Orlando, Fla. ? NFL players should be safer during games thanks to several rules changes passed at the league meetings. They also might be playing longer in regular-season overtimes.

The NFL passed rules Wednesday to protect defenseless players further, including ball carriers who lose their helmet during a play. Seven of eight overall rules proposals were adopted, then several owners said they also expect the modified overtime for the playoffs that passed the previous day to be revisited in May to include the regular season.

New York Giants owner John Mara said he expects discussion and possibly a vote on using the new OT system to occur at the owners meetings in Dallas in May. The change was proposed only for the postseason by the competition committee and was passed 28-4 Tuesday.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league wants to meet with the players and the networks for some input and further discuss the ramifications of expanding the OT change.

“We had a proposal for the postseason, we passed that with the understanding that it’ll be discussed for the regular season,” he said.

The key rules change for player safety bars a defenseless player from being hit in the head or neck area by an opponent who launches himself and uses his helmet, shoulder or forearm to make contact. Previously, those kind of tackles were banned against receivers who couldn’t protect themselves, but now it will apply to everyone.

GOLF

Woods to talk at Masters

Orlando, Fla. — Tiger Woods will speak before he plays in the Masters. Woods is scheduled to hold his first news conference in nearly five months at 1 p.m. on Monday, April 5, according to a tentative interview schedule that Augusta National released Wednesday. It will be his first news conference in nearly five months, and his first time facing a room full of reporters since he crashed his SUV into a tree on Nov. 2.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

FSU’s costs top $172,000

Tallahassee, Fla. — Florida State’s outside legal costs while unsuccessfully challenging part of an NCAA penalty that took away a dozen of ex-coach Bobby Bowden’s victories totaled more than $172,000.

BASEBALL

Ex-pitcher Gooden charged

Franklin Lakes, N.J. — Former major league baseball standout Dwight Gooden has been charged with driving under the influence of drugs and leaving the scene of an accident. The former pitcher for the New York Mets and New York Yankees had a child in his vehicle at the time of the two-vehicle crash around 9 a.m. Tuesday, Franklin Lakes police Capt. Joseph Seltenrich said.

Tejada probation extended

Washington — Baltimore Orioles third baseman Miguel Tejada will have to remain on probation for another six months unless he completes his required community service before then. Tejada was sentenced last year to one year of probation, 100 hours of community service and received a $5,000 fine.