2014 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship, Regional Championships
The Regional Championships was held on April 5, 2014, at the following six sites:


2014 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship, NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship
The NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship were held in Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex, Birmingham, Alabama, on Friday, April 18, 2014.


2014 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship, NCAA Championship (Super Six Finals)
NCAA Championship (Super Six Finals): Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex, Birmingham, Alabama, on Saturday, April 19, 2014. (6 p.m. CST) -


2014 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship, Individual Event Finals
Individual Event Finals: Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex, Birmingham, Alabama, on Sunday, April 20, 2014. (2 p.m. CST)


2014 NCBA Division I Tournament
The 2014 National Club Baseball Association (NCBA) Division I Tournament was a post-season tournament for the best teams in the NCBA during the 2014 season. 32 NCBA Division I college baseball teams met after playing their way through the regular season to play in the NCBA Tournament. The tournament will culminate with eight teams competing for the 2014 NCBA Division I World Series at University of Tampa Baseball Stadium in Tampa, FL.


2014 NCBA Division I Tournament, Regionals
The opening rounds of the tournament were played across eight pre-determined sites across the country, each consisting of a four-team field. Each regional is double elimination. The winner of each regional advances to the NCBA World Series.


2014 NCBA Division I Tournament, Regionals
Bold indicates winner. The #4 seed is the at-large team in each region.


2014 NCBA Division I World Series
The 2014 National Club Baseball Association (NCBA) Division I World Series was played at University of Tampa Baseball Stadium in Tampa, FL from May 23 to May 29. The fourteenth tournament's champion was Utah State University. This was Utah State's second title in the last three seasons.


2014 NCBA Division I World Series, Format
The format is similar to the NCAA College World Series in that eight teams participate in two four-team double elimination brackets. There are a few differences between the NCAA and the NCBA format. One of which is that the losers of Games 1–4, 7 and 8 move to the other half of the bracket. Another difference is that the NCBA plays a winner take all for its national title game while the NCAA has a best-of-3 format to determine its national champion.


2014 NCBA Division I World Series, Results, Game results
† – Game was originally scheduled for 3:15 PM, but was pushed back due to a rain delay in the previous game. ‡ – Game was originally scheduled for 7:30 PM, but was pushed back due to rain delays in the two earlier games. # – Game was originally scheduled on May 27 at 7:30 PM, but was postponed to the next morning due to rain.


2014 NCBA Division II Tournament
The 2014 National Club Baseball Association (NCBA) Division II Tournament was a post-season tournament for the best teams in the NCBA during the 2014 season. 30 NCBA Division II college baseball teams met after playing their way through the regular season to play in the NCBA Tournament. The tournament culminated with eight teams competing for the 2014 NCBA Division II World Series at Brooks Stadium in Paducah, KY.


2014 NCBA Division II Tournament, Districts
The opening rounds of the tournament were played across eight pre-determined sites across the country, each consisting of a four-team field except for District VII, which consisted of a two-team best-of-three format. All other districts were double elimination. The winner of each district advances to the NCBA Division II World Series.


2014 NCBA Division II World Series
The 2014 National Club Baseball Association (NCBA) Division II World Series was held at Brooks Stadium in Paducah, Kentucky, US from May 16 to May 20. The seventh tournament's champion was the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets.


2014 NCBA Division II World Series, Format
The format is similar to the NCAA College World Series in that eight teams participate in two four-team double elimination brackets. There are a few differences between the NCAA and the NCBA format. One of which is that the losers of Games 1-4 move to the other half of the bracket. Another difference is that the NCBA plays a winner take all for its national title game while the NCAA has a best-of-3 format to determine its national champion. Another difference which is between NCBA Division I and II is that Division II games are 7 innings while Division I games are 9 innings.


2014 NCBA Division II World Series, Participants
† denotes school also fields an NCBA Division I team


2014 NCHC Tournament
The 2014 NCHC Tournament was the first tournament in league history. It was played between March 13 and March 22, 2014. Quarterfinal games were played at home team campus sites, while the final four games were played at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. By winning the tournament, Denver received the NCHC's automatic bid to the 2014 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.


2014 NCHC Tournament, Format
The tournament features three rounds of play. In the quarterfinals the first seed and eighth seed, the second seed and seventh seed, the third seed and sixth seed and the fourth seed and fifth seed play a best-of-three series with the winners advancing to the semifinals. After the opening round every series becomes a single-elimination game. In the semifinals, the highest and lowest remaining seeds and second highest and second lowest seeds are matched against one another with the winners advancing to the championship game and the loser advancing to the third place game. The tournament champion receives an automatic bid to the 2014 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.


2014 NCHC Tournament, Format, Regular season standings
Note: GP = Games Played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SOW = Shootout Wins; PTS = Points; GF = Goals For; GA = Goals Against


2014 NEAFL season
The 2014 NEAFL season was the fourth season of the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL). The season began on Saturday, 29 March and concluded on Saturday, 13 September with the NEAFL Grand Final.


2014 NEAFL season
Aspley were the premiers for the season after they defeated the Sydney Swans reserves by two points in the Grand Final due to a goal kicked moments before final siren.


2014 NEAFL season, League structure
For the first time since the NEAFL's inception in November 2010, a major restructure of the league occurred ahead of the 2014 season. The total number of clubs in the competition was reduced from 19 to 14, with Tuggeranong (ACT), Broadbeach (QLD), Labrador (QLD), Morningside (QLD) and Mt Gravatt (QLD) all having their licenses revoked.


2014 NEAFL season, League structure
The conference system which resulted in clubs being geographically split into either an Eastern (NSW/ACT) or Northern (QLD/NT) conference was abolished and was replaced by a single competition ladder structure, ensuring the top 6 teams at the end of the home and away season would progress to a finals series.


2014 NEAFL season, League structure
Although North Queensland is considered to be a strategic area for future AFL expansion, NEAFL executives elected not to base a team in the region for the 2014 season.


2014 NEAFL season, Foxtel Cup
Two NEAFL clubs, Aspley and Belconnen, were invited to compete in the Foxtel Cup knockout competition for season 2014. Both teams were knocked out in the Qualifying/First Round stage of the competition. Their results are shown below:


2014 NEAFL season, State games
The top-level players from the NEAFL partook in two state games in season 2014, one against the West Australian Football League representative team on 24 May and another against the Tasmanian State League representative team on 21 June.


2014 NECBL All-Star Game
The 2014 NECBL All-Star Game was the 21st exhibition game between all-stars from the New England Collegiate Baseball League's North and South Divisions. The game was held at Mackenzie Stadium in Holyoke, Massachusetts, the home field of the North Division's Holyoke Blue Sox, on July 20, 2014.


2014 NECBL All-Star Game, Rosters
NECBL Commissioner Sean McGrath announced the rosters on July 12, 2014. Sanford's Aaron Izaryk and Plymouth's Greg Zackrison were selected as coaches for the North and South Division rosters respectively, after both teams finished atop the standings of each division at the league cut-off date (July 11).


2014 NECBL All-Star Game, Rosters
Both squads featured a number of future MLB draft picks, including:


2014 NECBL All-Star Game, Game summary
The North All-Stars won the game 4–3 over the South All-Stars, with outfielders Vinny Zarillo and Trey Amburgey, second baseman Angelo La Bruna and shortstop J.C. Cardenas hitting the winning runs for the North. Designated hitter Jared Mederos was named All-Star MVP.


2014 NECBL season
The 2014 NECBL season was the 21st season of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, a wood bat collegiate summer baseball league. The league reverted to 12 teams, as the expansion franchise Saratoga Brigade exited the league after just one season. In the postseason, the Newport Gulls swept the Sanford Mainers in the league championship series to win their sixth NECBL title.


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay)
On January 11, 2015, the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers played an NFC Divisional Playoff game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The game gained notoriety after a play in which Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant attempted to catch a pass from quarterback Tony Romo in the closing minutes of the 4th quarter. The pass was initially ruled a catch before controversially being overturned after officials determined Bryant did not complete the process of a catch while he was lunging towards the end zone.


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay)
The Packers would get the ball on the turnover on downs and run out the clock. They won by a score of 26–21 and moved on to the NFC Championship game. In the proceeding years, the National Football League (NFL) changed the rules regarding catching a pass while falling to the ground. The new rules would have given Bryant a completed catch. This game has gone by such names as "Dez Caught It" or the "No-Catch Game."


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), Background
Both teams entered the playoffs at identical 12–4 records at the end of the NFL season.


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), Background
The Cowboys entered as the 3rd seed after clinching the NFC East, making them the 10th non-repeat division champs since the 2004 season. Dallas won 5 out of their last 6 games after their bye week, which clinched the division and advanced them to the NFC Wild Card game, where they defeated the Detroit Lions to further advance to the NFC Divisional Playoff round. That game was not without its own controversy because of a pass interference flag that was called on Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens when he seemingly interfered with Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew.


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), Background
Back judge Lee Dyer threw his flag to signify defensive pass interference and head referee Pete Morelli initially announced the penalty. However, after conferring with head linesman Jerry Bergman, it was determined that Hitchens legally defended Pettigrew on the route. The flag was therefore picked up and the penalty waived off, causing the controversy. After the game, NFL Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino stated that the no-call on pass interference was debatable, but defensive holding definitely should have been called on the play. The Cowboys won that game, 24–20.


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), Background
The Packers entered the playoffs as the 2nd seed after clinching the NFC North division for the fourth year in a row, earning a first round bye. Green Bay, like Dallas, only lost one game after their own bye week, winning 7 out of 8. The Packers made the playoffs for the sixth straight season, tying the record set between 1993 and 1998.


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), Background
This game would be the two teams' first meeting in the playoffs in 19 years, since the 1995 NFC Championship game, and the first playoff game in the rivalry played at Lambeau Field in 47 years, with the last being the legendary Ice Bowl.


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), Game summary, First half
Both teams managed to score a touchdown in the first quarter. Green Bay scored first after a 10-play, 60-yard drive, with a 4-yard pass from Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to tight end Andrew Quarless. With 1:05 to go in the quarter, the Cowboys drove 62 yards in 12 plays, capped off by a 1-yard scoring pass from Tony Romo to fullback Tyler Clutts.


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), Game summary, First half
In the second quarter, both offenses continued to struggle. Wide receiver Terrance Williams took a Romo pass 38 yards into the endzone to give Dallas a 14–7 lead. A few drives later, the Cowboys were set up at the Packers 32-yard line for a Dan Bailey field goal attempt of 50 yards. However, the field goal was partially blocked by Datone Jones, resulting in the kick missing wide to the right. Taking over on their own 40, the Packers drove 38-yards to the Dallas 22-yard line, scoring on a 40-yard Mason Crosby field goal before the half ended, putting the score at 14–10 for the Cowboys.


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), Game summary, Second half
Getting the ball back to start the second half, the Packers continued on offense, but quickly had to punt after five plays. Dallas took over, but running back DeMarco Murray fumbled at the Cowboys' 41-yard line on a tackle by Julius Peppers, which was recovered by Datone Jones at the Dallas 44 yard line. Later in the drive, Crosby hit a 30-yard field goal to put the score at 14–13. With 7:46 left in the quarter, Dallas scored on a 6-play, 80-yard drive, capped off by a 1-yard run by Murray. Green Bay answered back with a 46-yard touchdown pass to Davante Adams on a 7-play drive to put the score at 21–20 to end the 3rd quarter.


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), Game summary, Second half
Romo took two consecutive sacks from Nick Perry to end the 3rd and start the 4th quarters, which resulted in the Cowboys punting back to the Packers a few plays later. From their own 20, Rodgers took his offense on an 8-play, 80-yard drive, connecting on a 13-yard pass to Richard Rodgers II putting the score at 26–21. Green Bay attempted a two-point conversion, which failed.


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), Game summary, Second half
With the Cowboys taking over from their own 18, their drive started with a 30-yard run by Murray to the Dallas 48. A Joseph Randle run, a 10-yard pass to Bryant, and a 2-yard Murray run put Dallas at the Green Bay 38-yard line. After Romo was sacked by Mike Neal, he connected with Cole Beasley for a 9-yard completion.


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), The controversial play
Down by 5 with 4:42 left to go in the game, the Cowboys were facing 4th and 2 on the Packers' 32-yard line. Going for it, Romo threw a deep pass to Dez Bryant near the goal line. Being covered by cornerback Sam Shields, Bryant made a leaping catch over Shields, and in an attempt to secure the football for the catch and reach across the goal line for the touchdown, Bryant tucked the ball in his left arm by his elbow while extending out for the spot.


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), The controversial play
The pass was initially ruled a completed catch with Bryant being downed at the Packers' 1-yard line. However, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy threw his challenge flag, arguing that the ball hit the ground before Bryant completed the process of a legal catch. After a review by Gene Steratore and the other officials, it was determined that Bryant did not properly secure the ball before it hit the ground, thus overturning the call and ruling the pass incomplete. Cowboys fans watching the game, angry at the call, would show their frustration by starting the Twitter hashtag #DezCaughtIt.


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), The controversial play
Turning the ball over on downs with 4:06 left to play, the Cowboys' offense would never get the ball back again. After a few more plays, involving a 26-yard pass to Davante Adams and a 12-yard pass to Randall Cobb, the Packers secured a 26–21 win, advancing to the NFC Championship. Rodgers finished with 316 yards and three touchdowns and no interceptions, while Romo finished with 191 yards, two touchdowns, and also no interceptions.


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), Aftermath
Following the game, Bryant would describe the overturned catch to the media: "All I know is I had possession, I had possession of the ball coming down, that's possession, right? One, two, reach. Bam, that's possession. That's possession." In regards to the catch rule, Bryant expressed his disdain, stating, "I'm just begging them: please, please take that out. Take that rule out." Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would expand by saying, "any time we have interpretation in our rules, that happens.


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), Aftermath
The judgment on the field, we have a principle that prevails, and it has to be overturned by pretty strong evidence. I didn't see it on that play." Fox Sports analyst Mike Pereira added his thoughts on the play, saying, "I don't agree he made a football move, certainly not in the context of the rule. He's going to the ground, the ball pops out then. Nobody likes this rule...but it wasn't a [touchdown] by the rule."


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), Aftermath
The Packers would go on to lose the NFC Championship game 28–22 to the Seattle Seahawks.


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), Aftermath
The Cowboys and Packers would meet again in the NFC Divisional round in the 2016 playoffs. With Dallas trailing 28–13 after the 3rd quarter, touchdown passes to Jason Witten and Bryant by rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, tied the game at 28–28. In the 4th quarter, field goals by Crosby and Bailey once again tied the game at 31–31 with 35 seconds left to go, with the Packers' offense getting the ball.


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), Aftermath
Rodgers, after taking a blindside sack, passed deep to Jared Cook, who made a sideline catch at the Dallas 32, just being able to keep his feet in-bounds, which set up a successful game-winning 51-yard field goal by Crosby as time expired. And again, the Cowboys could not beat the Packers, as they lost 34–31.


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), Aftermath, Rule change
Prior to 2018, Article 3 in the NFL Rulebook stated that:


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), Aftermath, Rule change
"If a receiver loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete. If he regains control prior to the ball touching the ground, the pass is complete."


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), Aftermath, Rule change
The rule was nicknamed the "Calvin Johnson Rule" after a Week 1 game in the 2010 NFL season between the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions which also involved referee Gene Steratore controversially overturning a potential game winning catch for the Lions by Johnson upon further review.


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), Aftermath, Rule change
This was hotly debated for years, until March of 2018, when the NFL announced it would work to change their catch rule. Kevin Seifert of ESPN reported, "the NFL competition committee appears to have unanimous agreement that controversial catch rulings involving Dez Bryant and Calvin Johnson should have been ruled complete, according to Giants owner John Mara. So the committee is working on changing the rule to relax the 'going to the ground' requirement." On July 23, 2015, the rule was officially changed to state as follows:


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), Aftermath, Rule change
"A player is considered to be going to the ground if he does not remain upright long enough to demonstrate that he is clearly a runner. If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent), he must maintain control of the ball until after his initial contact with the ground, whether in the field of play or the end zone. If he loses control of the ball and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete. If he regains control prior [to] the ball touching the ground, the pass is complete."


2014 NFC Divisional playoff game (Dallas–Green Bay), Aftermath, Rule change
With the change, the rule takes out the process of making a "football move" in order to complete a catch. Dean Blandino discussed the new rule, saying, "For years the requirement for a catch is control, both feet and after that the receiver had to have the ball long enough to perform a [football] act. It was that act common to the game, football move, that created some confusion."


2014 NFL Draft
The 2014 NFL draft was the 79th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible football players to the league. The draft, officially the "Player Selection Meeting", was held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York, on May 8 through May 10, 2014. The draft started on May 8, 2014 at 8 pm EDT. The draft was moved from its traditional time frame in late April due to a scheduling conflict at Radio City Music Hall.


2014 NFL Draft
There was early discussion and rumors leading up to the draft on the future of staying at the current location in New York City, where it had been held since 1965. Given the increased interest the draft had garnered over the past decade, there was belief that the event may have outgrown Radio City Music Hall, which had been the venue for the past nine drafts. The possibility of extending the draft to four days was also being discussed throughout the months leading up to the draft. The NFL decided in that summer that the 2015 NFL Draft will take place at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.


2014 NFL Draft
The Houston Texans opened the draft by selecting defensive end Jadeveon Clowney from the University of South Carolina. The last time a defensive player was taken with the first overall selection was in 2006, when the Texans selected Mario Williams. The Texans also closed the draft with the selection of safety Lonnie Ballentine of the University of Memphis as Mr. Irrelevant, which is the title given to the final player selected.


2014 NFL Draft
The 2014 NFL draft made history when the St. Louis Rams selected Michael Sam in the seventh round. Sam, who became the first openly gay player to ever be drafted in the NFL, was selected 249th out of 256 picks in the 2014 NFL Draft. After this, Sam's jersey was the second best selling rookie jersey on the NFL's website. Sam came out publicly in the months leading up to the draft.


2014 NFL Draft, Early entrants
A record 98 underclassmen announced their intention to forgo their remaining NCAA eligibility and declare themselves available to be selected in the draft. When including four players who received degrees but still had eligibility remaining, the number swells to 102. Fourteen underclassmen—plus Teddy Bridgewater who graduated with eligibility remaining—were selected in the draft's first round, including the first four and six of the first ten players selected.


2014 NFL Draft, Overview
The following is the breakdown of the 256 players selected by position:


2014 NFL Draft, Determination of draft order
The draft order is based generally on each team's record from the previous season, with teams which qualified for the postseason selecting after those which failed to make the playoffs. The Houston Texans with a 2–14 record in 2013 held the first selection of each round. The Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens finished 2013 with identical 8–8 records and strength of schedule ratings, hence a coin flip was used to determine the selection order — the Cowboys won the flip and thus selected ahead of the Ravens.


2014 NFL Draft, Trades
In the explanations below, (D) denotes trades that took place during the 2014 draft, while (PD) indicates trades completed pre-draft.


2014 NFL Draft, Supplemental draft
The supplemental draft was held on July 10, 2014. For each player selected in the supplemental draft, the team forfeits its pick in that round in the draft of the following season. Four players were eligible, but for the second straight year no players were selected.


2014 NFL Draft, Summary
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) led all college athletic conferences in terms of first round selections with eleven, including the first two picks of the draft. For the first time since the league's second draft in 1937, no player from the University of Texas was selected.


2014 NFL Draft, Summary
For the second year in succession — and only the second time since 1967 — no running back was selected in the first round. The first player taken at the position was Bishop Sankey who was selected in the second round with the 54th pick overall. This is the latest point in the history of the draft for the first running back to be selected.


