om the Browns. "Im sure another team wouldnt

NEW YORK -- The lockout of Major League Soccers referees has ended following an agreement on a five-year labour contract. The Professional Referee Organization, which manages game officials for the U.S. Soccer Federation and MLS, and the Professional Soccer Referee Association, announced the agreement Thursday. Replacements had been used for the first two weekends of MLS games. The PSRA was certified by the National Labor Relations Board last May to represent referees, assistant referees and fourth officials working MLS games. The sides bargained since July, and the lockout began a day ahead of MLS openers on March 7. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service entered talks, and a tentative agreement was reached Tuesday night that was ratified by the union membership and approved by PROs executive board. "First contracts sometimes pose difficult challenges as the parties seek to define the parameters of a new formal relationship," FMCS acting director Scot L. Beckenbaugh said in a statement. The agreement runs until Jan. 15, 2019. Lucas Middlebrook, a PRSA lawyer, said the deal includes "substantially better" compensation and "a number of non-economic work rule protections such as a just-cause standard for certain disciplinary matters and standardization of fitness testing. "In addition, the officials now have a contract protecting important quality-of-life items such as travel standards, vacation time and advance notice of match assignments," he said in an email. Nike Shox Shoes Australia . PETERSBURG, Fla. Nike Shoes Wholesale Australia . The right-hander pitched into the seventh inning and boosted Cincinnatis struggling offence by hitting a double and scoring as the Reds ended a seven-game losing streak by beating the Atlanta Braves 1-0 Saturday night. http://www.cheapnikeshoxaustralia.com/. - Mike Zimmer has brought a demanding style to the Minnesota Vikings. Nike Shox Australia Online .twitter.com/TeZD3KOvlA — Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) September 24, 2014 Sorry for the delay, we just got back from lunch at Papa Vons #NBAFastFood pic. Nike Shox Clearance Australia .Y. - The NFL has fined Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch $20,000 for making an obscene gesture during last Sundays NFC championship game, a person with knowledge of the fine told The Associated Press on Thursday.BEREA, Ohio - Browns Pro Bowl wide receiver Josh Gordon called his yearlong NFL suspension the "worst experience I had in my life" but vowed to come back a better person once hes allowed to play again. Gordon, who hasnt spoken to local media members since April, did an extensive interview with ondecker.com in which he claims hes not addicted to drugs and believes his case is affecting the possibility the NFL will change its drug policy. During the interview, Gordon maintains he failed a drug test for marijuana because he was exposed to secondhand smoke. Before his positive test, Gordon said he was clean and had passed 70 tests. He denied having a drug problem. "Definitely not," he said. "In this case I was exposed to it from secondhand and prior to Ive been drug free and been staying that way. This incident has been causing a backlash of negative attention and negative media of me being an addict or junkie or using drugs terribly too much, which is definitely not the case. Id definitely like to have that out in the open and be clear with that for sure." The 23-year-old said learning he had been suspended shook him deeply. "I was definitely upset, heartbroken because you wont able to play ultimately for a full year," he said. "You get emotional, you get depressed. You touch all of the emotions I believe at once. It was definitely a dark period of time for me. Definitely the worst experience I had in my life for sure, having your livelihood possibly taken away so now were just trying to turn it into a positive and take the best things out of it we can." Gordon believes his case is part of the negotiations taking place between the league and the players union for a revamped drug policy. The NFLPA has delayed a vote on the leagues proposal for changes that potentially could implement HGH testing. Gordon, who was suspended two games last season, feels his muddled situation has partly provided an impetus for change. "I do believe my situation had a lot to ddo with it," he said, "for the mere fact I guess the disparity and controversy with the policy and how close it was.dddddddddddd It somewhat made me the poster child for advancing into a new, a different policy. Im sure its a good thing and a bad thing as well. Sad I had to be the example for it as well. Its good to see, I guess, progression made in the league and that theyre doing something about it." Gordon acknowledged checking into a rehab clinic in California following a drunken driving arrest in July. He said the clinic found that he "wasnt addicted to anything." As Gordons saga has dragged on, several of his teammates are holding out hope hell be reinstated or have his suspension reduced. "Yeah, we have hope alive for that," safety Donte Whitner said. "You always want that. He was our best player on offence. He was the leading receiver in the National Football League last year. That would be a huge boost for us if he does come back. If not, we still have guys that can make plays. We hope for the best. Prepare for the worst." Gordon said hes grateful for the support hes received from the Browns. "Im sure another team wouldnt mind letting me go or cut me or something like that, but they believed in me and knew that there was something more to my character not only from the negative but more so than the positive they saw in me and they wanted to stick with me," he said. "So I appreciate them for that." Gordon led the league in receiving yards last season, when he established himself as one of the leagues elite playmakers. Hes determined to come back, and when he does, Gordon intends to be better than ever — on and off the field. "Im looking forward to not letting anyone down, myself included," he said. "I think I can go above and beyond expectations and be a figure head in the community and be something for Cleveland to be proud of." ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '