NFL owners meet today in Dallas for a half-day meeting, and workplace conduct is on the agenda, sources said. The subject presumably will touch on the investigation into the alleged bullying case with the Dolphins. NFL-appointed investigator Ted Wells is nearing the end of his look into allegations that Dolphins G Richie Incognito bullied teammate Jonathan Martin.

Owners will also get briefed on the status of talks with EA over a new video game licensing deal. A source said there is another two years remaining on the current deal, which is longer than has been previously been reported. That means EA under the current contract can continue making its popular "Madden" game through '15.

The owners also typically are told what the projected salary cap for the next season will be at the December meeting. The cap was $123M this season and is not expected to rise much in '14 despite the start of the new round of TV contracts. However, player benefits have been rising sharply annually. Smaller stadium and team transactions are also up for a vote today, the sources said.

MLB managers and GMs will meet today during baseball's Winter Meetings in Orlando to "discuss two potential rule changes." One is a planned instant replay expansion and challenge system for managers. The second topic up for discussion is "whether baseball should abolish collisions at the plate to protect catchers." Cardinals manager Mike Matheny and Giants manager Bruce Bochy, both former catchers, "will speak on their opinion that collisions should be outlawed" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 12/11).

NBC Olympics has partnered with "The Voice" to create a joint Sochi Games promotional campaign featuring Danielle Bradbery, the Season Four winner of the network's singing competition. The effort, which debuted during last night's episode at 9:00pm ET, features Bradbery singing "My Day" interspersed with Olympic competition footage. Spots will vary in length from 30  to 60 seconds to song-length versions and will air across NBCUniversal's networks (NBC Olympics).

Nashville's Metro Sports Authority today is expected to give "one last stamp of approval" for a $65M financing plan so that the Triple-A PCL Sounds can build a new ballpark. Metro City Council last night "voted 29-7 to issue municipal revenue bonds" to cover the planned $37M construction of a 10,000-capacity venue, plus $23M in land acquisition costs and $5M in capitalized interest. The Council also passed "two related pieces of legislation." The city plans to begin selling the bonds this week, "with a closing set for Dec. 19" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 12/11).

Vikings co-Owners Zygi and Mark Wilf today in a New Jersey Superior Court hearing "will learn the final figure they will have to pay Josef Halpern and Ada Reichmann, who sued the family for fraud over a 1980s real estate deal." Judge Deanne Wilson in September ruled the Wilfs should pay $84M. When she "issues her final judgment, she also will decide whether to accept a recommendation" that the Wilfs pay another $15.1M to "cover the plaintiffs' legal fees and other costs." Wilson also is "set to reveal the Wilfs' net worth" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 12/11).

beIN Sport signed a national ad sales rep firm, IMS, to sell TV advertising and sponsorship availabilities. The network is expected to make an official announcement today. IMS will sell for beIN Sport, beIN Sport en Español and beIN Sport Play, the channel's TV Everywhere service. A release described IMS as "one of the largest media buying companies in Latin America."

The IOC Exec Board has granted the Int'l Federation of American Football (IFAF) provisional IOC recognition. IFAF's purvue includes tackle, flag and beach football (IFAF).

A vote on American football becoming a "full-fledged" Olympic sport "could take place" as early as '17, which could add the sport to the Summer Games lineup in '24. The "most likely style of American football that would potentially gain acceptance is of the seven-on-seven variety." The "more money invested, the greater the likelihood of football's international popularity growing beyond the NFL's efforts of annually playing regular-season games in London" (FOXSPORTS.com, 12/10).

Last night's "American Country Awards" on Fox were co-hosted by NASCAR driver Danica Patrick and country singer Trace Adkins. At one point, Patrick was reading the teleprompter very fast and Adkins said, "Easy there Speedy, you don't have to read everything as fast as you possibly can. I'm still having a little trouble adjusting to you." Patrick replied, "It's alright Trace, I'll slow down every once in awhile and let you catch up."

Later in the broadcast, Adkins walked on-stage wearing a large version of Patrick's GoDaddy neon green racing firesuit and she was wearing a large cowboy hat. Adkins said, "Since you've crossed over into to my world of country music I thought I'd cross over a little into yours." Patrick replied, "So you're a cross-dresser?" Adkins: "No, not that there's anything wrong with that" ("American Country Awards," Fox, 12/10).

The 12th annual IMG Intercollegiate Athletics Forum hosted by SBD/SBJ kicks off today at the N.Y. Marriott Marquis in Times Square. The program serves as a platform for stakeholders in college sports to openly examine and candidly debate the numerous and complex issues relevant to their sector of the industry. Early sessions include a numbers-based presentation on the business of college sports from Luker on Trends & ESPN Sports Poll Founder Rich Luker, as well as a one-on-one interview with NCAA President Mark Emmert.

For continual updates from the event, see our On The Ground blog.

The NCAA today will announce “the sites for 82 championships, spread across three classifications for 2014-18.” A total of 523 sites will be announced on NCAA.com. The organization received 1,984 bid applications (K.C. STAR, 12/11).

