Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel’s problems aren’t likely to impact the Buckeyes’ football recruiting, analysts and coaches say.

Monday, the NCAA, in a letter of allegations sent to Ohio State, said Tressel withheld information and lied to protect players who accepted improper benefits from the owner of a tattoo parlor. The letter called Tressel’s actions “potential major violations” and gave Ohio State 90 days to respond to the NCAA’s request for more information.

“Based on a similar situation at North Carolina last year where a lot more went on, every school that recruited against North Carolina tried to use that against them and it didn’t hurt them,” said Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Mike Farrell.

“Last year, (Southern California) finished No. 4 in our rankings with all of their issues. I don’t think this will hurt Ohio State. If you’re a power program with a good tradition, (an NCAA investigation) is not going to affect you, short of anything catastrophic. Problems with the NCAA don’t hurt you unless those problems cause you to lose games because of a loss of scholarships.”

The Buckeyes already have five high school juniors, all in-state players, who have said they will sign with Ohio State. Even if Tressel’s penalties extend beyond the five-game suspension Ohio State said he will serve next season, that probably won’t dissuade many of the state’s top recruits.

“I know the coaches well at Ohio State,” said Cleveland Heights coach Jeff Rotsky. “It should have absolutely no impact with what they’ve built and what they’ve done there. The players put the coach in that position. If you have a great program, you have a great program.”

Potential NCAA penalties that Ohio State faces might have a bigger impact among top recruits. One of the players for Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) coach Bob Milloy is Stefon Diggs, a wide receiver being recruited by Ohio State, among many other major schools.

“If you have five schools and all of them are great programs and you have a black cloud hanging over one, it might help eliminate that school,” Milloy said. “But if he goes up there and likes it, (an NCAA investigation) wouldn’t have any impact on him.”

Seventeen days of mediation efforts dissolve into acrimony, leaving the future of the country’s most popular league to be decided by the courts. A group of players, including Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, files antitrust lawsuit seeking to block lockout.

The union representing NFL players pushed away from the negotiating table and decertified Friday, an extreme measure that leaves the federal courts to determine the future of the nation’s most popular sports league.

By decertifying — dissolving itself as a union — the NFL Players Assn. has cleared the way for individual players to file antitrust lawsuits against the league, which could be barred from locking out those players. According to multiple reports, however, the league officially instituted a lockout after midnight on the East Coast.

In the immediate aftermath of decertification, a group of players that included three of the NFL’s most popular quarterbacks — Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees — filed an antitrust lawsuit against the league in U.S. District Court to prevent a lockout. The players allege that the NFL conspired to deny their ability to market their services.

The NFL and NFLPA participated in 17 days of sessions with a federal mediator, twice extending the expiration deadline of the collective bargaining agreement, but failed to strike a deal.

“We believe that ultimately this is going to be negotiated at the negotiating table,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “They’ve decided to pursue another strategy and that is their choice. But we are prepared to negotiate an agreement that is fair to the players and fair to the clubs.”

One sticking point has been the NFL’s resistance to releasing complete financial data on its teams, information it doesn’t even share among clubs. The league said it was willing to share more financial information with the players than it ever has. The players argue that if they’re being asked to give more money to the owners — in addition to the $1 billion taken off the top before revenues are divided —– they should be privy to the books.

About 15 minutes before decertifying, the union offered to extend the CBA expiration deadline — but only if the NFL provided audited financial statements for the last 10 years.

“As businessmen, we asked the owners two years ago to consider two basic tenets to getting a fair deal: financial transparency and the health and safety of our players,” DeMaurice Smith, NFLPA executive director, said in a written statement several hours after decertification. “Financial transparency would help us reach a compromise. Even until the last moment, we were rebutted.”

The NFLPA has transitioned into a voluntary trade association with no authority to negotiate for the players. Now, labor lawyer Jeffrey Kessler will take the lead on behalf of the players.

