Saints get 'perfect' Super Bowl ring

Apparently, a diamond encrusted fleur-de-lis is a Saints player's best friend.

"It's pretty incredible," Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees said of his new championship ring, which team members received at a ceremony on Wednesday night. "In fact, I think it's absolutely perfect because nothing was left out on that ring as far as the symbols of our season."

The yellow-gold ring features a fleur-de-lis -- the symbol of both the team and New Orleans -- on the top, and the ring holds a total of 44 diamonds to commemorate the 44th Super Bowl, which New Orleans won over Indianapolis in Miami on Feb. 7.

On one side of the ring is a carved image of the triple-spired St. Louis Cathedral, the Louisiana Superdome, a scene from the Saints' championship parade and the first few musical notes of "When the Saints Go Marching In."

On the other side is the final score of the title game (Saints 31, Colts 17) along with the date and location of the first Super Bowl in which the now 44-year-old franchise played.

NFL, union discusses adding two games

NFL and union officials discussed adding two games to the regular season when they met Wednesday for their first negotiating session since February.

"This is an idea that is really gaining momentum, particularly with the owners," Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy said on a conference call. ... Giants receiver Domenik Hixon will miss the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in a workout.

Teammates call Haynesworth 'selfish'

Albert Haynesworth didn't show. Teammates called him selfish. Now the Washington Redskins want their money back.

The Redskins are going to see if they can recoup all or part of a $21 million bonus from the disgruntled two-time All Pro defensive tackle, an official within the league with knowledge of the deliberations told the Associated Press. The team decided to take the action after Haynesworth failed to report for a mandatory two-day minicamp.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because coach Mike Shanahan declined to make the team's plans public. But the coach and players had plenty else to say about a player who has collected huge sums of money from the Redskins but has decided he doesn't want to play for them because he doesn't like the new defense.

"It's no different than his attitude and approach to last year's defense," Fletcher said, "about wanting everything to revolve around him and him making plays. And if it didn't benefit him, he wasn't really willing to do it."

Shanahan also revealed that Haynesworth earlier this year was given the option of freedom or money -- and chose money. The coach said he told Haynesworth in February that the Redskins would agree to release him and let him go to another team -- in exchange for not paying him the $21 million bonus due April 1.

"Obviously, he took the check," Shanahan said, "so I was surprised he wasn't here today. ... Don't take our check and then say that, hey, you don't want to be part of our organization."

AROUND THE HORN

NHL: The Detroit Red Wings and Todd Bertuzzi have agreed to a two-year contract. Bertuzzi had 18 goals and 44 points last season, ranking fifth on the team ... The Red Wings also signed General Manager Ken Holland and assistant general manager Jim Nill to five-year contract extensions. ... Hockey Hall of Famer Cam Neely was named the new president of the Bruins.

Tennis: Roger Federer was the No. 1 seed for Wimbledon ahead of Rafael Nadal in a reverse of their world rankings. Federer, the defending champion and six-time Wimbledon winner, received the top seed Wednesday even though Nadal recently replaced him at No. 1. There were no surprises in the women's seedings, with Serena Williams at No. 1 and sister Venus at No. 2.