The NFL continues to dominate the headlines, even in the off-season. This week’s top stories revolve around Bountygate and player safety, NCAA reform, and of course the big business of sports broadcasting. Be sure to scroll down and read the article Andy Staples wrote following the NCAA panel discussion we hosted at Tulane Law School last week.

To keep up throughout the week be sure to follow us on Twitter.
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NFL

Professor Feldman (@SportsLawGuy) provides a Sports Law 101 look at what gives the commissioner the right to suspend the Bountygaters, and what rights the Bountygaters have to challenge the suspensions. http://es.pn/HVnLjF

Professor Feldman provides some insight into the Redskins/Cowboys cap penalties & pending arbitration. http://wapo.st/HMHZeH

A judge on Wednesday rejected Reebok's bid to overturn his ban on its sale of Tim Tebow New York Jets jerseys. http://bo.st/I9znge

The NFL and Ticketmaster renewed their partnership for at least $200 million. http://bit.ly/HbcFEr

The NFL is traditionally extremely averse to any affiliation with gambling, but that may change as the owners are set to vote on whether to allow casinos to advertise in stadiums. http://bit.ly/I4DEow

NFL and Player Safety

In the aftermath of the release of Gregg Williams’s speech, the NFL heard the Saints’ appeal of their Bountygate suspensions. http://yhoo.it/HUHi6J

The NFL Players Association has told players involved in the New Orleans Saints' bounty case there's a chance they could face criminal charges, and it has hired outside counsel. http://bit.ly/HiUJHU

Former Penn State running back Curt Warner joined about 70 other former NFL players in filing a lawsuit against the league last Friday. http://bit.ly/HmVPEa

NCAA

Based on last week’s NCAA panel discussion here at Tulane Law School, Sports Illustrated writer Andy Staples explores whether “Heavyweight programs could push Cinderella out of March Madness.” http://bit.ly/H9qW5G

Similarly, Mark Emmert has suggested to university presidents the creation of a committee to look at the possibility of changing the governance model to address the disparity between Division I schools and the rest of the membership. http://es.pn/HPLGjK 

Howard University is in serious trouble with the NCAA and could suspend its entire athletic program. http://bit.ly/HiCZN5 

The NBA and NCAA may be heading for a showdown over the NBA’s draft age requirement. http://bit.ly/HjqVzw 

The NCAA will distribute nearly $190 million to the teams that played in this year’s men’s basketball tournament, but is there a better way to share all that cash? http://bit.ly/I6wtO3 
Here is Joe Nocera’s latest, in which he attacks the NCAA’s propaganda machine. http://nyti.ms/Huy4rJ 

Sports Broadcasting

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals blessed the cable industry’s use of "tying" arrangements, through which programmers force distributors to accept programming in bulk. According to the opinion, "Tying arrangements, without more, do not necessarily threaten an injury to competition...plaintiffs must also allege facts showing that an injury to competition flows from these tying arrangements." Merely showing that consumers have less choice and pay more for their cable service is not sufficient. http://1.usa.gov/H8TXx4 

A group of fans are suing the NHL over the use of blackouts on the internet in local markets. http://bit.ly/H7CY2Q

Social Media

The debate on college campuses mirrors the larger conversation throughout the country over how much access to personal online activities private individuals can be compelled to give to employers. http://nyti.ms/HqLhBh