The NFL and NFLPA are fighting over how to divide the league’s $9 billion in annual revenues. Labor peace has been a cornerstone of a league that hasn’t had a player work stoppage since the 1987 season. Every other major U.S. professional sports league has had either a strike or lockout in the interim.

New York Giants owner John Mara, who attended several days of discussions between the sides at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service offices in Washington, D.C., said the union’s position on the core economic issues never changed “one iota” either before or during the 16 mediation sessions. Mara said the union’s position since September was, “Take it or leave it.”

“One thing that became painfully apparent to me during this period was that their objective was to go the litigation route,” Mara said. “I think that they believe that that gives them the best leverage. I never really got the feeling during the past two weeks that they were serious about negotiating, and it’s unfortunate because that’s not what collective bargaining is all about.”

The NFL was initially asking for players to give back an additional $1 billion off the top, before revenues were divided 60-40 in favor of the players. The league said it reduced that request in negotiations and “more than split the economic difference” between the sides.

The league released what it described as a summary of its proposal to the players:

•An entry level compensation system based on the union’s “rookie cap” proposal, rather than the wage scale proposed by the clubs. Under the NFL proposal, players drafted in rounds 2-7 would be paid the same or more than they are paid today. Savings from the first round would be reallocated to veteran players and benefits.

A guarantee of up to $1 million of a player’s salary for the contract year after his injury, the first time that the clubs have offered a standard multiyear injury guarantee.

A reduction in the off-season program by five weeks, reducing OTAs (Organized Training Activities) from 14 to 10, and limiting on-field practice time and contact; limiting full-contact practices in the preseason and regular season, and increasing the number of days off for players.

Committing that any change to an 18-game season would be made only by agreement and that the 2011 and 2012 seasons would be played under the current 16-game format.

Owner funding of $82 million in 2011-12 to support additional benefits to former players, which would increase retirement benefits for more than 2,000 former players by nearly 60%.

There’s been much talk of a potential playoff matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins in the wake of Zdeno Chara’s watershed hit on Max Pacioretty.

As it stands, the odds are favourable for such a third- and sixth-place matchup, regardless of which of the bitter rivals takes the higher seed by virtue of winning the Northeast.

But with 12 games to play, it’s by no means guaranteed. There are a few other possibilities within the realm for Montreal, including the fifth-place Tampa Bay Lightning squad they host on Thursday at Bell Centre.

With arguably the game’s dynamic uninjured player in Steven Stamkos and Quebec natives Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Simon Gagne, it would certainly be a marquee playoff matchup.

The chances of such a pairing are probably more likely if Montreal manages to move up from sixth to third, and they could make up that margin wins against the Lightning and New York Rangers on Friday, coupled with a Boston loss on Thursday against Nashville.

Both Northeast clubs would have the same amount of points, although the Bruins would have two games in hand.

As well, the challenge is great.

Leaving aside the merits of the opposition over the next two nights, the Habs are a bit banged up.

Nigel Dawes and Aaron Palushaj were called up from the American Hockey League on Wednesday, indicating that Tomas Plekanec and Jeff Halpern are likely out with injuries suffered in Montreal’s 4-2 loss to the Capitals.

The Canadiens characterized the expected absences of Plekanec and Halpern in terms of days, not weeks. But in the short term, they join a list of wounded regulars that includes Mathieu Darche, Brent Sopel and, of course, Pacioretty, who suffered a confussion and severe injuries.

Habs’ power play fails

Montreal tried its best to end Washington’s lengthy winning streak on Tuesday, but the Capitals scored two in the final period to break a tie.

Travis Moen and Andrei Kostitsyn scored, while Carey Price finished with 37 saves, as the Habs were outshot 35-18 through two periods. It was the most goals Price had allowed in over three weeks.

Montreal’s power play failed for the third straight game, during which the Habs have gone 0-for-8.

They did score two with the man advantage in a win over the Lightning 12 days ago.

