n of anonymity because the league doesnt comment publicly on to show

Five states -- Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, West Virginia and Wisconsin -- and the American Gaming Association filed amicus briefs with the United States Supreme Court this week in support of New Jerseys efforts to offer legal sports betting at its casinos and racetracks.New Jersey, after losing a decision in the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals in August, filed a request to the Supreme Court in October. Its the second time New Jersey has asked the Supreme Court to hear its case against the NCAA and four major professional sports leagues, which sued Gov. Chris Christie in 2012, setting off a legal battle that has lasted more than four years. The leagues have won every step of the way.The Supreme Court declined to take New Jerseys case in 2014, but the group of states is hoping for a different outcome this time. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey took the lead on the amicus brief for the five states, which have concerns over federalism issues and believe the Third Circuits ruling against New Jersey fundamentally alters the nature of federal-state relations.The concern of the Amici States ... is not what Congress regulates but how it does so, the states wrote in the brief filed Monday.The American Gaming Association, represented by Washington, D.C., law firm Sidley Austin LLP, claims the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA), the federal prohibition of state-sponsored sports betting, is unconstitutional and prevents states from combatting illegal and organized crime.The Third Circuits decision is not just wrong; it is dangerous because it deprives States of the authority to combat illegal gambling, the AGA wrote in its brief, also filed Monday.Only a handful of states may offer legal sports betting, with only Nevada being allowed to accept bets on single games and events.The AGA says the federal laws have helped create a massive black market and estimates that around $150 billion is wagered illegally on sports annually in the U.S.The AGA has begun forming a coalition and is planning to lobby Congress in 2017 to lift the federal ban on sports betting. AGA president and CEO Geoff Freeman has said President-elect Donald Trump will have sports betting legislation on his desk during his term.As President-elect Donald Trump has acknowledged, illegal sports betting is a thriving industry, Freeman said in a statement to ESPN. The 24-year-old federal ban -- which is breathing life into a $150 billion illegal sports betting market -- threatens the integrity of games, presents fundamental questions about states sovereignty to define their own laws and combat crime within their borders, and prevents fans from engaging with the sports they enjoy in a safe, legal way. The United States Supreme Court should consider New Jerseys important claims and allow all states to address the serious problems associated with illegal sports betting.In 1993, Trump told reporters that legalizing sports betting in New Jersey is vital to putting the bookies out of business.The Supreme Courts decision whether to take the New Jersey case is expected sometime early in 2017. The Supreme Court accepts only a tiny percentage of cases.The sports leagues have until Dec. 14 to file their briefs. Custom Kansas City Royals Nike Jerseys . It was the kind of score that might make everyone else wonder which course he was playing. Except that Graeme McDowell saw the whole thing. Crouched behind the 10th green at Sheshan International, McDowell looked over at the powerful American and said, "Ive probably seen 18 of the best drives Ive seen all year in the last two days. Custom San Francisco Giants Nike Jerseys .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. https://www.custombaseballnikejerseys.com/?tag=custom-minnesota-twins-nike-jerseys . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. Custom Oakland Athletics Nike Jerseys . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda. Custom Washington Nationals Nike Jerseys . -- Aaron Murray threw for 408 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another score, and led No. The NFL says its all about player safety.Try telling that to Cam Newton, one of the leagues biggest stars.The way the Carolina Panthers quarterback was beaten up in a season-opening loss at Denver, one would think it is back to open season on anyone wearing a helmet and shoulder pads.If nothing else, it showed that Newton is subject to a different set of rules than the leagues other QBs.Can you imagine Tom Brady or Drew Brees taking four helmet-to-helmet hits -- including two where the defender appeared to leave his feet and launch himself into Newton -- with only a single flag being dropped?We cant either.Clearly, the NFLs epiphany on player health -- which the jaded will note only came at the prodding of a massive lawsuit brought by former players whose lives were ruined by repeated hits to the head -- still hasnt gone far enough.Weve got to treat Cam like a quarterback, Panthers tight end Greg Olsen said after Thursday nights Super Bowl rematch, won by the Broncos 21-20. I know hes the biggest guy on the field, but hes still a quarterback.Its only natural that the officials see Newton, as imposing a quarterback as there is at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, in a different light than his mostly smaller counterparts.And, to be sure, Newtons running ability puts him in harms way a lot more often than a pure drop-back passer.The guy is a ... tight end, defensive end playing quarterback. What are we supposed to do? said Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall, who doled out a couple of egregious hits on Newton. When hes running the ball -- theyve got quarterback-designed runs, quarterback keeps, quarterback powers, draws, everything -- were going to treat him like a running back.Thats no reason for the officials to continually look the other way.In the short term, the league needs to immediately send out an edict to its officials that ALL quarterbacks are deserving of the same protections, as well as launch an urgent review of its concussion protocol after Newton went through the entire game without being tested, even after all those brutal hits.Never mind that the Panthers said he was tested four times afterward and all were negative.The next player might not be so lucky.Longer term, the league needs to seriously consider following the college game, which has brought down the hammer on targeting. When a player initiates a hit with the top of the helmet, leaves his feet to deliver a blow or levels a defenseless player, he is ejected from the game and has to sit out the first half of the next game as well. In addition, hiss team receives a 15-yard penalty.ddddddddddddAll targeting calls are automatically subject to a video review, a necessary step in a violent game thats nearly impossible to keep a handle on in real time. While the targeting rule still has its share of hiccups, the replay system helps to weed out the calls that are blatantly wrong, an important safeguard when a foul comes with such stiff penalties.At the very least, the NFL needs to expand its replay system to help officials determine which hits are truly dangerous.I think as far as big hits on quarterbacks or hits to the helmet, I think that would be important and I think eventually it is going to come that, Carolina coach Ron Rivera said Friday. If there is a questionable call, you have to go to replay just to make sure. Again, this is about player safety at the end of the day, so we have to find a better solution to keep these things down to a minimum.The NFL already determined that Marshall shouldve been penalized for his second hit to Newtons head after the quarterback had thrown a pass, according to a person speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the league doesnt comment publicly on the details of such reviews.That could lead to a hefty fine.Big deal.The league needs to show its at least as concerned about player safety as it is about deflated footballs.Immediately after the game, Newton shrugged off the beatdown he received, saying it wasnt his job to question the officials. Maybe he was still groggy. Maybe hes gotten so used to being subjected to a different standard that he expects it.I try and warn the refs every time I do get hit in the head, he said. But if the flag is not thrown, then its OK.No, its not.The league should be watching out for all its players, even those who seem big enough and strong enough to take care of themselves.Its kind of been like that since hes been here, Carolina linebacker Thomas Davis said. They judge him different. They look at him different.Thats got to change.Week 2 would be a good time to start.---Paul Newberry is a national writer for The Associated Press. Write to him at pnewberry(at)ap.org or at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry .---AP Sports Writers Steve Reed in Charlotte and Arnie Stapleton in Denver contributed to this report.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '