Orlando, Fla. ? The NFL has changed its overtime rules for playoff games. Starting next season, if a team wins the coin toss and then kicks a field goal, the other team gets the ball. If the game becomes tied again after that next series, play will continue under the current sudden-death rules.

Should the team winning the toss immediately score a touchdown, then the game is over.

Team owners voted 28-4 on Tuesday in favor of the proposal at the NFL meetings. Minnesota, Buffalo, Cincinnati and Baltimore were against the change.

Minnesota lost last season’s NFL championship game in overtime to New Orleans. The Saints won the toss, drove downfield and kicked a field goal to win.

“Modified sudden death is an opportunity to make a pretty good rule … even better,” said Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay, co-chairman of the competition committee. “Statistically, it needed to change. It wasn’t producing the ‘fairest result.”‘

Those statistics showed that since 1994, the team that won the overtime coin toss won the game 34.4 percent of the time on the first possession.

Overall, the team that correctly called the coin toss won overtime games 59.8 percent of the time in the last 15 years, or since kickoffs were moved back 5 yards to the 30.

“Plenty of people on the committee, myself included, are so-called traditionalists,” Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian said. “I am proud to be one. But once you saw the statistics, it became obvious we had to do something.”

The new rule applies only for postseason games. But McKay said even that could change, and several owners expressed interest in further discussions at their May meetings in Dallas.

“There was a lot of sentiment in the room to change this rule for the regular season,” McKay said, adding he doesn’t expect that to happen this year. “Our thought is to take our time and study it a bit and make sure everyone understands the implications there would be for that.”

NFL

Cardinals sign tight end

Tempe, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals have signed restricted free-agent tight end Ben Patrick to his one-year qualifying offer. The team also re-signed safety Hamza Abdullah to a one-year contract and fullback Nehemiah Broughton to his exclusive rights contract.

DNA request withdrawn

Atlanta — Georgia investigators have withdrawn their request for a DNA sample from Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger who is accused of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old college student at a nightclub, an attorney for the player said Tuesday.

Ed Garland told The Associated Press that officials withdrew the request a week ago, but declined comment on why.

Patriots get added picks

Orlando, Fla. — The New England Patriots are the big winner for losing free agents last year. The Patriots have been awarded the maximum of four compensatory picks in April’s NFL Draft. The selections will come in the sixth round (one, No. 205 overall) and seventh round (three, Nos. 247, 248 and 250).

Carolina, Pittsburgh and Tennessee each get three, while Atlanta, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Philadelphia receive two.

Getting one compensatory choice will be Green Bay, Detroit, Jacksonville, Miami, Minnesota, Oakland, St. Louis, San Diego, Seattle, Tampa Bay and San Francisco.

GOLF

Finchem memo criticized

Orlando, Fla. — PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem has sent a memo to tournament directors to explain why Steve Elkington is not fully exempt this year. At least two players suggest he’s playing favorites.

Elkington had been exempt for 23 consecutive years until the former PGA champion finished 183rd on the money list last year and lost his card. He had a 10-year exemption from winning The Players Championship in 1997.

The Associated Press obtained a copy of Finchem’s memo, which was dated Nov. 23.

David Duval calls the decision “out of line.” Duval, a former major champion, has only conditional status this year. Tim Herron has been writing tournaments for exemptions this year. He says the memo smacks of favoritism.

Singh out at Bay Hill

Orlando, Fla. — Vijay Singh has withdrawn from the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill because of a back injury. This is the second straight week the three-time major champion has had to pull out. He was replaced in the 120-man field on Tuesday by Carl Pettersson.

NBA

Cavaliers release Jackson

Cleveland — The Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday released second-year power forward Darnell Jackson.

“Darnell was a good, hard-working teammate for us. We thank him and wish him the best going forward,” Cavs’ general manager Danny Ferry said.

Jackson averaged 0.8 points on 32.0 percent shooting and 0.7 rebounds while logging 4.3 minutes per game in 27 games this season.

Jackson is now a free agent.

College basketball

Villanova’s Wright staying

Philadelphia — Jay Wright hears his name in coaching rumors this time of year about as routinely as he leads Villanova to the NCAA Tournament. Wright’s message Tuesday was the same as years past: He wants to end his career with the Wildcats.

He said, “I love my job here. I intend to be at Villanova next year.”

St. John’s eyes Hewitt

Atlanta — Georgia Tech has granted permission for St. John’s to interview Yellow Jackets coach Paul Hewitt.

Georgia Tech associate athletic director Wayne Hogan says St. John’s was given the OK on Tuesday to speak with Hewitt. Hogan says he does not know when the interview will take place.

Hewitt, who is from New York, coached Georgia Tech to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Red Storm fired Norm Roberts last week.

Georgia Tech (23-13) advanced to the championship game of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament and earned its first NCAA Tournament victory since 2005.

College football

Alabama’s appeal denied

Tuscaloosa, Ala. — The NCAA denied Alabama’s appeal of a ruling vacating 21 football victories for violations involving free textbooks. The NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee announced Tuesday that the Committee on Infractions’ ruling in June 2009 stands.