The NHL and NHLPA “came to an agreement on a social media policy for players that effectively shuts down players on game day.” GMs were “informed of the new policy in a letter” from NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, in which he notes that “the matter was ‘collectively bargained’ with the players’ association.” Any use of social media such as Twitter or Facebook that “violates the rules may be subject to an undisclosed punishment” (THESTAR.com, 9/15).

NHL Senior Dir of Social Media Michael DiLorenzo confirmed on Twitter, “The @NHL social media policy went out to our clubs last night.” Coyotes LW Paul Bissonnette, one of the NHL’s most-popular Twitter users with more than 132,000 followers, wrote on his account, “People asking about NHL's new policy on Twitter. I think its good. I don't even play much and I don't tweet on game days. Plenty of off days.” Islanders LW Michael Grabner tweeted, “Heard there will be a social media policy in the NHL..good thing most our my tweets are about food,napping or video games #dontwanttobefined.”

Outgoing MLB Giants Managing General Partner & CEO Bill Neukom this afternoon denied there was a communications conflict with the club's BOD, and pegged his pending departure more toward a broader sense of accomplishment. "I've accomplished essentially what I set out to accomplish (in this role), and this is the right time to turn the reins over," Neukom said, adding there was "robust communications" between the front office and investors. He later added that "forced out" was not the "right characterization" for what occurred, and that there was no single precipitating event prompting the shift.

"There is a time to come and a time to leave, and this is the time to leave," said Neukom, who also will be divesting his equity in the Giants. Neukom also denied there was an issue with regard to financial reserves, cited in Bay Area press reports as a key wedge issue between himself and the board. "We have significant reserves. The Giants have a rainy-day fund and it is substantial," he said. Neukom, however, did acknowledge that the recent decision to cut CF Aaron Rowand and eat roughly $12M remaining on his contract for next season arrived "with a lot of agony and a lot of analysis."

Meanwhile, incoming CEO Larry Baer said the team's '12 payroll has not yet been set, but added, "I don't foresee it going down." The Giants' '11 Opening Day payroll of about $118M was a club record. "Frankly, I don't see a lot of (organizational) change. It's business as usual, and we're extremely well positioned for the future," he said. Also firmly unchanged is the club's opposition toward the A's moving to San Jose and into the Santa Clara County territory held by the Giants. "There is no change whatsoever there," Baer said. "It's a position Bill's had, the board has, and one, obviously, I have."

NBPA President Derek Fisher sent an "impassioned" e-mail to fellow players in which he "criticizes agents who have been calling for the decertification of the union and asks players to remain supportive of its efforts." The email reads in part, "The most recent meetings in New York were effective. What you have been told by your agents, representatives and the media is probably speculative and inaccurate. ... The turning point this past Tuesday was not a disagreement between the players and the owners. It was actually a fundamental divide between the owners internally" (SI.com, 9/15).

The NFL today formally announced an advertising campaign for its new women's apparel and gameday party product lines, with the ads featuring the wives and daughters of NFL coaches and team execs. The campaign highlights the NFL Women's Apparel line as well as introduces the NFL Party collection. The new website will showcase the new apparel line, complete with product features, rivalry highlights and Q&As with some of the designers (NFL).

The U.S. Trustee in the ongoing Dodgers bankruptcy case today filed an objection with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware seeking a reduction of $352,742 from the $1.66M in initial legal fees billed to the club. Two separate firms representing the Dodgers - Dewey & LeBoeuf LLC of Los Angeles and Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor of Delaware - made their initial billings based on their work in the first five weeks of the case. But the federal trustee today said some of their work on an interim financing bid from hedge fund Highbridge Principal Strategies LLC, particularly efforts to keep confidential fees to owner Frank McCourt associated with the bid, was "not necessary to the administration of these cases and not reasonably likely to benefit the [Dodgers'] estates." Judge Kevin Gross in July ruled against the Highbridge bid, and instead directed the Dodgers to negotiate with MLB on interim financing.

Marlins LF Logan Morrison has filed a grievance against the team for "what he believes was a wrongful demotion last month." Morrison was sent to the minors after a game on Aug. 13, the same day he "had skipped a team meet-and-greet with season-ticket holders." Morrison, the MLBPA and Morrison's agent, Fred Way, "believed the demotion was a form of discipline without just cause." They filed a grievance Aug. 25, two days after he was recalled from the Triple-A PCL New Orleans Zephyrs. The process "could take up to a year" (ESPN.com, 9/15).

Turner Sports today announced a media rights deal for the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic early-season men's college basketball tournament. The deal takes effect with the event in November '12. truTV will have exclusive TV coverage of the finals, semifinals and consolation game. Turner Sports also will oversee national sponsorship sales for the event, which is now in its 16th year. In addition to the broadcast rights moving from ESPN to Turner, the site of the event also will change next year from MSG to Barclays Center (Turner Sports).

