KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Tennessee’s coaches held a rare joint press conference to say that an unfair picture of the athletic department is emerging amid a lawsuit that states the school mishandled sexual assault complaints against athletes.

The federal suit filed Feb. 9 in Nashville by six unidentified women states Tennessee violated Title IX regulations and created a ”hostile sexual environment” through a policy of indifference toward assaults by athletes. The suit also states the university interfered with the disciplinary process to favor male athletes.

Coaches defended the university, but declined to address the lawsuit.

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Tennessee’s 16 head coaches said they decided on their own to hold a news conference. Athletic director Dave Hart wasn’t at the event. Athletic department spokesman Ryan Robinson said this was the one day all the coaches could gather together. Robinson said Hart and chancellor Jimmy Cheek were out of town on a prior commitment.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The University of Tennessee has filed a motion to strike a reference to Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning from a lawsuit that alleges the school has violated Title IX policies in its handling of sexual assault complaints against athletes.

The lawsuit filed Feb. 9 by six unidentified women focuses on five cases from 2013 to 2015, but also references incidents dating back to 1995 to show how the school has historically handled reports of player misconduct. One paragraph in the 64-page document mentions a sexual harassment complaint made by a Tennessee trainer in 1996 including an incident involving Manning, then the Volunteers quarterback.

The motion says the reference to Manning should be struck ”because of the utter lack of relevance” it has to the lawsuit.

BASEBALL

NEW YORK (AP) – Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes was placed on paid leave under Major League Baseball’s new domestic violence policy pending completion of criminal proceedings. He will not report to spring training.

The 32-year-old Reyes, a four-time All-Star, was arrested in Hawaii at a Maui resort on Oct. 31 following an argument with his wife and pleaded not guilty to a charge of abuse of a family or household member. He was released after posting $1,000 bail and is scheduled for a trial starting April 4, the day the Rockies open the season at Arizona.

Reyes became the first player impacted by the policy, agreed to in August by MLB and the players’ association following a series of high-profile domestic violence cases involving NFL players. New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig also are under investigation.

MLB said Commissioner Rob Manfred will not decide on possible discipline for Reyes until after the criminal proceedings and an MLB investigation. Discipline is not dependent on a criminal conviction.

VIERA, Fla. (AP) – Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman vigorously defended himself against performance-enhancing drug allegations made in a documentary that aired in December.

Zimmerman said he never heard of or met the people featured in the Al-Jazeera America documentary, ”The Dark Side: Secrets of Sports Doping.” He and Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard in January filed a defamation suit against the network, which Zimmerman said is the strongest way to prove his innocence.

The organization’s longest tenured player said he was willing to open up his entire life, including phone and email records, to discovery as part of the defamation suit. Even though Zimmerman acknowledged it’s difficult for public figures to successfully sue for defamation, he felt it was his responsibility to go through the process to clear his name.

NFL

SAN DIEGO (AP) – The San Diego Chargers proposed building a football stadium downtown with an expanded convention center, clashing with Mayor Kevin Faulconer, who backs another site.

The Chargers will partner with JMI Realty, which is owned by former San Diego Padres owner John Moores and has significant holdings near the convention center. They are backed by a citizens group that includes Donna Frye, a former city councilwoman who nearly won a write-in campaign for mayor in 2005.

The Chargers said the downtown venue would ”create an unparalleled entertainment and sports district” to host Super Bowls and provide a home for Comic-Con, the annual entertainment and comic extravaganza that has outgrown the convention center. The team said land at their current home in San Diego’s Mission Valley area could be used for educational institutions like San Diego State University and a riverfront park.

Comic-Con International expressed doubts about the plan, which proposes that the additional convention center space not be immediately adjacent to the existing convention center.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – The NFL competition committee is considering a rules change that could lead to more ejections for personal fouls.

After meeting most of the day in Indianapolis, where the league’s annual scouting combine is being held, committee member Stephen Jones said he expects a resolution at next month’s owners meetings in Florida.

The Dallas Cowboys executive vice president of player personnel said most of the debate has centered on details such as which penalties would qualify for ejections.

Any changes would come just months after Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. drew three personal foul penalties in a loss to the Carolina Panthers.

The committee also has discussed the rule on catches, though Jones said he does not anticipate that changing this year.

MMA

LOS ANGELES (AP) – While Holly Holm felt compassion after learning Ronda Rousey had suicidal thoughts following their bout last year, the UFC bantamweight champion is fairly certain Rousey wouldn’t want her sympathy.

Holm stopped Rousey with a head kick in November after dominating their bout for a stunning upset. In a recent interview on Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show, Rousey said she had suicidal thoughts shortly after her title reign ended.

Holm said she doesn’t ”ever take anything like that lightly.”

Rousey said the thoughts were only momentary, and she intends to fight again. She is expected to get an eventual rematch with Holm, who is preparing for her first title defense against Miesha Tate at UFC 196 in Las Vegas on March 5.