Lauren Silberman's bid to become the first woman to play in the NFL is undone by injury

Frustrated and maybe a bit embarrassed, Lauren Silberman fought back tears after kicking her way into NFL history. She became the first woman to try out at a regional 'combine', but then lasted all of two kicks - none of which travelled even 20 yards.

Norwegian internet kicking star Havard Rugland continues to seek NFL job

When Detroit Lions couldn't pronounce Havard Rugland's name during his trial for the NFL this week, they took to calling him "Kickalicious."

Female kicker falls short in bid become first woman to join NFL team

A female kicker this weekend made history by becoming the first woman to ever try out for a professional American football team - but her dreams of playing alongside the men in the NFL appear to have literally fallen short.

Tuck rule' eliminated and helmet blows outlawed after vote among NFL owners

Roger Goodell: Pleased with the rule changes that have been passed by NFL owners

The controversial 'tuck rule' has been scrapped, while players will no longer be able to deliver a blow with the crown of their helmet if they are outside the tackle box or at least three yards downfield.National Football League owners have voted in two significant rule changes at their annual meeting in Phoenix.

Under the 'tuck rule', a pass was ruled incomplete rather than a fumble if the quarterback's arm was going forward when the ball was knocked loose, even if he had started to tuck the ball back into his body.

Now if the ball is knocked loose while the quarterback is bringing the ball back towards his body, it will result in a fumble.

Only the Pittsburgh Steelers voted to keep the rule while the Washington Redskins and New England Patriots, who were the most famous beneficiaries of the rule in the 2001-02 play-offs, abstained.

The more controversial proposal, designed to increase player safety, was the elimination of helmet hits, something which will now draw a 15-yard penalty.

The change is set to affect running backs the most, especially power backs who are used to lowering the body and head into hits in order to gain extra yards. The rule change was reportedly voted in by a 31-1 margin.

"I think we made some very significant progress on both those matters," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said.

A final rule change means that reviews are now still allowed even when challenge flags are thrown illegally by coaches.

A team will lose a timeout - or be penalised 15 yards if they have no timeouts left - if they throw a challenge flag illegally, but the play can still be reviewed by the booth.

NFL: Brian Urlacher leaves Chicago Bears in row over 'insulting' new contract offer

Brian Urlacher: Spent 13 seasons with the Bears

Sky Bet

Veteran linebacker Brian Urlacher has parted company with Chicago and hit out at the Bears over their "insulting" offer of a new contract.

The 34-year-old was out of contract at the end of last season - his 13th with the club - but he described the offer of a new one-year $2million deal as "a slap in the face".

The eight-time Pro Bowl star was holding out for a two-year contract worth around $11.5m, but the Bears management stood their ground and then rejected a proposal from Urlacher's agents of a one-year, $3.5m deal.

"It wasn't even an offer, it was an ultimatum," said Urlacher, who earned $7.5m last season. "I feel like I'm a decent football player still. It was insulting, somewhat of a slap in the face.

"They came back with the offer and said, 'This is what it is, take it or leave it.' It was, 'If you want to play for the Bears, you'll play for this. If not, then you're not playing for the Bears'."

Move forward

"This whole offseason, I had a bad feeling about this situation anyway. I wanted to be here. I wanted to be in Chicago. I wanted to finish my career here. Now, it's not possible.

"Don't get me wrong, $2m is a lot of money. But I'm not going to put my body through what it goes through during the season for that amount of money. Not for anybody. Not at this point of my career. It's not worth it."

Bears general manager Phil Emery confirmed Urlacher's release in a statement which read: "We were unable to reach an agreement with Brian, and both sides have decided to move forward.

"Brian has been an elite player for over a decade. He showed great leadership and helped develop a winning culture with the Bears. We appreciate all he has given our team, and he will always be welcome as a member of the Bears."

Ed Reed joins exodus from Baltimore and signs for Houston Texan

Ed Reed: Baltimore lose star safety to Houston

Sky Bet

Super Bowl winner Ed Reed has signed a three-year deal with the Houston Texans.

Reed becomes the latest defensive player to leave the Baltimore Ravens in the wake of their championship triumph early last month.

The veteran safety has 61 interceptions in 160 career NFL games, with seven of them returned for touchdowns, and he has led the league in interceptions on three occasions.

The nine-time Pro Bowler made 58 tackles last season and was a big part of the Ravens' run to the Super Bowl, where they beat the San Francisco 49ers in a thrilling clash in New Orleans.

Since then, superstar linebacker Ray Lewis and center Matt Birk have retired, while safety Bernard Pollard was released and signed with Tennessee, free agent linebacker Dannell Ellerbe went to Miami and Paul Kruger left for Cleveland - they also traded wide receiver Anquan Boldin to the 49ers.

"This late in my career, you think about things differently," Reed said. "It was just a matter of being somewhere that fits, for me and the team. It was perfect timing.

"I'm proud to say the last game in Baltimore was a Super Bowl. The relationships I had with people in Baltimore will never change. That 11 years -that was just storybook."

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