Falcons spent $81,000 on painkiller drugsAn e-mail chain released in court shows Atlanta Falcons officials in 2010 were worried about the team’s “excessive” reliance on painkillers to treat players and the potential embarrassment that could cause.The officials expressed concern over a review that found the team spent $81,000 on prescriptions for medications for players in 2009 — nearly three times the league average.Nearly every recipient on the e-mail chain — from president Rich McKay and general manager Thomas Dimitroff to then-head athletic trainer Marty Lauzon — is still with the team, which plays New England in the Super Bowl on Sunday.The e-mails were entered into the court record Thursday as part of a proposed class-action lawsuit by former NFL players.

49ers file suit against playerSANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers are suing former star pass rusher Aldon Smith for more than $340,000 in signing bonus money.According to the suit filed in U.S. District Court, Smith was obligated to re-pay the Niners for part of his signing bonus after being suspended nine games in 2014 for failing a drug test.The suit says Smith has paid $844,396.82 of the $1,186,027 that he owed the team. The 49ers are seeking $341,630.18.Smith was released by the Niners after an arrest in August 2015 and joined the Oakland Raiders.

Ex-Laker Fisher burglary victimLOS ANGELES — Los Angeles police say burglars got away with more than $300,000 worth of jewelry from the home of former Lakers guard Derek Fisher.Officer Drake Madison says the burglary happened Monday morning at the house in the Tarzana neighborhood.The home was unoccupied at the time.Madison says he doesn’t know if the suspects got away with any of Fisher’s NBA championship rings.Fisher won five titles with the Lakers. He coached the New York Knicks from 2014-2016.

Russian gold medalist banned for dopingMOSCOW — A Russian bobsledder who won a gold medal at the 2014 Olympics has been banned for four years for doping.Dmitry Trunenkov, who won the four-man bobsled at the Sochi Games, tested positive last year and has been banned by the Russian Bobsled Federation, the Russian Anti-Doping Agency said.The ban won’t affect his Olympic gold medal.