The NFL could vote as soon as the end of this year on relocating one or two teams to L.A., Exec VP/Business Ventures Eric Grubman told the owners at their league annual meeting yesterday. Grubman is in charge of the league's effort to return to L.A. after a 20-year absence. Currently, the period the league has set for teams to notify the NFL of plans to relocate to L.A. is Jan. 1-Feb. 15. But owners were told to be ready for that period to come earlier, Grubman told THE DAILY yesterday after he had briefed the owners. He also said it is possible the period remains the first six weeks of '16.

Grubman's comments came on the heels of two influential owners predicting movement to L.A. by the '16 season. Giants President & CEO John Mara and Patriots Owner Robert Kraft, both members of the six-owner L.A. committee, each told reporters they thought a team or teams would be in the market by the '16 season. The annual meeting continues through tomorrow.

The Maple Leafs drew a season-low home attendance of 18,366 for last night's loss to the Wild, marking the smallest Leafs crowd "in the 16-year history" of Air Canada Centre and the "second time this season" that the team failed to reach the sellout capacity of 18,819 (NATIONAL POST, 3/24). Less than an hour before the puck drop, "hundreds of tickets remained for sale on the team's official website, and many of those at a deep discount" (TORONTO SUN, 3/24).

Meanwhile, the Predators are "on track to break their record of 25 regular season sellouts" tonight against the Canadiens. Team President Sean Henry is "confident the team will reach 30 sellouts before the season ends" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 3/24).

Alabama state Rep. Jack Williams is "calling for the immediate resignation" of UAB President Ray Watts, alleging that a "confidential correspondence obtained by his office indicates that school trustees, faculty, coaches and players were deliberately misled as plans were made to shut down the Blazers' football program" in '14. Williams said, "It clearly shows the decision had been made in spring or early summer to kill the program." UAB fans last week chanted "Fire Ray Watts" during and after the NCAA tournament win against Iowa State in Louisville (ESPN.com, 3/23).

The documents reportedly show that the school "pushed back the announcement date until the conclusion of the football team's regular season on the advice" of CarrSports Consulting and PR firm Sard Verbinnen & Co. (AL.com, 3/23).

Vessel, a new premium online service for short videos, launched today "as the HBO to YouTube's massive public access network." For $2.99 a month, subscribers get "early access to clips from video creators who already have big followings." The service was founded by former Hulu execs Jason Kilar and Richard Tom. The "free part of Vessel has more traditional media outlets providing content," such as SI and the N.Y. Times (CNET.com, 3/24). The NBA is "providing game recaps" as part of the free version, as well (THEVERGE.com, 3/24).

NCAA sponsor LG tonight is launching a tweet-to-give campaign in collaboration with former NBAer Shane Battier at the electronics brand's "Beyond the Arc" event in N.Y. The campaign will raise funds for The Battier Take Charge Foundation. During the "Beyond the Arc" event and for the rest of the NCAA tournament, LG will donate $3 each time #LGTrivia is used, with the goal of raising $20,000 for the foundation's scholarship program (LG).

The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, which concluded Sunday at NRG Stadium, "sold an all-time high of 1.37 million tickets, narrowly breaking last year's record." Total attendance was "on track to break last year's record, too, with 2.31 million through Saturday." RodeoHouston President & CEO Joel Cowley noted that this comes despite the "worst weather they've experienced in his 11 years" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/24).

Golfer Bubba Watson appeared on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” last night and talked about eating burritos around The Masters last year. Watson said he ate at Moe’s and another local spot in Augusta, with host Jimmy Fallon noting, “Moe’s is fantastic.” Watson said last year he had “burritos for ten days straight” and won the tournament, “so I think this year we’re going to do that again.” Fallon then presented Watson with burritos from a local N.Y. restaurant. Watson also played “Pie Golf” with Fallon while wearing the famous Masters’ green jacket. Fallon: “Thank you for bringing the famous green jacket. This is the real one, huh?” Watson: “This is it” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 3/23).

The Dolphins have added “an extra season to Joe Philbin’s contract, which could keep him as the team’s head coach” through the ’16 season (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 3/24).

InsideOut Sports & Entertainment will make the '15 Powershares Series the first pro tennis circuit to exclusively use electronic line-calling systems in place of linespeople throughout its 12-city tour, starting with today’s stop in Salt Lake City (InsideOut Sports).

GDF Suez Energy Resources NA today announced that it has renewed its multiyear contract to power Citizens Bank Park. The retail electricity supplier has served the Phillies since ’11 (GDF Suez Energy Resources).

Cardinals GM Steve Keim has been named Sporting News NFL Executive of the Year for ’14. Keim was presented the award yesterday at the annual NFL meetings in Arizona (Cardinals).

“When the word got out that he was coming to Miami, Warren Buffett called to congratulate me and tell me what a good kid he was. I think he’s mentoring him, and I love mentoring young guys” – Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross, on DT Ndamukong Suh (DETROIT NEWS, 3/24).

“We do the right things” – Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson, saying it was his decision to not try to re-sign DE Greg Hardy because of his domestic abuse charges (ESPN.com, 3/23).

“He’s here because he is a pass rusher, no matter what else is said about it. I am hopeful that whatever did happen he’s learned from it and maybe he can be an advocate to create some change” – Fox’ Troy Aikman, on the Cowboys signing Greg Hardy (DALLASNEWS.com, 3/23).

“That’s a player personnel decision and I don’t get involved in those kind of things” – Cubs Chair Tom Ricketts, speaking to the Executives’ Club of Chicago, when asked whether prospect Kris Bryant would start the season in Triple-A (ESPNCHICAGO.com, 3/23).

“I think he has a pretty tough job. Matter of fact, some of my friends say there’s two jobs they don’t want: President of the United States or commissioner of the NFL” – Patriots Owner Robert Kraft, on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/24).

