HGH testing leads to-do list

When the Super Bowl ends, three complete seasons will have come and gone without testing for human growth hormone, even though the NFL and the players’ association originally paved the way to check for that drug in August 2011.

NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith said Thursday that HGH testing is still being held up by a disagreement with the league over whether the commissioner or a neutral arbitrator will handle certain types of appeals.

Smith also said the NFLPA hasn’t seen a proposal from the league about expanding the number of teams in the playoffs; the union and league have had “preliminary discussions” about medicinal marijuana use; and that he supports plans to form the first labor union for college athletes.

League seeks new revenue sources

The NFL will launch a digital video service called “NFL Now” this summer, which will offer game highlights, archived NFL Films footage and original news and analysis programs. Basic content will be free on most devices. Full access will be available for a monthly fee. Meanwhile, the NFL is trying to sell some of the Thursday night package of games, previously all on NFL Network, to an outside partner.

Concussions reduced

The NFL says the number of concussions in practices and games in the preseason and regular season dropped 13 percent from 2012 to 2013. There was also a 23 percent decrease over the past two seasons in the number of concussions caused by helmet-to-helmet contact.