brazilian will
require another operation on his knee.
The 22-year-old sustained a torn ACL in
Kvitova pulls out of Qatar Open >>
Doha, Qatar (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova will not
play in next week's Qatar Ladies Open due to an unspecified injury.
The world No. 2 Kvitova was slated to be the second seed in Doha, behind world
No. 1 and Austr
Djokovic-less Serbs leads Swedes 2-0 in Davis Cup >>
Nis, Serbia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Playing without its world No. 1 superstar
Novak Djokovic, Serbia jumped out to a commanding 2-0 lead over visiting
Sweden in a best-of-five opening-round Davis Cup affair.
World No. 9 Janko Tipsar
Gronkowski has successful ankle surgery >>
Burlington, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New England Patriots tight end Rob
Gronkowski reportedly underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his left
ankle.
Comcast SportsNet New England confirmed the procedure took place on Frid
Nalbandian, Monaco give Argentines 2-0 lead over host Germans >>
Bamberg, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Last year's runner-up Argentina got
opening singles wins from David Nalbandian and Juan Monaco on Friday, as the
host Germans trail their South American counterparts 2-0 in a best-of-five
opening
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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