2014 NFL Draft, U.S. television coverage
The draft was broadcast live by the NFL Network and ESPN. This marks the 35th year of draft coverage on ESPN while the NFL Network had covered the draft since its inception ten years ago.


2014 NFL Draft, U.S. television coverage
The two networks' combined first-round coverage drew a record 32 million viewers according to Nielsen ratings which was a 28 percent increase over the previous year. In total 45.7 million viewers watched some part of the three-day event, topping the previous record of 45.4 millions set in 2010.


2014 NFL season
The 2014 NFL season was the 95th season in the history of the National Football League (NFL) and the 49th of the Super Bowl era. The season began on Thursday, September 4, 2014, with the annual kickoff game featuring the defending Super Bowl XLVIII champion Seattle Seahawks hosting the Green Bay Packers, which resulted with the Seahawks winning, 36–16. The season concluded with Super Bowl XLIX, the league's championship game, on Sunday, February 1, 2015, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, with the New England Patriots defeating the Seattle Seahawks, 28–24, in one of the closest games in Super Bowl history.


2014 NFL season, Player movement
The 2014 league year began at 4 pm EST on March 11, which marked the start of the league's free agency period. The per-team salary cap was set at US$133 million, a $10 million increase from the previous year. The so-called "legal tampering" period during which time agents representing prospective unrestricted free agent players (though not the players themselves) were allowed to have contact with team representatives with the purpose of determining a player's market value and to begin contract negotiations, began at noon (EST) on March 8.


2014 NFL season, Player movement, Free agency
A total of 471 players were eligible for some form of free agency at the beginning of the free agency period. In addition, a number of highly paid players were released after the start of the league year to allow their teams to regain space under the salary cap. Among the high-profile players who changed teams via free agency were:


2014 NFL season, Player movement, Free agency
Four players were assigned the non-exclusive franchise tag by their teams, which ensured that the team would receive compensation were the player to sign a contract with another team. These players were defensive end Greg Hardy (Panthers), tight end Jimmy Graham (Saints), placekicker Nick Folk (Jets) and linebacker Brian Orakpo (Redskins). Two other teams used the transition tag, which offers the player's current team a chance to match offers from other franchises and also guarantees draft pick compensation (at a lesser level than the franchise tag) if a tagged player signs elsewhere.


2014 NFL season, Player movement, Free agency
Players given the transition tag were Jason Worilds (Steelers) and Alex Mack (Browns). Mack signed a five-year, $42 million offer sheet with the Jacksonville Jaguars which included $26 million in guaranteed money and a player option to void the contract after two seasons. The Browns matched the offer and retained Mack who became the league's highest paid center.


2014 NFL season, Player movement, Free agency
One restricted free agent switched teams in 2014: wide receiver Andrew Hawkins of the Bengals was signed by the Browns. Restricted free agents are players with three or fewer seasons in the league whose contracts have expired. Teams may tender contract offers which allow them to match offers from other teams (i.e. the player's current team gets "right of first refusal") and may trigger draft pick compensation to be received from the signing team. Hawkins was tendered at the minimum level, which means the Bengals would not receive any draft compensation. The Browns signed him to a $13.6 million, four-year offer, which the Bengals declined to match. Saints safety Rafael Bush signed an offer from the Falcons, but the Saints retained Bush by matching the offer.


2014 NFL season, Player movement, Trades
The following notable trades were made during the 2014 league year:


2014 NFL season, Player movement, Draft
The 2014 NFL Draft was held May 8–10, 2014, in New York City. The draft process began with the NFL Scouting Combine, where draft-eligible players were evaluated by team personnel, which was held in Indianapolis on February 19–25. The draft included a record number of 98 non-seniors. The event was delayed roughly two weeks compared to its traditional position on the NFL calendar in late April due to a scheduling conflict at Radio City Music Hall, which had been the draft venue since 2006. In the draft, the Houston Texans made University of South Carolina defensive end, now outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney the first overall selection.


2014 NFL season, Player movement, Draft
There was discussion leading up to the draft as to the future of the event in New York City, where it had been held since 1965. Given the increased interest in the draft over the past decade, there was a belief that the event may have outgrown Radio City Music Hall, which was the venue for the past nine drafts. The possibility of extending the draft to four days was also being discussed. On October 2, 2014, Auditorium Theatre in Chicago was announced as the official site for the following year's draft.


2014 NFL season, New referees
Referees Scott Green and Ron Winter retired after the 2013 season. Ron Torbert, who spent the past four seasons as a side judge, and Craig Wrolstad, who spent the past 11 seasons as a field judge, were promoted to referee to replace Green and Winter. On June 25, 2014, the NFL announced Mike Carey's retirement as a referee. Like former director of officiating Mike Pereira for Fox Sports, Carey will become the rules/refereeing analyst for CBS's NFL coverage on the network's Thursday night and Sunday afternoon games.


2014 NFL season, New referees
He was replaced by Brad Allen, who spent the past nine seasons as an ACC referee. He was the first rookie NFL referee since 1962 when Tommy Bell was hired as a referee straight out of the Southeastern Conference. (NFL officials normally spend at least their first season in another position than head referee.) In addition to promoting Allen, Torbert, and Wrolstad to the referee position, ten new officials were hired, including Shawn Hochuli, son of referee Ed Hochuli.


2014 NFL season, Rule changes
The following rule changes were passed for the 2014 NFL season at the owners' meeting on March 26, 2014:


2014 NFL season, Rule changes
The league has also instructed game officials to strictly enforce offensive pass interference, defensive holding, and illegal contact.


2014 NFL season, Rule changes
A proposal to move the line of scrimmage on the extra point try from the 2-yard line to the 25-yard line to increase their difficulty (a 43-yard try as opposed to the more easily makable 20 yards) was tabled (as was a counterproposal from the Cincinnati Bengals to move it up to the 1-yard line, to encourage more two-point conversions), but the owners approved an experiment of kicking extra points snapping from the 20-yard line (a 38-yard try) for the first two weeks of the preseason. 94.3% of PATs were made during the two-week experiment, as opposed to a 99.6% success rate all of last season.


2014 NFL season, Rule changes, New sideline technologies
As part of the league's deal with Microsoft, coaches will be equipped with Surface tablets to transmit images of plays taken from the top of the stadium to the sideline, eliminating the traditional practice of using printed photos and notebooks.


2014 NFL season, Rule changes, New sideline technologies
The seven NFL game officials will wear radio headsets to communicate with each other during games, similar to the systems used by referees at the FIFA World Cup and other higher levels of association football. With this technology, the officials will not have to move around the field to talk to each other, saving time.


2014 NFL season, Rule changes, Practice squads expanded
The league and the player's union agreed in August to some changes to the practice squad rules. Under the new rules, each team will be able to carry up to 10 players on their practice squad, up from eight. Practice squad eligibility was also expanded by increasing the number of games in a season a player must be on the squad in order for that season to count as one of the player's three seasons of eligibility from three games to six games.


2014 NFL season, Rule changes, Practice squads expanded
Finally, each practice squad may include two players who have accrued too much playing time to be eligible for the squad under the previous rules, though these players may have no more than two accrued seasons in the league. The new rules cover the 2014 and 2015 seasons, and will lapse in 2016 absent their extension.


2014 NFL season, Rule changes, New drug policy including HGH testing
A new drug policy that had been long delayed was agreed to by the league and the player's union in September. The revised policy includes testing for Human growth hormone (HGH) for the first time. Other significant changes include a higher limit for a positive test for marijuana as well as the reclassification of failed tests for amphetamines during the off-season as falling under the substance-abuse policy rather than the performance-enhancing drug (PED) policy. The changes were applied retroactively for suspensions handed out during the 2014 league year which meant that some players, including Wes Welker and Orlando Scandrick, who had failed tests due to amphetamine usage during the off-season were immediately reinstated despite being previously sentenced to four game bans.


2014 NFL season, 2014 deaths, William Clay Ford
William Clay Ford, Sr., the owner of the Detroit Lions, died March 9, two weeks shy of his 89th birthday. Ford purchased the Lions in 1963 and had been the team's president since 1961; at the time of his death, he was the second-longest tenured owner in the NFL, behind only Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson. The team achieved only a single playoff win (in 1991) under Ford's ownership.


2014 NFL season, 2014 deaths, William Clay Ford
Ownership of the team passed to his widow, the former Martha Firestone. Ford's four children, including team vice-chairman William Clay Ford, Jr., are also involved in running the team.


2014 NFL season, 2014 deaths, Ralph Wilson
Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson died at age 95 on March 25. He was the founding owner of the franchise, which began in 1960 in the American Football League (AFL). Wilson played a central role in the negotiations between the AFL and NFL which eventually led to the AFL–NFL merger in 1970. He was the last remaining NFL owner among the Foolish Club, as the original eight AFL owners were named. Wilson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009. Coincidentally, both Wilson and Lions owner William Clay Ford, Sr. died at their respective homes in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan, within three weeks of each other.


2014 NFL season, 2014 deaths, Ralph Wilson
Ownership of the Bills passed to a trust headed by Wilson's widow, the former Mary McLean, and controlled by her and three other team officials. The trust put the team up for sale shortly after Wilson's death. The bidders for the team included payroll processing magnate Tom Golisano, natural gas tycoon Terrence Pegula, future President Donald Trump, a consortium including former Bills quarterback Jim Kelly and bond manager Jeffrey Gundlach, and a consortium of Jon Bon Jovi and the principals of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.


2014 NFL season, 2014 deaths, Ralph Wilson
Despite a poor economy and attendance declines, the team was not in immediate jeopardy of relocating, mainly because of an ironclad stadium lease signed during Wilson's lifetime that effectively prevented the team from leaving until after the 2019 season and because potential Los Angeles-based interests had been intimidated away from buying the team.


2014 NFL season, 2014 deaths, Ralph Wilson
The Kelly/Gundlach and Golisano groups stepped aside when the Pegulas offered to buy the team, while Trump, who admittedly was not willing to bid as much as the other bidders, did endorse a smear campaign against the Bon Jovi/MLSE bid, run by political operative Michael R. Caputo, without focusing any opposition on the Pegulas. The team was eventually sold to Pegula for a reported price of 1.4 billion dollars.


