Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
CHARLOTTE ó New Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera will make his debut against the New York Giants ó based on the large assumption the current labor mess is resolved and there’s a normal preseason.
The Panthers released their four-game exhibition schedule on Tuesday. If the lockout is over, the Panthers will open against the Giants at home the weekend of Aug. 12-14. Exact dates will be released later.
The Panthers will then visit Miami and Cincinnati the next weeks before the preseason finale against Pittsburgh at Bank of America Stadium, likely on Sept. 1.
Rivera was hired earlier this year to replace John Fox after Carolina went an NFL-worst 2-14.
LABOR UPDATE
MINNEAPOLIS ó With the lockout at one month and counting, attorneys for NFL players sat down Tuesday with the federal magistrate who will oversee court-ordered mediation with the league later this week.
Attorneys and Hall of Fame defensive end Carl Eller met with U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan for about four hours.
Boylan “was very open” and “it was a very constructive session,” said Michael Hausfeld, the lead attorney representing Eller.
Boylan has a reputation as a problem-solver, though what he can accomplish after more than two weeks of mediated talks fell short last month in Washington remains to be seen.
LETTER
NEW YORK ó The NFL forwarded a letter from the NCAA to players invited to this monthís draft that warns underclassmen about potential rules violations for attending draft parties.
The letter from NCAA director of player security services Dena Garner emphasized that players not eligible for this yearís draft canít receive benefits or services such as travel, lodging, meals or entertainment if they attend such parties. Each college athlete must pay for all of those things or he could violate NCAA rules.
NFL DRAFT
NEW YORK (AP) ó Heisman Trophy winners Cam Newton and Mark Ingram are among 20 college football players the NFL Players Association says plan to participate in its events on the same three days as the NFL draft.
The ěNFLPA Rookie Debutî from April 28-30 is slated to involve more than 20 current or former NFL players.
BRADSHAW
CHOUDRANT, La. ó Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw says heís feeling the effects of numerous concussions sustained during his NFL career.
The 62-year-old Shreveport native said he has been having short-term memory loss as well as the loss of hand-eye coordination. He also said he is undergoing rehabilitation for those ailments.
MORE MANNINGS
INDIANAPOLIS ó Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has a new job, but it doesn’t involve throwing footballs ó at least not yet.
Manning and wife Ashley are the parents of twins. The births came 10 days after Manning became an uncle. New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning and wife Abby became parents of a daughter on March 21.