LAS VEGAS -- MLS executives met with several supporter groups on Thursday to discuss the league's ban on displaying political signage at matches, and in particular the Iron Front flag.

The meeting concluded with MLS agreeing to evaluate the treatment of the Iron Front Flag for the rest of the 2019 season, "while conducting a broader evaluation of the Fan Code of Conduct."

A conference call involving MLS, the Independent Supporters Council (ISC), an umbrella organization representing supporter groups from around the league, as well as leaders from three different supporter groups -- the Timbers Army, Emerald City Supporters and Gorilla FC -- is scheduled for next Tuesday. That call will likely determine what will be done about the Iron Front flag for 2019.

As for matches this weekend, the fan representatives asked MLS if they could "press pause" on enforcement, but MLS confirmed that for now, the policy banning the Iron Front flag remains in place.

"During today's meeting, the League proposed a collaborative process for reviewing its Fan Code of Conduct in a way that is inclusive of a cross-section of industry experts and national advocacy groups along with the leaders of its supporter groups," MLS said in a prepared statement.

"The goal is to have that process completed prior to the start of the 2020 season."

Earlier today, executives from Major League Soccer met with leaders of the Independent Supporters Council and supporter groups for the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders FC to discuss the MLS Fan Code of Conduct. MLS provided the following statement after today's meeting. pic.twitter.com/jmxkRigVig

— Dan Courtemanche (@courtemancheMLS) September 20, 2019

The meeting, which lasted over three-and-a-half hours, included nine leaders of various supporter groups. The Timbers Army, the main supporter group of the Portland Timbers was represented by Sheba Rawson, president of the 107ist, the organizational arm of the Timbers Army, as well as Fernando Machicado and Scott van Swearingen. The Emerald City Supporters, a Seattle Sounders supporter group, was represented by co-presidents Tom Biro and Shawn Wheeler while Cameron Collins was there on behalf of Gorilla FC. The ISC was represented by president Bailey Brown and vice-president Drew Picard. Speaking on behalf of MLS was deputy commissioner Mark Abbott and the league's general counsel Anastasia Danias.

Rawson said the meeting was productive, but was also disappointed that there was no resolution on the Iron Front flag.

"The first hour and a half was very productive, with a lot of good discussion about the path the code of conduct took in coming to fruition," Rawson said via text message.

"We are disappointed the league elected to come to this meeting unprepared to make a decision on the Iron Front ban given that it's been a central part of this issue. We are, however, encouraged by the dialogue and progress made, and we look forward to continued discussions with the league next week."

Abbott declined to comment beyond MLS's statement.

The dispute arose at the beginning of the season, when MLS implemented a revised Fan Code of Conduct that included a ban on political signage. While the Code of Conduct doesn't mention the Iron Front flag specifically, fans from around the league were told prior to the season that it is prohibited.

The Iron Front symbol dates back to an anti-Nazi paramilitary organization from the 1930s, and has been flown by the Timbers Army at Providence Park since at least 2017. But the symbol is used by antifa, and because MLS deems antifa to be a political organization, the display of the Iron Front symbol on flags or banners is prohibited in the league's venues. The supporters groups, however, contend that the flag is a symbol of inclusion.

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The issue over waving the Iron Front flag has come to a head in recent weeks, however. The Timbers Army, the Emerald City Supporters and Gorilla FC staged a silent protest for the first 33 minutes of the match between the Timbers and the Sounders back on Aug. 23. At that point in the game, the supporters from both teams began cheering and displaying flags with the Iron Front symbol.

In a statement released prior to the match, the three groups called for MLS to rescind its ban on flying the Iron Front flag, as well as remove the word "political" from its Fan Code of Conduct, calling the use of the word "inherently arbitrary." The groups also asked MLS to work with international experts on human rights to craft language in the fan code of conduct that "reflects and supports radical inclusion and anti-discrimination."

More recently, three Timbers Army members were banned for three matches for displaying an Iron Front in a match involving the Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake on Aug. 31. Last weekend the ECS staged a walkout during the game between the Sounders and the New York Red Bulls when one of its capos -- a member who leads the crowd in chants -- was ejected for waving an Iron Front flag. In Minnesota, one fan was ejected for waving the flag according to a Minnesota United statement, though one of the supporter groups, the Red Loons, countered in a statement to ESPN that security ejected "about a dozen" of its supporters, and around the same number left with them in protest.

Tuesday's meeting represents another chance for the two sides to come to an agreement.

"The league heard our position and understood it," said Biro. "I do feel like there was a genuine attempt to move the needle on some things, but we came in with some specific asks that track back to what we put out in a statement.

"It seemed like they were willing to consider them, which is great. But the fact they were unwilling to move on this one topic, which was the crux of why we were here in the first place, it just was surprising. We're supposed to meet next week. I'm hopeful we can come to some sort of decision."

All you need to know about this weekend's Premier League action, all in one place.

