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PHOENIX - Domestic violence. Questionable discipline. Player safety. Confusing officiating. Deflated footballs.The disturbing headlines that began last February never slowed down for the NFL this season. The problems — most of them made worse by the ineffectual handling — mushroomed into an imperfect storm that hurt the leagues credibility and turned the lead-up to Sundays Super Bowl into a time for damage control, not celebration.It never ceases, said Orin Starn, a Duke professor who studies sports in society. It was one crisis and PR challenge after another and I didnt envy Roger Goodell at all.At the commissioners contentious news conference Friday — Goodell fielded one question about whether he thought he should be fired and another about taking a pay cut — he was hit with a barrage of questions that spoke to the wide range of problems that punctured the leagues integrity, though not its popularity.On the one hand, youve got a league thats never been more profitable, never been more popular, agent Leigh Steinberg said. On the other hand, there was less-than-deft handling and anticipation of some major issues that have hit the third rail. Theyve transcended the hardcore football fans to become household issues.Its a tribute to Americas obsession with football that what feels like a trivial tale about flatter-than-normal footballs hasnt abated as the weeks top story, even with a looming matchup between New England and Seattle. The Patriots were accused of providing under-inflated footballs for their AFC championship win, and an investigation will be concluded after the title game. That was the lead story on all three major-network news broadcasts one evening.Another story that wont end: Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynchs refusal to play nice with the media and the NFLs uncertainty about how, or whether, to enforce rules that compel players to do interviews.I did 35 radio interviews this week, Steinberg said. Thats all anyone wanted to talk about.But its issues such as Deflategate, the confusing rules and the competence of the NFLs officials that could damage the league most.Theres a general assumption, Steinberg said, that the contests are performed with equal rules, equal officiating and the games turn on coaching and players who play on the field.Any suggestion that something else is happening, that there may be cheating or unfair enforcement, is an existential threat to the NFL, he said.The domestic violence crisis that exploded when Ray Rice — the former Baltimore Ravens running back — punched his fiancee and Adrian Peterson — the Minnesota Vikings star — whipped his son with a tree branch has been treated mostly in general terms this week.Goodell used the words domestic violence only once during his nearly 50-minute news conference, instead referring to it more than once as part of a set of complex issues.Domestic violence accusations against players garnered as much attention for the NFLs handling of them — most notably, Rices two-game suspension that was made indefinite when video of the punch surfaced, then overturned by an arbitrator — as the charges themselves.That doesnt thrill people on the front lines in fighting domestic abuse, though they do give the NFL credit for pumping money into increasing awareness. The NFL is footing the bill for a 30-second public-service announcement during the Super Bowl (half-minute spots are selling for around $4.5 million) about domestic violence that will reach tens of millions.Id call it the first step of the NFL taking this conversation to the next level, said Ruth Glenn, the executive director for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.Neither the domestic violence crisis, nor the ongoing murder trial of former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, nor any other off-field issue deterred fans or sponsors — who foot much of the bill for a $9 billion business that Goodell hopes to grow by more than double over the next decade. NFL games accounted for 45 of the 50 most-watched shows from Labour Day to the end of 2014. The Super Bowl, as always, is a near lock to be among the most-watched programs of all time.Its not guaranteed to last forever, said George Daly, a Georgetown professor of management who consulted the NFL decades ago.All these things are risky, Daly said. If you look back to, say, 1950, the NFL title game brought in less money than the Rose Bowl. Things can change.The health and safety of the leagues players poses another long-term threat. While the NFL used the week to tout a 25-per cent decrease in concussions recorded this season, another study spelling out the dangers football presents to children made headlines, as well. So did an Associated Press report detailing flaws in about three-fifths of state youth concussion laws passed in all 50 states