Reuters U.S. Sports Schedule at 2 PM EST on Thursday, Nov. 12

Nov. 12 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 PM ET on Thursday: - - - - The duty editor is Steve Ginsburg, 202-898-8427 - - - - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Accountability for NFL owners would change game With the NFL expanding its invasion of European soccer territory, scheduling more and more games there into the future, it's time for the league to bring a significant European idea to this side of the pond: Relegation. (FBN-COLUMN/, moved, by Ira Miller, The Sports Xchange, 900 words) - - Cooney: Midseason MVPs, 1. Newton, 2. Brady, 3. Dalton Here we go again. If the season continues on this same track, those great fans in New England will not allow anybody else in the NFL to win an honor for which their quarterback, Tom Brady, is eligible. Correspondents for The Sports Xchange name Team MVPs for all 32 clubs and Cooney goes with a quarterback not named Brady as midseason MVP. (FBN-COLUMN-MIDSEASON-MVP/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 3,000 words) - - Bills at Jets EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Rex Ryan returns to face his old team in this AFC East matchup between playoff hopefuls. Ryan and the Buffalo Bills challenge the New York Jets, now under the direction of Todd Bowles, in what is expected to be a testy environment. (FBN-BILLS-JETS-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect ASAP after 8:25 PM ET kickoff, by Jerry Beach, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) See also: 3 things we learned about Jets/Bills (FBN-BILLS/JETS-ANALYSIS, expect ASAP after writethru) - - Week 10 Previews Keys to the game, matchups to watch, player spotlight and fast facts for all Week 10 games. (FBN-TEAMNAME-TEAMNAME-PREVIEW/, expect by 4 PM ET, by Derek Harper, The Sports Xchange, 400 words per game) - - Steelers QB Roethlisberger out of boot early Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is out of a protective walking boot ahead of schedule. His status for Week 10 is uncertain, but he's not likely to start. (FBN-STEELERS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 300 words) - - Eye on Eifert: Tight end could be big vs. Texans HOUSTON - The Houston Texans' prospects against the undefeated Cincinnati Bengals hinge on how much they can contain star tight end Tyler Eifert. Eifert is coming off a three-touchdown performance against the Cleveland Browns. (FBN-BENGALS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 373 words) - - NFL schedule at a glance Buffalo at New York Jets, 8:25 PM ET (PIX) - - NFL roundup News and notes from around the NFL. (FBN-ROUNDUP/, expect by 8 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400-600 words per team) - - - - COLLEGE FOOTBALL Fournette family investigated for possible NCAA violation The family of LSU running back Leonard Fournette is under investigation for potentially violating NCAA rules that prohibit players from benefiting from his name, likeness or image. (FBC-LSU-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 300 words) - - - - GOLF BMW Masters, Shanghai Garcia grabs lead in Shanghai as Willett fails to fire Spain's Sergio Garcia shoots a sparkling eight-under-par 64 to grab the first round lead at the European Tour's BMW Masters. (GOLF-EUROPEAN/, moved, 324 words) - - OHL Classic at Mayakoba OHL Classic: Four fire 65 in first round Justin Leonard and Aaron Baddeley are early leaders after opening-round 65s at Riviera Maya, Mexico. (GLF-PGA-WRITETHRU/, expect by 4 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 450 words) - - - - Lorena Ochoa Invitational LPGA returns to North America The LPGA returns to North America after its Asian swing for the penultimate event of the season, where South Korean Park In-bee and American Lexi Thompson are among those competing at the Golf Club de Mexico in Mexico City. (GOLF-LPGA/, expect by 10 PM ET, 350 words) - - - - MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Big future for MLB small-market approach BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Kansas City Royals won the World Series after taking the AL pennant in 2014, and the Pittsburgh Pirates are becoming playoff staples. A decade ago, the thought of these small-market teams scratching to sustained success was unfathomable. Now, they've forced 28 other teams to think "small." (BBO-ROYALS-PIRATES-NEWS/, expect by 8 PM ET, by John Perrotto, The Sports Xchange, 750 words) - - MLB Notebook News and notes from around the diamond. (BBO-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION Karl bracing for impact after Kings' 2-7 start Sacramento continues to be a basketball soap opera and management for the Kings floated a cast change this week following a 2-7 start. (BKN-KINGS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 