The PRCA will let Las Vegas know within 30 days “whether it will accept a 10-year deal to stay in the city” beyond the ’14 National Finals Rodeo (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 12/11).

Jacksonville’s Sports & Entertainment Dir Alan Verlander today will be named Gator Bowl Sports & Entertainment COO at a news conference. Verlander’s duties will entail bringing “athletic events to the city outside of the Gator Bowl game and possible neutral site college football games” (JACKSONVILLE.com, 12/10).

Supply chain company CEVA Logistics announced a sponsorship deal to become the official logistics provider for the U.S. Bobsled & Skeleton Federation. The deal includes a sled bearing the company's logo to be seen throughout the '13-14 FIBT World Cup season (CEVA).

“If you are OK with people making mistakes, which I certainly am, you’ve got to look at what kind of person this guy is. This is a good guy” – Brewers manager Ron Roenicke, on LF Ryan Braun (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 12/11).

“It just comes down to, if the numbers are right, he had 240 million reasons why he should go to Seattle. And if I was him, I would have done the same thing” – Yankees GM Brian Cashman, on 2B Robinson Cano signing a 10-year, $240M deal with the Mariners (NJ.com, 12/10).

“We love playing in the elements. We saw that on Sunday. I think that was great. It was a throwback time. It was something that made us all feel great about the game, and playing in the elements is part of football” – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, on the prospect of snow ruining the Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/11).

“Our community is ready to fight, especially when attacked from outside our community. We’re not going to be fooled. We’ve been here before” – Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, on a campaign seeking a vote on the city’s Kings arena subsidy being funded largely by groups in other cities (SACRAMENTO BEE, 12/11).

“There is no real rivalry in the NBA these days. You don’t see the competition enough or play the competition a lot. … There are no more rivalries” – Heat F LeBron James (MIAMI HERALD, 12/11).

London Times' Rory Smith: "idea of clubs demanding money for interviews a predictable development. They are, after all, starved of income. ... Quite a few seem to be of the view that anything which restricts the press is a good thing. Idiocy annoys me, so I'll leave it there."

The Big Lead's Jason McIntyre: "i can't get enough of the NBA usher and the young pistons fan dancing. confession: I THINK i can dance, but i can't really dance."

Golf Channel’s Kelly Tilghman: “Had lovely day & night with our on-air & senior production team in Winter Park. Big group, looking fwd to more great things in '14.”

Writer Rick Snider: “How does the NFL Network of all outlets report Shanahan was fired yesterday? Embarassing.”

UPS Senior Project Lead/Sponsorships & Events J.W. Cannon: "Heading to NYC for the #sbjiaf (assuming I make it there w/ the messy weather). Anyone coming & want to meet up? Let me know."

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

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “State Capitals.”

“It’s the southern city in which the building seen here is located; counting the panels may help.”'

 

Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert discussed how Venezuelan President Nicolás Moros has announced he has moved Christmas to November and said, "The Venezuelan president can just move the holidays? That explains why it's so warm down there in February." Colbert went on to confuse the country of Venezuela with the South African vuvuzela, and said, "I am shocked at this power grab by Venezuelan President and Jimmy Kimmel security guard Nicolás Maduro and not just because I thought Venezuela was that horn they blow at a soccer game to announce the start of the riots" ("The Colbert Report," Comedy Central, 12/10).

NBC’s Jay Leno: “According to the Wall Street Journal this week, more and more people are taking what’s called mind life gap. That’s where they take a year off from work and travel to find themselves. People are taking a year off of work, kind of like what the New York Giants are doing this season. … This record cold wave continues all over the country. It was snowing so hard this past weekend the Cleveland Browns couldn’t see who they were losing to” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 12/10).

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel: “The organizing committee for the Super Bowl has announced that they will not allow tailgate parties at MetLife Stadium before the game, which immediately made me wonder, who is tailgating in February in New Jersey? I looked this up, the term tailgating dates back to when gladiators would tie their horse’s tails to the gates around the arena so they could eat before going into battle. I made that up, actually. It could be true, we have no way of knowing” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 12/10).

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Questions About Snow Shovels.” CBS’ David Letterman said, “Here in New York City, they predicted snow and we just got like two minutes of snow and then it's rain. I guess in the outer areas, I don’t care about the outer areas. I’m only interested in the inner areas, as you know” (“Late Show,” CBS, 12/10).

10) "How does it work?"
9) "Should I buy one now or wait for the 2014 models?"
8) "Is it true no two snow shovels are alike?"
7) "Is the snow included?"
6) "Where can I get a snow shovel in South Carolina?"
5) "Do I have to sign a two-year contract?"
4) "May I legally carry a concealed snow shovel?"
3) "Which model will get me laid?"
2) "If I like my snow shovel, can I keep my snow shovel?"
1) "Which will be best for Mom's back?"

“What is Austin?”

The six panels recognize the six nations that have governed and flown flags over the state of Texas: Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the U. S. and the Confederate States of America.