The Raptors on Friday in a new commercial as part of their "We The North" campaign "showed off a black-and-white version" of their new logo, which "features a basketball with a dinosaur claw mark on its left side in a circle with 'Toronto' above and 'Raptors' below." The color version, "which will be the official one, has the ball in silver (the claw marks in black) the team name in white and the outline of the circle in red." There will also "be alternate colour schemes .... no doubt pushed by team Global Ambassador Drake." The new uniforms "will be released early" in '15 (TORONTO SUN, 12/20).

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell last week told the Chargers, Raiders and Rams that there "will not be a team that moves" to L.A. next season, according to sources. Sources added that Goodell also told the clubs that "any team that is considering relocating" to L.A. "should look" to '16 instead (ESPN.com, 12/20).

Meanwhile, New City Development, headed by San Diego businessman Floyd Kephart, "will fail to submit a binding agreement with the Raiders for a new football stadium on the grounds of the O.Co Coliseum" by today "as required under its contract" with the city of Oakland to lead the Coliseum City development. Kephart on Friday said that he also "isn't ready to name a 'nationally recognized' developer for the project" by today's deadline. Nonetheless, Kephart said that he "remains optimistic about the project" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 12/20).

Rays President of Baseball Operations Matt Silverman and St. Petersburg city council member Karl Nurse on Friday both "made pointed overtures toward reconciliation," just a day after Thursday's 5-3 vote against the Rays' new ballpark quest, which had seemingly "slammed the stadium door on the Rays" in the Tampa/St. Petersburg region. Silverman: "I expect conversations with the city will continue as we work toward an agreeable outcome." Some have "hailed Silverman's optimistic tone, which contrasted sharply with earlier, tougher statements from team officials." Council member Bill Dudley: "We can make things happen if we sit down and talk openly and honestly and quit all the posturing" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 12/20).

Dish Network and Comcast SportsNet yesterday announced that they "have reached a deal" allowing the cable company's RSNs to "remain on-air for Dish subscribers." Terms were not disclosed, but an NBCUniversal rep, whose company owns CSN, wrote in an e-mail, "We have reached an agreement with Dish on behalf of CSN Mid-Atlantic, CSN Chicago, CSN Bay Area and CSN California" (REUTERS, 12/20).

The NFL at today’s Seahawks-Cardinals game will allow fans to preview the Super Bowl Stadium App in advance of the Feb. 1 game at Univ. of Phoenix Stadium. The mobile app, which is available for both iOS and Android devices, allows users to access three types of video content – in-game highlights, Super Bowl commercials and “memories” – through the facility’s Wi-Fi network. The app is free to download and currently opens with a screen that reads, “Thank You Cardinals Fans!” The league for last year’s Super Bowl made a mobile game program available for $1.99.

The '14-15 college football bowl season kicked off yesterday with five games. An announced crowd of 34,014 attended the Louisiana Lafayette-Nevada R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, the fourth largest in the bowl's history. But the actual crowd at Mercedes-Benz Superdome "was considerably smaller" (NOLA.com, 12/20). A crowd of 28,275 showed up at University Stadium for the Utah State-UTEP Gildan New Mexico Bowl, the fourth largest in the bowl's history. However, officials "wouldn't say how many tickets were given out for free" (ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL. 12/21).

Meanwhile, the Bowling Green-South Alabama Raycom Media Camellia Bowl was played before 20,256 fans at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala. (MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER, 12/21). The crowd at the Air Force-Western Michigan Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Albertsons Stadium in Boise was announced as 18,223, but the actual crowd "looked like less than half that." Bowl Exec Dir Kevin McDonald said that the bowl "distributed more than 26,000 tickets" (IDAHO STATESMAN, 12/21). A crowd of 33,067 attended the Utah-Colorado State Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 12/21).

Sources said that MLB and its umpires "have reached agreement on a five-year labor contract." Both sides "still need to ratify the deal next month." The previous five-year agreement was set to expire Dec. 31 (AP, 12/19).

A video released Friday "shows Ray Rice's then-fiancee," Janay Palmer, "crying and kissing him while they are both handcuffed and being taken to jail by police officers after Rice punched her in a casino elevator" (AP, 12/19).

Int'l Boxing HOFer Muhammad Ali yesterday "was hospitalized for pneumonia" and is "expected to be released soon" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/21).

NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Carl Edwards' new sponsor, Arris, unveiled his paint scheme for the '15 season (TWITTER.com, 12/19).

The Race Team Alliance on Friday launched its new website, raceteamalliance.com (TWITTER.com, 12/19).

Yesterday's Colorado State-Pueblo-Minnesota State-Mankato NCAA D-II championship game at Sporting Park was played "before 6,762 people" (K.C. STAR, 12/21).

Nationwide at next Sunday's Raiders-Broncos game "will give out thousands of free Chicken Parm sliders to any fan that sings the Nationwide jingle." Nationwide "is also distributing 40,000 free orange t-shirts" that read, "Chicken Parm You Taste So Good," a reference to the brand's commercial featuring Broncos QB Peyton Manning (JOEFAVORITO.com, 12/21).

