Counter Strike » negotiations Saturday. And thats a good sign, cons

TORONTO -- The CFL and CFL Players Association resumed negotiations Friday on a new collective bargaining agreement. According to a league source requesting anonymity, the two sides began talking during the day and continued into early Saturday morning. The source added no deal was reached but the CFL and union would resume negotiations Saturday. And thats a good sign, considering the CFL and CFLPA last met face to face on May 29, the same day the previous CBA expired. While talks will resume Saturday, players with the Edmonton Eskimos and Calgary Stampeders will also hold their first strike vote as well. Veterans on teams outside Alberta have already voted and are in a legal strike position but the Eskimos and Stampeders were unable to vote earlier due to provincial labour laws. If they vote in favour of a strike, the earliest they could do so is Wednesday night in accordance with the legislation. The CFL exhibition season is scheduled to begin Monday night with the Toronto Argonauts visiting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but with players on both teams in a legal strike position, that game could be threatened. CFL Players Association president Scott Flory didnt return a telephone message Friday while a league spokesman said commissioner Mark Cohon wasnt available for comment. The Eskimos and Stampeders will include their rookies in the vote because Alberta law requires all players to participate. Traditionally, first-year players dont vote because theyre not recognized as certified union members, but the players association is allowing them to do so to counter any potential legal challenge from the league. Some other teams in the league will also hold second votes Saturday to include their rookies. The two sides have been negotiating on a new contract since February but reached an impasse Monday when the league rejected the players latest offer. Despite turning down the players offer Monday, the CFL extended the ratification bonus deadline to midnight ET on Friday. Had the players accepted the leagues final offer in that timeframe, veterans wouldve received a $5,000 bonus while rookies would get $1,500. However, a league spokesman said the bonus clause would be taken off the table after the deadline, although the expectation is if the players and CFL do reach an agreement it will include signing bonuses for the players. There has only been one strike since the CFLPA was formed in 1965. Three weeks of training camp were lost in 1974 before a new agreement was reached. No regular-season games were affected. The 2014 regular season is scheduled to kick off June 26. The two sides dont appear to be far apart on financial issues. The CFLPA has requested a $5.2-million salary cap and $4.8-million minimum. The CFL has countered with a $5-million cap. The two sides have agreed on boosting the minimum salary $5,000 to $50,000. After demanding specific revenue-sharing percentages, the CFLPA offer called for a fixed cap for at least two years. After the second, if league revenues increased by more than $18 million -- excluding the Grey Cup -- the two sides would renegotiate the cap or the entire agreement. The CFL offer called for the cap to be renegotiated if its revenues increased by $27 million or more in the third year. Non-monetary issues, such as player safety, practice roster size, eliminating the option year on CFL contracts and practice times, are also sticking points. Brandon Dillon Jersey . But defending champion Elena Vesnina of Russia held off a strong challenge to beat Shuai Peng of China 6-3, 6-4, and there was another hard-fought victory for 2012 runner-up Angelique Kerber of Germany, who defeated Alison Riske of the United States 7-6 (6), 6-4. Kentrell Brothers Jersey .com) - Darius Carter and Ron Baker scored 18 points apiece to help 13th-ranked Wichita State beat Evansville 61-41 on Saturday. http://www.cheapvikingsjerseyselite.com/...lexander-jersey. -- Pelicans coach Monty Williams does not expect guard Eric Gordon to play in any of New Orleans final five games this season. Storm Norton Jersey . -- The Green Bay Packers have signed quarterback Graham Harrell to the active roster from the practice squad and placed tight end Andrew Quarless on injured reserve. Alexander Hollins Jersey . Asdrubal Cabrera had four hits and three RBIs, Michael Brantley also homered and the Indians beat the injury-riddled Minnesota Twins 9-4 Thursday for their first three-game winning streak this season.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots had trouble getting into the end zone. Defensive tackle Vince Wilfork made sure the Oakland Raiders stayed out of the end zone in the final minute. An interception by the 325-pound Wilfork near his goal line gave the heavily favoured Patriots the ball with 51 seconds left, and they ran out the clock to hold off the Raiders 16-9 on Sunday. "It was a team play," Wilfork said after his third career interception. "I just happened to catch it." The ball deflected off Logan Ryan after Rob Ninkovich jarred it loose from intended receiver Denarius Moore. On the previous play, Darren McFaddens 6-yard potential tying run into the end zone was nullified by a holding penalty against guard Gabe Jackson. "When I turned around and everybody wasnt coming to celebrate with me, I knew something wasnt right," McFadden said said. Jackson didnt think he held. The penalty gave Oakland first-and-goal from the 12. Then Ryan redeemed himself for a pass interference penalty on the play before McFaddens run. Just as Raiders coach Dennis Allen disagreed with the holding call, the Patriots Bill Belichick questioned the pass interference. In spite of a sluggish offence that settled for three field goals by Stephen Gostkowski and just one touchdown pass from Tom Brady to Rob Gronkowski, the Patriots (2-1) won their home opener for the 12th time in 13 seasons. The Raiders (0-3) lost their 15th straight game in the Eastern time zone. They were held to three field goals by Sebastian Janikowski and finished with no interceptions despite several opportunities. "We are moving in the right direction," Oakland defensive end LaMarr Woodley said. "When we have an opportunity to catch the ball we need to catch it." Brady completed 24 of 37 passes for 234 yards and became the third quarterback with 150 regular-season wins behind Brett Favre (186) and Peyton Manning, who came into Sunday with 169. And Brady is 57-5 in his last 62 home games, including the playoffs, posting another win despite a mediocre offensive performance. The Patriots scored 10 points in the llast 4:14 of the second quarter to take a 10-3 lead -- but it could have been 14-3.dddddddddddd Brady capped a 15-play, 84-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Gronkowski, who shook off linebacker Kaluka Maiava and caught the ball as he went over the middle. "We did just enough to get the victory," Gronkowski said. "Sometimes its frustrating, but what we did today is not always going to get the job done." The Patriots had a chance for another touchdown when they reached the 2-yard line with 8 seconds left in the half. But Dan Connollys snap was low and Brady picked it up and quickly threw an incompletion, stopping the clock with 3 seconds remaining. Gostkowski then kicked a 21-yard field goal. "We have first-and-goal on the 1 1/2-yard line and settle for a field goal," Brady said. "You just cant do that." Derek Carr completed 21 of 34 passes for 174 yards for Oakland. But with running back Maurice Jones-Drew sidelined for the second straight week with a right hand injury, the rookie remained winless as a pro. McFadden started in Jones-Drews spot and rushed for 59 yards on 18 carries. The Patriots relied on their running game early against the NFLs worst rushing defence and picked up 63 yards on the ground in the first half but just 16 the rest of the way. "Sometimes you got to grind them out," Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman said. "An ugly win is better than a pretty loss." The Raiders planned to leave after the game for London, where they face the Miami Dolphins in Wembley Stadium next Sunday. "I was looking forward to it being after a win," Oakland safety Charles Woodson said. "Its a great opportunity to represent the NFL, but its a business trip." NOTES: Patriots defensive tackle Sealver Siliga didnt return after hurting his foot in the first quarter. ... Oakland wide receiver Rod Streater and safety Tyvon Branch each left the game with a broken foot. ... Edelman had 10 catches for 84 yards, extending his streak to nine regular-season games with at least six receptions