2014 NFL season, 2014 deaths, Ralph Wilson
In honor of Wilson, the Bills wore a patch bearing his initials on their jerseys throughout the 2014 season.


2014 NFL season, 2014 deaths, Malcolm Glazer
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' owner Malcolm Glazer died at age 85 on May 28. Glazer had owned the Buccaneers since 1995, a period which covers basically half of the team's history. The $192 million price Glazer paid set a record at the time for the price of a sports franchise. The franchise was in disarray when Glazer bought it after the death of founding owner Hugh Culverhouse. The Bucs had made the playoffs just three times in their 19 years under Culverhouse, while in the 19 seasons since Glazer took over, they made the playoffs seven times, including winning Super Bowl XXXVII in 2002.


2014 NFL season, 2014 deaths, Malcolm Glazer
Glazer's widow, Linda Glazer, and the Glazers' six children continue to own and operate the team.


2014 NFL season, 2014 deaths, Chuck Noll
Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Chuck Noll died at age 82 on June 13. Noll was widely credited with building the Steelers' dynasty of the 1970s. He coached the team to four Super Bowl victories. When he was hired in 1969, the Steelers had not won a single title in nearly 40 years. He coached multiple Hall of Fame players including: Terry Bradshaw, "Mean" Joe Greene, Mike Webster, Jack Ham, Jack Lambert, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, and Franco Harris. Noll was a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.


2014 NFL season, 2014 deaths, Earl Morrall
Earl Morrall died on April 25 at the age of 79. He had a 21-year NFL career and was a notable member of the 1972 Miami Dolphins team that is the only NFL squad to ever complete a perfect season. Morrall was the second player selected in the 1956 NFL Draft and went on to play for six different NFL teams. He was named the league MVP in 1968 when he led the Baltimore Colts to a 13–1 record and the Super Bowl after replacing an injured Johnny Unitas.


2014 NFL season, 2014 deaths, Earl Morrall
After joining the Dolphins in 1972 Morrall again proved to be a valuable back-up, replacing Bob Griese who suffered a broken ankle in the fifth game of the Dolphins immaculate season. Morrall started the final nine regular season games, before giving way to a healed Griese during the 1972–73 NFL playoffs. Morrall was named the Comeback Player of the Year by Pro Football Weekly for his contribution in 1972.


2014 NFL season, 2014 deaths, Other 2014 deaths
In addition to those mentioned above, the following people associated with the NFL (or AFL) died in 2014:


2014 NFL season, Preseason
Training camps for the 2014 season were held in late July through August. Teams may start training camp no earlier than 15 days before the team's first scheduled preseason game.


2014 NFL season, Preseason
Prior to the start of the regular season, each team played four preseason exhibition games. The preseason schedule got underway with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Sunday evening, August 3. The Hall of Fame game is a traditional part of the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame induction weekend celebrating new Hall of Fame members. It was played at Fawcett Stadium which is located adjacent to the Hall of Fame building  in Canton, Ohio. The game, which was televised in the U.S. on NBC, featured the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills, with the Giants winning 17–13.


2014 NFL season, Preseason
Continuing the recent trend of scheduling teams that are associated with former players being inducted into the Hall, the 2014 class included former Giants defensive end Michael Strahan and former Bills wide receiver Andre Reed. The others who were inducted into the Hall of Fame are linebacker Derrick Brooks, punter Ray Guy, defensive end Claude Humphrey, offensive tackle Walter Jones, and defensive back Aeneas Williams. The 65-game preseason schedule wrapped up on Thursday, August 28, a week before the start of the regular season.


2014 NFL season, Regular season
The 2014 regular season featured 256 games played out over a seventeen-week schedule which began on the Thursday night following Labor Day. Each of the league's 32 teams played a 16-game schedule with one bye week for each team scheduled between weeks four and twelve. The slate featured seventeen games on Monday night including a doubleheader in the season's opening week. There were seventeen games played on Thursday, including the National Football League Kickoff game in prime time on September 4 and three games on Thanksgiving Day. The schedule also included two games played on Saturday, December 20, in the season's sixteenth week. The regular season concluded with a full slate of 16 games on Sunday, December 28, all of which, as it was since 2010, were intra-divisional matchups.


2014 NFL season, Regular season, Scheduling formula
Under the NFL's current scheduling formula, each team plays each of the other three teams in their own division twice. In addition, a team plays against all four teams in one other division from each conference.


2014 NFL season, Regular season, Scheduling formula
The final two games on a team's schedule are against the two teams in the team's own conference in the divisions the team was not set to play who finished the previous season in the same rank in their division (e.g. the team which finished first in its division the previous season would play each other team in their conference that also finished first in its respective division). The pre-set division pairings for 2014 were as follows:


2014 NFL season, Regular season, Scheduling formula
Intra-conferenceAFC East vs. AFC WestAFC North vs. AFC SouthNFC East vs. NFC WestNFC North vs. NFC South


2014 NFL season, Regular season, Scheduling formula
Inter-conferenceAFC East vs. NFC NorthAFC North vs. NFC SouthAFC South vs. NFC EastAFC West vs. NFC West


2014 NFL season, Regular season, Scheduling formula
On March 4, 2014, the Buffalo Bills' official radio flagship (WGR) confirmed that the Bills Toronto Series would not take place in 2014 and that the future of the series, which was otherwise scheduled to run through the 2017 season, was not yet certain. The series was formally terminated on December 3, 2014.


2014 NFL season, Regular season, Changes to flex scheduling
The NFL introduced two major changes to the flexible scheduling procedure. First, the league would now be able to "cross-flex" games between CBS and Fox, enabling CBS to televise NFC away games (for the first time since 1993), and Fox to broadcast AFC away games (for the first time since 2011, and all-AFC matchups for the first time ever). The league could "cross-flex" some of these games before the start of, or during, the season.


2014 NFL season, Regular season, Changes to flex scheduling
The first game affected by this "cross-flexing" change was the Week One contest between the Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, which aired on Fox instead of CBS; all four of the Bills' interconference games (including their Week 5 game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field) aired on Fox, and in week 6, an all-AFC matchup, again involving the Bills (this time a division rivalry game against the New England Patriots) was moved to Fox, exacerbating financial problems at Buffalo's CBS affiliate WIVB-TV. An all-NFC matchup between the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks was given to CBS. The aforementioned Detroit Lions-Chicago Bears Thanksgiving game was also given to CBS instead of Fox.


2014 NFL season, Regular season, Changes to flex scheduling
On April 23, 2014, the league announced a second major change to the flexible scheduling procedure: games could be flexed into the NBC Sunday Night time slot as soon as week 5. NBC was allowed to flex up to two games between weeks 5 and 10, while the same rules applied for the remainder of the season.


2014 NFL season, Regular season, In-season scheduling changes
The following games were moved by way of flexible scheduling, severe weather, or for other reasons:


2014 NFL season, Postseason
The wild card round was played on January 3–4, 2015. Divisional round games were played on January 10–11. Conference Championship Games were played on January 18 with the NFC Championship Game at 3:00 pm EST on Fox and the AFC Championship Game following at 6:30 pm EST on CBS.


2014 NFL season, Postseason, Super Bowl XLIX
Super Bowl XLIX, the 49th contesting of the Super Bowl, decided the 2014 NFL champion on February 1, 2015, with the New England Patriots defeating the defending Super Bowl XLVIII champions Seattle Seahawks, who were looking to repeat, by a score of 28–24. With a controversial play call by Seattle's head coach, Pete Carroll, they decided to try to pass the ball in for a touchdown at the 1 yard line, the ball was intercepted by rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler. Thus, New England sealed the win. The game took place at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. It was televised in the U.S. by NBC with kickoff around 6:30 p.m. EST.


2014 NFL season, Pro Bowl
The Pro Bowl is the league's all-star game. On April 9, 2014, the NFL announced that the 2015 Pro Bowl would be played the week prior to the Super Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. It was broadcast in the U.S. by ESPN on Sunday, January 25, 2015. The draft format that debuted in the 2014 Pro Bowl continued with two former players, Cris Carter and Michael Irvin, drafting their players from a select list voted by the country, and without regard to league conference. Cleveland Browns CB Joe Haden was named a captain of one of the Pro Bowl rosters alongside RB DeMarco Murray of Dallas on January 15. DE J. J. Watt of Houston and WR Antonio Brown of Pittsburgh were named opposite roster captains.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Michael Sam becomes first openly gay player drafted by NFL
Michael Sam, an All-America defensive lineman from Missouri who was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2013, announced in February that he is gay. Sam was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2014 draft with the 249th overall selection. He became the first openly gay draftee to be selected in the NFL Draft and if he made an NFL roster, he would become the first openly gay player in the NFL.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Michael Sam becomes first openly gay player drafted by NFL
Sam, the Rams and the NFL were publicly congratulated upon Sam's selection by U.S. president Barack Obama who called Sam's selection "an important step forward today in our Nation’s journey." However, Sam stated after the draft that he felt he "should have gone in the top three rounds easily" and there was speculation that his announcement of his sexuality caused him to fall in the draft. Sam was the first ever SEC Defensive Player of the Year to not be selected in the first round of the draft. On the other hand, Sam's performance at the NFL Scouting Combine was widely judged as "mediocre" and at least one draft analyst assessed his odds of making an NFL roster as only "slightly better than average."


