HBO today in an e-mail confirmed that it will not produce an NHL-themed "24/7" series this season. The net said, "There was never an expectation that HBO would chronicle the lead-up to the Winter Classic every year. So we will not be involved with the NHL this season. We wish the NHL the very best and the door will always remain open" (THE DAILY). The league and NHL Network "may work on some sort of behind-the-scenes show/series," but HBO "has walked" (TWITTER.com, 9/11).

SBD in July first noted that the NHL and HBO had been quiet about plans to bring back the "24/7" series ahead of the Blackhawks-Capitals Winter Classic in '15.

The Bills announced that Sunday's home opener against the Dolphins is sold out and will be televised locally. In honor of late Owner Ralph Wilson Jr., the first 50,000 fans in the gate will receive a commemorative "RCW" window cling, mirroring the patch worn on the team's jerseys throughout this season. The first 50,000 fans also will receive rally towels courtesy of gameday sponsor Time Warner Cable. The Bills will wear white throwback jerseys (Bills).

The BYU and Houston football teams will wear 9/11 tribute helmets for tonight's game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Utah. The contest will air on ESPN. Both helmets "will feature the teams' traditional logos with the American flag incorporated in the decals." Decals on the back of the helmets feature the words "never forget" (DESERET NEWS, 9/11).

Meanwhile, the Boston College football team during Saturday's home game against USC will wear "special accessories trimmed in a red bandanna design in honor of 9/11 hero" Welles Crowther. Players "will wear Under Armour shoes, socks, gloves with a red bandanna pattern and helmets with the red bandanna floral stripe." BC "will give out 6,000 red bandannas to its students" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/11).

A bipartisan group of 16 women senators today was expected to send a letter to the NFL asking the league to adopt a "real zero-tolerance policy for domestic violence." The move coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act. Signers of the letter include Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) (POLITICO.com, 9/11).

Meanwhile, ESPN, CNN, ABC and Fox News today said that they "plan to stop or minimize airings" of the video of Ray Rice striking his then-fiancee. The nets said that they "would no longer show the video unless there are compelling news reasons to bring it back" (AP, 9/11).

The Bengals today announced an extension of their sponsorship deal with Fifth Third Bank for five years through the '19 season. The bank "will remain the annual presenting sponsor of Bengals Training Camp" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/11). Perks for Fifth Third Bengals Checking account holders will be upgraded in '15, with account holders to receive early access to Paul Brown Stadium on game days and a 15% discount at the Bengals Pro-Shop on non-game days (Bengals).

Sources said that Disney and Fox are "in discussions" to supply Sony with "programming for its planned Internet-based TV service" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 9/11).

Bellator MMA today named Viacom exec Jason Jordan the promotion's COO. At Viacom, Jordan served as Senior VP/Digital Operations, Strategy & Finance (Bellator MMA).

"We’re not trying to beat ESPN; we’re trying to build a valuable franchise" – 21st Century Fox President & COO Chase Carey, who admitted during an appearance at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia conference to watching ESPN before FS1 in his own home (MULTICHANNEL.com, 9/11).

"They need to have somebody sufficiently influential in ownership ranks to be the person who leads the charge against Roger Goodell. I don’t know that there will be anyone like that" – Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, on NFL owners possibly firing Goodell (“The Dan Patrick Show,” 9/11).

"Clearly, that's a bad coincidence" – Turkel Brands Exec Creative Dir Bruce Turkel, on Rihanna, a victim of domestic violence, singing the opening theme song to CBS' NFL game tonight featuring the Ravens, Ray Rice's former team ("Money With Melissa Francis," Fox Business, 9/11).

ESPN’s Adam Schefter: “Both sides, NFL and NFLPA, hoping to finalize a new drug policy tonight in which suspensions will wind up being overturned.”

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Rob Rossi: "Not surprised Goodell turning to a Rooney in time of #NFL need. Disappointed a Rooney isn't leading push to find a new commissioner."

Wall Street Journal's Jason Gay: "Again debate over whether or not NFL got video is a convenient rabbit hole for league. They didn't need to see tape to act correctly."

Talk show host Larry King: "How could a league as smart as @nfl be as dumb in this mess lately. It's almost unbelievable how arrogant & behind the times they are. Wow!"

The Nation's Dave Zirin: "A Hawks min. owner trying to exploit Ferry's slurs against Deng not out of principle but because it's a post-Sterling wedge is fascinating."

ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit: "The people ripping @CollegeGameDay for going to Fargo lighten up. Great way to showcase a power program. Be talking ALL of CFB all show long."

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

The official Twitter feed of NASCAR's Miss Sprint Cup program posted these images of today's unveiling of the Chicagoland Speedway Horses of Honor, benefiting the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation.

Soccer teams representing the Portland, Ore., Police Bureau and Fire & Rescue will play in the Rose City United charity game at Providence Park. 

With the passing of actor Richard Kiel, we remember his role in the blockbuster sports comedy "Happy Gilmore."

Curt Schilling will return to ESPN as a studio analyst during “Baseball Tonight” at 10:00pm ET. Schilling returns after a seven-month leave of absence following a cancer diagnosis.

34% – Percentage decline that Livestrong suffered in donations in '13, the year Lance Armstrong “confessed to doping throughout his career.” Donations dropped to $15M from $22.7M, according to an IRS filing (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 9/11).