NFL commissioner Goodell says Michael Vick is eligible to play in 3rd game of regular season.

NEW YORK — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick is eligible to play beginning in the third game of the regular season.

First hunter to report Idaho wolf kill gets harassing phone calls

LEWISTON, Idaho — The first hunter to report a wolf kill in Idaho says he’s been flooded with nasty messages.

Former Patriots RB John M. Stephens, 1988 Offensive Rookie of Year, killed in auto crash

SHREVEPORT, La. — John M. Stephens, the 1988 Offensive Rookie of the Year for the New England Patriots, has been killed after his pickup truck ran off a highway and struck some trees, authorities said Wednesday.

Former Patriots running back John N, Stephens killed in crash near Shreveport

SHREVEPORT, La. — John M. Stephens, the 1988 Offensive Rookie of the Year for the New England Patriots, has been killed after his pickup truck ran off a highway and struck some trees, authorities said Wednesday.

Federal appeals court says Delaware sports betting must be limited to parlay bets on NFL games

DOVER, Del. — A federal appeals court on Monday dealt another body blow to Delaware’s plans for a new sports betting lottery, saying it must be limited to parlay bets on professional football games.

As Vick nears Eagles debut, animal advocates want spotlight on dogs, not the dogfighter

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Eagles tailgaters will be out in force long before Michael Vick takes the field on Thursday. So will animal advocates — on the other side of town.

Papa John’s founder pays $250K reward, reunites with ‘71 Camaro Z28 he sold to save business

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — With the help of a $250,000 reward, the founder of the Papa John’s pizza chain has finally reunited with the muscle car he sold years ago to help keep his family’s business afloat.

Papa John’s founder reunites with the beloved 1971 Camaro Z28 he sold to save family business

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The founder of the Papa John’s pizza chain has finally reunited with the muscle car he sold years ago to help keep his family’s business afloat.

Delaware gov. looks at ways to preserve sports betting plan after court rules it violates law

PHILADELPHIA — Delaware’s governor is looking at ways his state can preserve its plan to balance the books by offering sports wagering now that a court has ruled its proposal violates a 1992 federal ban on such bets.

Appeals court rules Delaware’s plan to offer sports betting would violate federal ban

PHILADELPHIA — A federal appeals court ruled Monday that sports betting in Delaware would violate a 1992 federal ban on such wagering, essentially halting the state’s plans to start taking bets next month.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger hurts right foot or ankle near end of practice

LATROBE, Pa. — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger injured his right ankle or foot during the last half-hour of the team’s final training camp practice. It was not immediately certain how badly he was hurt or how long he would be out.

Interview: Sole survivor of boat tragedy that killed 2 NFL players still wonders why he lived

TAMPA, Fla. — The sole survivor of a February boating accident that killed two NFL players and a former college player said he’s still haunted daily by “survivor’s guilt” and wonders why he was the one who lived.

NFL to ask federal court to allow suspensions of Minnesota Vikings Kevin and Pat Williams

MINNEAPOLIS — The NFL will ask a federal appeals court Tuesday to uphold the suspensions of Minnesota Vikings defensive linemen Kevin Williams and Pat Williams for violating the league’s anti-doping policy.

Excerpts from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s letter suspending Donte’ Stallworth

NEW YORK — Excerpts from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s letter suspending Cleveland Browns receiver Donte’ Stallworth for the season.

Vick returns to suburban Atlanta to discuss error of his ways, but few allowed to hear talk

DECATUR, Ga. —Michael Vick returned to the area that once celebrated his brilliant play on the football field, this time for the first of what he hopes will be dozens of appearances around the country to urge low-income youths to avoid the tragic trail left by dogfighting.

Judge denies request for preliminary injunction against Delaware sports betting lottery

WILMINGTON, Del. — A federal judge on Wednesday denied a request by professional sports leagues and the NCAA to halt Delaware’s planned sports betting lottery until a legal challenge is resolved.

Twitter intolerance: Some NFL teams wage clampdown on tweets, even by fans

DAVIE, Fla. — The only tweets during the Miami Dolphins scrimmage Saturday will come from the officials’ whistles.

Minn. judge halts state action in Vikings suspension case pending federal ruling

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings linemen Kevin and Pat Williams still don’t know if they’ll be suspended by the NFL in their dispute over its anti-doping policy, but the fight won’t be in state court any time soon — if at all.

Vancouver Canucks president, CEO Zimmerman resigns for family reasons

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Vancouver Canucks president and chief executive officer Chris Zimmerman is stepping down.

NCAA, other leagues say Delaware officials are trying to delay ruling on sports betting

DOVER, Del. — Delaware officials are trying to delay a decision that might stop a sports betting lottery from kicking off in September, an attorney said in court papers Monday.

Nevada Supreme Court considering whether to release OJ Simpson, co-defendant pending appeal

LAS VEGAS — A trio of Nevada Supreme Court justices focused Monday on whether O.J. Simpson and a former golfing buddy received a fair trial in a gunpoint hotel room heist and whether the case was so unique that the two men should be freed from prison while their appeals are considered.

Nevada Supreme Court to hear arguments on releasing OJ Simpson pending appeal

LAS VEGAS — Lawyers for O.J. Simpson and a former golfing buddy hope to persuade a Nevada Supreme Court panel to spring the two men from prison while the justices review their convictions in a gunpoint hotel room heist.

African-Americans say Chicago cemetery scandal has hurt efforts to preserve black history

CHICAGO — Harold Lucas was raised with the stories about his grandparents, who rode segregated railroad cars from Missouri to Chicago in the 1930s and worked tirelessly to raise their family into the middle class.

Judge freezes most assets of La. film studio where Saints players invested in tax credits

NEW ORLEANS — A judge Friday froze most of the assets of a movie studio at the heart of a $1.9 million investment dispute involving members of the New Orleans Saints.

Rep. Henry Waxman’s skills as a negotiator put to the test by health care and climate change

WASHINGTON — The necktie, replete with Democratic donkeys, sailed toward Tom Davis, propelled in that direction by a very frustrated Henry Waxman.

Future of ex-NFL QB McNair’s work helping at-risk teens, hurricane victims is questionable

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair trained thousands of kids at youth football camps and collected truckloads of donations for hurricane relief before he was killed, and it’s unknown whether his foundation can continue similar charity work after his death.

Federal judges in Ohio consider arguments on reviving Kentucky Speedway lawsuit against NASCAR

CINCINNATI — The former owners of the Kentucky Speedway are asking a federal appeals court for a green flag to pursue their antitrust claim against NASCAR.

Pro sports leagues, NCAA seek injunction against Delaware betting plan

WASHINGTON — The four major pro sports leagues and the NCAA asked a federal judge Tuesday for a preliminary injunction to prevent Delaware from implementing its sports betting plan.

Delaware legislator calls betting lawsuit by NFL, other leagues hypocritical

WASHINGTON — Delaware’s House majority leader said Tuesday that the NFL and other leagues were engaging in “blatant hypocrisy” by suing to block sports betting in the state.

Bail worth $10M for the man accused of stabbing two women in Seattle

SEATTLE — A judge Saturday set bail at $10 million for a man accused of breaking into a south Seattle home and stabbing two women, one fatally.