Until now, pregnant football fans have been relegated to purchasing oversized men's t-shirts to show their support of the sport. But now, "View" host Elizabeth Hasselbeck has teamed up with the NFL and Reebok to create a new line of football jerseys especially for pregnant women.

Hasselback, a footballer's wife herself who also happens to be pregnant, said:

“The NFL has a tremendous amount of female fans. Watching a game can be a real family bonding experience, and I can tell you that the women behind the games are truly the most intense of the fans.”

The new shirts will feature sayings such as "Kicker" and "#1 Draft Pick" across the belly. The shirts will retail for $15 to $17.50, and will launch not this year, but during the fall 2010 football season.

Maurice Clarett has made a request for early release from prison. Ron O'Brien, who is the prosecutor in Franklin County, has recommended that the former star running back at Ohio State stay in prison as he has not presented a strong case that he should be released early.

Clarett wants to pursue a comeback to the NFL and says that he has been contacted by teams willing to employ the troubled star.

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and the Ohio Parole Board will have the final say-so in the matter but the recommendation by O'Brien will likely hinder his chances.

The AP reports:

Clarett's attorney, Percy Squire, says his client has an opportunity to play NFL, arena or Canadian professional football if he's released within the next few months. NFL teams have contacted Clarett in prison, but Squire wouldn't identify which teams.

Squire said that while March doesn't seem that far off, time is crucial for the 25-year-old Clarett.

"Whether he is permitted to go in the summer of 2009 versus the summer of 2010 can make a huge difference," Squire said.

"We're talking a matter of months here, but it could have a huge impact on his ability to pursue a livelihood. Waiting another year could basically eliminate any opportunity for him to ever play."

Us Clevelanders don't really want to hear about it but the Pittsburgh Steelers are showing off "the one for the thumb". Jostens designed the ring and Steelers owner Art Rooney II had this to say about the bling-bling:

"Our Super Bowl XLIII ring is going to be cherished as a symbol of the team's outstanding accomplishments during the 2008 season We appreciate the great work Jostens put into making this ring one of the most spectacular in NFL history."

Former Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Pio Sagapolutele who played with the team from 1991-1995 has passed away at age 39 today. Sagapolutele suffered a brain aneurysm in Chandler, Arizona, which claimed his life.

Sagapolutele played under Bill Belichick for all but one of his years in the NFL. Drafted out of San Diego State Aztecs by the Browns he followed Belichick by signing with the New England Patriots in 1996 and started for the AFC champions that year. Sagapolutele ended his career by playing one year with the New Orleans Saints in 1997.

The Samoan-American is survived by his wife and four children.

Ryan Leaf, who had been selected with the second overall pick in the NFL Draft a decade ago, has been indicted by a grand jury in Texas. Leaf is accused of seven counts of Obtaining a Controlled Substance By Fraud, 1 count of Burglary Of A Habitation, and 1 count of Delivery Of A Controlled Substance. Police say the 33 year old broke into an apartment in Canyon, Texas.

Leaf is said to be undergoing drug rehab in British Columbia, Canada at this time and has not released an official statement regarding the legal matter.

If there is one figure in the sports media I had to single out as someone I have the most disdain for (there are many), the #1 person would be Mel Kiper, Jr (can someone tell me who Mel Kiper, Sr is by the way?).

He once again proved himself to be nothing more than an walking talking idiot (hardly a surprise) on Saturday. The Oakland Raiders selected Darrius Heyward-Bey with their first round selection and that sent Kiper in a tizzy saying he was only the 17th best on his board. Umm, Mel you don't run an NFL team and considering Bey is blistering fast maybe you have never heard the adage that you can't teach speed. Maybe more embarrassing for Mr Big Hair is the fact that one of the analysts at the NFL Network guessed that the Raiders would choose Heyward-Bey with their pick.

The Cleveland Browns have used up their final draft pick of the 2009 NFL draft, picking up running back James Davis of Clemson University in the sixth round.

The 5'11", 218lb. is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. Throughout his 4-year career at Clemson, Davis made 753 rushing attempts, ran for 3,881 yards, and scored 47 touchdowns.

Instead of the orange and purple he's used to, Davis will now be suiting up in the orange and brown.

John Madden, one of the NFL's most recognizable broadcast analysts for three decades, has finally decided to retire. Madden, also a former coach, worked for the past three seasons with NBC's "Sunday Night Football." His final telecast was the Super Bowl match-up between Arizona and Pittsburgh.

In a statement, Madden said:

"It's time. I'm 73 years old. My 50th wedding anniversary is this fall. I have two great sons and their families and their five grandchildren are at an age now when they know when I'm home and, more importantly, when I'm not."

Taking Madden's place will be Cris Collinsworth, who filled in for Madden when he took a game off last October.

Madden said that he still has a great love for all aspects of the game and his but, which is why it took him some months to come to the decision to retire. He has been reluctant to fly in recent years, and often traveled to games in a specially equipped bus. This also likely factored into his decision.

According to sources with knowledge of the negotiations, Cleveland Browns' wide receiver Braylon Edwards is expected to be traded to the New York Giants prior to the start of the NFL draft which takes place April 25-26.

One source said:

“The Giants are going to have to up the offer a bit, but [the Browns] are willing to move him."

The Browns are said to have asked for a second and fifth round pick as well as receiver Steve Smith, but the Giants declined. NY is said to have countered by offering the two draft picks and receiver Domenik Hixon.

The source continued:

“The Giants are motivated, they’re trying to win right now. Edwards is a bigger guy that [quarterback] Eli [Manning] wants to throw to, like he had with Plaxico. The Giants know they can’t leave Eli with no great receivers. They saw what happened last year.”

Neither the Browns or Giants have commented on the story. Both sources say, however, that they will reach an agreement by draft day.

Buffalo Bills defensive back Donte Whitner was formally charged on Monday following his arrest early Saturday outside a Cleveland nightclub. Whitner has been charged with aggravated disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Police had to use a stun gun on Whitner outside of the House of Blues. He was then handcuffed after he forced his way past police. Whitner, 23, was arrested and taken to jail, and later released pending formal charges.

Thomas Stacho, spokesman for the Cleveland police, confirmed the charges Monday. He said that Whitner is being sent a summons, and that a court date has been set for April 28.

It is not clear why Whitner attempted to leave the club to head outside. According to a police report he did tell officers, however, that "My cousin’s out there, and they’ve got guns."

Whitner issued a statement through his agent Neil Cornrich:

"It’s not how I wish to conduct myself, and I apologize to all those involved."