since 2009 at the urging of the league.News about overuse of painkillers, the leagues implementation of a human growth hormone testing program that isnt as effective as it could be and the efficacy of the leagues penalties for marijuana also made headlines.All this comes against the backdrop of lawsuits. Most notably, the NFL is waiting for final resolution of a lawsuit by former players who accused the league of hiding what it knew about brain injuries so they would stay on the field. The proposed settlement is worth an estimated $1 billion.Its money the league can afford.But this season exposed some unseemly chinks in the NFLs armour —forcing leaders to rethink the way they do business. Already, theyve revamped their investigative process, are considering changes among their officiating crews and announced theyll hire a new chief medical officer.They have to look and say, What are the threats and what are the opportunities? Daly said. From what I see, there are real threats out there.___Follow Eddie Pells on Twitter at http://twitter.com/epels___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap Air Max For Sale .J. - Trying to learn and absorb the new West Coast offence being installed by new offensive co-ordinator Ben McAdoo, the New York Giants wrapped their final organized team activity Thursday before a three-day mini-camp next week. Air Max Sale . The thunderous cheers quickly changed to an appreciative chant: "Ma-son! Ma-son! Ma-son! Headed to New York with new life, Mason sure earned this curtain call. https://www.airmaxchina.us/ . -- San Francisco 49ers offensive co-ordinator Greg Roman is a finalist to replace Joe Paterno at Penn State, his agent said Monday. Cheap Air Max From China . - Tom Brady and the Patriots routed the Bengals and quieted the doubters. Air Max Outlet . Then youve got to worry about the other up and coming teams in the two weaker divisions in the "Junior Circuit".MONTREAL -- Marco Di Vaio could only sit and watch as the Montreal Impact lost their first three games of the Major League Soccer season. But now that Di Vaio and midfielder Andres Romero have served their three-game suspensions for a melee in a 2013 playoff game, the Italian striker is ready to get back to the business of scoring goals. "Ill try to bring something more, some experience, to the field," Di Vaio said Thursday. "I trained hard the last three weeks and I want to play." The scoring touch that saw him amass 20 goals last season -- all in open play, no penalties -- was clearly lacking as the Impact opened with losses of 3-2 in Dallas, 1-0 in Houston and 2-0 to Seattle in their home opener at Olympic Stadium last week. The 38-year-old, who will see his first action Saturday when the Impact play the Union in Philadelphia, cautioned that he cant turn the clubs fortunes around on his own. It will be his first competitive game in five months. "I hear that people are expecting us to get points because me and Romero are returning, but its not just two players that are going to change everything," he said. "I have to do my job -- try to score and be dangerous -- but the most important thing is that the team keeps its confidence because when you lose a game, sometimes you think what youre doing on the field is no good. I see every day the team is training really well, with a good attitude." Andrew Wenger filled in for Di Vaio up front and had a goal against Dallas, but foor the most part, the Impact created plenty of chances that went wanting for someone with the goal-scorers knack.dddddddddddd Montreal leads MLS with 57 shot attempts and 20 shots on goal, with midfielder Felipe Martins at the top with 13 shots. Defender Heath Pearce only joined the Impact this season, but the former New York Red Bull knows what Di Vaio can bring to a match. "Hes a great goal scorer and hes a really busy and active player on the field," said Pearce. "Its always good to have someone like that who always wants the ball -- a guy who gets mad when he doesnt get the ball all the time. "Thats the kind of guy you want making big plays in the tough moments for your team." The suspension stemmed from an ugly 3-0 loss in Houston in the Impacts first MLS playoff match in October. Late in the game, Romero touched off a skirmish by kicking an opponent. Di Vaio took a red card when he jumped into the fracas. It wasnt clear whether Romero will play in Philadelphia, but his return gives coach Frank Klopas an extra option. The Argentine played mainly on the left wing last season. "Its never easy for players being out, especially when you look at Marco," said Klopas. "Its kind of crazy, the three-game suspension he got, but his attitude has been great and hes worked extremely hard." The Union may be the ideal opponent for Di Vaio, who scored four times in three matches against them last season, including a hat-trick in a 5-3 win on May 25 in Montreal. ' ' '