ays is the final week for American players to earn points -- one point for every $1,000 in PGA Tour earnings -- toward getting one of the eight autom

Though the winter meetings began in the aftermath of the newly minted collective bargaining agreement, the events in Maryland last week played out more or less as usual. There were a few trades. Some headline-making free-agent signings. A Rule V draft that has most of us reaching for the nearest prospect guide. Still, even though the new CBA doesnt take effect until next year -- and thus had no direct effect on the meetings -- its presence was felt in discussions of something that didnt happen.That thing -- a potential trade of Bryce Harper away from the Washington Nationals?-- could certainly happen someday, but its not likely to be any time soon. Still, the reports that emerged during the meetings about Harpers reported desire for a $400 million contract and Washingtons reported desire to not dole out said contract set the stage for what promises to be a multiyear drama. And how that drama is resolved, eventually, may be the first real evidence we get about whether the new CBA will have a significant effect on how much teams are willing to commit to any one player -- even a generational talent in his prime like Harper.Since the labor calamities of 1994, the owners have shifted their negotiating strategy away from an overt push for a salary cap to a more incremental approach. By implementing and gradually expanding the reach of the luxury tax, theyve made the punitive costs of excess spending increasingly severe and more likely to apply to even those teams that dont play at Yankee Stadium. Those costs have moved beyond financial and into the realm of amateur player acquisition in the form of draft position and limits on international spending. As a result, while there still is no salary cap in baseball, with this new agreement, there might as well be. 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Its the second straight game Bell has scored in extra time for Kelowna, which beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-5 on Friday, and he now has four game-winning goals on the season. FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- The top five players on the PGA Tour this season should be plenty rested going into the FedEx Cup playoffs.Most of them havent played since the PGA Championship three weeks ago.Thats because most of them didnt go to the Olympics.Jason Day is the No. 1 player in the world and No. 1 in the FedEx Cup, narrowly moving past U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson on the strength of his runner-up finish at the PGA Championship. They are followed by Adam Scott, Russell Knox and Jordan Spieth.Knox won the Travelers Championship a week after the PGA Championship, but with a chance to earn Ryder Cup points last week, the Scot decided he needed a rest.The playoffs begin Thursday at The Barclays, which returns to Bethpage Black.At the end of this five-week bonanza is a $10 million bonus to the winner. Thats still a long way off. For now, there is plenty to keep their attention.RYDER CUP QUALIFYING: The Barclays is the final week for American players to earn points -- one point for every $1,000 in PGA Tour earnings -- toward getting one of the eight automatic spots on the Ryder Cup team.Five already have been decided -- Johnson, Spieth, Phil Mickelson, PGA champion Jimmy Walker and Brooks Koepka. Brandt Snedeker tied for third last week to move up to No. 6 and would appear to be safe. He is ahead of Zach Johnson and Patrick Reed, the lone Olympian from that group.The purse at The Barclays is $8.5 million, so nothing is set except for whos not going to make it. Charley Hoffman at No. 22 is the last player who has a mathematical shot, and its a long shot at that.As for Rickie Fowler? He would have to finish no worse than a two-way tie for fourth.THE POINTS: The PGA Tour made a slight tweak to the points system for the FedEx Cup playoffs. Points are quadrupled for the next three weeks, instead of being five times their normal value in previous years.The hope is that it allows for volatility in these big events, without someone far down in the pack having one good week and being locked in for the Tour Championship.The top 125 qualify for the playoffs, and then its a matter of attrition.The top 100 in the FedEx Cup staandings advance to the second playoff event next week at the Deutsche Bank Championship; the top 70 advance to the BMW Championship the following week at Crooked Stick outside Indianapolis.dddddddddddd. The top 30 move on to the Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta.THE COURSE: Bethpage Black rose to prominence when the public golf course hosted the U.S. Open in 2002, and Tiger Woods held off Sergio Garcia and Mickelson to win his second U.S. Open. It hosted another U.S. Open in 2009, when Lucas Glover won in a rain-delayed finish.Now its on the rotation for the FedEx Cup playoffs, with Nick Watney winning The Barclays in 2012.The course is famous for its warning sign on the first tee: The Black Course is an extremely difficult course which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers.It should say its a risk even for really good players, Spieth said. The course Ive played the last two days is up there with the hardest, probably top-five courses Ive ever played in my life. And its Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, and its soft.THE BUBBLE: Jim Furyk (No. 94) and Steve Stricker (No. 98) did well to make it to the playoffs because of their limited schedules -- Stricker only plays a dozen times a year, and Furyk started late because of wrist surgery.All it takes is one good week to keep advancing. If they miss the cut, odds are they wont stay in the top 100.Among those outside the top 100 are Keegan Bradley at No. 106. Happy to be here is Shawn Stefani, who tied for 14th last week to move into the top 125 (at No. 123) and even have a chance.PLAYER OF THE YEAR: The FedEx Cup figures to sort out who will be the front-runner for PGA Tour player of the year.Major champions typically get the vote from the players, but there are four of them this year -- Danny Willett, Dustin Johnson, Henrik Stenson and Jimmy Walker. Jason Day won The Players Championship and leads the tour with three victories, so he cant be ruled out.Day believes he only has to win two events to be voted player of the year. ' ' '