Players Reject NHL Proposals

The continuing stalemate between the NHL and the locked-out players, cemented by another unproductive meeting Thursday, has increased the possibility that the league will use replacement players next season, according to a league source.

NHL representatives, led by Commissioner Gary Bettman, gave the NHL Players Assn. two proposals, both downsized versions of previous offers, at a two-hour meeting in New York. The first included a $37.5-million salary cap, which was a drop of $5 million from the league’s last proposal. The second linked player salaries to league revenues, with the players limited to 54% of revenues. Players have opposed linking salaries and revenues.

The NHL has also scheduled a board of governors’ meeting April 20. Detailed plans on options will be presented, focusing on the steps necessary for teams to use replacement players, the league source said.

NHLPA Executive Director Bob Goodenow rejected Thursday’s proposals.

“Both proposals were very similar to ones that we previously rejected several times,” he said. “We will be determining our next steps and responding at the appropriate time.”

The NHLPA executive committee will meet for three days, beginning Tuesday. No discussions with the NHL are expected until after those meetings.

Bill Daly, the NHL’s chief legal officer, said in a statement Thursday that the offer without a link between salaries and revenues had an expiration date.

“We indicated that, to the extent this was a framework that the union remained interested in pursuing, the league would be prepared to continue negotiations, provided an agreement could be achieved within the next several weeks,” Daly said.

The league wants a deal in place this spring so teams can mend fences with fans and sponsors angered after Bettman canceled the 2004-05 season on Feb. 16. That would also salvage the June entry draft, which the league views as a coming-out party for Sidney Crosby, touted as the next great NHL player.

Chris Foster

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Swedish goalie Tommy Salo, a two-time NHL All-Star, retired from hockey because of aching hips.

Salo played 10 seasons with the New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche.

Pro Football

Wide receiver Plaxico Burress reached an agreement with the New York Giants on a six-year, $25-million contract, a source told Associated Press. The deal includes an $8-million signing bonus.

The agreement comes a week after the Giants said they were no longer interested in signing the speedy former Pittsburgh Steeler receiver, and just days after Burress switched agents.

Burress met with the Giants eight days ago and rejected an offer that was almost the same as the one he agreed to Thursday. He then fired agent Michael Harrison and signed with Drew Rosenhaus.

Former Dallas running back Emmitt Smith signed a one-year contract with his old team so he can retire as a Cowboy. The league’s all-time leading rusher spent the last two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.

Running back Chester Taylor signed a one-year, $3-million offer sheet with the Browns, a move that could signal the end of William Green’s time in Cleveland. Baltimore has until Wednesday to match the offer for Taylor, a restricted free agent. If the Ravens decline, the Browns would owe the Ravens a sixth-round draft pick.

The Seattle Seahawks signed Denver Bronco cornerback Kelly Herndon to an offer sheet. Denver has one week to match the offer to the restricted free agent. If the Broncos decide not to match the offer, the Seahawks won’t have to give up a draft choice because Herndon joined the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2001.

The Houston Texans re-signed backup quarterback Tony Banks and signed unrestricted free-agent linebacker Frank Chamberlin to a one-year deal.

The Miami Dolphins signed free-agent fullback Heath Evans to a one-year deal.

The San Diego Chargers re-signed guards Kris Dielman and Bob Hallen and linebacker Carlos Polk to one-year contracts.

Special teams standout and defensive back Todd McMillon agreed to a one-year contract to return to the Chicago Bears.

Jurisprudence

A domestic violence complaint against New York Giant defensive end Michael Strahan was dismissed, days after he filed for divorce.

The complaint stemmed from a March 10 argument over money between Strahan and his wife, Jean, at their home. Judge Thomas Zampino ruled the argument did not involve physical violence.

College Football

Georgia Tech Coach Chan Gailey returned home from an Atlanta hospital three days after undergoing an angioplasty.

Gailey suffered a heart attack Monday while playing racquetball.

The school said he was resting comfortably and hopes to be on hand today when his football team has a spring practice session.

Miscellany

Oklahoma State heavyweight Steve Mocco improved to 33-0 with a 14-3 victory over Adam LoPiccolo of American University in the first round of the NCAA wrestling championships at St. Louis.

Defending team champion Oklahoma State was in first place with 23 1/2 points. Minnesota was second with 23 points and Cornell third with 18 1/2 points.

John Ruiz will defend his World Boxing Assn. heavyweight title against James Toney at New York’s Madison Square Garden on April 30. The bout was set up to fill the slot created when the Vitali Klitschko-Hasim Rahman heavyweight title fight was delayed because of an injury to Klitschko.

Joe Calzaghe’s World Boxing Organization super-middleweight title defense against Brian Magee was called off -- the day before the scheduled bout -- because of a rule infringement.

Calzaghe broke a WBO rule that prevents a boxer from making a voluntary defense less than 60 days before an enforced mandatory bout.

Norwegian star Ole Einar Bjoerndalen won the season’s final 12-kilometer pursuit race at Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, for his 55th World Cup biathlon victory.

Germany’s Kati Wilhelm won the women’s 10-kilometer pursuit.

The top-ranked UCLA women’s water polo team defeated No. 7 Loyola Marymount, 12-5, in a nonconference matchup at UCLA. The Bruins improve to 20-0; Loyola Marymount is 11-4.