ost forthcoming to nick off to the slips. Howe

LATROBE, Pa. -- Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison doesnt want to face a suspension. He is also not interested in talking to NFL representatives, either.The NFLs senior vice president of labor policy and league affairs, Adolpho Birch, sent a letter Monday to the NFL Players Association detailing a plan to indefinitely suspend Harrison, Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers and Mike Neal if they dont speak with the league by Aug. 25 as part of its investigation into an alleged link to performance-enhancing drugs.The players punishment would end at the discretion of Commissioner Roger Goodell once interviews are completed, according to the letter obtained by The Associated Press.Harrison said he isnt interested.Im not going to answer questions for every little thing that some Tom, Dick and Harry comes up with, Harrison said. If thats the case, somebody can come out and say that James Harrison is a pedophile. (Are) they going to suspend me and put me in an investigation for being a pedophile just because somebody said it?Harrison said he doesnt want to be suspended, but he is prepared to take the situation as far as New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who fought his four-game Deflategate suspension for 18 months -- nearly to the U.S. Supreme Court -- before deciding to no longer proceed with the legal process. His suspension begins next month.When it comes down to it, I want to play, but its certain rules and things they need to go through that they didnt even go through just to start an investigation, Harrison said at training camp.Harrison said in June he would only agree to an interview if it were at his home and Goodell was present. He extended his invitation again on Tuesday.Like I said before, I dont have a problem with doing an interview, Harrison said. Come to my house. Bring Roger with you.Harrison said he would lean in the direction of speaking with the league if the Steelers suggest an interview because he doesnt want to let his teammates and the organization down.Ill have to deal with that when the time comes, Harrison said.Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he is staying out of it.This has nothing to do with us, Tomlin said. This is between him and the (NFLPA) and the league. I assume that he is going to do what he needs to do.Goodells power to punish players has been an increasingly difficult issue between the NFL and the union in recent years, highlighted by the Brady case and that of Vikings running back Adrian Peterson , who fought his suspension over allegations of child abuse.Harrison, a 14-year veteran, is a longtime leader of the Steelers. Matthews and Peppers are key players for Green Bays defense, and Neal is currently a free agent who spent the past six seasons with the Packers.Matthews and Peppers did not talk with reporters on Tuesday. Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson said the Packers would support the players, but declined to discuss the case.Everybody in the worlds going to be talking about it, but Im not going to have anything to say about it, the Packers will not have anything to say about it until it gets resolved, Thompson said. Youd rather have those players than not. Im not saying that we wouldnt miss `em if they are not able to play.The NFL first notified the four players on Jan. 11 about the investigation into a report by Al-Jazeera including allegations made by Charlie Sly, who worked as an intern at an anti-aging clinic, about the use of PEDs by several athletes, including the four linebackers. Sly later recanted his claims. Retired quarterback Peyton Manning was also cited in the report, but the NFL cleared him after a separate investigation in which the Broncos star granted interviews and provided all records sought by league investigators.Birch, in his letter, said the league has made at least seven attempts to arrange interviews with the linebackers. The players have refused to be interviewed without being presented with what theyve called credible evidence. Affidavits were sent by the NFLPA on behalf of the players, but Birch dismissed each as statements wholly devoid of any detail.Harrison said in his statement, sent to Birch on July 25 by the NFLPA, that he never met nor communicated with the source of the Al Jazeera report and has never violated the NFLs policy on performance-enhancing substances.Neither the CBA nor the policy state that a player must agree to an in-person interview based upon random, baseless verbal remarks or face discipline for a failure to cooperate with a league investigation, union attorney Heather McPhee wrote then on Harrisons behalf.Birch cited Article 46 of the collective bargaining agreement in noting the discipline that can come for noncooperation or obstruction.We cannot accept your unilateral assertion that the cursory, untested statements you have submitted satisfy the players obligation, Birch wrote.Harrison said Tuesday that he didnt get a chance to read the letter sent to him by the league and that he is following the advice of union attorneys.Ill do what I have to do, theyll do what they have to do and well make that decision when the time comes, Harrison said. Im just doing what Im advised to do. Its the right thing to do.---AP freelance writer Todd McMahon contributed to this report from Green Bay, Wisconsin.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Tony Gonzalez Womens Jersey .