McLaren and GlaxoSmithKline have entered into a deal through '16 that "could lead to GSK household products," such as Lucozade and Ribena, appearing on Lewis Hamilton's F1 ride. The move "marks the first time that McLaren has tied up with a pharmaceutical company and could have significant marketing implications." No details of a marketing component to the deal have been announced, but "one possibility is branding of GSK consumer products" appearing on F1 cars (MARKETINGMAGAZINE.co.uk, 9/15).

Two IMG divisions, IMG Academies and IMG College, are teaming up to represent the Senior Bowl to broaden the event’s marketing and sponsorship initiatives. IMG Academies will carry the tag “official training partner” for the Mobile, Ala.-based game, which showcases college football talent for NFL scouts. IMG Academics will focus on building a sports training and education platform for the players during the week of the game, while also creating a high school clinic for sports performance. IMG College, meanwhile, will take on a sales and marketing role.

NFL Network tonight will air the first part of NFL Films' "Bill Belichick: A Football Life," with the second part to air a week from tonight. The effort comes after the Patriots coach in '09 "became the first person whom NFL Films wired for an entire season." Ken Rodgers, who produced the documentary, said, "I imagine he wants fans to know what it's like to be Bill Belichick. He might even want his grandchildren one day to see this" (WORCESTER TELEGRAM, 9/15). NFL.com has posted a seven-minute-plus sneak peak of tonight's telecast (THE DAILY).

NEWSDAY's Neil Best writes the special makes Belichick "look pretty good. Human, even." Highlights include "Belichick and Tom Brady game planning for Ravens safety Ed Reed ... Belichick tearing up during his final visit to Giants Stadium" and Patriots Owner Robert Kraft "watching the Jets on TV, and trying to hex them." PROFOOTBALLTALK.com's Michael David Smith writes the documentary is "quite extraordinary." Smith: "Unless you've been on an NFL coaching staff, you haven't seen an NFL coach like this before."

The Economist today added a new sports-themed blog, titled "Game theory," to its website. Initial posts are on subjects such as U.S. Open TV numbers, the on-field effects of the NFL lockout and the golf simulation business in Korea (THE DAILY).

South Bend police are "blaming the theft of a water sprinkler fitting for an estimated $100,000 in flooding damage to the basement" of the College Football HOF (AP, 9/15).

Quicken Loans today announced it will be the title sponsor of the Nov. 11 Carrier Classic Michigan State-North Carolina men's basketball game on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson (Quicken Loans).

The Eagles and Lehigh Univ. have signed a deal for the NFL team to continue holding its training camp at the school through summer '12 (Eagles).

New Amsterdam Gin today announced a renewal of its deal to sponsor the Packers. The deal includes pouring rights at Lambeau Field, plus the use of team marks and logos for consumer retail promotions (New Amsterdam Gin). 

A note in Morning Buzz concerning ESPN Radio host Jason Smith’s future plans contained inaccurate information. THE DAILY apologizes for running the mistake.

"I respect that Arsenal don't have the same financial opportunities as the others, but it was part of my decision to leave that I find it hard to see Arsenal winning the Premier League or Champions League in the near future" – MF Cesc Fabregas, who recently transferred to FC Barcelona, on his opinion that his former club, Arsenal, can no longer compete financially or on the pitch with other elite EPL teams (GOAL.com, 9/15).

"I do believe we will see Rangers making a trip there to highlight the American factor, but it's cynical to suggest the signings are intended largely to act as a rallying call to American fans" – Marc Chaplin, who runs a fan site for the Scottish Premier League club, on the team having three U.S. players on its current roster (NYTIMES.com, 9/15).

Digital Royalty Founder Amy Jo Martin: "Social media is creating change. Saw online analytics (#'s) for Nike MAG @MichaelJFoxOrg initiative. Nearly brought tears."

NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano: "For all the talk about rookies suffering from the lockout, 52 of them started Week 1...13 more than a year ago."

Jets OT Damien Woody: "It's a shame that Tom Brady had to backtrack on his comment b/c ppl aren't responsible enough to know their drinking limits."

VMW Communications Owner Vince Wladika: "Reading @GeorgeAtallah go at it w/ @darrenrovell. this is new Tweet world: seeing a 'journalist' publicly argue w/ a 'flack' for all to see."

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

SB Nation's Jeff Gluck has been posting photos from today's NASCAR media event with Chase for the Sprint Cup drivers in Chicago.

U.S. women's national soccer team stars Hope Solo and Alex Morgan appear in this video promoting Ubisoft's new video game for the Wii, "Just Dance: Summer Party."

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NBA TV will premiere "WNBA Roundtable: Generations," a 30-minute special featuring four WNBA players discussing the state of the league, at 6:00pm ET. The players taking part in the special are Lynx F Maya Moore, Sun C Tina Charles, and Liberty G Cappie Pondexter and Lynx F Taj McWilliams-Franklin.

UFC fighter Jason "Mayhem" Miller will appear on NBC's "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" at 12:35am ET.

9:15-9:30pm ET – Interval when more U.S. viewers watch TV "than at any other period during primetime" Monday-Friday, according to findings from Nielsen. On the other hand, the "tail end of primetime," 10:45-11:00pm, "is when the fewest viewers use their televisions" (NIELSEN.com, 9/13).