322 words) - - Durant out 7-10 days, or 'until ready' Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant is out 7-10 days, but says he won't play again until he's ready. (BKN-THUNDER-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 292 words) - - NBA schedule at a glance Utah at Miami, 7:30 PM ET (PIX) Golden State at Minnesota, 8 PM ET (PIX) Los Angeles Clippers at Phoenix, 10:30 PM ET (PIX) - - NBA roundup News and notes from around the NBA. (BKN-ROUNDUP/, expect by 7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 280 words) - - - - COLLEGE BASKETBALL NCAA launches Selection Week in 2016 The NCAA Tournament Selection Committee is moving its March meeting and announcement to New York City in 2016. (BKC-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 300 words) - - - - NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Maurice, five scouts, added to Team Europe staff Winnipeg Jets coach Paul Maurice join the coaching staff for Team Europe for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. (HKN-NEWS-WORLDCUP/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 250 words) - - Red Wings, Abdelkader agree to $29.75M deal Left winger Justin Abdelkader signs a seven-year, $29.75 million contract extension with the Detroit Red Wings. (HKN-REDWINGS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 222 words) - - NHL schedule at a glance Colorado at Boston, 7 PM ET (PIX) St. Louis at New York Rangers, 7 PM ET (PIX) Washington at Philadelphia, 7 PM ET (PIX) Minnesota at Carolina, 7 PM ET (PIX) Vancouver at Ottawa, 7:30 PM ET (PIX) Calgary at Tampa Bay, 7:30 PM ET (PIX) Buffalo at Florida, 7:30 PM ET (PIX) Toronto at Nashville, 8 PM ET (PIX) New Jersey at Chicago, 8:30 PM ET (PIX) Winnipeg at Dallas, 8:30 PM ET (PIX) Edmonton at Arizona, 9 PM ET (PIX) New York Islanders at Los Angeles, 10:30 PM ET (PIX) - - NHL roundup The latest news and notes from the NHL. (HKN-ROUNDUP/, expect by 7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - SOCCER Blatter out of the hospital, confidant says ZURICH - Suspended FIFA President Sepp Blatter, whose world soccer federation is mired in a corruption crisis, is discharged from the hospital, his confidant and former publicist Klaus Stoehlker says. (SOCCER-FIFA/BLATTER (UPDATE 1), moved, by Marina Depetris, 298 words) - - 2018 World Cup qualifiers South America Argentina face arch-rivals Brazil looking for first win BUENOS AIRES - Argentina, without the injured Lionel Messi and looking for its first win in the qualifiers, faces a Brazil side bolstered by Neymar's return from suspension at the River Plate stadium. (SOCCER-WORLD/ARGENTINA (PIX), expect by 10 PM ET, by Luis Ampuero, 400 words) See also: Euro 2016 playoff, first leg, Norway v Hungary, expect by 4:40 PM ET - - - - AUTO RACING Harvick geared up to run table again Last year, Harvick won at Phoenix and Homestead to clinch his first title. A fifth straight win at his home track of Phoenix on Sunday would close out some of his toughest competition at Homestead. (CAR-SPRINT-COLUMN/, expect by 3 PM ET, by Jonathan Ingram, The Sports Xchange, 1,000 words) - - Vettel sees 'good step' from Ferrari in 2016 SAO PAULO - Ferrari should be able to make "a good step forward" next season after establishing themselves as the closest challengers to Formula One champions Mercedes, Sebastian Vettel says. (MOTOR RACING-PRIX/VETTEL (PIX), moved, 410 words) - - - - MIXED MARTIAL ARTS UFC 193: Rousey takes next act to Australia Is Ronda Rousey's "Buster Douglas moment" on the way? The UFC women's bantamweight champion seems an unstoppable force. Rousey (12-0), the biggest star in mixed martial arts, has become a household name in 2015, one of the most popular athletes during a year in which women in sports have commanded the spotlight like never before. (FIGHTING-MMA-PREVIEW/, moved, by Dave Doyle, The Sports Xchange, 549 words) - - - - TRACK & FIELD SCANDAL Thompson says Coe faces 'defining' moment LONDON - Daley Thompson urges fellow British luminary Sebastian Coe, the head of world athletics, to "stand up and show some leadership" with his sport embroiled in crisis. (ATHLETICS-COE/THOMPSON, moved, 270 words) See also: Coe in the spotlight as world athletics ponders Russia ban (ATHLETICS-CORRUPTION/ (PIX, UPDATE 1) See also: Swiss anti-doping lab says it obeyed rules when destroying samples (ATHLETICS-CORRUPTION/SWISS-LAB (UPDATE 1) - - We continue to cover the unfolding IAAF scandal after former president Lamine Diack resigns as honorary member of the International Olympic Committee following the launch of a formal investigation against the Senegalese for suspected corruption and money-laundering. (ATHLETICS-CORRUPTION/, expect throughout) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (Expect by 8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)