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. Brett Favre Youth Jersey .2 billion agreement with Rogers Communications for the leagues broadcast and multimedia rights. http://www.thefaclonsshoponline.com/John-cominsky-falcons-jersey/ . Philadelphia is 2-0 against the Senators this season and scored five goals in each victory. The Flyers recorded a 5-0 win in Ottawa on Nov. 12 and then earned a 5-2 home decision on Nov. 19. The Flyers have claimed three straight and four of the last five encounters with the Sens overall and Philly has won two in a row and three of its past four tests in Canadas capital city. Brett Favre Jersey .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. Chris Lindstrom Womens Jersey . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. India are slowly but steadily becoming like the coolest things in the world: Batmans gadgets.The comics, cartoons, graphic novels and movies take a unanimous stand in depicting them as some of the most resourceful tools ever imagined. It may be too soon to confirm that Virat Kohli and his men could be seen in much the same way. Just as it would be improper not to give them credit for the tough Test cricket they have played since their tour of Australia in 2014-15. Four multi-match Test series played, four series won. And, now, an unassailable lead in the fifth.The way India have gone 2-0 up after three of the five matches against England bears repeating. They lost the toss, their first-choice opener, and the first hour of play in Mohali. They rallied to keep the opposition well under par - Alastair Cook wanted 400, he was stuck with 283. They were patient against high-class bowling. They showed the wherewithal to fight back from a bad situation - 156 for 5 - and finish in a position of dominance - 417. The spinners excelled. The fast bowlers made an impact. And all of this was done on a pitch which wasnt a rank turner. India becoming capable of such performances is the result of the depth in their side.R Ashwin has found a way to make ordinary cricket balls behave like batarangs: going one way for a distance, lulling the enemy into a false sense of security and then taking him out. Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav have been fast. Theyve been mean, bouncing batsmen out and harnessing both conventional and reverse swing. They have even stolen the show. Just like a couple of Batmobiles. And then there is Kohli himself. Larger than life. Doing unexplainable things. Always up for a fight. He is this teams Batman. Anil Kumble, of course, is Alfred.An important factor in Indias success is how they have been capable of having and executing plans - and more pertinently, theyve only had to go as far as plans A and B.For example, all the bowlers have tried to probe for Cooks outside edge. The England captain has reacquainted himself with the off stump since his slump in form a few years ago, and so may not be the most forthcoming to nick off to the slips. However, by setting up a routine where Cook keeps dragging his front foot across, he has ended up vulnerable to the ball coming back in. In these cases, the bat would have to come around the pad a little bit, which creates a gap that Shami and Ashwin have both exploited in this series. Inndia are trying not to be desperate for wickets.dddddddddddd They work for them, intelligently and relentlessly. The spinners keep the runs down and the pressure up. The quicks make it a point to be as hostile as possible. All of it culminates in the batsman feeling he has nowhere to go but back to the pavilion.Its great to have the seamers bowl in short bursts, Kohli said. You know, bowl with pace, rather than long spells in the heat. Having quality spinners obviously helps the fast bowlers to stay fresh and come in for those quick spells of three-four overs and try to create opportunities. It has to be done in partnerships, and I think they are combining really well.The batsmen, especially the lower order, have profited by the simplest of methods as well: making sure they stay at the crease.There is no magic as such, Ravindra Jadeja, who comes in at No. 7 or 8, said. The simple thing is that we are focussing more. In the nets, we give ourselves more batting time. We speak to the batting coach a lot and, mentally, we are prepared to take responsibility and try to bat well in difficult situations.That India have not been harassed into digging into their contingencies shows an increase in their skills level. They havent let England get on a roll since the Rajkot draw. They havent panicked. Jos Buttler tried to instigate some panic in the second innings in Mohali, but, sensing his aggression, India made a bowling change - Jayant Yadav - and installed a man on the wide long-on boundary - Jadeja, one of their best fielders - and piggy-backed on Buttlers aggression towards victory.India have met many challenges over the last two years, barring, of course, the dreaded overseas tour where the pitches aid fast bowling. Good stories, though, build up to a clash with the arch enemy.While it seems imprudent to pitch a 13-Test home season, or for that matter the series wins over South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies, as fillers for the climax, it is also impossible not to. Success away from their own shores is what the fans are demanding; it is the caveat that has tagged along with every praise India have earned. This squad, though, gives Kohli plenty of options, and he has shown an ability as captain to enhance their threat. It doesnt seem too outlandish to think that things will change come the next tour. ' ' '