Infos » Force India, ahead of the Williams of Valtteri Bottas,

PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison is willing to meet with the NFL to discuss an alleged link to performance-enhancing drugs -- but only five days after a deadline the league has imposed while threatening him and three other players with indefinite suspensions.NFL Players Association attorney Heather McPhee sent a letter to the NFL on Thursday, accusing it of trying to bully and publicly shame Harrison without offering evidence beyond a brief mention in television interview last year that was recanted by the accuser.When it came down to it, (if) I got the suspension, the bigger outcome wasnt really worth it, Harrison said after the Steelers 17-0 home exhibition loss to Philadelphia on Thursday night. I wouldnt be on the team, it would hurt the team, it would hurt my teammates and coaches, so it was easier to do the interview.Green Bays Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers, and free-agent Mike Neal also were threatened with suspensions. It was not immediately known if a similar meeting was being proposed by the union.Im just glad the process is moving forward, Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said after the Packers 20-12 home victory over Oakland on Thursday night. As already has been stated, as an organization, we support Clay and Julius. And were looking to get this resolved as soon as possible.The leagues deadline for cooperation from the four players is Aug. 25. McPhees letter says Harrison would meet with the NFL at 5 p.m. on Aug. 30 at the teams facility, and would only discuss the portion of the Al-Jazeera interview that mentioned the 14-year veteran.In the report, Charlie Sly, who worked as an intern at an anti-aging clinic, made claims of PED use against several athletes, including the four linebackers. Sly later recanted his claims.Is the NFL aware of any credible evidence -- other than the recanted remarks by one individual shown by Al-Jazeera -- that indicates that there is any validity to the remarks about Mr. Harrison? McPhee wrote to Adolpho Birch, the NFLs senior vice president for labor policy and league affairs.NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league has yet to respond to the letter.Retired quarterback Peyton Manning also was cited in the report, but the NFL cleared him after a separate investigation in which the former Indianapolis and Denver star granted interviews and provided all records sought by league investigators.Harrison is a longtime leader for the Steelers. Matthews and Peppers are key cogs in the Packers defense, and Neal spent the past six seasons with Green Bay.Harrison said he assumes the meeting will take place in Pittsburgh, but he said he wasnt sure about the date. Harrison added the team didnt approach him about his decision.Theyre asking me about PEDs, so ask away, Harrison said. You can ask me about PEDs. I never took a PED in my life and I never failed a drug test. Its simple. Whatever evidence they think they may have or reasoning for questioning is out of my control.Harrison said he wouldnt have a problem with filming the proceedings.Ive been prosecuted and persecuted publicly in the media by them for something I didnt do, so I dont see why we couldnt have the media there to do a live interview, Harrison said. They can ask me questions and I can answer them and yall can see whatever evidence they say theyve got or dont have.Harrison isnt sure what to expect from the interview.I answered all the questions that were in the Al-Jazeera that were in my affidavit, so I have no clue, Harrison said.The NFL first notified the four players Jan. 11 about the investigation into the Al-Jazeera report.Birchs memo to the union said suspensions would start the day after the Aug. 25 deadline, and would end at the discretion of Commissioner Roger Goodell once interviews had been completed.The four players have steadfastly refused to be interviewed without what they call credible evidence. Earlier this week, Harrison reiterated that he would be willing to meet at his house with Goodell.Affidavits were sent by the NFLPA on behalf of the players to substitute for the interviews, but Birch dismissed them as inadequate.Despite the NFLs embarrassing refusal to thoughtfully consider the fair question and viewpoint of a man who has performed his job in a public arena at the highest level for over fifteen years, Mr. Harrison has decided that he will act as the more professional entity in this situation, McPhee wrote before adding that Harrison would make himself available.Goodells power to punish players has been a contentious issue between the NFL and the union in recent years, highlighted by the Deflategate case against the Patriots that resulted in a four-game suspension of quarterback Tom Brady case and that of Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who went to court to fight his suspension over allegations of child abuse.He can do whatever he wants, Harrison said about Goodell. Thats just the collective bargaining agreement that the players signed. Thats why the Steelers voted no.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Nike Shoes Australia . The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Lions have not announced the hiring, which was first reported by ESPN. Lombardi, the grandson of former Green Bay Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, has been an offensive assistant on Sean Paytons New Orleans staff since 2007. Fake Shoes Australia .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. https://www.shoesaustraliaonline.com/ . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. Shoes Australia From China . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. Clearance Shoes Australia . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU. HOCKENHEIM,Germany -- Nico Rosberg nailed his one and only attempt in Q3 in superb style to beat Lewis Hamilton to pole position at the German Grand Prix.After dominating the weekends practice sessions, Rosbergs qualifying appeared to be unravelling early in Q3 when an electronic issue cut his throttle and forced him to return to the pits. However, a quick reset in the pits allowed him to hit back with a 1:14.363 to take pole position in front of his home fans despite having enough fuel in the tank for two attempts. Hamilton improved on his second run but also locked a brake entering the Spitzkehre Hairpin, costing him 0.2s to Rosberg and, ultimately, pole position.Explaining Rosbergs issue to Sky Sports, Mercedes technical chief Paddy Lowe said: He had a couple of problems concurrently on that lap, which caused the engine to cut out, and it lost sync on all the gears. It corresponded also with a warning about his throttle pedal, which was actually not to do with it but I think that gave him a bit of a scare. Nobody likes to lose control of their throttle pedal.So he aborted the lap, which is a bit of a disturbance to your pattern in Q3, which is why I was particularly impressed that he went out there and got the pole time with that sort of disturbance and stress and also with two extra laps of fuel on board. It was giving him two chances so it was a great lap, he did a fantastic job.Although Mercedes locked out the front row, its margin over Red Bull was not as big as expected, with Ricciardo just 0.363s off despite aa botched middle sector on his final attempt.dddddddddddd. Max Verstappen was 0.108s off his teammate in fourth and ahead of the two Ferraris, which failed to break into the 1:14s.Kimi Raikkonen beat Sebastian Vettel for the fourth time this season as the German struggled to get his Ferrari hooked up around his home track. Fellow German Nico Hulkenberg was seventh for Force India, ahead of the Williams of Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez in the second Force India and Felipe Massa in the second Williams.Esteban Gutierrez missed out on a place in Q3 by just 0.184s after just beating Jenson Button to 11th by 0.026s. Carlos Sainz qualified 13th but will be investigated after the session for blocking Felipe Massa at the apex of Turn 2 during Q2. Fernando Alonso starts 14th after running wide on the entrance to the stadium section and damaging the floor of his McLaren on the kerbs. He will line up ahead of Romain Grosjean, who was 0.203s off teammate Gutierrez and starts 15th.Jolyon Palmer beat Kevin Magnussen to a place in Q2 by 0.080s with an impressive lap but couldnt improve on his Q3 attempt. Pascal Wehrlein in the Manor was just 0.001s slower than Magnussen after another impressive qualifying run by the Mercedes-contracted rookie. Daniil Kvyat was 0.559s slower than Toro Rosso teammate Sainz and will start 19th on the grid ahead of Rio Haryanato and the two Saubers on the back row of the grid. ' ' '