excluding the top and lowest-grossing franchises. The proposal

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Ray Rice and wife Janay testified Thursday on the final day of a hearing in the former Baltimore Ravens running backs appeal of his indefinite NFL suspension.The arbitration hearing before a former federal judge will determine whether the NFL overstepped its authority in modifying Rices two-game suspension, making it indefinite after video of the running back hitting his wife — then his fiancee — was released by TMZ.Rice and Janay Rice left the hearing separately about three hours apart after each testified at former U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones office.I can trust its a fair process, said Rices attorney, Peter Ginsberg.Two people familiar with the case said theres no timetable for Jones to make her decision, though one person said she has asked the sides to submit closing briefs next week. Both spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the arbiter has told the sides not to discuss details of the private hearing.NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell testified for more than two hours to start the appeal hearing Wednesday, according to one of the sources. Ray and Janay Rice attended the full hearing Wednesday.The hearing began nearly two months after the former Pro Bowl running back was suspended indefinitely by the NFL and released by the Ravens.League security chief Jeffery Miller and Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome also testified in the hearing. Ravens President Dick Cass, who was previously expected to testify, was not asked to take part in the hearing, one of the sources said.The NFL players union said in a statement that the hearing was fair and thorough, and thanked NFL owners and officials for agreeing to use a neutral arbiter.The collectively bargained rights of all players must be vehemently preserved and we take that obligation seriously, the statement said. This appeal, presided over by a neutral arbitrator, which included a presentation of all the relevant facts, witness testimony to the truth and cross examination, is the due process that every athlete deserves.NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy declined comment. We continue to respect the confidentiality order set weeks ago, he said.Rice was suspended indefinitely Sept. 8 for violating the NFLs personal conduct policy.Rice is seeking immediate reinstatement, though its unlikely a team would sign him this season. Rice has also filed a separate wrongful termination grievance against the Ravens.Goodell originally suspended the running back for two games. The incident occurred inside an elevator at an Atlantic City casino in February, when Rice and Janay Rice were engaged. The couple married a month later.The league considered the video made public after the initial suspension to be new evidence, giving Goodell the authority to amend Rices punishment. But Rices attorneys are arguing he should not be disciplined twice, citing the collective bargaining agreement.Rices side also is arguing that he described details of the incident to Goodell when they met in June. Goodell has called Rices description ambiguous while the players representatives have maintained he gave exact details.Rices attorneys also say the indefinite suspension isnt consistent with other punishments issued by Goodell in the past.Jones was jointly picked by the commissioner and the players union to hear the appeal. Though it isnt a criminal case, Jones asked witnesses to testify under oath. Transcripts of the testimony will not be released publicly, one source said.Rice, a three-time Pro Bowl pick, played in two preseason games for the Ravens this year. His last carry was a 6-yard run against San Francisco on Aug. 7.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___Rob Maaddi can be reached on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ap_robmaaddi Ozzie Albies Braves Jersey . Stepanek gave the Czech Republic its second straight Davis Cup title Sunday, sweeping past Dusan Lajovic in straight sets in the fifth and decisive match to secure a 3-2 win over Serbia in the final. Deion Sanders Jersey . Colton Sissons also scored for Milwaukee (19-12-8), which went ahead with a two-goal third period. Wade MacLeod and Greg McKegg replied for Toronto (23-12-4). http://www.baseballbravesproshop.com/ozzie-albies-braves-jersey/ .com) - The Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies have finalized their agreed-upon trade that sends former National League MVP Jimmy Rollins to the West Coast for a pair of minor league pitching prospects. David Justice Braves Jersey . Yoenis Cespedes proved he can play through a hurting right heel, giving Scott Kazmir and the As a spark with a pair of RBIs that helped spoil the Minnesota Twins home opener with an 8-3 victory on Monday. Babe Ruth Jersey . -- The Vancouver Whitecaps remained unbeaten with a scoreless draw at the New England Revolution on Saturday.TORONTO - The two sides in the CFL labour negotiations return to the table Wednesday in a pivotal round of talks that could determine whether training camps open on time this weekend. The league and CFL