Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones has “slowed down, if not impeded contract talks regarding a potential extension for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell,” according to sources cited by ESPN's Schefter & Mortensen. Mortensen noted Jones is not on the NFL compensation committee, but he is a “de facto seventh member and Goodell became aware that he was brought into the process about the time he was making a decision on Ezekiel Elliott’s six game suspension.”

Mortensen: “According to a source, he believes he’s representing the other owners and he believes this thing needs a lot of discussion before they just give him a contract. It’s got to be a big reduction. He’s made almost $200 million since he’s been commissioner since 2006 and Jerry wants something cut. He thinks other owners are on board with him. Whether the compensation committee agrees with that and backs off remains to be seen” (“Sunday NFL Countdown,” ESPN, 9/17).

The NFLPA and Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott yesterday "filed their response to the NFL's motion for an emergency stay in the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals." Meanwhile, the NFL "added" former Solicitor General Paul Clement to its legal team (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 9/17). The league is "hoping for a stay decision" by Tuesday, "but no later" than Sept. 26 (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 9/17).

A "frenzied crowd of 22,358 at the T-Mobile Arena roared throughout the fight" as Canelo Alvarez-Gennady Golovkin "put on the kind of show that boxing purists had anticipated." The bout "lived up to its hype as the two fighters traded huge punches and went after each other for 12 rounds." Both "landed some huge punches to the head that had the crowd screaming in excitement." Alvarez "was guaranteed" $5M, while Golovkin had a $3M guarantee. But both were "expected to make much more on a share" of the PPV revenue (AP, 9/17). The action "didn't disappoint, even if the result did" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 9/17).

Judge Adalaide Byrd "stunningly had it 118-110 for Alvarez." Byrd gave Golovkin only the fourth and seventh rounds on a scorecard that "likely will go down as one of the most shocking in boxing history" (ESPN.com, 9/17). A draw was "not unfair and was the same result many ringside observers had on their personal scorecards." But the way it arrived "left much to be desired, and the crowd, even many Mexican fans devoted to Alvarez, were loud with their disapproval" (USATODAY.com, 9/17).

ESPN President John Skipper on Friday sent out a memo toemployees addressing Jemele Hill’s tweets about President Trump. Skipper wrote, “ESPN is about sports. ... ESPN is not a political organization.” He added, “We have issues of significant debate in our country at this time. Our employees are citizens and appropriately want to participate in the public discussion. That can create a conflict for our public facing talent between their work and their personal points of view. Given this reality, we have social media policies which require people to understand that social platforms are public and their comments on them will reflect on ESPN. At a minimum, comments should not be inflammatory or personal.”

Skipper: “We had a violation of those standards in recent days and our handling of this is a private matter. ... We need to remind ourselves that we are a journalistic organization and that we should not do anything that undermines that position” (ESPN.com, 9/16).

Atlanta United “are the new kings of MLS attendance,” as it announced 70,425 tickets sold for its match yesterday against Orlando City SC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, “setting the league’s single-game record.” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said, “This team is just incredible. This team in six days will have more than 150,000 people come to three soccer matches.” The previous record of 69,255 was set on April 13, 1996 in a game between the N.Y./N.J. MetroStars and Galaxy at the Rose Bowl (AJC.com, 9/16). Garber, at halftime of the teams’ 3-3 draw, said Atlanta United is “the story in pro sports” (AJC.com, 9/16).

Meanwhile, stadium officials said that about 950 workers will be “involved in the cleanup and conversion of Mercedes-Benz Stadium from a soccer venue Saturday to a football venue” for tonight’s Packers-Falcons game (AJC.com, 9/16). The Falcons will have a "new patch that they debut on their jerseys tonight as they open Mercedes-Benz Stadium" and the roof "will be open in Atlanta for the very first time in over 25 years” (“Sunday NFL Countdown,” ESPN, 9/17).

Energy “should be at its peak” today when the Chargers re-enter L.A.’s crowded market with their home opener at StubHub Center. For fans who have never been inside the venue for an NFL game, they will “surely be stunned at the intimacy and superior sightlines.” Chargers DE Joey Bosa said, “If we start winning games, people will start coming and it’ll be loud.” As of Saturday, "tickets remained available” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 9/17). To commemorate the team’s return, six players from the ‘60 L.A. Chargers will be “recognized on-field" and present a team-signed ball to Pro Football HOFer LaDainian Tomlinson (ESPN.com, 9/16).