Last night’s 1:00am ET edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” led with Wizards-Warriors, followed by Rockets-Pacers, and Maryland-Princeton in the Women’s NCAA Tournament. The first NHL report was Blackhawks-Hurricanes 20 minutes into the broadcast. Last night’s edition of FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” led with Hornets-Bulls, followed by Rockets-Pacers and Celtics-Nets. The first NHL report was Avalanche-Flames at 17 minutes into the telecast.

ESPN’s Keith Olbermann called out his “world’s worst” persons in sports: The “parents and students protesting the decision by the school board of Lancaster, New York, which a week ago voted unanimously to drop the school’s sports name,” the Redskins. Olbermann also criticized Cubs manager Joe Maddon, “who staged ‘High School Coach Theme Day’ in camp” and “those criticizing” N.C. State G Anthony “Cat” Barber for commenting on President Obama not picking them to defeat Villanova in his bracket.

AL.com profiles the new SEC Commissioner under the header, "How Greg Sankey Earned One Of The Most Powerful Jobs In College Sports."

BOSTON GLOBE: Newly retired 49ers LB Chris Borland is "a trailblazer, but he's not the NFL's grim reaper. He is a messenger of the sport's evolution, not its dissolution."

Also:

• March Madness observations include lack of annoying TV ads.
• Are Browns really the best option for next "Hard Knocks" team?
• Louisville Slugger's sale to Wilson painful, but could protect brand.
• AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms have unique Peeps-branded Zamboni.

Sleep is overrated. Making my last trip to Nassau Coliseum today 😢😰😩

— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) March 24, 2015

Come on, announcers talking about websites, it's not a backslash, it's just a slash...

— Jim Carlisle (@VCSJimCarlisle) March 24, 2015

A long-ago Nick Peters memory just flashed in mind—Jack “The Throwin’ Samoan” Thompson thanking him for Sporting News cover story after game

— Larry Stone (@StoneLarry) March 24, 2015

The Browns doing 'Hard Knocks' with Johnny Manziel trying to win QB job and stay out of trouble is the worst idea in some time.

— Jason Smith (@howaboutafresca) March 24, 2015

#nfl coaches gathered for their annual league mtg picture pic.twitter.com/z7Zplq4kpC

— Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) March 23, 2015

The Hornets and Novant Health will unveil a new team-themed Teen Room at Novant Health Hemby Children's Hospital in Charlotte. Hornets President & COO Fred Whitfield will attend the ceremony.

Golf HOFer Jack Nicklaus will receive a Congressional Gold Medal at the Rotunda of the Capitol Building.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “U.S. Cities.”

“Kipling wrote of this city, ‘If a car’ can ‘run up and down a slit in the ground … why shall I seek the reasons of the miracle?’”

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel said, “Did you watch college basketball this weekend? The ratings for the NCAA tournament this year are the highest they’ve been in 22 years. I will say this. If watching the games this year taught me anything, it’s that I would really like to take a road trip with Charles Barkley, Sam Jackson and Spike Lee. Three of the top seeds, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Duke are still alive. The UCLA Bruins are the Cinderella story this year. My bracket is more of a Bambi story and all of my picks are Bambi’s mother. UCLA plays Gonzaga in the Sweet 16. Gonzaga comes from the land of imaginary schools that only exist during March Madness” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 3/23).

CBS’ David Letterman said, “Do you fill out your brackets and stuff? You get all involved with the college tournament? Then you’ll appreciate this. Listen to this. If Kansas, Virginia, University of Birmingham, Oregon and Villanova, if those teams had won and if Iowa had upset Gonzaga and Butler hadn’t lost to Notre Dame, I’d have the perfect bracket” (“Late Show,” CBS, 3/23).

Comedy Central’s Larry Wilmore ended his broadcast last night with an update on “Dare-Y Wilmore’s March Badness Bracketsball Dare-O-Mania 2015: It’s Boner Time!” and noted, “We're down to the Sweet 16 and in case you missed it, some top seeds went down over the weekend. So sadly, I won't be hosting the show as Muppet Larry … and I won't be pooping on a mountain, or at least I won't be getting paid for it. For any of you that follow me on Facebook know what I’m talking about. But here's a quick look at the dares I still may have to do. Kentucky looks unstoppable and I'm very concerned about that because if the Wildcats win, I have to be baby-birded, which means another person will chew up food and spit it into my mouth. If West Virginia wins, the soul daddy himself – that's the '70s version of me – will come out of retirement and host the show. Lastly, the Arizona Wildcats meet Xavier in the next round. If you want to see me attend a furry convention in full costume, Arizona is your team. I'll even let you choose the animal. Download the bracket online and follow the show on Twitter to keep tabs on how the most ridiculous dares are doing” (“The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore,” Comedy Central, 3/23).

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Things Overheard At This Moment.” David Letterman said, “This is Pope Francis out for a ride in the Pope Mobile and a guy races up, a guy from Domino's, and he says, ‘HEY!’ – or Papa John’s or somewhere – and he says, ‘Your Highness, your Royalness, your Holiness, here’s your pizza!’” (“Late Show,” CBS, 3/23).

10) “Mama mia! That’s a spicy lapse of security!”
9) “Just in time for the Michigan State-Virginia game.”
8) “Shouldn’t have filled up on Communion wafers.”
7) “I gave up food from strangers for Lent.”
6) “Is this pizza kosher?”
5) “Beer me!”
4) “No dipping sauce? What is this, Vatican I?”
3) “Pizza be with you.”
2) “Do you want to eat it or bless it?”
1) “This isn’t enough for everyone – I’m not exactly Jesus Christ!”

“What is San Francisco?”