NFL, auto dealers resume talks

NEW ORLEANS -- The NFL and the National Automobile Dealers Association resumed talks Friday in an attempt to work out a schedule change that would enable the city to keep the Super Bowl.

With a week's worth of games postponed following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the NFL hopes to move the Super Bowl back one week to Feb. 3 -- the same weekend that NADA is set to hold a major convention in the city. If an agreement cannot be reached, the NFL might move the game out of New Orleans, a possibility community leaders are working hard to avoid.

OVC reprimands EIU player for gesture

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. -- The Ohio Valley Conference reprimanded Eastern Illinois linebacker Nick Ricks on Friday for a throat-slashing gesture in a game against Eastern Kentucky.

The game Sept. 22 was being televised by Fox Sports Net South and showed the sophomore linebacker as he took off his helmet and made the gesture with his hand at the end of the game.

OVC commissioner Dan Beebe said Ricks recognized his mistake and was remorseful.

"Nevertheless, a clear and unmistakable message must be delivered to our student-athletes and communities that this conference will not tolerate such actions," he said.

Bears won't sell Soldier Field name

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bears have dropped their plan to sell corporate naming rights to Soldier Field in respect for American veterans.

"Is it an economic hit to us? Yes it is," Bears President Ted Phillips said. "But it makes the project a go and that's the key."

Under a restructured stadium deal that salvages the retrofitting project, the Bears will pass on the $300 million naming rights that were in the original contract. Without the team's agreement, Mayor Richard M. Daley had threatened to back out of the deal that will give the Bears the new stadium they have sought for 30 years.

"Soldier Field is the only name for this stadium. Soldier Field will always be," Daley said at a news conference Friday at the lakefront stadium. He was joined by Bears' officials and several veterans.

Bulls sign former Austin Peay star

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bulls on Friday signed second-round draft pick Trenton Hassell from Austin Peay.

Hassell, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound guard who was the 30th pick overall, won Ohio Valley Player of the Year honors last season after averaging 21.7 points.

He was the only player in the nation to rank among his league's top five in scoring, assists and rebounding.

A three-time first team All-Ohio Valley selection, he averaged 19.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists in his career at Austin Peay.

In 10 games for the Bulls' summer-league team, he averaged 8.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists.

Leffler wins first Winston Cup pole

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Rookie Jason Leffler, who didn't even make the race field a week earlier, pulled off a shocker Friday, winning the pole for the inaugural Protection One 400 at Kansas Speedway.

Leffler, driving a Dodge Intrepid for Chip Ganassi Racing, set the pace early in the qualifying session on a cool, sunny afternoon, turning a lap of 176.499 mph on the 1.5-mile tri-oval.

Jeff Gordon, the Winston Cup points leader, came closest with a lap of 176.304. The time difference between the two front-row qualifiers for Sunday's race was 0.034 seconds.

Bill Elliott was third at 176.252, followed by Stacy Compton at 176.148, Casey Atwood at 175.987 and the Pontiacs of Johnny Benson at 175.856 and Tony Stewart at 175.593.

-- From wire reports