Meanwhile, from 11:00-12:00pm PT, a plane will fly above StubHub Center “carrying behind it a banner" that will read: “Worst owner in sports? Dean Spanos” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 9/16).

In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, with some areas of Tampa "still without power and other services, and other residents busy trying to get back to normal," today's Bears-Buccaneers game "could have a smaller crowd" than last year's matchup at Raymond James Stadium. That game "drew an announced crowd of 62,898, the Bucs' second-biggest home crowd" of '16. Tickets for today's game were "selling below face value on the secondary market -- as low as $38" on StubHub (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 9/16).

Texans DE J.J. Watt, who "closed the online fundraising Friday," has "raised" $37.132M for Hurricane Harvey relief. Displaced in Dallas during the storm, Watt "started a relief fund on YouCaring.com with an initial goal of $200,000." He "donated 100,000 and then shared through social media a video asking people to donate." Watt has "received donations" of $5M from San Antonio-based grocer H-E-B as well as donations from Rockets G Chris Paul, Drake, Ellen DeGeneres and Jimmy Fallon (CHRON.com, 9/15).

The Red Sox were “fined an undisclosed amount” by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred on Friday for “improper use of an electronic device in the dugout.” The Yankees were “fined a lesser amount when an investigation determined they committed a similar violation prior to this season” (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/15). Money collected from both fines will be “donated to hurricane relief efforts in Florida.” Manfred in his ruling noted "all 30 clubs have been notified that future violations of this type will be subject to more serious sanctions, including the possible loss of draft picks" (ESPN.com, 9/15). The Red Sox will “take their punishment, happy it wasn't more severe” (ESPN.com, 9/15).

The Islanders today are "taking the ice" at Nassau Coliseum for their preseason opener against the Flyers. Even though it is one preseason game and "not anywhere near a full-blown return to Long Island for the team, its players and coaches recognize" what today's game will mean "beyond a chance to shake off some rust." This is a "homecoming of sorts." With the Islanders "pursuing a new arena at Belmont Park while still renting space at Barclays Center, there may not be too many more opportunities to see" the team at the renovated Nassau. Meanwhile, attendance for the game "will be close to the 13,000-seat capacity in the renovated building" (NEWSDAY, 9/17).

Intersport has partnered with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to create the first-ever Injustice 2 Pro Series Grand Finals presented by PlayStation 4 taking place today at the Avalon Theater in L.A. ESPN2 will air its own original production of the top four player matches beginning at 5:00pm PT. The top 16 player matches will be streamed on Twitch beginning at 10:00am. SIMPLE Mobile and Samsung will join presenting sponsor PlayStation 4 as official sponsors of the Injustice 2 Pro Series Grand Finals (Intersport).

The Indians' team shop at Progressive Field was “open late Saturday” with AL Central Division championship merchandise for sale. The team shop will be open today “only to ticket holders” for the game against the Royals (CLEVELAND.com, 9/16).

The USWNT defeated New Zealand 3-1 in an exhibition on Friday “to the delight of 17,301 fans” at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (DENVER POST, 9/16).

Twitter for the first time will stream an in-car camera in Martin Truex Jr.’s No. 78 Toyota today during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Tale of the Turtles 400. The automaker will advertise on the stream (Adam Stern, Staff Writer).

The Brewers covered Miller Park in decorations "such as palm trees, shells and fish," to make the ballpark "more like home" for the Marlins this weekend. The Brewers are the "away" team for the series, which was shifted to Milwaukee because of Hurricane Irma (ESPN.com, 9/15).

Penn State's student season-ticket allotment for men’s hockey sold out in two minutes and 12 seconds on Thursday. The Roar Zone, PSU’s student section, has sold out for five straight seasons (PSU).

There were 20,000 fans at United Center yesterday for the Blackhawks' intrasquad scrimmage (ESPN.com, 9/16).

For the first time since ‘13, the Celtics will host training camp at Salve Regina Univ. in Newport, R.I. The Celtics had “held camp at their Waltham practice facility for the past three years” (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/15).