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Michael Sam becomes first openly gay player drafted by NFL
ESPN aired Sam's reaction to being drafted which included an embrace and celebratory kiss with his partner. Miami Dolphins safety Don Jones tweeted a negative reaction to the display, which caused the Dolphins to fine him and ban him from participation in off-season team activities until he undergoes sensitivity training.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Michael Sam becomes first openly gay player drafted by NFL
On August 30, Sam was cut by the Rams a few days before the regular season was to start. On September 3, the Dallas Cowboys added Sam to their practice squad; he was released from the practice squad on October 21.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Lawsuits by NFL cheerleaders
During the offseason, a major headline was many current and former cheerleaders filing lawsuits against their respective NFL teams for unfair labor practices.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Lawsuits by NFL cheerleaders
Members of the Buffalo Jills, Cincinnati Ben–Gals, Jets Flight Crew, Oakland Raiderettes, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders all filed lawsuits against their respective teams (or, in the case of the Jills, the non-profit organization that runs the Jills) for violating their respective state laws for labor practices, stating that they were required to meet certain appearance standards in both weight and make-up (at the expense of the cheerleaders) and attend mandatory unpaid practices, while being paid very little for each game, and in some cases, only receiving a lump sum payment after the season.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Lawsuits by NFL cheerleaders
One lawsuit by a Raiderette, who had a young child at home and was prompted by her husband to initiate the lawsuit, was ruled as a seasonal job in federal court and thus not subject to minimum wage laws, but still was pending in a California state court and that state's more stringent labor laws. Most controversial was the Jills' "Jiggle Test" that became public knowledge. The Jills suspended operations indefinitely in response to the lawsuit. It has been speculated that all NFL teams might drop their cheerleading squads in response to the lawsuits instead of paying their squads accordingly despite having the financial means to do so, though the Cleveland Browns are considering adding cheerleaders to the team.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Washington Redskins name controversy
On June 18, 2014, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, in a 2–1 decision, invalidated some of the trademark protections of the Washington Redskins, stating that the use of the team name "Redskins" constituted an ethnic slur. The Redskins are not required to change their name. However, if the decision is upheld on appeal (the team intends to appeal and has no intention of changing the team name), they will not be able to prevent counterfeiters from manufacturing certain knockoff Redskins' apparel.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Washington Redskins name controversy
With the Minnesota Vikings playing their first of two consecutive seasons at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium (see below), the university has asked the Vikings to keep the Washington team's name from being used in printed materials or uttered by the game announcer at the stadium. The college has also requested that the Redskins wear their throwback jerseys without the team name and logo when they visit the Vikings on November 2. University officials said that the use of the Redskins name at their stadium violates the institution's affirmative action, diversity and equal opportunity policy. Lester Bagley, the Vikings' executive vice president of public affairs, said that the team is still deciding how it will handle the college's request.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Broncos' owner Pat Bowlen relinquishes control of team
On July 23, Pat Bowlen, the Denver Broncos' owner since 1984, relinquished control of the team due to his battle with Alzheimer's disease. Bowlen has been privately battling the disease since 2009 after experiencing short-term memory loss, and has since taken a reduced role with the team, resulting in team president Joe Ellis and executive vice president/general manager John Elway making team decisions. Ellis and Elway will now assume full control of the team, though Bowlen's long-term plan is for one of his seven children to run the team in the future, preventing the Broncos from being put up for sale.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Colts' owner Jim Irsay guilty of OWI; suspended 6 games
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay was arrested on March 16 near his home in Carmel, Indiana, on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) after failing field sobriety tests. A search of Irsay's vehicle revealed "numerous prescription medication bottles containing pills" as well as almost $30,000 in cash. Preliminary charges of DUI and four counts of possession of a controlled substance were filed against Irsay, who was jailed overnight. Irsay entered a rehabilitation facility shortly after his release from jail. Irsay had undergone treatment for prescription drug addiction previously in the early 2000s. Irsay returned to the Colts shortly before the draft in May.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Colts' owner Jim Irsay guilty of OWI; suspended 6 games
In late May, Irsay was charged with two misdemeanor counts in the incident: operating a vehicle while intoxicated and operating a vehicle with a controlled substance in the body. Prosecutors allege Irsay was under the influence of oxycodone or hydrocodone, both of which are prescription opioid narcotic pain medications.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Colts' owner Jim Irsay guilty of OWI; suspended 6 games
Irsay pleaded guilty on September 2 to one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI), which is a Class C misdemeanor in Indiana. He was sentenced to one year of probation during which he is forbidden from consuming or possessing alcohol and his driving privileges were revoked for a period of one year and 40 days. He will be subject to random drug testing as a condition of his probation. In addition, the judge stipulated that any subsequent OWI charge in a five-year period will be treated as a felony.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Colts' owner Jim Irsay guilty of OWI; suspended 6 games
The NFL banned Irsay from any contact with his team for six games and also levied a fine of $500,000. He was also forbidden from doing any media interviews or making comments related to the team on social media during the suspension. It was expected that Irsay's daughter, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, would assume control of the team during his absence.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Ray Rice domestic violence suspension
On February 15, 2014, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice and his fiancée Janay Palmer were both arrested for assault after a physical altercation that took place at Revel Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Celebrity news website TMZ posted a video of Rice dragging Palmer's body out of an elevator at the casino. The Ravens issued a statement following TMZ's release of the video, calling Rice's domestic violence arrest a "serious matter."


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Ray Rice domestic violence suspension
On March 27, 2014, a grand jury indicted Rice on charges of third-degree aggravated assault, which could carry a jail sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000. Charges against Palmer were dropped. Rice and Palmer were married the day after his indictment. Rice pleaded guilty to one count of third degree aggravated assault and was accepted into a pretrial intervention program for first-time offenders on May 20. Under the terms of the plea deal, the charges would be dropped and expunged from Rice's record if he meets the conditions imposed by the judge for the next 12 months.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Ray Rice domestic violence suspension
Rice was suspended by the NFL for the first two games of the 2014 NFL season on July 25. On September 8, TMZ released footage from a camera inside the elevator in which the assault took place. The video appears to show Rice punching Palmer in the face causing Palmer to immediately fall to the ground, perhaps striking her head on the elevator's handrail on the way to the floor, and leaving her motionless. Within hours of the video's release, the Baltimore Ravens terminated Rice's contract. Shortly thereafter, Goodell announced that Rice had been suspended from the league indefinitely.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Ray Rice domestic violence suspension
Rice, along with the players' union, appealed the indefinite suspension on the grounds that a player cannot be disciplined twice for the same incident. The union requested that Goodell recuse himself from hearing the appeal (as he normally would under the league's personal conduct policy) since he will be a witness in the proceedings.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Ray Rice domestic violence suspension
In late November, Rice was reinstated. It's reported that there are four teams looking into picking up Rice for the 2015 season. Two of those teams have been identified as the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, New policy on domestic violence instituted by league
As a result of widespread criticism of the two-game suspension handed down in the Ray Rice case, which was considered too lenient by many commentators, the NFL announced a new policy on dealing with domestic violence on August 28. Under the new policy the first offense of domestic violence would be punishable by a minimum six-game suspension without pay; a second offense would result in a "lifetime" ban from the league. These rules will apply to all league personnel, including executives and owners, not just players.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, New policy on domestic violence instituted by league
A person who receives a "lifetime" ban would be eligible to petition the league for reinstatement after one year. The penalty for the first offense could be increased by a number of factors including a previous incident prior to joining the league, the use of a weapon, an act committed against a pregnant woman and the presence of a child.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Reaction to the new domestic violence policy
According to an Associated Press article on ESPN, the player's union has questioned why the NFL's domestic violence training and education program "treats all players as perpetrators." In a memo sent to the NFL Players Association members on Thursday by Executive Director DeMaurice Smith and obtained Friday by the Associated Press, the union also said the plan, "doesn't build a positive consensus to warning signs."


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Reaction to the new domestic violence policy
Smith and union special counsel Teri Patterson described two meetings this month with the league in which an NFLPA commission was briefed on the league's approach to educating players, coaches, executives, owners and NFL personnel about domestic violence. He wrote that a "good overview of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse" was presented. But "it did not address larger issues of violence in and outside of the home."


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Reaction to the new domestic violence policy
The NFL said of the "perpetrators" claim: "Nothing could be further from the truth. The presentation expressly recognizes that people in the NFL are often falsely portrayed and that the actions of a few damage the reputations of many." "What the program teaches is that everyone can and should be part of the solution," the league statement said. The union memo also said the "NFL's presentation doesn't focus on follow-ups and providing continuous resources at the clubs to address potentially violent situations as well as preventing them."


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Reaction to the new domestic violence policy
The NFL's educational program was shown to the AP on Oct. 7, and it included information from a memo sent to the 32 clubs on Sept. 18 that pointed out local resources available to all team personnel and their families. That document indicated a plan was in place to provide those resources and follow-ups for those who need it.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Reaction to the new domestic violence policy
The union memo to the players also said the NFL presentation "doesn't include any psychological information about the type of behavior that could lead to acts of violence or warning signs of negative behavior, but instead seemed to focus almost entirely on what happens after a violent incident has been committed."


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Reaction to the new domestic violence policy
The league's plan calls for experts who work in the psychological space to offer a research perspective of societal issues, recognized that these are intimate crimes that impact people in many ways. The program calls for each club to have such experts available to the teams, or what NFL calls "the entire club family." That can include a clinician, human resource workers, player engagement executives, security personnel and a mental health professional who works with the club.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Reaction to the new domestic violence policy
The union added that although the league indicated that the trainers for this educational program will be experts, the NFL did not list any specific names, titles or relevant backgrounds of the people they intend to utilize for the training. Previously, the NFL announced an advisory group that includes authorities in the domestic violence area such as Tony Porter, Beth E. Richie, Rita Smith, Jane Randel and Lisa Friel. Another NFLPA observation was: "Too much reliance was placed on using former players to participate in the training.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Reaction to the new domestic violence policy
While one former players possess the right qualifications and experience to train personnel on these issues, the league's inability to articulate who these players are raises concerns that call into question the effectiveness of the training." Many of the player ambassadors, as the NFL calls them, have personal testimonies around these issues and might be helpful, but they would not deliver the education program. The union added: "The league stated that at each presentation, they will distribute information on suggested local (team city/state specific) resources for domestic violence and sexual assault prevention specialists, licensed club mental health clinicians, club human resource directors and director of Player Engagement.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Reaction to the new domestic violence policy
The NFLPA commission members recommended that a broader net of resources be included, such as faith-based counselors and male-focused community organizations, etc. The NFL did not provide any explanation as to why one resource was chosen over another or how those resources would be specifically integrated into the workplace, if at all." In response to the union memo, the NFL said: "We were pleased to meet with the union and are working to incorporate their suggestions into the presentations is the start of a process of education that will continue in future years."


