NEW YORK — Houston Texans owner Robert McNair said Monday he knew during the 2009 season that linebacker Brian Cushing had "an issue" with the NFL, but had no details from the league of what it concerned.

Cushing was suspended by the league last week for violating its steroid policy. Although Cushing admitted taking a non-steroid banned substance, it is still considered performance-enhancing by the league. He did not identify the substance he took.

Cushing was voted The Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year at the end of the season. As a result of the penalty and admission, the AP is taking a revote for the defensive rookie award plus All-Pro outside linebacker. Cushing received five votes in that category and made the second team. He is still among the nominees in the revote.

ST. LOUIS — The Cowboys and Rams have trade underachieving former first-round picks, with offensive tackle Alex Barron going to Dallas and linebacker Bobby Carpenter headed for St. Louis.Carpenter made only two starts in four seasons for the Cowboys, one in the regular season and one in the playoffs, and was a backup inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense last season.

MADRID — Serena Williams saved a match point before beating Vera Dushevina of Russia 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) Monday in the longest match of her career to reach the third round of the Madrid Masters.The top-seeded American wasted three set points in the first and then faced a match point on her serve when trailing 6-5 in the second, but managed to hold on despite several unforced errors. Williams looked set to close out the match when she broke serve to up 5-2, but squandered the lead and then trailed 4-0 in the decisive tiebreaker before sealing the win in 3 hours, 26 minutes. It was the longest match Williams has ever played, according to the WTA Tour.Her sister Venus had an easier time in beating Vera Zvonareva of Russia 7-5, 6-3, while second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki won her first-round match against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-2. However, defending champion Dinara Safina was upset by Czech qualifier Klara Zakopalova in the first round, losing 7-6 (1), 7-6 (3).

NEW YORK — Negotiations for a megafight involving Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are expected to begin again this week.The matchup involving boxing's two most high-profile fighters was discussed at length earlier this year, but negotiations fell apart when the sides could not agree on drug testing protocol. Both took other fights, with Pacquiao beating Josh Clottey and Mayweather defeating Shane Mosley.Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, told The Associated Press Monday that discussions could begin as early as today, once the results of the Philippine elections are in. Pacquiao is running for Congress for the second time.

COLOGNE, Germany — The United States was upset by Denmark at the hockey world championships Monday, beaten 2-1 for its second straight overtime loss.The Americans lost by the same score to Germany and must defeat Finland in the last group game to reach the next round. Denmark advanced with the victory.