NFL owners will meet starting today through Wednesday in Boca Raton, Fla., and these will be the "first meetings in two decades in which the future of the NFL" in L.A. is "not a prominent agenda item." Among the many topics the NFL Competition Committee will discuss is "how to regulate the gloves worn by virtually every player, but in particular those worn by receivers, who make once-impossible catches now look routine." There are a "host of other potential tweaks to the game in the pipeline," and that "largely will be the focus" at the meetings (L.A. TIMES, 3/20). The "concussion crisis and continuing efforts to make a dangerous game safer will be a major topic" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/20). The SEATTLE TIMES examines five things to look for at the meetings.

Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson this week "will miss the NFL's annual meetings in Florida ... to have shoulder surgery in Charlotte." It is believed to be the "second time Richardson will have missed the meeting" since the Panthers joined the league in '95. Team President Danny Morrison "will represent the team" in Richardson's stead, and is "expected to arrive" today (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 3/20).

SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL in tomorrow's edition will feature Richardson's life and times as part of its Champions series.

Bengals OT Eric Winston on Friday was re-elected as president of the NFLPA. Winston ran unopposed "for his second consecutive two-year term." Sherman, Panthers LB Thomas Davis, Seahawks CB Richard Sherman, Steelers K Shaun Suisham and free agent OG Ryan Wendell were also elected to the NFLPA exec committee. They join current exec committee members free agent LB Lorenzo Alexander, Giants LS Zak DeOssie, recently retired QB Matt Hasselbeck, Giants LB Mark Herzlich, Colts K Adam Vinatieri and Ravens TE Benjamin Watson, who were re-elected (AP, 3/18). Winston on Friday tweeted, "Thank you to all the men for putting their faith in me." NFL reporter Andrew Brandt tweeted, "NFLPA re-elects @ericwinston as its President. Good man. Ran unopposed."

Meanwhile, Sherman said of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell last month suggesting a player with two personal fouls be ejected from games, "I think it's foolish. But it sounds like something somebody who's never played the game would say, something that they would suggest, because he doesn't understand. He's just a face. He's just a suit. He's never stepped foot on the field and understood how you can get a personal foul" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 3/20).

The NFLPA "considered the possibility of reducing agent fees," but "all they did was consider it" at the union's annual meeting this weekend. Sources said that the NFLPA "decided not to reduce agent fees from" 3% to 2%. A source said that the discussions "focused instead on educating players on their right to negotiate a lower fee" than 3% (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 3/19). 

The Rams on Friday "officially shut down" their business and scouting departments in St. Louis. Football operations at Rams Park will "shut down this coming Thursday." Seven tractor trailers have "been either sent or are currently en route" to California, and by the end of the moving process, 30 tractors "full of stuff will be sent ... with most heading out between now and the end of the week." Roughly 660,000 pounds of equipment, files, weights, furniture and footballs will be moved. Once everything is moved the building will be cleaned, "with some minor repairs made as well" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 3/19).

Free agent QB Johnny Manziel hired Drew Rosenhaus "as his agent." The partnership "is listed" on the NFLPA website." Manziel's former agent, Select Sports' Erik Burkhardt, "dropped the QB as a client after the season" (ESPN.com, 3/19). Rosenhaus will be the second agent Manziel has hired since entering the league, and CBSSports.com's John Breech believes being Manziel's agent "isn't going to be easy" (CBSSPORTS.com, 3/19).

NBCSN EPL studio host Rebecca Lowe is "eight and a half months pregnant" and will "begin her maternity leave" after today's Manchester City-Manchester United match. Since being hired in '13, Lowe has "become the defining face" of the net's EPL coverage. NBC EPL play-by-play announcer Arlo White will "fill in for Lowe in the studio for two weeks," while EPL commentator Steve Bower will "fill in for five." NBC Sports Group Soccer Coordinating Producer Pierre Moossa said, "It's impossible to replace her. She's really the glue on the set with the announcers" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/20).

The NCAA's women's Frozen Four championship featuring Minnesota-Boston College began today at 2:00pm ET and is available via live stream at NCAA.com, which drew the ire of Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton because of the lack of TV coverage in his state. Dayton on Friday took to Facebook to criticize CBS' coverage of the event. The title game "is scheduled to be shown on tape delay by CBS on March 27." Dayton wrote, "I tried all week to get [Friday's and today's] women's hockey games televised here. KSTP was willing to carry them, and WCCO tried, but CBS Corporate in New York, which has the rights, wouldn’t relinquish them. Shame on CBS" (STARTRIBUNE.com, 3/19).

The first World Cup of Hockey commercial this week debuted during NHL coverage in the U.S. and Canada. It features some of the players "expected to appear in the tournament, and sets up the whole thing as a prideful battle between warring hockey nations" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/20).

