Ah, the broadsides that inevitably come with labor negotiations. Per the AP, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is planning to take a crack at reducing the rookie contracts many think are ridiculous — considering they are much more than what veterans will earn. The commissioner called deals such as the ones Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan and Miami Dolphins O-lineman Jake Long signed “ridiculous.”

It will be particularly difficult for Lord Rog to be able to extract a change in the rookie salary scale out of NFLPA head Gene Upshaw because the union can and will demand some serious concessions in any change to the draftees’ first contracts.

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Mike Florio of PRO FOOTBALL TALK reports that Bryant Gumbel is bidding adieu to the NFL Network.

The lead play-by-play announcer during the network’s first two years of existence is apparently hanging up the mike. In a released statement, Gumbel explains that he “thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity” to call games on NFLN, but added that he & the network “agreed that we’d all be better served going in different directions.”

Creative differences? Or a cute way to say you were canned? Either way, Bryant is bidding adieu. But it might have been his earlier comments about Gene Upshaw that could have paved the way for his eventual exit.

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• THE 700 LEVEL has to hand it to Adrian Peterson, as Purple Jesus divinely demonstrates his powerful grip while exchanging pleasantries.

• THE SPORTING BLOG has a new look. MR. IRRELEVANT approves.

• EVERY DAY SHOULD BE SATURDAY is relieved that new Baylor coach Art Briles was able to reach his #1 spring practice goal - no one got injured.

• D.C. SPORTS BOG sneaks along news of a couple of Nats fans crashing the Opening Day festivities at the new ballpark.

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