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The NFL is still seeking an audience with the four linebackers its investigating for an alleged link to performance-enhancing drugs.The leagues latest message to James Harrison, Clay Matthews, Mike Neal and Julius Peppers came with an ominous and onerous threat: Answer our questions in the next 10 days, or start your suspension.NFL senior vice president of labor policy and league affairs Adolpho Birch sent a letter Monday to the NFL Players Association detailing a plan to suspend Harrison, Matthews, Peppers and Neal if they dont speak with the league by Aug. 25.Their punishment would then start the following day on an indefinite basis, to be ended at the discretion of Commissioner Roger Goodell once an interview has been completed.Birchs memo to the union was obtained by The Associated Press, according to a person with knowledge of the investigation whos not authorized to speak publicly about it.Harrison, a 14-year veteran, is a longtime leader for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Matthews and Peppers are key cogs in Green Bays defense, and Neal is currently a free agent who spent the past six seasons with the Packers. Harrison, Matthews and Peppers have been picked for the Pro Bowl a combined 20 times.The NFL first notified the quartet on Jan. 11 about the investigation into a television report by Al-Jazeera featuring allegations made by Charlie Sly, who worked as an intern at an anti-aging clinic, about the use of banned performance-enhancing drugs by several athletes including the four linebackers. Sly later recanted his claims.Birch, in his letter, said the league has made at least seven attempts to arrange the interviews.Goodells power to punish has been a prickly issue between the NFL and the union in recent years, so the elevation of this dispute was not surprising since it revolves around the potential of player discipline and how it fits within the collective bargaining agreement.The stance of the players has been steadfast in this case, refusing to be interviewed without being presented with what theyve called credible evidence. Affidavits were sent by the NFLPA on behalf of the players to substitute for the interviews. Birch dismissed each as simply half-page statements, which were wholly devoid of any detail. Birch also said the league determined that an assertion made in Neals affidavit was demonstrably false.Harrison said in his statement, sent to Birch July 25 by the NFLPA, he never met nor communicated with the source of the report and has never violated the NFLs policy on performance-enhancing substances.Neither the CBA nor the policy state that a player must agree to an in-person interview based upon random, baseless verbal remarks or face discipline for a failure to cooperate with a league investigation, union attorney Heather McPhee wrote then on Harrisons behalf.Birch cited Article 46 of the CBA in noting the discipline that can come for noncooperation or obstruction. Such a suspension would be separate from any possible future determination of violation of the steroid policy.We cannot accept your unilateral assertion that the cursory, untested statements you have submitted satisfy the players obligation, Birch wrote.Retired quarterback Peyton Manning was also cited in Al-Jazeeras doping report in December. The NFL announced last month it has closed its separate probe on Manning, who granted interviews and provided all records sought by league investigators.---AP Sports Writer Simmi Buttar in New York contributed to this report.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLDarius Harris Jersey . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason. Travis Kelce Jersey . Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break. http://www.cheapchiefsjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-dino-boyd-jersey . The recently retired Stern was elected Friday to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be enshrined with the class of 2014 on Aug. Eric Fisher Jersey . The 29-year-old Baines has established himself as one of the top attacking full backs in the country and was the subject of two bids from United during the last off-season. Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad. Tim Ward Jersey . The team said Saturday that Lopez was hurt during its 121-120 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Friday. The Nets said they would issue another update next week after consultation with their doctors.HOUSTON -- It might be too early in the season to get ensnarled in the implications of one particular game, but given the recent trajectories of the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets, their meeting on Tuesday at Toyota Center could feature plenty of intrigue.The Spurs (22-5) have responded to their first road loss of the season (and chastisement from coach Gregg Popovich) on Dec. 8 at Chicago with four consecutive wins by an average margin of 16 points.San Antonio and Houston split their two previous meetings this season, each winning on the road as part of a home-and-home last month. The teams will not meet again until March 6 in San Antonio, by which time the Southwest Division standings could look different.Even with their early-season hiccups the Spurs remain a juggernaut, ranking in the top 10 in both offensive (sixth) and defensive (fourth) rating. And as another testament to their collective professionalism, the Spurs handled an emotional night centered on the jersey retirement of Tim Duncan with focus by dispatching the New Orleans Pelicans 113-100 on Sunday night prior to honoring The Big Fundamental.I thought our physical effort was pretty good, Popovich said. The mental effort was better than it has been. A lot of people participated and got involved, so that was good.The Rockets (21-7) claimed their 10th consecutive victory on Saturday night with a white-knuckle win at Minnesota, rallying from a 17-point deficit in the second half, 11 points with just over a minute remaining, to win in overtime 111-109.Playing the second half of a back-to-back on the road against a team that had three nights off, the Rockets had every reason to pack it in once the deficit swelled to double digits. But one attribute they have shown this season is a resiliency they lacked last year as they stumbled to a .500 finish.Jamees Harden scored 10 of his 28 points in overtime while Ryan Anderson hit seven 3-pointers en route to 28 points.ddddddddddddIm so confident in this team, Harden said. I dont ever see us out of a game. We score the ball so easily, so well.The Rockets exceptional 3-point shooting is an obvious asset, but their tenacity requires a deeper appreciation.Unbeaten in December, the Rockets rank third in offensive rating (113.6 points per 100 possessions), second in defensive rating (98.4) and second in net rating (15.2) over 10 games this month. Opening the season without guard Patrick Beverley qualified as early adversity. Houston is 15-2 since Beverley returned to action.Now, the Rockets will be tested again, this time via the loss of center Clint Capela, who suffered a left knee contusion against the Timberwolves. Capela, averaging 17.4 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per 36 minutes, underwent an MRI on Monday, has been declared out for the Spurs game and reportedly for four to six weeks.Rockets coach Mike DAntoni has done a commendable job juggling the minutes of his big men, a collection that also includes veteran center Nene plus second-year power forward Montrezl Harrell.With Capela sidelined for an indefinite span of games, that rotation shrinks and responsibilities will be greater for Nene and Harrell.Nothing changes for me, Harrell said. I come out and do the same things that the teams needs me to do every night. I come in and play the game with a lot of energy, I come in and do all the little things they need me to do and its as simple as that.Its unfortunate that were missing a teammate thats definitely a huge part of our rollnitely a huge part of our roll but url] Wholesale Football Jerseys Wholesale Basketball Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys ' ' '