Adrian Peterson Dropped By Nike

He has represented the brand since 2011.

ESPN reports Nike has dropped Vikings running back Adrian Peterson as a sponsor.

Nike had suspended his sponsorship in September. At the time, Nike told ESPN they were concerned about the child abuse allegations surrounding Peterson and was monitoring the situation. The company pulled some of Peterson's Vikings jerseys out of some of its stores in Minneapolis on Tuesday.

Jeff Curry/Jeff Curry-Usa Today Sports

He is currently on the Exempt/Commissioner's List, and has been getting paid during his eight weeks of inactivity, but the NFL does not consider it a formal discipline. NFL reporter Ian Rapoport warns, "Suspension looms."

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Ray Rice Appeal Hearing Wraps Up Thursday Afternoon

There was a gag order on the two-day hearing, in which Rice, his wife, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell all testified. The hearing will decide if Rice should be reinstated to the NFL following his indefinite suspension for punching his wife.

The hearing to determine if Ray Rice should be reinstated to the NFL concluded Thursday afternoon, according to reports.

Mike Segar / Reuters

The hearing isn't a criminal case, but Jones was jointly chosen as a third-party arbitrator by the National Football League (NFL) and the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) to hear testimony under oath.

On Wednesday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reportedly testified for "over two hours" about what he knew about the elevator video, and when he knew it.

Goodell and the league have maintained that they were unable to obtain the video from the New Jersey hotel.

Mike Segar / Reuters

Ray Rice (and other sources) have maintained that Rice was upfront about his actions to the league and Goodell from the get-go. Initially, Rice was suspended only two games, a soft punishment that was widely met with criticism.

When TMZ released the elevator video after Week 1 of the NFL season, Goodell determined the video had changed his perception of the incident and suspended Rice indefinitely. The Ravens dropped him from his contract on the same day.

Proving false Goodell's insistence that the elevator video showed a different situation than the one painted for him by Ray Rice and Ravens officials is central to the NFLPA's argument for reinstating Rice. This would call into question much larger issues involving the league's handling of Ray Rice's punishment, and that of other players who have committed similar offenses.

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This Vine Perfectly Captures The True Essence Of Friendship

The Sacramento Kings’ Omri Casspi fixing teammate DeMarcus Cousins’ headband during a game is the true definition of “hold it down.”

Omri Casspi took a few moments during a game versus the Denver Nuggets to make sure teammate DeMarcus Cousins' headband was on point, effectively crushing the Internet beneath the weight of their cuteness.

vine.co

Twitter: @tuckfwitter

Twitter: @NotJerryTipton

Twitter: @Lana

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Bill Simmons Fires Back At ESPN Radio Hosts On Twitter

The ESPN personality fired back at being called “ridiculous.”

On Wednesday, Bill Simmons appeared on ESPN Radio's The Herd, where he likened LeBron James' slow start in Cleveland to Albert Pujols' start in Anaheim.

Don Juan Moore / AP Photo

He continued:

"That's what I'll say about Bill Simmons. So, you know, he grabbed a headline, which is something I know he loves — and that's one of the most ridiculous lines I've ever heard in any sport in my life. Four games into a season. I don't even … that's ridiculous."

Via thebiglead.com

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Watch This Australian Cricketer Almost Stick His Head Into A Flamethrower

Things are starting to heat up on the cricket field between Australia and South Africa, literally.

Cricketer Aaron Finch had a close call with a flamethrower during Australia's Twenty20 match against South Africa last night.

youtube.com

Finch was chasing after the ball before it hit the boundary.

Channel 9

Finch knew the flames usually shoot out if the ball hits the boundary, but they didn't.

Channel 9

When he went to pick up the ball, the flamethrowers went off dangerously close to him.

Channel 9

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You Can Own Nets.com And Make Brooklyn's Basketball Team Jealous

The long saga of the Brooklyn Nets not owning the prime domain has taken another weird turn.

When you currently click on Nets.com, you're redirected to this eBay page – featuring an old photo of Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban – selling the domain name for $10,200.

ebay.com

Who could benefit from a .COM domain name as exclusive and as premium as nets.com? Just a few thoughts...

Perhaps you are a tech start-up with a need for a fantastic domain name to get you off the ground?

Are you one of the major players on the planet in the routing and/or networking equipment business?

Maybe you are the proprietor of the world's preeminent manufacturer of tennis court nets? Fishnets? Volleyball nets? Goalpost nets?

Do you have a great idea for the next big social networking site and need a great domain name to bring it all together?

Or, maybe you just happen to have a basketball team of the same name?

Whatever the case may be, this is your opportunity to become the proud new owner of a rare gem of a domain name... A genuinely premium one.

nets.com

Good luck.

Via ebay.com

The Nets have never owned Nets.com. Since 1994, the domain has been registered to a computer systems firm in New Mexico. In 2012, Forbes reported the company would be willing to part with the domain for $5 million. The Nets ignored the request.

That 2012 price should warn buyers – Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov in particular – that the $10,2000 starting bid on eBay is just that: the floor of negotiations. The auction page does have the bidding box flagged as "reserve not met."

Brendan Mcdermid / Reuters

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Alex Rodriguez Reportedly Admits To Steroid Use Under Oath

The Miami Herald reports the Yankees third baseman told the DEA that yes, he bought and used PEDs.

According to the Miami Herald, who obtained court documents, Alex Rodriguez met with federal agents and prosecutors in January. There, he admitted that the allegations of his use of steroids were true.

Patrick Semansky / AP Photo

In the meeting, Rodriguez allegedly confessed to buying PEDs from Biogenesis and paying $12,000 per month to Dr. Anthony Bosch, who Rodriguez has otherwise adamantly denied being advised or treated by.

The report also reveals that Rodriguez's cousin, Yuri Sucart, was in fact the middleman between Bosch and Rodriguez.

Federal prosecutors now claim that Alex Rodriguez paid Sucart nearly $1 million to remain silent about his cousin obtaining and using PEDs.

Rodriguez reportedly used a variety of methods to use the hormones provided to him by Bosch, including "testosterone cream, lozenges laced with testosterone (aka 'gummies')," and injections, which Rodriguez shot into his stomach.

Scott Audette / Reuters

The Miami Herald says Rodriguez's testimony will "fortify the criminal steroid case against Bosch," and "implicate the 'middleman' — his cousin Sucart."

Rodriguez was allegedly still financially involved with Anthony Bosch after the Biogenesis story broke. The DEA report says he paid for Bosch's attorney, and purchased PEDs in cash for other players in an attempt to convince Bosch to keep his secret.

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