Beginning today the Wild and Blackhawks will "auction off items on their websites" as a fundraiser to benefit Matt Olson, a junior hockey player who sustained serious spinal cord injuries last month. Proceeds will go toward paying Olson's medical costs. Items being auctioned include travel packages with the teams, dinner with Hockey HOFer Denis Savard and a "Team Minnesota" Stadium Series coaches jacket. The auction "will run until noon on Wednesday" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 3/19).

Actor Kevin Spacey attended the NHL Panthers game last night against the Red Wings and "was shown on the Jumbotron during a time-out, wearing a Spacey in Space sweatshirt." The Panthers for the past few months have been awarding that same shirt to the player of the game and selling them at the team store. Red Wings G Jimmy Howard said, "That was great seeing Kevin Spacey" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 3/19). It was a "moment the hockey world had been waiting for" and was made obvious when the 20,817 people in attendance "gave him a standing ovation" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/19).

Thank you @flapanthers and all the fans for such a wonderful welcome tonight

A photo posted by Kevin Spacey (@kevinspacey) on Mar 19, 2016 at 7:11pm PDT

San Antonio's Big League Weekend saw a two-day attendance of 61,128 at the Alamodome for Rangers-Royals. Friday's game brought in 27,536 fans, while 33,592 showed up for yesterday's game (TWITTER.com, 3/19). Nearly 51,000 fans attended both games of last year's event between the Dodgers and Rangers.

Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. today are "running with special paint schemes" to "help promote the upcoming movie, 'Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.'" Johnson's No. 48 Chevy will "be painted in Superman colors with the Man of Steel's logo on the hood, and Earnhardt's No. 88 Chevy will be gray with the bat symbol on the hood" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 3/19).

A BOSTON GLOBE editorial is written under the header, "Give Boston's IndyCar Race A Green Flag." If the race planning "pans out, the race will provide a burst of excitement -- as well as a financial boost -- to offset the malaise that typically descends at summer's end." The editorial: "It's true that Boston doesn't need to host the race. But Boston is tough enough -- and well-equipped -- to do so" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/20).

Minnesota United on Friday announced it has partnered with MY29 WFTC to broadcast its games for the '16 season. All games "will be broadcast live, and some will feature a 30-minute pregame show" (KSTP.com, 3/18). 

"I just find it absurd when people make comments like that. It's just not true. The league has been on such a dramatic growth path for the last 10 years or so. As part of that, you're going to have some issues you've got to deal with" – MLS Commissioner Don Garber, responding to a FourFourTwo magazine article that referred to the league's turf playing surfaces as "the elephants in the room for MLS' lofty ambitions" (TORONTO SUN, 3/20).

"This area is an undiscovered gem. Tampa is like a value stock. It really has not been found out yet. Business is taking off and I think we are in the middle of a bull market here" – Lightning Owner Jeff Vinik, on the booming economy of Tampa (CNBC.com, 3/19).

"It's been unfortunate and difficult watching what's happened to our club the last few years" – Red Sox GM Mike Hazen, on the team's recent struggles ("Baseball Tonight Podcast," ESPN.com, 3/18).

"[The Cubans] were leery, and some of the other owners wanted to know what I was up to. ... When (Cuba President Fidel) Castro stood up and saluted our flag, that made the trip for me. That made it all worthwhile" – Orioles Owner Peter Angelos, on his team's trip to Cuba in '99 to play a team of Cuban All-Stars (Baltimore SUN, 3/20).

"I think now if they're telling parents and football fans we're trying to do the best that we can to make the sport safe, I actually think that will placate some people" – N.Y. Daily News' Frank Isola, on the NFL acknowledging a link between CTE and football-related head trauma ("Sports Reporters," ESPN, 3/20).

• NHL is the next sport attempting to understand and use analytics.
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• Fontana has kept NASCAR's presence in Southern California strong.

Snow flurries in Des Moines. The only misstep in an otherwise perfect NCAA host site experience.

— Brian Hamilton (@BrianHamiltonSI) March 19, 2016

19,270 people in attendance here tonight at @TheGarden! #WrestleNYC

— USA Wrestling (@USAWrestling) March 20, 2016

Tonight marks our 12th sell out of the season. That is a record number for @hornets since @TWCArena opened! #BuzzCity

— Pete Guelli (@PeteGuelli) March 19, 2016

One source described the situation w/manziel and hiring his new agent as "fluid." several sources indicated Rosenhaus very well positioned

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 19, 2016

#Titans GM Jon Robinson on his negotiations with agents: "I'm sort of a cross between a used car salesman & a Southern Baptist minister."

— Jason Wolf (@JasonWolf) March 19, 2016

Great photo from our friend @HECZAR I'll be wearing the @RamsNFL colors during #GolovkinWade welcome back to LA! pic.twitter.com/KM82WZhvlK

— Gennady Golovkin (@GGGBoxing) March 19, 2016

Thunder F Kevin Durant and the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation will host its first official fundraiser at KD's Restaurant in Oklahoma City beginning at 7:00pm ET.