NFLLONDON -- The NFL placed Josh Brown on paid leave hours after coach Ben McAdoo struggled to answer questions about how the New York Giants might discipline the kicker for abusing his wife.In a letter to the 14-year veteran, NFL senior vice president of labor policy Adolpho Birch said Brown was being placed on the leagues exempt list while the league investigates whether he should be suspended as punishment for several alleged acts of spousal abuse. Birch said the move does not represent a finding that you have violated the personal conduct policy, but does pave the way toward potential further sanctions.Being placed on Commissioner Roger Goodells exempt list means Brown cannot attend practices or Giants games but can go to Giants headquarters for meetings and workouts.HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- Former NFL Alumni Association President George Martin told a concussion conference the injury is a scourge in contact sports with long-term consequences still widely underestimated.Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found in athletes and others with a history of repetitive brain trauma, including concussions.Martin was the keynote speaker at the Ultimate Concussion Conference, a gathering of experts and policymakers in sports administration, law, education and health, including neuroscience and neuropsychology. About 80 people were expected for the three-day event.NBAMIAMI -- A woman performing the national anthem before an NBA preseason game in Miami did so while kneeling at midcourt, and opening her jacket to show a shirt with the phrase Black Lives Matter.The singer was identified by the Heat as Denasia Lawrence. It was unclear if she remained in the arena after the performance, and messages left for her were not immediately returned.Heat players and coaches stood side-by-side for the anthem, all with their arms linked as has been their custom during the preseason. Many had their heads down as Lawrence sang, and the team released a statement saying it had no advance knowledge that she planned to kneel.NEW YORK -- This season hasnt started and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver already has good news about next season.It appears theres no chance it will be affected by a work stoppage.Silver said Friday the league and players have made tremendous progress toward an extension of the collective bargaining agreement, saying he hoped a deal would be completed soon.Silver said the process was far different than the contentious negotiations of 2011, which led to a lockout and a 2011-12 season that was shortened to 66 games.This time, the sides have been meeting for a few months and seem eager to make a deal long before Dec. 15, when either side can notify the other of its intention to opt out of the 10-year pact, which expires in June 2021.WNBANEW YORK -- For the second time in a week during the WNBA Finals, the league acknowledged a late officiating mistake.The WNBA said the officials missed a shot clock violation in the deciding Game 5 on Thursday night in which the Los Angeles Sparks beat the defending champion Minnesota Lynx 77-76.After reviewing postgame video, we have determined that Nneka Ogwumikes shot with 1:14 remaining in regulation time should not have counted due to a shot-clock violation, and that the referees improperly failed to review the play under the instant replay rules, Renee Brown, WNBA chief of basketball operations and player relations, said in a statement Friday.Ogwumikes jumper with 3.1 seconds left, off the rebound of her blocked shot, won it for the Sparks.AUTO RACINGAUSTIN, Texas -- The Mercedes duel is hitting full throttle at the U.S. Grand Prix.Formula One championship leader Nico Rosberg put more pressure on teammate and rival Lewis Hamilton by posting the fastest lap in Fridays practice sessions as he seeks to tighten his grip on a potential first title.Hamilton led the morning session before Rosberg came back in the afternoon with a lap of 1 minute, 37.358 seconds. Hamilton was third in the afternoon session, but his morning lap of 1:37.428 was second-quickest on the day.FIGURE SKATINGHOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- American Ashley Wagner won the Progressive Skate America short program with a score of 69.50, building on her second-place finish in the world championships.Japans Mai Mihara, making her Grand Prix Series debut at 17, was second at 65.75, and U.S. champion Gracie Gold third at 64.87. The free skate will determine the champion Saturday at Sears Centre Arena.Cheap Authentic Jerseys 2020 . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Wholesale Jerseys Review . -- Anaheim Ducks captain and leading scorer Ryan Getzlaf has been scratched from Sunday nights game against the Vancouver Canucks because of an upper-body injury. http://www.wholesalejerseysreview.com/ . Anthony Davis had 31 points and 17 rebounds in his seventh straight game with more than 20 points, but that was only enough to keep the Pelicans competitive into the final minutes. Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds for Golden State, which rebounded from a loss a night earlier in Oklahoma City and snapped a two-game skid. Wholesale Jerseys 2020 . In the lead up - which seemed to begin the moment Mike Geiger blew the whistle in Houston last Thursday night - the Impact rumour mill went into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety. Wholesale China Jerseys Free Shipping . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race.NEW YORK -- Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, who died in a boating accident in September, was voted the National League Comeback Player of the Year by his peers in the annual Players Choice Awards of the Major League Baseball Players Association.Fernandez was the 2013 NL Rookie of the Year, had Tommy John surgery the following year, returned in July 2015 and was 16-8 with a 2.86 ERA this season, earning his second All-Star selection.He died at age 24 on Sept. 25, and autopsy reports released by the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiners Office said he had cocaine and alcohol in his system when his boat crashed into a Miami Beach jetty.Baltimore slugger Mark Trumbo, who led the major leagues with 47 home runs after hitting 13 for Seattle in 2015, won the AL comeback award.New York Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson earned his second Marvin Miller Man of the Year award,, given to the player who most inspires his fellow players through his on-field performances and contributions to his community.dddddddddddd Granderson also won in 2009.Houston second baseman Jose Altuve was voted Player of the Year and the ALs outstanding player. Second baseman Daniel Murphy was selected the NLs outstanding player in his first season with Washington.Major league ERA leader Kyle Hendricks of the Chicago Cubs was the NLs outstanding pitcher, and Rick Porcello won the AL award in his second season with Boston.Detroit pitcher Michael Fulmer was the ALs top rookie, and Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager the top NL rookie.Balloting among big league players took place in mid-September and results were announced Wednesday. ' ' '