Jump to: Is Tammy the real deal? | Winless Watford face wounded City | Tune in to the battle of the south | The Premier League team that needs some luck | Why everyone needs to avoid Harry Kane | Good old reliable Burnley | The man with the most thankless task in football | Best stats of the weekend | ESPN's fearless predictions

THE WEEKEND'S BIG QUESTIONS

Are the Tottenham players listening to Pochettino anymore?

It's an age-old maxim in football that, eventually, players simply stop listening to a manager if they stay at one club for too long. Jurgen Klopp always said that about his latter days at Borussia Dortmund, when his instructions simply were not getting through to his squad as they once did.

Is the same thing happening at Spurs? Mauricio Pochettino's declaration that his players didn't "respect the plan" in the first-half of their 2-2 Champions League draw with Olympiakos on Wednesday was worrying, and did suggest that some of the players who have been there for the duration of Pochettino's five-year tenure have started to switch off. Perhaps that is the root cause of the slump and modest results that have spilled from the back end of last season to this.

"I can see why the manager is frustrated because he's been here for six years now and we're still making similar mistakes to the ones we were in his first year," said Harry Kane after the game.

This weekend they travel to face a Leicester team who will almost certainly approach this match in a more proactive manner than they did against Manchester United last weekend: A test for sure, but a win for Spurs will, if nothing else, be good for the perception that Pochettino can still make himself heard.

Can Abraham score against a "big" team?

This will inevitably sound dismissive and even patronising to Wolves, Sheffield United and Norwich, but this weekend sees Tammy Abraham's biggest test as Chelsea's No. 9. The English forward has seven goals against those three opponents, which is hugely impressive but you could easily dismiss those as merely strikes versus teams new to the Premier League or in terrible form.

On Sunday however, Abraham will come up against Liverpool and Virgil van Dijk, arguably the best team and central defender in Europe at the moment. Should he score goals against the European champions, then it won't be as easy -- impossible, even -- to dismiss his feats as that of a flat-track bully.

What will Manchester City's response to last weekend be?

Five games in, and Manchester City are five points behind Liverpool having already dropped more points than they did in the whole second half of last season. Last weekend's defeat at Norwich could easily turn out to be a freak result, the sort of scoreline that inevitably happens in a world with human fallibility and luck. But that will only really be determined by what happens in the next few games.

They probably couldn't have asked for a better next game, on paper at least. Watford are the visitors to the Etihad, a team without a win thus far this term, who they eviscerated in the FA Cup final and scored 11 times against in three games last season. But the Hornets have a new manager whose remit was to tighten their defence, so it will be interesting to see how City's attack approaches that particular challenge.

If we see a repeat of the corresponding games last season, we can safely assume that Norwich was a blip. If not ... then who knows what the coming months could have in store?

THE GAME YOU'RE NOT PLANNING TO WATCH ... BUT SHOULD

If you've got room on your DVR or in your busy schedule for one match this weekend away from the title race, we've got you covered.

Southampton vs. Bournemouth

Sure, you've probably got better things to be doing on a Friday evening, but forget your friends, never mind going to see a film, cancel those drinks: Watch Southampton vs. Bournemouth instead.

Not only is this a derby (of sorts), but it's a game between two teams who are pretty good fun to watch. Ralph Hasenhuttl has injected new life into the Saints, while the Bournemouth forward-line featuring Harry Wilson, Josh King and Callum Wilson is certain to provide something to remember.

Stay in, feet up, have some fun.

A TEAM THAT NEEDS A BIT OF LUCK

Luck is everything in sports. Get acquainted with ESPN's Luck Index as we pick out the team most desperate for good fortune amid a difficult run. Here are the big takeaways from the 2019 edition as explained by Gab Marcotti.

Aston Villa: There's been a sense that Aston Villa are slowly building towards a really impressive result. Their one win this season has been against Everton, but they've narrowly lost to Crystal Palace and Bournemouth, while on Monday they drew with West Ham.

It was always going to take a little time to integrate their new signings, but that's happening gradually, and when they click you sense something special could happen. Or, possibly, they just need a bit of luck: Could they get that when they visit Arsenal on Sunday?

FANTASY TIPS

Kieran Darcy has some tips for the weekend action. Read his full preview here and set your team line-up!

Must-have player: Sergio Aguero (Tier 1 forward)

Aguero has scored in each of Manchester City's first five Premier League games, and is tied for the league lead with seven goals in total. And he was rested for their Champions League win on Wednesday, so should start against bottom-of-the-table Watford on Saturday.

Worth considering: Richarlison (Tier 2 midfielder)

Everton lost 3-1 at Bournemouth last week, but Richarlison followed up his brace against Wolves with an assist, four shots and three chances created, and one of his shots hit the woodwork. Now he'll be at home against Sheffield United.