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Adrian Peterson child abuse arrest and benched
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was indicted by a Houston grand jury on a felony charge of injury to a child on September 12. The charge stemmed from a beating with a tree branch, or switch, which Peterson allegedly administered to his 4-year-old son as a disciplinary measure. Peterson turned himself in for arrest following the indictment.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Adrian Peterson child abuse arrest and benched
The Vikings announced following the arrest that Peterson would be deactivated and would not play in the team's game that weekend. The following Monday the team announced that Peterson would be allowed to rejoin the team. The team reversed direction two days later and placed Peterson on the inactive list pending resolution of the charges.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Greg Hardy found guilty of domestic violence; placed on leave
Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy was arrested on charges of domestic violence after an altercation with his girlfriend which took place on May 13. In July, Hardy was found guilty of assaulting a female and communicating threats and sentenced to 18 months of probation in a trial before a district judge. Hardy immediately requested a trial by jury which under North Carolina's legal system means that the terms of the sentencing are put on hold pending the jury trial.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Greg Hardy found guilty of domestic violence; placed on leave
Because the legal process had not yet played out, Hardy was not disciplined immediately by either the league or the Panthers and he was allowed to play in the team's first game. However, following the outcry surrounding the Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson situations, Hardy was de-activated for the Panther's second game and was subsequently placed on the inactive list until the charges are adjudicated. Hardy continued to get paid, but was not allowed to have any contact with the Panthers organization.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Buffalo Bills
In July 2014 it was reported that Jon Bon Jovi and the principals of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (a consortium between Bills Toronto Series lessee Edward Rogers III and Larry Tanenbaum) had joined forces as equal partners to bid on the Buffalo Bills, with Bon Jovi the proposed controlling owner. It was also reported that the group had conducted a feasibility study in early 2013 on the construction of an NFL stadium in Toronto.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Buffalo Bills
Following protests by Buffalo area fans against the Toronto group, including radio stations banning Bon Jovi's music, Bon Jovi wrote a public letter to Bills fans saying that the group's objective was to "make the Bills successful in Buffalo" and committing to work with all levels of government "to identify the best possible site in the Buffalo area for a new stadium", though it noticeably did not promise to keep the team in Buffalo. The group claimed it had plans to meet with developers in the Buffalo region to discuss the construction of a new stadium.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Buffalo Bills
However, there was widespread skepticism about the sincerity of the group's pledge to keep the team in Buffalo, with a sports franchise relocation expert quoted as saying that if they did intend to move the club, "I would suggest never saying that publicly" due to the legal implications of selling the team to a group planning on relocating it.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Buffalo Bills
The Toronto group was one of four known to have submitted a preliminary bid for the franchise. The other groups, which intend to keep the club in Buffalo, were: eventual winner Terrence Pegula, owner of the Buffalo Sabres; Donald Trump, who formerly owned the New Jersey Generals; and Tom Golisano, former owner of the Buffalo Sabres. Trump described his chances of being the successful bidder as "very, very unlikely because I'm not going to do something totally stupid."


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Buffalo Bills
Other Canadians who explored purchasing the team include John Bitove, who was co-founder the Toronto Raptors, and the family of Francesco Aquilini, who owns the Vancouver Canucks, though it is unknown if they intended to move the team. Though Tanenbaum and Rogers had significant wealth, it had been reported that the Toronto group's bid was limited by Bon Jovi's resources and his desire to be the controlling partner; NFL regulations require the controlling partner to have a 30% equity stake. Los Angeles-based interests largely stayed away from the Bills, citing concerns over the stadium's lease and the fear that politicians will place intense scrutiny on any person who attempts to move the Bills out of Buffalo; multibillionaire Eli Broad declined to place a bid on the team for those reasons.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Buffalo Bills
The sale was completed on September 9, to the Pegulas for a reported amount of 1.4 billion dollars which made the Bills purchase the most expensive in league history. The sale was done in time for the Pegulas to be unanimously approved at the NFL's owners meeting on October 6–8. Terry Pegula, owns the Buffalo Sabres and development projects in the Buffalo area. The Pegulas intend to keep the team in Western New York for the long term.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Buffalo Bills
Any possible relocation had one of the other bidders won (or if Pegula resells the team to anyone in the future) could not happen under the terms of the Bills' current lease on Ralph Wilson Stadium until the end of the 2019 season and would have, at least on paper, required league endorsement (whether the league could, in and of itself, stop a relocation is unclear; Al Davis moved the Oakland Raiders to Los Angeles in 1982 against the league's wishes).


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Buffalo Bills
And a relocation fee, which had been speculated to be $100–$200 million, could be charged by the NFL, though this could be offset by an increase in franchise value in a larger market. Goodell has said the two votes would be held separately. Of the owners who made their position known, Jerry Jones was believed to have been in favor of the Bills moving to Toronto, while John Mara, Robert Wood Johnson IV, the Green Bay Packers Board of Directors, and Shahid Khan indicated they would have most likely opposed moving the team.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Oakland Raiders
On July 29, 2014, reports surfaced that the Oakland Raiders were considering relocating to San Antonio in 2015 after owner Mark Davis met with San Antonio civic leaders the week before at the encouragement of former Raider Cliff Branch, which Davis was in town to visit for a local ceremony for Branch. The Raiders themselves had acknowledged Davis being in San Antonio for the event for Branch before news broke about a possible relocation, but wouldn't confirm nor deny that Davis also mentioned being there discussing moving his team east.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Oakland Raiders
Among the two existing NFL teams in Texas, Houston Texans' owner Bob McNair and Dallas Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones—the latter of which has San Antonio as part of his territorial rights and previously voiced support of an NFL team moving there when the New Orleans Saints temporarily played in San Antonio in 2005 due to damages to the Superdome following Hurricane Katrina—both favor an NFL team playing in San Antonio.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Oakland Raiders
Though San Antonio is a smaller market than the San Francisco Bay Area, the Raiders wouldn't be sharing the market with another NFL team, and would only compete with the NBA's San Antonio Spurs among major sports teams. Additionally, the Raiders would use the Alamodome as a temporary home until an NFL-specific stadium could be constructed. The team's lease at the O.co Coliseum was expiring after the 2014 season.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, Oakland Raiders
On September 3, 2014, the city of Oakland reached a tentative deal to build a new football stadium in Oakland, which would result in the Coliseum being demolished; Davis did not respond to the proposal, which would also force the Oakland Athletics to build a new stadium of their own (which they have yet to agree to do), while Alameda County (co-owners of the current stadium) indicated they would probably not support the plan. Davis, in the meantime, continued to negotiate with San Antonio officials and had team officials scout the Alamodome to determine if it would be suitable for the NFL.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, St. Louis Rams
The Rams and the St. Louis CVC began negotiating deals to get the Rams home stadium, the Edward Jones Dome into the top 25 percent of stadiums in the league (i.e., top eight teams of the thirty two NFL teams in reference to luxury boxes, amenities and overall fan experience). Under the terms of the lease agreement, the St. Louis CVC was required to make modifications to the Edward Jones Dome in 2005. However, then-owner, Georgia Frontiere, waived the provision in exchange for cash that served as a penalty for the city's noncompliance.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, St. Louis Rams
The City of St. Louis, in subsequent years, made changes to the score board and increased the natural lighting by replacing panels with windows, although the overall feel remained dark. The minor renovations which totaled about $70 million did not bring the stadium within the specifications required under the lease agreement. On February 1, 2013, an Arbitrator (3 panel) selected to preside over the arbitration process found that the Edward Jones Dome was not in the top 25% of all NFL venues as required under the terms of the lease agreement between the Rams and the CVC. The Arbitrator (3 panel) further found that the estimated $700 million in proposed renovations by the Rams was not unreasonable given the terms of the lease agreement. Finally, the City of St. Louis was ordered to pay the Rams attorneys' fees which totaled a reported $2 million.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, St. Louis Rams
Publicly, city, county and state officials expressed no interest in providing further funding to the Edward Jones Dome in light of those entities, as well as taxpayers, continuing to owe approximately $300 million more on that facility. As such, if a resolution is not reached by the end of the 2014–2015 NFL season and the City of St. Louis remains non-compliant in its obligations under the lease agreement, the Rams would be free to nullify their lease and relocate.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, St. Louis Rams
On January 31, 2014, both the Los Angeles Times and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Rams owner Stan Kroenke purchased 60 acres of land adjacent to the Forum in Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California. It was, by the most conservative estimates, sufficient land on which an NFL-proper stadium may be constructed. The purchase price was rumored to have been between US$90–100 million. Commissioner Roger Goodell represented that Mr. Kroenke informed the league of the purchase. As an NFL owner, any purchase of land in which a potential stadium could be built must be disclosed to the league.


2014 NFL season, Notable events, St. Louis Rams
This development further fueled rumors that the Rams intend to return its management and football operations to Southern California. The land was initially targeted for a Walmart Supercenter but Walmart could not get the necessary permits to build the center. Kroenke is married to Ann Walton Kroenke who is a member of the Walton family and many of Kroenke's real estate deals have involved Walmart properties.


2014 NFL season, Awards, Individual season awards
The 4th Annual NFL Honors, saluting the best players and plays from 2014 season, was held at Phoenix Symphony Hall in Phoenix, Arizona on January 31, 2015.


2014 NFL season, Awards, All-Pro team
The following players were named first team All-Pro by the Associated Press:


2014 NFL season, Awards, Players of the week/month
The following were named the top performers during the 2014 season:


2014 NFL season, Head coach/front office personnel changes, Front office, Offseason
Dennis Hickey was hired to replace Ireland on January 27. He had been the director of player personnel of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since 2011. Prior to that he had been the Bucs' director of college scouting after starting with the team as a scout.


