League Notes

Is NFL Blocking Smith's Interviews?

PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio cited a source as saying that the NFLPA "believes that two scheduled NFL Network interviews" of union Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith have been "canceled by the league." However, the NFL "denies that Smith has been banned from the league-owned broadcast operation." NFL Net Dir of Communications Dennis Johnson: "That is completely false. NFL Network has been trying to book a Super Bowl week interview with DeMaurice Smith for weeks but we have received no response" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 1/28).

FROZEN IN TIME? IOC President Jacques Rogge Thursday said that the NHL "should realize that sending its players to the Olympics raises the league's exposure and increases its fan base." The NHL has not committed to the Games beyond next month's event in Vancouver, and Rogge said, "I think it's important for the Olympic Games to have the NHL. ... But also I think it's important for the NHL to have their stars shine in the Olympic Games." NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly in an e-mail said, "I understand that's Mr. Rogge's point of view. It doesn't mean that point of view is necessarily shared by our owners or the league" (CP, 1/28). In Illinois, Tim Sassone wrote it is a "bad idea" for the NHL to participate in the Games because it is the "one league that can least afford to disappear from the public's radar" for two weeks (Illinois DAILY HERALD, 1/27).

UNDER FURTHER REVIEW: FIFA President Sepp Blatter this week said that he had "reopened the debate on whether the sport should introduce video footage of the goal line to aid referees." The matter will be addressed in March when the Int'l Football Association Board "gathers to discuss technology, including computer chips in balls and goal-mouth cameras." Blatter said, "I'm not completely against it. But only when goal-line technology is ready to be introduced" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/29).