We are hosting a completely free NFL Pool in 2008, no fees to play ever!  There will be an end of season prize for the person with the highest winning percentage (minimum 10 weeks played during the season in order to be eligible).  To join the pool at any time go to the NFL Pool Home page (link in the menus on the right) and select the picksheet, from the drop down menu choose ADD PLAYER.  Thats all there is to it, its fun and easy to play.

So head on over to the Pool Pages and join up!

 
[Submitted by daisy]

LOS ANGELES - Hollywood directors reached a tentative contract deal Thursday with studios, a development that could turn up the pressure on striking writers to settle their 2-month-old walkout that has idled production on dozens of TV shows.“Two words describe this agreement — groundbreaking and substantial,” said Gil Cates, chairman of the Directors Guild of America’s negotiations committee. “There are no rollbacks of any kind.”Among other things, the three-year agreement establishes key provisions involving compensation for programs offered on the Internet.
That issue has also been a key sticking point between striking writers and the studios, which broke off talks on Dec. 7.In announcing the deal with directors, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents studios, expressed hope that it would help end what it called an extremely difficult period for the industry.It also called on the writers guild to engage in informal discussions to determine if there was a reasonable basis for returning to the bargaining table.The Writers Guild of America said it would evaluate the terms of the directors’ deal. It also reiterated that it has been calling on the studios to resume negotiations.“We hope that the DGA’s tentative agreement will be a step forward in our effort to negotiate an agreement that is in the best interests of all writers,” the writers guild said in a statement.Writers previously said directors do not represent their interests.The deal with directors gives their union jurisdiction over programs produced for distribution on the Internet and sets a new residuals formula for some paid Internet downloads that essentially doubles the rate currently paid by employers, the guild said.In addition, it sets residual rates for ad-supported streaming and use of clips on the Internet.“Our industry’s creative talent will now participate financially in every emerging area of new media,” the studio alliance said in a statement.The deal was welcomed by others in Hollywood.“I’m very pleased with the new agreement and I hope it helps speed up the negotiations” with the writers guild, George Clooney said.Clooney has often commented on the need to resolve the strike to put thousands of people back to work in Hollywood.The directors guild was well-prepared when it started negotiations Jan. 12.It had spent $2 million researching the potential value of new media over the next decade and held a series of meetings with key studio heads to establish a basis for the formal talks.Cates, who’s been involved in union contract negotiations for three decades, served as lead negotiator for directors.He is also producing this year’s Academy Awards program, which is imperiled by the writers standoff.
Sunday’s Golden Globes were reduced to a news conference after actors refused to cross writers’ threatened picket lines.NBC lost millions of dollars in ad revenue, and award winners were deprived of instant publicity that could have provided a box-office bump.New media issues also were expected to dominate negotiations with the Screen Actors Guild, whose contract expires in June.
The directors guild said late last year that it would delay the start of talks to give writers a chance to come to an agreement with studios.But the guild clearly lost patience after negotiations between the writers and studios broke off last month and the strike dragged on.Among other things, the studios’ deal with directors says:

• Programs produced for the Internet will be directed by guild members, with the exception of low-budget shows.
• Residuals for downloaded movies will be increased by 80 percent over the current rate paid by employers. Those payments will be based on a distributor’s gross, which the guild said was a key point in negotiations. (Distributors’ gross represents the amount received by the company responsible for distributing the film or TV program on the Internet.)
• Companies are contractually obligated to provide the guild “unfettered access to their deals and data,” the guild said, calling that unprecedented transparency.
• For ad-supported streaming of Internet programs, an initial 17-day free window will be followed by a requirement that companies pay 3 percent of the residual base — about $600 for a network prime-time drama — for 26 weeks of streaming. Companies can continue to stream for another 26-week period by paying an additional 3 percent, or a total of $1,200 for one year’s worth of streaming. During a program’s first season, the 17-day window is expanded to 24 days to help build audience.

In their talks, the writers guild and studios have clashed over using a percentage of a distributor’s gross receipts to determine Internet compensation.The guild said it sought that approach but was told by the alliance it was an unworkable and unacceptable formula. Instead, the studios offered a flat $250 payment for a year’s use of an hourlong TV show on the Web.The guild balked, citing the $20,000-plus residual that writers now earn for a single network rerun of a TV episode.Also at issue for the writers guild is unionization of reality and animation writers.Talks broke down after the alliance demanded the guild take that and other issues off the table, claiming there had been an agreement to drop it.The guild’s next move may be influenced by history.
There’s a lingering resentment among members over what they considered raw deals in the 1980s involving what eventually became lucrative home-video and DVD markets.The writers guild home-video deal was shaped by a deal made previously by the directors guild, following an industry practice of pattern bargaining.That created resentment among some writers guild members toward the directors.
[Submitted by Belle]

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -- New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick expressed strong support Thursday for wide receiver Randy Moss, the subject of a temporary restraining order obtained by a longtime friend. Belichick said he wasn't concerned about the allegation brought by Rachelle Washington that Moss committed battery or about how it might affect Moss on Sunday in the AFC championship game against the San Diego Chargers. Washington's attorney issued a statement Thursday saying that Moss' representatives were the first to suggest that Moss pay the woman to keep the issue quiet, according to NBCSports.com. The attorney, David McGill, and Moss' agent, Tim DiPiero, did not returns telephone calls from The Associated Press.

On Wednesday, Moss said that suggestion came from her side and totaled "six figures." He called it "a situation of extortion."

No criminal charge has been brought.
Belichick spoke briefly on questions about the matter Thursday. "I think Randy's covered those and I've talked to Randy about it, and I support Randy 100 percent," he said.

Moss spent about 10 minutes in front of his locker on Wednesday vehemently denying the allegations.

On Monday, the temporary restraining order was issued in Broward County, Fla., ordering Moss to stay at least 500 feet from the home of Washington, who alleged he committed "battery ... causing serious injury" to her at her home in Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 6, the Sunday of the Patriots playoff bye week.

A hearing on issuing a permanent restraining order is scheduled for 3 p.m. Jan. 28, six days before the Super Bowl.

Moss said the woman has been a friend of his for 11 years and that she asked for "six figures" for what he said was an accident in which she was hurt. Washington, 35, alleged they had been in an "intimate relationship" since 1997.

Her attorney's statement said she "has cared deeply for Mr. Moss and has been there for him throughout all of his trials and tribulations" over the past 11 years and didn't intend to hurt Moss.

"However, she has suffered mental and physical harm as a result of his actions," the statement said. "She simply wants him to take responsibility for what he has done. As a battery victim, she has shown great strength throughout this entire ordeal.

"Ms. Washington has been unfairly characterized as someone simply seeking financial gain. In fact, it was Mr. Moss' representatives who first contacted our office to offer a `six figure' settlement with hopes of not having this incident become public record."

Washington also alleged that Moss refused to allow her to seek medical treatment. Moss denied that. McGill's statement did not specify an injury.

"He has acknowledged that he was at Ms. Washington's Florida residence and that he was `guilty' of an `accident' which occurred," the statement said. "However, Mr. Moss fails to mention how his reckless and degrading conduct rendered Ms. Washington unable to drive her vehicle to seek medical attention."

Several teammates have expressed support for Moss.

"When there's an attack on someone in the family," tight end Kyle Brady said, "there's a sense of loyalty that kicks in."

[Submitted by Belle]