Players Association havent met since talks broke down last Wednesday when the CFL rejected a union proposal, then publicly revealed details of its last offer in separate letters to players and fans. Training camps are slated to open Sunday. "Were going to wait to get in that room Wednesday to see how it goes before any determination is made," CFLPA president Scott Flory said when asked if he expected players to report to camp. "Weve had internal discussions on that and we have strategies in place. "As you well know, it has been well documented (strike) ballots have been sent out to our players. Well cross that bridge Wednesday and see how it goes." The current collective bargaining agreement expires at midnight ET on Thursday. Flory has said union members wouldnt play under terms of the existing deal. The regular season is slated to kick off June 26. There has been one players strike since the formation of the CFLPA in 1965. It came in 74 and lasted three weeks during training camp before a three-year agreement was signed with no regular-season games lost. Revenue sharing is the main stumbling block in the negotiations, with the players wanting it back in the new agreement after conceding it in the last deal signed before the 2010 season. CFL commissioner Mark Cohon has said the league wont agree to revenue sharing because it doesnt have sufficient revenues and profits for the model to work effectively. Cohon and Michael Copeland, the CFLs president and chief operating officer, were not available for comment Tuesday. A league spokesman said both were busy preparing for Wednesdays session. But Flory said revenue sharing remains a focal point of the players associations offer, adding the union warned the league four years ago that it would be. "They came to us four years ago and we understood the situation," Flory said. "We took it off . . . but it was also stated clearly there was going to be discussions and we were going to want this back. "The term revenue sharing seems to be a pretty big, scary word out there right now and its not. What were talking about here is a system where the cap — which is a cap, its a maximum on what you can spend — is somehow connected to the monies that are being generated, is somehow tied to revenue. Through good and bad, it goes up or it goes down and the players are willing to share in that because its a successful model that exists out there. We understand that its not the NFL but were just on a smaller scale." The players key demand comes at a ttime of economic prosperity for the CFL, which for decades was on thin ice financially.dddddddddddd The league has a new contract extension with athletic apparel giant Reebok. One of its teams (Winnipeg) moved into a new stadium last season and another (Hamilton) is scheduled to do so this year, the same time expansion Ottawa will return and play at a refurbished facility. And with attendance continuing to rise and corporate sponsorships remaining strong, the CFL is buoyed by a lucrative five-year television agreement with TSN, reportedly worth an average of $42 million annually, that kicks in this season. That deal alone will reportedly net clubs an extra $2.7 million each this season, a fact not lost upon Flory. "The increased revenue is based on the product on the field and the players are the product," he said. "Our guys are full-time athletes . . . and deserve to be compensated fairly for it. "Were not asking for anything more than whats fair. Actually what were asking for is substantially less than the other professional associations." The league has offered to boost the average player salary by 12 per cent this season to $92,917 with a further increase over the following five years. The salary cap would increase by nine per cent from $4.4 million to $4.8 million per team while the average salary would go up $5,000 to $50,000 with a further increase to $55,000 over the following five years. The salary cap would also rise by $100,000 per team if the CFL receives more television revenue from TSN under a renegotiated broadcast agreement for each remaining year of the collective bargaining agreement. The CFLPA, which contends the average player stipend is just under $72,000, is asking for a $6.24-million cap, with a $5.84-million minimum. The 15 cap would be determined from the gross average revenue of seven clubs — excluding the top and lowest-grossing franchises. The proposal also calls for the players to receive 55 per cent of gross revenues from TV rights, pay TV rights, radio, Internet and any other form of broadcast or telecast of CFL games, 45 per cent of revenues from sponsorship and licensing and 40 per cent of tickets to pre-season and regular-season games, including the sale of luxury boxes, licenses and any other revenue related to the public attending at games. Flory, a former Montreal Alouettes offensive lineman, says there are plenty of non-monetary issues the two sides can agree on and bridge whatever gaps last weeks impasse might have caused. "I think we should be able to negotiate all the issues at the table, to be honest with you," he said. "We have to be able to build a partnership and have some kind of an agreement there which truly is a partnership." ' ' '