Tampa Bay pulled away from Toronto on Monday, winning 6-2. With injuries to Ryan Malone and Steve Downie, the Lightning had experienced trouble getting goals from their depth players.

But Matias Ritola scored two, and Mike Lundin, Nate Thompson and Dominic Moore added one each. Teddy Purcell helped set up three goals, while Brett Clark chipped in with two assists.

Lecavalier, meanwhile, scored for the second straight game. He has 15 goals and 22 assists in 46 regular-season games against the Canadiens.

The Lightning hold the advantage with respect to the season series. Tampa Bay has four points, Montreal has three.

The Canadiens have the edge in non-shootout wins (36 to 33), the primary standings tiebreaker at the end of the regular season.

Tampa Bay is on the verge of its first post-season berth in four years, and the franchise hasn’t won a playoff round since its Stanley Cup win before the lockout in 2004.

Montreal returns to action with a Sunday game on Hockey Night in Canada, visiting the Minnesota Wild.

David Beckham and his wife Victoria Adams are expecting a baby girl, so it was confirmed. The soccer player broke the news at an L.A. Galaxy luncheon on Friday, March 11, “Obviously, we’re very lucky to be expecting again, and this is the first time I’m going to say it: It’s a little girl.” 

“We’re still in shock. Obviously, having three boys, you kind of expect another one, so finding out a little girl is in there is surprising, but, obviously, we are over the moon,” David continued. “Our three boys are happy and excited, and Victoria is doing well.” 

Victoria herself recently told Jimmy Fallon on his TV show that it would be exciting to have a girl but she also didn’t mind to another boy, “Either it’ll be a girl or a boy to add to the three boys we have and we’ll have half of a five-a-side football team with David, we’ve got so much testosterone in our family!” 

In a separate interview, David also said he was keen to have a baby girl. “I’d love a little girl. We’re blessed to have three beautiful boys already, and if we’re blessed to have another one or two children, that would be amazing. Three boys is difficult at times, but there’s nothing that gives you that feeling of coming home and seeing the kids and spending time with them.” 

A friend said the couple actually did not want to find out about the sex of the baby because “with three boys Victoria was convinced she would have another one - and that was fine.” The friend went on, “But they gave in and they’ve known the news for some weeks now. Now, they just can’t wait to meet her, they just want to make sure she’s born healthy.” 

David Beckham, 35, and Victoria Adams, 36, got married in 1999, and have already had three sons, Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz. The ex-member of Spice Girls who announced her pregnancy in January is due in July and reportedly plans to give birth near her home in Los Angeles

A quartet of birdies in six holes around the turn took him to the third place outright that he requires. Then the putter defaulted, first from four feet for birdie at the 14th and again from five feet soccer jerseys for par at the 16th. Those clumsy misses were part of a sequence of three bogeys in five holes to wreck a card assiduously compiled in the wind. Pity, but the trend is upwards.

Westwood’s 69 left him tied seventh at halfway on one under par, four shots off the clubhouse leader Rory Sabbattini. World No 3 Luke Donald, playing in lemon-coloured pants, went one better than Westwood, shooting a 68, a remarkable turnaround following the triple-bogey seven he ran up at his second hole of the week on Thursday.

Maybe it was the thought of a weekend at home doing the chores in his new house down the road in Orlando that fired Ian Poulter’s putter. Or maybe his ego could not take another missed cut. Three birdies on the back nine took him to five under and in work today.

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Poulter is nothing if not doughty. And it will give him some encouragement that in almost impossible conditions he was able to impose his will on the circumstances as well as his game on the course. “That was a battle,” Poulter said. “I have done it the hard way again, over par early in the round made it difficult, but I managed to be three under over the last eight.”

Graeme McDowell was holding his own beautifully. He birdied the fourth, his 13th hole, after a consistent round of par golf. Perhaps the birdie did more harm than good. He gave the shot straight back at the fifth and was in the water at the sixth to card a second successive bogey. Thereafter McDowell was back on the clock to finish one over for his round and one inside the cut.

When Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck decided to go back to Stanford instead of entering this year’s draft, it opened up the race to be the top player.

Not in my mind.

As much as I’d love to put a cheap jerseys quarterback in the top spot, my choice is Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley. He is No. 1 on my list of the top-32 prospects heading into this week’s NFL Scouting Combine.

There are questions about Fairley, and some, including former NFL defensive tackle Warren Sapp, say Fairley isn’t even the top defensive tackle in this year’s draft. Has he watched the guy play?

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Yes, Fairley really has only done it for one season, but that one big season was sensational in 2010 at Auburn. Sapp should like what he sees in Fairley: A bigger, stronger version of himself.

The Carolina Panthers, who pick first in the April draft, have a big problem inside at defensive tackle. Fairley would alleviate those concerns. There are some issues with Fairley relating to on-field conduct, late hits and such, but that can be coached out of him. Fines help, too.

Fairley is the top player on my list of 32 … for now.

1. Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn: Yes, he comes with some baggage, but it’s up to the coach to make sure he gets the best out of him and not the worst. Isn’t that why coaches get big money?

2. Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU: He’s a good cover man who also excels as a kick returner. He has the size-speed you want from a corner. The value of this position makes him even more of a hot commodity.

3. A.J. Green, WR Georgia: Watching the playoffs, it was quite evident that teams with speed outside have a big edge. This kid is big and can run. He plays really fast — even if his 40 times aren’t burning.

4. Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson: He has the size to be a Julius Peppers-type defensive end. But there are some scouts who wonder if he’s as good as the numbers would indicate. The size and speed are there, but he is coming off meniscus surgery.

5. Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska: When you watched the Huskers play, he was shutting down the receiver opposite of him. He excels in man and press coverage, which he did a lot of at Nebraska. At 6-1, 200 pounds, he has good size as well.

6. Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M: He is a perfect 3-4 outside rusher. He owned the Senior Bowl week with his play. He is explosive, yet strong enough to hold up at the point.

7. Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina: He might be the best 4-3 rusher in this draft. He missed last season after being suspended for accepting improper benefits from an agent, so his evaluation is based on an impressive 2009 season. Came back from a brain tumor he had in high school to play football again, even though he was told he wouldn’t play again.

8. Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri: He has risen up a lot of boards after Andrew Luck decided to go back to school. Some will say it’s a rush to fill a void, but I think he has all the tools. The one knock is that he played in a spread offense his entire career. How does he handle snaps from center?

9. Marcel Dareus, DE, Alabama: He isn’t a speed end and he isn’t big if he goes inside to tackle. But he is a good football player, who knows how to get to the quarterback. Dareus is an ideal 3-4 end.

10. Cam Newton, QB, Auburn: I usually don’t like run-around quarterbacks, but this kid is intriguing to me. He’s big, strong, fast and has a good arm. He’s much more advanced than when Tim Tebow was coming out of Florida. He has to show he can handle reading defenses from a more-conventional style of offense.

11. Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado: At 6-2, 210 pounds, he is a big corner who can run. He played a lot of man coverage at Colorado and always seemed up to it. He’s also a willing tackler in the run game.

12. Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue: He has an explosive first step and plays with a relentless style. The knock on him is that he’s only 255 pounds and scouts wonder if that’s as big as he can get.

13. Mike Pouncey, G-C, Florida: His brother was outstanding as a rookie center for the Steelers, and he isn’t far behind. Pouncey did have problems with shotgun snaps at Florida, but he’s smart like his brother and can be taught how to do it. I think his value will be at center, but he could be an All-Pro guard as well. Might not go this high in the draft, but he’s a good player.

14. Aldon Smith, DE-OLB, Missouri: At 260 pounds, he can be either a down end or an outside linebacker in a 3-4. He played end at Missouri, which is where I think he would fit best.

