Sports Briefly: NFL salary cap rises $10 million

The NFL's salary cap is going up $10 million to $143.28 million for the 2015 season.

The 32 teams and the players' union were notified Monday of the increase, the second straight season the cap went up by at least $10 million. Adding in benefits, the league says the projected player costs will be $180.775 million per team.

The NFL's business year starts March 10, when free agency begins.

The salary cap is determined by granting 46 percent to 48 percent of revenues to players, depending on the year.

Several teams are carrying over wads of money they did not spend in 2014, giving them higher adjusted salary cap numbers. The highest such total is Jacksonville at $168.4 million.

Other teams with substantially more to spend in 2015 include Cleveland ($161.7 million), Philadelphia ($159.8 million), the New York Jets ($156.1 million) and Tennessee ($154.3 million).

• Ndamukong Suh can test the open market when free agency begins March 10 after the Lions decided not to use the franchise tag on the star defensive tackle. A report on the team's website said Detroit concluded that the franchise tag's price of about $27 million was too daunting.

• The Kansas City Chiefs signaled they have no intention of parting ways with outside linebacker Justin Houston, placing the franchise tag on their All-Pro pass rusher. Houston had 22 sacks last season, a half-sack off the NFL record.

• The Green Bay Packers made wide receiver Randall Cobb a free agent when they chose not to place the franchise tag on him.

• The Denver Broncos placed their franchise tag on star receiver Demaryius Thomas, guaranteeing him roughly $12.8 million next season and buying them more time to work out a long-term deal.

• The Dallas Cowboys did as they said they would and kept receiver Dez Bryant on the team by placing the franchise tag on him. He'll be guaranteed $12.8 million next season.

• Cornerback Cortland Finnegan was released by the Miami Dolphins after starting 12 games last season. It saves the Dolphins $5.45 million.

• The Pittsburgh Steelers released wide receiver Lance Moore, who caught only 14 passes last season. They also signaled they would allow linebacker Jason Worilds to enter free agency when they didn't place a franchise tag on him.

Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive isn't buying in to the suggestion by Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany that freshmen should be ineligible.

Slive said in a statement Monday that if the goal is to improve graduation rates and grade-point averages "we have to remember that each college student has his or her own academic challenges."

He added: "To put a blanket over these student-athletes with a year on the bench doesn't address those individual needs to incentivize academic progress."

Slive said many students come to college prepared to compete both academically and athletically.

Kurt Busch agreed to follow NASCAR's recommended guidelines to be eligible for eventual reinstatement.

The 2004 champion was indefinitely suspended Feb. 20 after a Delaware judge said Busch likely committed an act of domestic violence against a former girlfriend.

On Monday, a NASCAR spokesman said Busch had agreed to take the steps NASCAR demanded, though he has appealed every ruling in the case. Those steps haven't been revealed.

"Kurt's willingness to embrace the conditions set forth by NASCAR is a positive step that we support," Stewart-Haas Racing, Busch's team, said in a statement.

Lindsey Vonn fell to third place in the women's World Cup super-G standings when she finished third at Bansko, Bulgaria.

Vonn said making the podium satisfied her as she comes back from prolonged injury.

"I'm definitely very happy with my comeback season. It's difficult being away from the sport for almost two seasons," she said.