NEW YORK — Roger Goodell believes the NFL's new player safety rules are working.

Goodell participated in a series of meetings on player health and safety at the league's headquarters. He said the feedback he has received from coaches, players, officials and administrators has been positive.

Asked about appeals officer Matt Birk overturning the one-game suspension for Tampa Bay safety Dashon Goldson for a helmet-to-helmet hit on New Orleans running back Darren Sproles, Goodell said he had not read the decision.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Nationwide will end its seven-year run as entitlement sponsor of NASCAR's second-largest series at the end of the 2014 season and refocus its motorsports spending to other areas of the industry.NASCAR announced a new deal to extend Nationwide's contract as its official auto, home, life and business insurance partner through 2017.

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska is ready to move on from Bo Pelini’s profane rant against fans two years ago.Chancellor Harvey Perlman and athletic director Shawn Eichorst said in a joint statement that they believe the football coach was sincere in his apology for what he said in an audio leaked to the Deadspin.com sports website this week.