2014 NFL season, Media
2014 was the first season under a nine-year television contract with CBS (almost all AFC afternoon away games), Fox (almost all NFC afternoon away games), NBC (Sunday Night Football games, Thanksgiving night game, and the Kickoff game); and an eight-year contract with ESPN (Monday Night Football games). Among the changes from the previous television contracts, NBC broadcast a Divisional playoff game, and their Spanish language sister network Mun2 simulcasted select NBC games, with Spanish language graphics and play-by-play during the Thanksgiving game; Mun2 changed their branding to the more sports-centric NBC Universo with their Spanish simulcast of Super Bowl XLIX. The contract also allowed ESPN to televise a Wild Card playoff game (which, like other NFL games carried on cable, was simulcast on an over-the-air station in each of the team's primary market). In addition, ESPN began exclusively televising all Pro Bowls for the next eight seasons.


2014 NFL season, Media
Under a new, one-year contract, CBS also took over the production of Thursday Night Football and aired the first eight games of the package, plus half of a Week 16 Saturday doubleheader, in simulcast with NFL Network. The arrangement was meant to bring more prominence and higher production values to TNF, which had historically hosted the league's least-watched primetime games. As part of the arrangement, CBS affiliates were given the right of first refusal to air the required local simulcasts of TNF games solely broadcast elsewhere by NFL Network. The agreement was renewed for the 2015 season.


2014 NFL season, Media
CBS made several personnel changes following the retirements of Don Criqui, Marv Albert, and Dan Dierdorf from the NFL broadcast booth. Brian Anderson and Tom McCarthy joined as play-by-play announcers, while Chris Simms (Phil Simms' son) and Trent Green joined as color commentators, both of whom come over from Fox Sports. CBS used a three-man announcing crew of Andrew Catalon, Steve Beuerlein and Steve Tasker on select regional NFL games, a departure from the typical practice of reserving three-man crews for national and high-profile contests. Mike Carey joined the broadcast team as the network's in-house rules expert. Jim Nantz and Phil Simms handled play-by-play for the Thursday Night Football games. There were also changes to The NFL Today, as Shannon Sharpe and Dan Marino both left the panel, replaced by Bart Scott and Tony Gonzalez.


2014 NFL season, Media
On Fox, the most notable personnel change was the demotion of Pam Oliver, the network's top sideline reporter for nearly 20 years, to the second broadcast team as Erin Andrews took over the spot on the first broadcast team. 2014 was Oliver's last year covering NFL games for Fox. Other personnel changes include the additions of Donovan McNabb, David Diehl, Kirk Morrison, and Brendan Ayanbadejo to Fox's stable of color commentators, replacing outgoing commentators Tom McCarthy, Brian Billick and Tim Ryan. Brady Quinn also joined the Fox stable. Also briefly joining Fox's play-by-play stable was UFC announcer Mike Goldberg; Goldberg's time doing NFL telecasts was cut short after one game, and he was replaced by Tim Brando, who came over from CBS.


2014 NFL season, Television viewers and ratings, Most watched regular season games
*Note — Late DH matchups listed in table are the matchups that were shown to the largest percentage of the market.


2014 NHK Trophy
The 2014 NHK Trophy was the final event of six in the 2014–15 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, a senior-level international invitational competition series. It was held at the Namihaya Dome in Osaka on November 28–30. Medals were awarded in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. Skaters earned points toward qualifying for the 2014–15 Grand Prix Final.


2014 NHL Entry Draft
The 2014 NHL Entry Draft was the 52nd NHL Entry Draft. The draft was held on June 27–28, 2014 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The top three selections were Aaron Ekblad, Sam Reinhart and Leon Draisaitl, going to the Florida Panthers, Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers, respectively. This draft featured the first selection of a player from Oceania with Australian Nathan Walker, being selected by the Washington Capitals in the third-round.


2014 NHL Entry Draft, Eligibility
Ice hockey players born between January 1, 1994, and September 15, 1996, are eligible for selection in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Additionally, un-drafted, non-North American players born in 1993 are eligible for the draft; and those players who were drafted in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, but not signed by an NHL team and who were born after June 30, 1994, are also eligible to re-enter the draft.


2014 NHL Entry Draft, Draft lottery
Since the 2012–13 season, all 14 teams not qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs have a "weighted" chance at winning the first overall selection. The Florida Panthers won the 2014 draft lottery that took place on April 15, 2014, thus moving them from the second-overall pick to the first-overall pick.


2014 NHL Entry Draft, Selections by round
The order of the 2014 Entry Draft is listed below.


2014 NHL Stadium Series
The 2014 NHL Stadium Series (branded the 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series) was a series of four outdoor regular season National Hockey League (NHL) games played during the 2013–14 season. This series is distinct from the NHL Winter Classic and NHL Heritage Classic outdoor games.


2014 NHL Stadium Series
The Stadium Series games consisted of: the Los Angeles Kings against the Anaheim Ducks at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on January 25, 2014; the New Jersey Devils against the New York Rangers at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx of New York City on January 26; the New York Islanders against the Rangers at Yankee Stadium on January 29; and the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Chicago Blackhawks at Soldier Field in Chicago on March 1, 2014.


2014 NHL Stadium Series
The Stadium Series was staged in between the season's two other outdoor games: the Detroit Red Wings hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2014 NHL Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on January 1, 2014; and the Vancouver Canucks hosting the Ottawa Senators in the 2014 Heritage Classic at BC Place in Vancouver on March 2. After the conclusion of their two Stadium Series games, the Rangers had played four outdoor games, the most of any NHL team, having previously participated in the 2012 NHL Winter Classic and the 1991 exhibition game in Las Vegas.


2014 NHL Stadium Series, Dodger Stadium (January 25)
The first game of the series at Dodger Stadium featured performances by Kiss and Five for Fighting before the game and between the periods, and the opening ceremonies included Vin Scully and Wayne Gretzky.


2014 NHL Stadium Series, Dodger Stadium (January 25)
The Anaheim Ducks shut-out the Los Angeles Kings in the inaugural Stadium Series game, 3–0, with Jonas Hiller making 36 saves.


2014 NHL Stadium Series, Yankee Stadium games
The second and third Stadium Series games were played at Yankee Stadium, when the Rangers played the Devils and the Islanders on January 26 and 29, 2014, respectively. The Rangers were considered the away team for both games; their home arena, Madison Square Garden, receives tax-exempt status, but only if the Rangers do not "cease playing" home games at MSG,  generally interpreted as playing any "home" game outside of MSG.


2014 NHL Stadium Series, Yankee Stadium games, January 26
The second game of the 2014 NHL Stadium Series took place on January 26, 2014, and was part one of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium in New York City, featuring the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers. This was the NHL's first outdoor game in New York City. The Devils were the designated home team for this game.


2014 NHL Stadium Series, Yankee Stadium games, January 26
The game was originally supposed to start at 12:30 PM, but it was delayed for over an hour due to sun glare and it started at 1:38 PM.


2014 NHL Stadium Series, Yankee Stadium games, January 26
The New York Rangers won 7–3 behind Henrik Lundqvist's 19 saves. After being down 3–2 in the first period, the Rangers stormed back and romped over the Devils by scoring four unanswered goals in the second period and adding another goal by Derek Stepan on a penalty shot in the third period. Mats Zuccarello netted two goals for the Rangers. Also scoring for the Rangers included Rick Nash, Marc Staal and Carl Hagelin. Patrik Elias scored two goals for the Devils and Travis Zajac scored one goal.


2014 NHL Stadium Series, Yankee Stadium games, January 29
The third game of the 2014 NHL Stadium Series took place on January 29, 2014, and was the second part of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium in New York City, featuring the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers, who played their second straight game outdoors. The Islanders were the designated home team for this game.


2014 NHL Stadium Series, Yankee Stadium games, January 29
The Rangers won the game 2–1 after overcoming a 1–0 deficit in the second period. Henrik Lundqvist made 30 saves in the game, earning the victory for the Rangers. Benoit Pouliot and Daniel Carcillo scored for the Rangers, while Brock Nelson scored the Islanders' lone goal.


2014 NHL Stadium Series, Soldier Field (March 1)
The fourth and final game of the 2014 NHL Stadium Series took place on March 1, 2014, at Soldier Field in Chicago, featuring the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Chicago Blackhawks. The game concluded Hockey Weekend Across America.


2014 NHL Stadium Series, Soldier Field (March 1)
Chicago defeated Pittsburgh 5–1, with Corey Crawford making 31 saves. Jonathan Toews scored two goals for Chicago. Chicago's other three goals were scored by Patrick Sharp, Kris Versteeg and Bryan Bickell. James Neal scored Pittsburgh's lone goal.


2014 NHL Stadium Series, Uniforms
Each team wore specially-designed uniforms for the event, except for the Devils, who wore throwback uniforms in the team's original red and green color scheme. The Islanders unveiled their Stadium Series jersey on November 27, 2013. The Ducks and Kings jointly unveiled their Stadium Series jerseys on December 3. The Penguins unveiled their Stadium Series jersey on December 13. The Blackhawks and Rangers unveiled their Stadium Series jerseys on December 20. Penguins goalie Marc-André Fleury wore a Pittsburgh Steelers inspired goalie mask for the Penguins-Blackhawks game.


2014 NHL Stadium Series, Reality television series
The inaugural Stadium Series was the basis for a seven-part documentary called NHL Revealed: A Season Like No Other, premiering January 22, 2014, on the NBC Sports Network, and debuting in Canada the next day on CBC. The series was meant to differ from the pre-existing HBO 24/7: Road to the NHL Winter Classic with an added focus on star players' preparations for the 2014 Olympic Tournament in Sochi, Russia, of which NBCSN and CBC were major broadcasters.


2014 NHL Winter Classic
The 2014 NHL Winter Classic was an outdoor regular season National Hockey League (NHL) game, part of the Winter Classic series, played on January 1, 2014 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The visiting Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Detroit Red Wings, 3–2, in a shootout to move past the Red Wings in the Atlantic Division. The game was televised nationally in Canada on CBC and nationally in the United States on NBC. The game set an NHL attendance record of 105,491, surpassing the previous record set during the 2008 NHL Winter Classic.


