THE ATHLETIC's Daniel Kaplan cited a source as saying that the NFL is "not investigating" the Saints over "advising the local Catholic church's messaging in response to a lawsuit accusing the archdiocese of covering up allegations of sexual abuse." Kaplan noted the league does not plan to investigate the matter "in the future unless Saints emails show troublesome actions." A source said that the NFL is "unconcerned the emails were sent from an nfl.com address." They added that the NFL "finds the behavior of the deacon repugnant," but based on available evidence, the Saints "did nothing wrong" (THEATHLETIC.com, 1/29).
MORE IN THE BANK: In Atlanta, Tim Tucker noted as the Braves' projected opening-day payroll currently hovers around $150M, Exec VP & GM Alex Anthopoulos "suggested to fans over the weekend that he has authorization" from team Chair Terry McGuirk to "spend more." Fans "obviously shouldn't interpret" McGuirk's message to Anthopoulos to mean they are going to "become unrestrained spenders." But the comment "seems to portend a willingness to stretch the payroll further to make additional moves this year." This season will include the Braves' "highest opening-day payroll," topping the $126.1M in '17 (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 1/27).
FALL IN LOVE: In San Antonio, Madalyn Mendoza notes the Spurs are "hosting their first Selena night on April 3rd," just a couple of weeks before the late singer's birthday. The night will mark the "launch of a 20-piece Selena X Spurs collection, which is a line of men and women's clothing, cap and other cross-branded items." An online presale of the collection's unisex short-sleeve T-shirt and drink tumbler "will begin Feb. 5" in the Spurs Fan Shop. The team also is offering a "very limited ticket and T-shirt package for the game," as only "1,500 of these packages are available" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 1/30).
