considers this his hometown tournament

[wh3171]

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. Dennis Martinez Indians Jersey . -- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell responded Thursday night to criticisms by NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith, who contended a double standard exists when it comes to the league doling out punishments. In comments to ESPN earlier Thursday, Smith specifically addressed the delayed discipline of Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, who has yet to be punished by Goodell after being arrested in March for allegedly operating a vehicle while intoxicated and while in the possession of prescription drugs and $29,000 in cash. Irsay was formally charged Friday. "The personal conduct policy applies to commissioners, owners, players, coaches," Goodell told reporters at the New England Patriots team facility. "It applies to all of us. We all have a responsibility to do things the right way. There are several players that we havent taken any action on, either. "We like to get the facts, we like to be thorough and we like to understand them. Charges were just filed last week. I dont believe theres a credibility gap." Goodell was at Foxborough to speak at a football safety clinic for mothers, a program aimed at furthering safer play at all levels of the game. Smith pointed toward Goodells swift and sometimes harsh action when dealing with troubled players in the past. "The commissioner understands that there is a significant credibility gap that exists in the National Football League," Smith said. "What troubles our players is the speed and the deliberateness of the punishment that they have seen in the past when it comes to a player. "There isnt the same speed or deliberate action when it comes to an owner, and thats a problem." Goodell said the league has yet to collect all the facts on Irsays case. "You can judge us when we make our final determinations, which you undoubtedly will, and so will everybody else," he said. "Thats fair. But dont make judgments until weve had an opportunity to do whats in the best interest of everyone, which is getting the facts. Everybody wants process. DeMaurice Smith talks about process all the time. "The process is important." The safety program organized by the Patriots comes more than a week after a group of retired players filed another lawsuit against the league, accusing team doctors and trainers of supplying them with powerful painkillers and other drugs that allowed them to keep playing despite injuries, but led to serious complications later in life. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of more than 500 former players, charges the NFL with placing profits ahead of players health. Goodell addressed the leagues continued role in the education and pursuit of safer play. "We want you to learn the right techniques from the moment you play, regardless if you play one year, two years, or if you play flag football," he said. "I think our popularity, the platform we have, gives us an opportunity and its part of our responsibility to make the game safer, not only at the NFL level to protect our players, but also at every other level of football, and frankly, sports in general." Patriots owner Robert Kraft said the health and safety of his players have never been greater in his 20-plus years of owning the team. "I know Im a better human being from having played the game, and when I played, it wasnt as safe as it is now," he said. "So, Im a big believer in the lessons you learn in football." Kraft also was asked about the arraignment Wednesday of former New England tight end Aaron Hernandez, who pleaded not guilty to two more counts of first-degree murder stemming from a 2012 double homicide. Hernandez already is facing charges for the 2013 slaying of semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd. Hernandez was released by the team following his arrest last summer. "A year ago when he was arrested, we cut him from the team, I made a statement," said Kraft, who at the time said the organization was "duped" if the accusations were true. "I was very clear about it, and you can go back and read what I said then, and thats the way that I continuously feel." Oliver Perez Jersey . - The first sign that Kansas Speedway was going to be a heartbreaker for Hendrick Motorsports should have come during qualifying when Jimmie Johnson inexplicably spun and earned one of his worst starting spots since 2005. Kenny Lofton Indians Jersey . -- Sonny Grays fastball wasnt as sharp as it usually is, and the Oakland Athletics young pitcher even had a quirky replay go against him. https://www.cheapindiansonline.com/ . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie.WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The biggest news at a soggy Winston-Salem Open on Monday wasnt made by who advanced. It was who pulled out. Two-time defending champion John Isner and top seed Tomas Berdych withdrew from the tournament. After the days early matches were delayed 4 hours, 10 minutes due to rain, James Blake beat fellow American Rhyne Williams 6-1, 7-5, in a first-round match. But the days big story was the withdrawals of the two players who met in last years final: Isner pulled out with a hip injury, and Berdych withdrew with right shoulder pain. Isner beat Berdych in last years championship match. Both players said they wanted to be healthy for the U.S. Open, which begins next week. That leaves the tournament without its two highest-ranked players, and perhaps its biggest draws. Isner, a Greensboro native, considers this his hometown tournament and called it "one of my favourite tournaments of the year." He won this event in each of its first two years of existence.. Orel Hershiser Jersey. . He withdrew one day after falling to Rafael Nadal in the Western & Southern Open final in Cincinnati. Injuries kept him from playing two other majors -- the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Berdych moved up one spot to fifth in the ATP rankings released Monday. Isner jumped eight spots to No. 14. The highest-ranked player remaining in the field is fourth-seeded Tommy Robredo of Spain at No. 22. Also in the first round, qualifier Steve Johnson beat fellow American Bobby Reynolds 6-1, 6-2, and German David Goffin advanced when American Jack Sock withdrew in the third set with Goffin leading 4-6, 6-3, 1-0. Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain defeated Danish qualifier Frederik Nielsen 6-1, 6-3. Qualifier Thiemo de Bakker beat Igor Sijsling 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a matchup of players from the Netherlands; and Nicolas Mahut of France topped Polands Lukasz Kubot 6-3, 6-1. Three seeded players had second-round matches later Monday night with the rest playing Tuesday. ' ' '