Richard Petty Motorsports agreed to a multiyear associate partnership with Patriotic apparel line Grunt Style, which will debut today on the No. 43 Ford at the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Tales of the Turtles 400 (RPM).

Hublot ran a full-page ad in Saturday’s N.Y. TIMES featuring boxer Gennady Golovkin (THE DAILY).

The USTA runs a full-page ad in today’s N.Y. TIMES thanking the champions of the U.S. Open as well as the events corporate and broadcast partners (THE DAILY).

“A lot of the owners who are old time owners and who are opposed to this inherited those teams and don’t have a lot of debt sitting on those assets. You’ve got new owners, more creative, more aggressive when it comes to marketing. Well guess what. Some of those instances they have hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars of debt sitting on those teams. Of course, they want to explore new ways to monetize the asset” -- CBS Sports Network’s Amy Trask, on whether the NFL will allow jersey sponsors (“That Other Pregame Show,” CBSSN, 9/17).

"Totally bizarre to watch the whole thing. I've only been able to watch it two or three times, and it's really hard on me because it brings back so much emotion and shame. I was pushed and pulled in every direction, and I don't know how I made it physically or emotionally, looking back now" -- Tennis HOFer Billie Jean King, on watching a sex scene based on her life in the new movie "Battle Of The Sexes" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/17).

"No one will care about what he did last week. And Tony knows that. That's what quarterbacks face all the time. It's the upcoming Sunday that matters most" -- Cowboys radio play-by-play voice Brad Sham, on CBS' Tony Romo calling his second-ever broadcast during Patriots-Saints (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 9/15).

"The human element is part of baseball. But if you do go to an electronic strike zone, hitters are going to hate the world. There won't be one hitter in this league that agrees with what is going on" -- Tigers P Alex Wilson, on the MLB's possible implementation of an electronic strike zone (DETROIT NEWS, 9/17).

It's going to be a special day honoring the legacy of Dan Rooney and what he meant to the Steelers. Words can't express what he meant to me.

— Mike Tomlin (@CoachTomlin) September 17, 2017

Lastly, I have a tremendous amount of respect for @stephenasmith, but DAMN my love for Teddy Atlas knows no bounds. #CanelloGGG

— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) September 17, 2017

.@dennyhamlin on @keselowski: "I'd like to know what Toyota is paying Brad because he's been our best spokesperson."#NASCAR

— Chris Knight ツ (@Knighter01) September 15, 2017

Still waiting to see Dean Blandino add anything to the Fox broadcasts they weren't already getting from Mike Pereira.

— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) September 17, 2017

A new STATEMENT! #NIKExNBA pic.twitter.com/C2Rcptf0NA

— NBA (@NBA) September 16, 2017

Eddie Vedder jamming on waveland outside Murphy's @Cubs #PearlJam 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/2Yb3n3ScKE

— cubs in 7 (@bleacherbum54) September 16, 2017

The N.Y. TIMES wrote under the header, "In This Sports Gender Gap, Men Fall Short." In this area -- the "recognition of a full life off the playing field, the acceptance that our athletes don't materialize out of thin air when they step on the field -- male athletes fall short of their female counterparts." Their off-field lives "aren't just irrelevant to us, they're annoying distractions from what really matters." Fans would "rather our male athletes not have emotional lives, but if they have to have them," they would "rather not know about it."

YAHOO SPORTS wrote under the header, "Women In Football: Meet The Female Coaches Who Could Change The Face Of The NFL." The league brought Canadian-born former women's league quarterback Sam Rapoport "aboard last September to identify football-savvy women, train them and connect them with decision makers across the NFL." In her first year, eight women Rapoport "helped identify reported to NFL training camps in July for coaching or scouting internships." 49ers intern Katie Sowers, who last year quit her job as a Kansas City Parks and Recreation director to pursue coaching, will "serve as a full-time offensive assistant, mostly working with the wide receivers."

Elsewhere:

• The complicated relationship between English soccer clubs and U.S. owners.
• MLB needs to fix its September roster expansion rules.
• Fans can expect some off-the-field changes at the Panthers' home opener.
• The scary reality of the NFL and opioids.
• An inside look at the White Sox's decision to hire the youngest coach in pro baseball.
• How a teenage gamer became an icon for South Korea's feminist movement.