Texas A&M this morning demolished the west end of Kyle Field as part of its ongoing renovation of the facility (THE DAILY).

"I was a crazy, dyed-in-the-wool Cowboys fan" – CBS' Jim Nantz, on growing up in New Jersey as a Cowboys fan (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 12/20).

"We want to make sure the cameras show that the east side of the stands are full -- even if we have to get some cardboard people out there" – Montgomery, Ala. Mayor Todd Strange, on the newly introduced Camellia Bowl (N.Y. TIMES, 12/20).

"Jed (York) should get Trent Baalke and Jim Harbaugh in a room, sit them down and say, ‘...Find a way to work this out and don't worry about which one of you has more control because here's the fact, men -- I own the team. I'm in control'" – CBS Sports Net’s Amy Trask, on the 49ers (“That Other Pregame Show,” CBSSN, 12/21).

"I put my heart and soul into Rutgers every day I was there. I’m incredibly proud of everything we accomplished when I was there, especially this year watching their entrée into the Big Ten, which was something that I worked every day and night on for four years" – NYC FC Chief Business Officer Tim Pernetti, on his previous job as Rutgers AD (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/21).

"I wouldn’t spend one minute working on it because it’s not going to happen. I believe Floyd doesn’t want the fight" – Former HBO Sports President Seth Abraham, on the prospect for a fight between boxers Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/21).

"If Kansas City can get to the World Series, you would think a team like Oakland could get to the World Series. The experiment has been going on for 17 years and hasn't really worked" – L.A. Times columnist Bill Plaschke, on A's GM Billy Beane and his "Moneyball" approach (“Around the Horn,” ESPN, 12/19).

"The most (publicity) that the NHL gets is for games played in stadiums that they don't regularly play in, which is insane" – ESPN’s Keith Olbermann, on the league's Bridgestone Winter Classic and Coors Light Stadium Series games (“Olbermann,” ESPN2, 12/19).

"The creator of the modern baseball card died this week at the age of 91 when his mother threw him away without even asking" – "Weekend Update" co-host Michael Che, on Sy Berger’s passing (“SNL,” NBC, 12/20).

The Portland OREGONIAN's Allan Brettman reported under the header, "Nike's IT Chief And Top Nike Contractor Worked At Barclays, But Both Now Gone." Nike and Juniper Networks this summer announced a "transformational" partnership, but since then, Nike CIO Anthony Watson and former Juniper Networks CEO Shaygan Kheradpir both "have left their companies." Their resignations "are shrouded in mystery."

The N.Y. TIMES' Alex Thompson writes fantasy football "has long been played by congressional staff members, but now their bosses are jumping in with fervor, varying degrees of success and an openness to creating a bipartisan members-only league."

Elsewhere:

• "Wisconsin Combat Sports Regulations Lag Behind States With Toughest Rules."
• Orlando City SC's GM this year has "tinkered and toyed with his vision" for the club.
• Jim Nill is an info "junkie, a tech geek, and a bubbling cauldron of hockey opinions."
• BOSTON GLOBE: Football has "turned into a national sports health crisis."
• NYT: "Montgomery, Ala., Prepares For The Camellia Bowl, An ESPN Creation."
• Race car drivers increasingly using virtual reality outfit iRacing as a "learning tool."

It looks disturbingly empty in Miami. Like even way worse than normal.

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) December 21, 2014

Not exactly the "Terrible Towel" onslaught some had expected here at MetLife. Spotted maybe 20 "Fire Idzik" penalty flag towels in stands.

— Bob Glauber (@BobGlauber) December 21, 2014

The official soda of Solider Field is RC Cola. I annually forget it exists until the making the trip here.

— Justin Rogers (@Justin_Rogers) December 21, 2014

Huge Congrats to @Panthers PR Director Charlie Dayton on 20 seasons with the Panthers! He's the best in the business!

— JJ Jansen (@JJJansen44) December 19, 2014

Nothing earth-shattering from Shanahan, though he did echo what Steve Young has said: he thinks RG3 needs to work harder in the film room.

— Tom Schad (@Tom_Schad) December 21, 2014

Rutgers-NC Dec. 26 Quick Lane Bowl avg secondary market ticket price: $65.76, 5th least expensive bowl of season per TiQIQ #Detroit

— John Brennan (@BergenBrennan) December 21, 2014

I wish the Cotton Bowl was TCU/Baylor in Jerry World. Theyd put 100k in that joint & the Frogs n Bears would hang a hundred on the board!

— Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN) December 21, 2014

This is Adam's wife, Sharri, hijacking his Twitter and proving that he does sleep... pic.twitter.com/el5M3LopoH

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 21, 2014

MLB Network's Kevin Millar co-hosts NFL Network's "NFL Gameday Final" tonight (THE DAILY).