[naviga:h3]NFLPA proposal met with silence[/naviga:h3]

The players’ union proposed a settlement on Tom Brady’s four-game suspension last week that was “met with silence” by the NFL, a person familiar with the proposal told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the NFL Players Association’s offer was confidential. There is no timetable on when Commissioner Roger Goodell will rule on the New England quarterback’s appeal.

Several media reports indicated the union’s proposal called for Brady paying a large fine, but with no suspension. The Patriots paid a record $1 million fine and were stripped of two draft picks, including a No. 1 selection next year. Team owner Robert Kraft accepted those punishments while stating he believed the Patriots had done nothing wrong.

Brady was suspended for his role in using underinflated footballs in the Patriots’ victory over the Colts in the AFC title game. A league-sanctioned independent report by attorney Ted Wells found that Brady at the least was “generally aware” of the use of the footballs in what has become known as “Deflategate.”

[naviga:h3]Astros trade for Athletics pitcher[/naviga:h3]

OAKLAND, Calif. — Scott Kazmir is heading to his hometown Houston Astros and into the thick of a pennant race, and the Oakland Athletics are starting their summer sell-off.

The A’s began their expected changes leading up to the July 31 trade deadline, sending the left-hander to the Astros for a pair of minor leaguers Thursday in what could be the first of many significant deals across the majors in the next week.

Oakland received sought-after catcher Jacob Nottingham and right-handed pitcher Daniel Mengden in the swap with its AL West rival — and the Astros got a top-tier starter as they chase a playoff berth in the season’s second half.

[naviga:h3]Blatter attends World Cup draw[/naviga:h3]

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — Sepp Blatter left the security of Switzerland for the first time in two months on Thursday, arriving for the 2018 World Cup qualifying draw, with Russia saying that communication with FIFA has been disrupted by the corruption crisis.

Blatter will no longer be FIFA president by the time of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, with the 79-year-old Swiss due to leave office in seven months after almost 18 years in power.

The uncertainty about the leadership of world soccer is creating some issues for Russia, whose sports minister, Vitality Mutko, joined Blatter on arrival at his St. Petersburg hotel on Thursday.