2014 NHL Winter Classic
The game was originally planned to be played on January 1, 2013, as the 2013 NHL Winter Classic, but was postponed until the following year due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout. The 2014 Winter Classic was one of six outdoor games held during the 2013–14 NHL season, which included the new 2014 NHL Stadium Series of four games and the 2014 Heritage Classic. These six games served as the NHL's premiere showcase games for the season as there was no All Star Game due to the 2014 Winter Olympics.


2014 NHL Winter Classic
The event was the first Winter Classic to be held at a stadium dedicated solely to college football. It was also the first whose festivities were split between two locations, as the NHL Alumni Showdown and other side events were held on a second rink constructed at Comerica Park in downtown Detroit.


2014 NHL Winter Classic, Background, Initial announcement
After the success of "The Big Chill at the Big House" at Michigan Stadium on December 11, 2010, where Michigan's hockey team defeated Michigan State University, 5–0, outdoors in front of 104,173 spectators, interest began in also holding an NHL Winter Classic game there. On February 8, 2012, the University of Michigan Board of Regents authorized athletic director Dave Brandon to negotiate a contract with the NHL regarding the Winter Classic. On February 9, 2012, the NHL announced at Comerica Park that the 2013 Classic would take place at Michigan Stadium, while the Great Lakes Invitational would take place at Comerica Park. Some OHL and AHL games were also slated to be played at Comerica Park.


2014 NHL Winter Classic, Background, Initial announcement
The NHL Alumni Showdown coaches were named on July 26, 2012. Former Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman along with assistant Barry Smith were to coach the Red Wings' alumni team. The pair of Bowman and Smith coached three Stanley Cup wins in Detroit. Former Maple Leaf coach Pat Quinn was to coach the Maple Leafs' alumni team, along with Red Kelly, Hall of Fame player and former Maple Leafs' coach.


2014 NHL Winter Classic, Background, Initial announcement
The Red Wings-Maple Leafs matchup, an Original Six era rivalry, was the first time a United States city's team and a Canadian city's team faced each other in an outdoor NHL game. U.S. teams had not competed in the outdoor Heritage Classic games since their inception in 2003, and Canadian teams had not played in the Winter Classic, which the Heritage Classic spawned in 2009.


2014 NHL Winter Classic, Background, Initial announcement
The unexpectedly high television viewership from the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals (which featured the Vancouver Canucks against the Boston Bruins) prompted the league and NBC to reconsider the conventional wisdom that a contest featuring a Canadian team would not draw as well as two U.S. teams in the United States. (NBC ratings do not count the network's millions of Canadian viewers.) It was this reconsideration that prompted an Ontario-Michigan Winter Classic.


2014 NHL Winter Classic, Background, Cancellation and postponement
On November 2, 2012, the NHL cancelled the game due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout. The date for the cancellation came as a result of a deadline in the league's contract with Michigan Stadium, in which the league would have incurred additional expenses if they cancelled after November 2. During the announcement, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly stated that the 2014 Winter Classic and associated events would be awarded to Ann Arbor and Detroit and would also feature the Maple Leafs and Red Wings. The NHL then officially announced the game on April 7, 2013.


2014 NHL Winter Classic, Background, Cancellation and postponement
A divisional re-alignment that occurred the preceding offseason also made the Red Wings and Maple Leafs divisional rivals in the new Atlantic Division, which was renamed from the Northeast Division (the old Atlantic Division became the Metropolitan Division). Had the Winter Classic been played in 2013, it would have been the only meeting between the teams, as both were in separate conferences at the time (as division rivals, they can meet 4-5 times a year, ultimately playing 30 times over a seven-year period).


2014 NHL Winter Classic, Game summary
The game remained scoreless until Daniel Alfredsson scored for the Red Wings at 13:14 of the second period. James van Riemsdyk tied the game for the Leafs with 37 seconds left in the second period. Early in the third, Tyler Bozak gave Toronto the lead. Justin Abdelkader then tied the game with 5:22 in regulation. The game eventually went into a shootout, where Bozak's goal proved to be the difference.


2014 NHL Winter Classic, Game summary
Number in parenthesis represents the player's total in goals or assists to that point of the season


2014 NHL Winter Classic, Team rosters, Liles trade
Despite taking the warmup and initially being pencilled in as a healthy scratch, John-Michael Liles found out early in the game that he had in fact been traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, alongside Dennis Robertson, for Tim Gleason. Gleason made his Leafs debut on January 7, 2014. Liles scored against his former team two days after Gleason's debut in a 6-1 Carolina win.


2014 NHL Winter Classic, Television ratings
The combined average television viewership for the 2014 NHL Winter Classic on NBC in the U.S., and CBC and RDS in Canada was 8.234 million viewers in North America, becoming the most watched regular season game ever. The previous highest combined average television viewership was 6.6 million viewers for the 2011 NHL Winter Classic. The 4.404 million average viewers for NBC's broadcast in the U.S. was the second-largest audience for an NHL regular season game since 1975.


2014 NHL Winter Classic, Television ratings
The 3.57 million average viewers for CBC's broadcast in Canada was the largest audience ever for an NHL regular season game in Canadian broadcast history. The game garnered a 2.5 rating, tying the 2009 NHL Winter Classic as the highest-rated NHL regular season game since 1975. The rating and viewership for the game were up 19% and 18%, respectively, compared to the 2012 NHL Winter Classic.


2014 NHL Winter Classic, Entertainment
Musical guests for the 2014 Winter Classic included The Zac Brown Band and Mayer Hawthorne.


2014 NHL Winter Classic, Hockeytown Winter Festival
Comerica Park served as the venue for the 2013 Hockeytown Winter Festival, a two-week event that took place in Detroit leading up to the 2014 NHL Winter Classic. As part of this event, on December 27–28, the 2013 Great Lakes Invitational four-game tournament was held, with Western Michigan emerging as champion over in-state rival Michigan Tech. On December 29, two OHL games were played, the first between the Windsor Spitfires and the Saginaw Spirit, and the second between the London Knights and the Plymouth Whalers. These were the first outdoor regular season games for the OHL.


2014 NHL Winter Classic, Hockeytown Winter Festival
The Spitfires won the first game 6–5, while a shootout was required for the second game, with the Whalers getting the 2–1 win. On December 30, in front of 20,337 fans, the AHL affiliates of the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maples Leafs, the Grand Rapids Griffins and the Toronto Marlies played to a shootout, with the Marlies holding the 4–3 edge. This was the seventh outdoor AHL game.


2014 NHL Winter Classic, Alumni Showdown
As part of the Hockeytown Winter Festival, two consecutive alumni games were played between former players of the Red Wings and the Maple Leafs on December 31. The Detroit Red Wings swept the doubleheader, winning the first alumni game 5–4, and the second alumni game 6–5, following a shootout, in front of 33,425 in attendance at Comerica Park.


2014 NHL Winter Classic, Alumni Showdown
In the first alumni game of the doubleheader, Jiri Fischer scored the first goal of the game on a pass from Jason Woolley just 1 minute, 20 seconds into the game. Less than one minute later, Kevin Miller's goal gave the Red Wings a 2–0 lead. The Leafs then got goals from Stew Gavin and Todd Warriner, to tie the game at 2–2. Petr Klima then gave the Red Wings a one-goal lead when he scored on a pass from Martin Lapointe with 4:04 left in the first period.


2014 NHL Winter Classic, Alumni Showdown
In the second period, Pat Verbeek's goal from Miller and Mathieu Schneider gave the Red Wings a 4–2 lead with 15:40 left in the second. Aaron Ward scored the eventual game-winner from Fischer and Jimmy Carson with 11:50 left before the Maple Leafs mounted a comeback on goals by Brad May, and Tom Fergus who made it a one-goal game with 2:31 remaining in the second period. The Leafs pulled their goalie for the extra attacker with a minute left.


2014 NHL Winter Classic, Alumni Showdown
Then, Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman sent 74-year-old Red Berenson, Michigan's head coach, to take the face off with 14.3 seconds left. Berenson was one of two players who participated in the Alumni Showdown who actually started his NHL career in the Original Six era. The other was 68-year-old center Mike Walton, who began his career with the Leafs in 1965.


2014 NHL Winter Classic, Alumni Showdown
Prior to the second alumni game of the doubleheader, former linemates Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay dropped the first puck in a ceremonial faceoff between former captains Steve Yzerman of the Red Wings and Darryl Sittler of the Maple Leafs. Vladimir Konstantinov was then helped onto the ice for a rare Russian Five reunion with his former teammates, Sergei Fedorov, Viacheslav Fetisov, Vyacheslav Kozlov and Igor Larionov. Joe Kocur honored his late Bruise Brother by wearing Bob Probert's number 24 in the second alumni game.


2014 NHL Winter Classic, Alumni Showdown
In the second alumni game, goals by Doug Brown, Chris Chelios, Sergei Fedorov, Nicklas Lidstrom and Brendan Shanahan gave the Red Wings a 5–1 lead early in the second period. Three straight unanswered goals from Shayne Corson, Tie Domi and Steve Thomas cut the Red Wings' lead to one goal. Bryan McCabe then scored with two seconds left in regulation, to send the game to a shootout. During the shootout, Tomas Holmstrom scored Detroit's lone goal, to give them the 6–5 victory.


2014 NHL Winter Classic, Alumni Showdown, Alumni showdown rosters, Game 1
Detroit Red WingsCoaches: Scotty Bowman and Barry Smith. Ambassadors: Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay and Vladimir Konstantinov.


2014 NHL Winter Classic, Alumni Showdown, Alumni showdown rosters, Game 2
Detroit Red WingsCoaches: Scotty Bowman and Barry Smith. Ambassadors: Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay and Vladimir Konstantinov.


2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
The 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Season was announced on August 29, 2013.