15. Nate Solder, T, Colorado: This former tight end has a huge frame at 6-8, 315 pounds. He can add another 20 pounds easy. He has great feet for a left tackle. He did struggle some in the Senior Bowl game, but had a great week of practices.

16. Julio Jones, WR, Alabama: He’s a long-strider who can be a deep threat on the next level. But he wasn’t as good at that at Alabama as expected. Look at his yards per catch. At 6-4, 211 pounds, he has great size for a receiver.

17. J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin: This former tight end emerged as an elite pass rusher for the Badgers this season. Watt has good size at 6-5 1/2 and 280 pounds. He isn’t a pure speed rusher, but he knows all the tricks to get to the passer. Watt also holds up against the run.

18. Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA: At 6-3, 245 pounds, he is built like a strong-side linebacker, but runs like a weak-side linebacker. He had three touchdowns in 2009, which shows his athletic ability.

19. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama: Think Emmitt Smith. He won’t wow you with his numbers, but he knows how to make people miss. Tacklers never get clear shots on him, which is why he piles up the yards.

20. Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State: He was a force in the Sugar Bowl, which shows the ability he has as a rush end. He isn’t a pure speed player, but he knows how to get to the quarterback. He’s the son of former NFL running back Craig “Ironhead” Heyward.

21. Anthony Castonzo, T-G, Boston College: Has been a starter since he was a freshman. He has played tackle in college, but some scouts think he might have to move inside to guard. He isn’t a mauler, but he’s tough enough. Might need to add some weight.

22. Cameron Jordan, DE, California: He’s the son of former NFL tight end Steve Jordan. Isn’t a pure speed rusher, but knows how to get to the quarterback. Holds up well in the run game. Did have a DUI arrest at Cal.

23. Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois: At 6-3, 300 pounds, he’s a power player who can hold the point against the run. He also has good quickness for his size. He’s rising on a lot of boards.

24. Tyron Smith, T, USC: Was a right tackle at USC, but he’s undersized for the position in the NFL at 300 pounds. Will move to left tackle. He is very athletic, which will help with the speed rushers on the next level. Just turned 20.

25. Phil Taylor DT, Baylor: At 6-3 335 pounds, he is a load. Can play on the nose or in a 4-3. Started his career at Penn State, but was dismissed from the team for an off-field incident and academic troubles.

26. Derek Sherrod, T, Mississippi State: He played right tackle early in his career, but is more of a left tackle, the spot he played the past three seasons. He has good size and feet. The knock on him is that he isn’t as physical in the run game.

27. Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland: He has good size (6-0, 202) and has top-end speed. Smith is also a good return man. The knock on him is that he sometimes catches with his body, rather than his hands.

28. Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia: At 6-3, 255 pounds, he has the size to be an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. He has the speed off the edge teams want from those outside rushers.

29. Gabe Carimi, T, Wisconsin: At 6-7, 315 pounds, he is a mauler. Plays with a mean streak. Holds his blocks for a long time. Played left tackle in college, but there’s a chance he might be better suited to the right side.

30. Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa: Came into the season with a chance to be a top-10 pick, but didn’t play as well as he did in 2009. He’s a power edge player who doesn’t have great quickness. Will beat tackles with toughness and hands.

31. Jake Locker, QB, Washington: He might have been the top player picked had he come out last season, but he didn’t play as well for a variety of reasons. He lacks pocket presence and he doesn’t have great touch. But he can move around and he has a big arm. Will need time to develop.

32. Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple: He’s a fast riser in this draft. At 6-5, 300 pounds, he will be a perfect 3-4 end. In a 4-3, he has to play tackle. Has good quickness for a man his size.

Just missed: Drake Nevis, DT, LSU, Ryan Mallet, QB, Arkansas, Colin Kapernick„ QB, Nevada-Reno, Brandon Harris, CB, Miami, Andy Dalton, QB, TCU, Mikel LeShoure, RB, Illinois, Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame, Danny Watkins, G, Baylor and Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State.