Sports Briefs

NFLHall of Famers seek better pensions,

medical benefits for former players

His body battered by a Hall of Fame career, Joe DeLamielleure limped to the podium. "We've earned the right to have a livable pension," the former Bills and Browns guard said after detailing his long list of surgeries. "The NFL is the most lucrative sport on the planet and they can't take care of 2,000 guys? That's wrong."

DeLamielleure was one of a collection of NFL Hall of Famers and current players who held a news conference Monday in Washington backing a class-action lawsuit against the NFL, demanding better benefits for former players.

Hall of Famer Carl Eller, a plaintiff, said the league has not done what is "fair and right" in supporting the financial and medical concerns of former players. Joining him at the National Press Club were Hall of Famers Lem Barney, Elvin Bethea and Paul Krause, among others, each of whom detailed the struggles in post-NFL lives trying to receive benefits from the league.

"These are real people, real players and real pain," Eller said. "Football is a game; life is not. We are suffering from the game."

NHLLidstrom, 41, to return to Red Wings

Defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, 41, will return for a 20th season with the Red Wings after agreeing to a one-year deal worth $6.2 million, same as last year. Lidstrom is a Norris Trophy finalist for the 11th time in 13 seasons. If he wins the award tomorrow, it would be his seventh, one behind Bobby Orr's record.

NBAKnicks work out six draft eligibles

The Knicks brought six potential draft picks to their Greenburgh training facility for a second look. Among those working out for the team were Josh Selby (Kansas); Marshon Brooks (Providence); Nicola Vucevic (USC); Jeremy Tyler, who played in Israel and Tokyo; Darius Morris (Michigan) and Ravern Johnson (Mississippi State). The Knicks have the No. 17 pick in Thursday's NBA draft.