Byrd would once again be eligible to become an unrest

Some of Baylor Universitys most prominent supporters, including a former Texas governor and the billionaire businessman whose name adorns the football stadium, called Monday for a shakeup of the schools board of regents in the wake of the campus sexual assault scandal.The months of criticism over the response by the nations largest Baptist universitys to sex assault reports led to the firing of school president Ken Starr and popular football coach Art Briles.The Bears for Leadership Reform group says it wants to address regents transparency, appointments, conflicts of interest, structure and authority, as well as demanding more answers from the regents and the schools investigation into how it mishandled reports of sexual assaults for years.The groups leaders include Drayton McLane, whose name is on the $266 million football stadium built at the height of the programs success under Briles, and former Texas Gov. Mark White. White insisted the groups goal is not about defending Briles or the football program.Not taking a position on (football) one way or another, White said. This is about urging the transformation of Baylor leadership.But football -- and Briles departure in May -- remains an emotionally charged topic on campus.Last Friday, Baylors assistant football coaches released a statement defending Briles and directly contradicting statements made by a regent. On Saturday, fans lined up to buy black T-shirts with Briles initials that were being sold outside the stadium, where Baylor lost to TCU 62-22.Starr and Briles were forced out or fired in May and the athletic director quit after Baylor published a Findings of Fact prepared by law firm Pepper Hamilton, which noted that the school mishandled assault allegations for years and that the football program acted above the rules.University regents revealed last week that 17 women reported assaults by 19 football players since 2011, but have been mostly reluctant to publicly detail the investigations findings.Sexual assault allegations ranged far beyond the football program, however, and the university is now facing at least four federal lawsuits. Patty Crawford, the schools former Title IX investigator, resigned last month and filed a formal complaint with the Office of Civil Rights for the U.S. Department of Education, which has opened a separate investigation of Baylors handling of assault cases.White said the regents have been too secretive.If you have to do it in secret, you might check your hold card to see if you are doing the right thing ... Maybe thats not what a good Baptist should be talking about, White said.The group also wants to be involved in selecting a new school president, White said. Interim President David Garland has served since Starr was removed from the office.Baylor spokeswoman Tonya Lewis said administrators and regents share the groups goals of transparency and accountability and helping assault victims, and look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue about meaningful reform.---This story has been updated to correct the spelling of McLane. Wholesale Custom Vikings Shirts . 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After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. Cheap Custom Vikings Jersey . -- Five former Kansas City Chiefs players who were on the team between 1987 and 1993 filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming the team hid and even lied about the risks of head injuries during that time period when there was no collective bargaining agreement in place in the NFL. PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills arent giving up on re-signing star safety Jairus Byrd to a long-term contract. Team president Russ Brandon told the Associated Press on Monday that its his intention to take another run at reaching a multiyear deal with Byrd next off-season despite a failure to secure one this year. Brandon called the prospects of re-signing Byrd as being "absolutely" realistic even though negotiations with the two-time Pro Bowl player have reached a stalemate. "Obviously, our goal was to have that done by July 15. We didnt meet that goal," Brandon said, referring to an NFL-imposed deadline that passed to reach a multiyear deal. "But well pull up our boot straps, and as soon as we can start on that again, we will." Under league rules, re-opening talks on a long-term deal will have to wait until this seasons over. The more pressing concern is when -- or if -- Byrd intends to report to the Bills this year. Byrd remains unsigned because he has yet to accept the one-year, $6.9 million offer the Bills in designating him their franchise player in March. The Bills applied the designation to retain Byrds rights and prevent the fourth-year player fromm becoming an unrestricted free agent.dddddddddddd Byrd would once again be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in March, and the Bills would once again have the option to apply the franchise tag. Brandon provided few updates on Byrds status with the Bills into their second week of training camp in suburban Rochester. He said the two sides have "open lines of communication," but didnt know the last time Jim Overdorf, the teams chief negotiator, last spoke with Byrds agent, Eugene Parker. And Brandon couldnt predict when Byrd might finally report. "I hope he walks in in 10 minutes," Brandon said. "Our goal is to have Jairus back in camp. We cant wait for him to get here. Well welcome him with open arms." Parker has declined comment on the status of talks and when he expects Byrd to report to the team. Brandon said there is "absolutely zero contention" between the two sides, and noted that both are simply exercising their rights under league rules. As for the failure to reach a long-term deal this off-season, Brandon characterized it as "two sides not completely on the same page for where we wanted to be by July 15." ' ' '