suspension.Internally, the Broncos have

MINNEAPOLIS -- The University of Minnesota football team is threatening to boycott one of the nations top second-tier bowl games over the suspension of 10 players accused of participating in a sexual assault.Prosecutors decided there was not enough evidence to file criminal charges, and the players thought the matter was behind them. But a separate school investigation concluded Wednesday that the athletes violated a policy adopted last year that defines sexual assault as anything without a clear and unambiguous expression of consent.Now, less than two weeks before the Golden Gophers scheduled Dec. 27 Holiday Bowl appearance against Washington State, the walkout threatens to upend the San Diego game.On Thursday, the entire team gathered to tell reporters they will not practice or play unless the suspensions are revoked. Several players also are facing possible expulsion.All these kids reputations are destroyed, senior quarterback Mitch Leidner said. Their names are destroyed. Its extremely difficult to get back, and its very unfair for them, and thats why were sticking together through this thing.In a joint statement issued Friday, university President Eric Kaler and athletic director Mark Coyle called the suspensions a values-based decision, not a legal judgment.But we can tell you that certain behavior is simply unacceptable and antithetical to our institutional values. We support Gopher Athletics decision because this is much bigger than football, the statement said.Kaler and Coyle met with a group of football players Friday night, the university said, as they tried to find common ground. But there were no decisions immediately announced when the meeting concluded.Sexual misconduct already has been a sensitive subject for the university and for its athletics department. Former athletic director Norwood Teague resigned in August 2015 amid allegations of sexual harassment. His replacement, Coyle, was brought in with orders not to tolerate such behavior and played a key role in the decision to suspend the players.University officials have declined to say why the players were suspended or provide any details of the internal investigation, citing student privacy rules. But an attorney for several of the suspended players and the father of one of them confirmed the action was taken in connection with an alleged sexual assault in an apartment near campus in the early hours of Sept. 2, after the Gophers won their season-opener.According to police reports, the woman who made the complaint attended a few parties before ending up in the off-campus apartment of players Carlton Djam and Tamarion Johnson. The reports said she accompanied Djam and a male whose name was redacted to Djams room, where she had sex with both of them at the same time.After the unnamed male left, she said Tamarion Johnson entered the room and that she had sex with him, too. She said she remembered seeing several people watching.She described it as a line of people, like they were waiting for their turn ... She recalls yelling for them to stop sending people in the room because she couldnt handle it, one of the reports said.The woman said she recalled at least three other men forcing themselves on her, including players Dior Johnson and Ray Buford Jr. She told police the sexual contact between her and Djam and the unnamed man may have been consensual, but that it was not consensual with the others.She was not sure if she had had sex with player KiAnte Hardin, though he told police they did and that she agreed to it.The men all told police their sexual contacts with her were consensual.The schools policy says consent may be initially given, but can be withdrawn at any time and that sexual activity must stop at that point or even if there is confusion over consent.Djam recorded video of part of his encounter with the woman and turned it over to police. According to one investigators description of it:She appears lucid, alert, somewhat playful, and fully conscious; she does not appear to be objecting to anything at this time. ... (She) sounds as though she is somewhat intoxicated, but is not slurring her words and is certainly conscious and aware of what is going on. She does not appear to be upset by the sexual activity and does not indicate that she wants it to stop ... and the sexual contact appears entirely consensual.The woman acknowledged to police that she drank five to six shots of vodka that night and that there were gaps in her memory, the reports said.The roles of most of the other suspended players were not clear in 22 pages of redacted police reports released Tuesday.The Hennepin County Attorneys Office said it had insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that either force was used or that the victim was physically helpless as defined by law. That statement cited the high standard of proof needed to secure a conviction in criminal cases.But the university uses a lower bar in student discipline cases -- the preponderance of the evidence. That standard, used by courts in most civil cases, requires proof only that its more likely than not that the student code of conduct was violated.A redacted copy of the universitys 82-page investigation report obtained by Minneapolis television station KSTP goes into greater detail than the police report, with the woman saying she believed 10 to 20 men had sex with her, though she was not certain because of her limited memory.University investigators wrote that they generally found her account more credible than those of the accused students. The investigators concluded that several students had failed to provide full and truthful information.The schools Office for Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action investigates allegations of sexual misconduct against students, according to university websites. The office then prepares a report and shares its findings with the Office for Student Conduct and Academic Integrity, which determines the sanctions and informs the accuser and accused.Either side can request a formal hearing before a special committee, and either party can appeal that panels decision. Its not clear if that has happened. Neither attorney Lee Hutton, who represents several of the players, nor the Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Office returned calls seeking comment from The Associated Press. China Jerseys Cheap . Louis. To which I would say two things: 1. Where there is smoke, there is or perhaps has been a little fire. Or, in other words, the two teams would appear to have at least spoken. 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At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. Dallas police have completed their investigation into the June 5 shooting of Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib. They concluded that he shot himself in the leg, according to WFAA television.Dallas police will not file charges against Talib, WFAA-TV reported.When reached by ESPN and the Denver Post, a media relations representative with the Dallas Police Department would not confirm the WFAA report.The Broncos said Tuesday they would have no comment on the report.To this point, Talib has offered few specifics on the incident other than, I want to move on and concentrate on the season.Talib suffered a gunshot wound to his lower right leg in the early hours of June 5 in Dallas. He avoided surgery and was released from the hospital the following day. The incident forced him to miss the Broncos visit to the White House to commemorate their Super Bowl 50 victory.According to the police report, Talib said he didnt know who shot him and that the bullet entered into the rear of his right thigh then exited his right calf.An earlier police report indicated that a witness said he had been with Talib in a large group of people in a park when he heard one gunshot. The witness said he then found Talib on the ground and took him to the hospital.The narrative listed on the report offered that Talib had been shot by an unknown suspect. That initial police report did not reveal whether Talib had a weapon, but it did indicate that one gram of marijuana was found during the investigation.dddddddddddd That police report did not indicate whether the marijuana belonged to Talib.Dallas police did confirm on Aug. 17 that they were still investigating the possibility that Talib shot himself.The NFL continues to investigate. Multiple league sources told ESPNs Adam Schefter in recent days that the league had not yet made a decision as to whether Talib would face a suspension.Internally, the Broncos have at least discussed what they would do if Talib were suspended for one or more games.Each time he has been asked about the potential for league discipline for Talib, including as recently as two weeks ago, Broncos executive vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway has said, We havent heard anything, and I dont know what will ultimately be the decision.Talib did not have surgery following the shooting. He remained hospitalized for one night and missed the Broncos trip to the White House. He practiced in training camp for the first time Aug. 8. He has started all four games this season.Talib, in his ninth NFL season, had three interceptions -- two of which were returned for touchdowns -- and 45 tackles during the Broncos championship season in 2015.The three-time Pro Bowl selection has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New England Patriots. ' ' '