Football
Atlanta approves stadium — The Atlanta City Council has voted to approve a financing plan to build a new pro football stadium in downtown Atlanta. The council voted 11-4 on Monday to approve using city hotel-motel tax revenue to cover the $200 million public contribution for the proposed $1 billion, retractable roof stadium for the Atlanta Falcons. The team would provide $800 million.
Hasselbeck released — The Tennessee Titans have released veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, a move buying the team more cap space after they couldn’t work out an agreement to trim his $5.5 million salary for 2013. Hasselbeck, 37, spent the past two seasons with Tennessee, leading the Titans to a 9-7 record and just missing the playoffs on a tiebreaker in 2011 in coach Mike Munchak’s debut season coming off the NFL lockout.
NFL to pay for images — The NFL has agreed to pay $42 million as part of a settlement with a group of retired players who challenged the league over using their names and images without their consent. The league will use the money to fund a “common good" trust over the next eight years that will help retired players with an array of issues including medical expenses, housing and career transition. The settlement also establishes a licensing agency for retired players to ensure they are compensated for the use of their identities in promotional materials. The settlement could improve the frosty relationship between the NFL and many of its retired players who have felt left behind as the league has exploded in popularity over the past decade.
— The Associated Press
