Harbaugh: McDonald will play vs. Cowboys
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said defensive end Ray McDonald, who was arrested in a domestic violence case last week, will play against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
“As it stands now, yes he will play,” Harbaugh said Friday. “There are two principles woven together here. I feel the way the facts are, what’s known, he has the liberty to play the game.”
McDonald has been late for practice at least twice this week taking care of personal business, but Harbaugh said the seven-year veteran has been fine in practice.
McDonald has missed four games since 2008 with injuries. As a rookie, he was limited and appeared in nine games. The 49ers are 4-7 when he’s out of the lineup.
26.9 million watched NFL opener
STAMFORD, Conn. — Fans eagerly welcomed the NFL’s return on Thursday night.
The regular-season opener between the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers on NBC was watched by 26.9 million viewers, an increase of 7 percent from last year, when Baltimore played at Denver.
The Seahawks’ 36-16 win was the third-most watched Thursday night kickoff game in the 13-year history of the event.
The game had a national household rating of 15.5/26.
Ratings represent the percentage of homes with televisions tuned to a program.
Union says NFL wants DUI policy change
NEW YORK — The players’ union says the NFL has asked for the right to immediately suspend players who are arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
NFL Players Association executives told The Associated Press on Friday that the league’s proposal to increase penalties for DUI offenses includes a provision to suspend or discipline a player before the completion of his legal due process.
“They want to immediately discipline for an arrest,” said George Atallah, the NFLPA’s assistant executive director of external affairs.
“We prefer to discuss these issues directly with the union,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.
Atallah also noted that progress has been made on possible testing for HGH.
Both sides have held intensified talks on a variety of drug policy issues, what New York Giants long snapper and union executive committee member Zak DeOssie’s calls “doing our due diligence.”
Linebacker Harrison retires as a Steeler
PITTSBURGH — James Harrison ended his career back where it began.
The five-time Pro Bowl linebacker officially retired from the NFL on Friday after signing a one-day contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 36-year-old Harrison spent more than a decade with the franchise before playing for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2013.
The Bengals cut Harrison in March. He looked for another opportunity before deciding the will to play could no longer compete with the desire to stay home with his two young sons.
Harrison retires with 68 career sacks and a reputation as one of the hardest-hitting players in league history.
By wire sources