Avoid at all costs: Harry Kane (Tier 1 forward)

Kane scored two goals and took eight shots in Tottenham's season-opener against Aston Villa, but has scored just one goal in four league games since, and that was via a penalty kick. Worse yet, he's only taken six shots combined in those four games, and now faces a tricky away fixture against Leicester City.

ONE THING THAT WILL DEFINITELY HAPPEN

Norwich will crash down to earth against Burnley: If we've learned one thing down the years, it's that football will take a big run up and kick you in the groin, just at the point where everything seems to be going well.

So Norwich City, fresh from their exhilarating victory over Manchester City last weekend, will inevitably be brought right back down with the bumpiest of bumps against Burnley.

There's logic to back that up too: Sean Dyche's side are solid and Norwich still have a raft of injuries, and ultimately they probably won't have the fine play and luck they needed to win last time out.

MAN TO WATCH

Kepa Arrizabalaga: Or perhaps this should be "man with the most thankless task in football this weekend." Under Frank Lampard, Chelsea are yet to keep a clean sheet: A combination of their gung-ho style of play, inexperienced defenders and changing systems meaning that there's been no consistency and no solidity in their back-line

Perhaps things will be a little less porous if N'Golo Kante returns, but against the myriad attacking talents of Liverpool, it could be a long old Sunday for nominative determinism's favourite keeper.

STATS OF THE WEEKEND

Information provided by ESPN Stats & Information Group

- Manchester City are on an 11-game winning streak against Watford in all competitions, scoring at least twice in each match (38 total). Sergio Aguero, who is the top scoring player in the Premier League in 2019, is on a six-game scoring streak -- the last player to score in seven in a row was Romelu Lukaku in December 2015 for Everton.

- Tottenham have lost their last six away games in the Premier League. They go to Leicester City, who sit fourth in the points table since Brendan Rodgers took charge in March. Jamie Vardy has scored more goals against the "big six" than any other player, with 31 (Aguero has 30, Harry Kane 23), since 2014-15.

- Brighton's Pascal Gross has created the fourth-most chances (148) in the Premier League since his debut in August 2017, only Eden Hazard (182), Christian Eriksen (178) and Kevin De Bruyne (161) have more in that span

OUR BOLD/RECKLESS PREDICTIONS

Southampton 2-1 Bournemouth: The Cherries blow hot and cold. We're picking cold this weekend.
Leicester City 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur: Plenty of goals but a share of the points.
Manchester City 5-0 Watford: It's the Hornets that will be stung by a wounded Man City.
Burnley 1-0 Norwich City: Sean Dyche to teach Norwich a Premier League lesson.
Everton 1-1 Sheffield United: This is a game Everton should win ... which is why they won't.
Newcastle United 0-1 Brighton: Everyone will jump back aboard the Graham Potter hype train.
West Ham 3-1 Manchester United: Every weekend there's an upset, but don't expect one here. Hammers to win easily.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Wolves will rock up to Selhurst with shades on and telling everyone to shush. Classic Europa hangover.
Arsenal 3-1 Aston Villa: Three goals for a rampant Gunners front-line and a own-goal at the back for (insert any Arsenal defender here).
Chelsea 2-4 Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp's side will continue their perfect start, but jeez didn't Chelsea's young lads play well?

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots 176 for 6 (Allen 62*, Hafeez 37, Smith 1-18) beat Jamaica Tallawahs 156 (Phillips 87, Emrit 2-21, Cottrell 2-33, Joseph 2-37) by 20 runs

Jamaica Tallawahs ended their series of home games with another defeat, losing by 20 runs to St Kitts and Nevis Patriots at Sabina Park. Patriots rode on Fabian Allen's 27-ball 62 to reach 176 for 6 from 82 for 6, after which their bowlers combined to strangle Tallawahs, dismissing them for 156.

Glenn Phillips was the only Tallawahs batsman to make a worthy contribution, scoring a 49-ball 87 to become the highest run-getter this season, but, with eight single-digit scores in the innings, Phillips had little chance to make a difference. Tallawahs' defeat was their sixth in seven games, while Patriots, with eight points, are in the battle for a top-two finish with Trinbago Knight Riders, who have played three fewer matches.

Honours shared in first ten overs Having been put in to bat, Patriots lost openers Evin Lewis and Devon Thomas by the third over, but a tidy 46-run third-wicket stand between Laurie Evans and Mohammad Hafeez helped them recover. The Tallawahs' bowlers rode on the back of some early swing with the new ball, and Dwayne Smith, particularly, troubled the batsmen early on, his lack of pace forcing them to manufacture shots.

Hafeez then struck four fours off Shamar Springer in the seventh over to break the shackles. At the halfway stage, Hafeez had crunched five fours and a six, but fell in the next over toe-ending a drive to cover after scoring 37. At that stage, the scoreboard read 76 for 4.

Allen rescues Patriots after middle-order wobble

Over the next two overs, Shamarh Brooks was trapped lbw by Zahir Khan, and Carlos Brathwaite was out slicing a catch to cover. At 82 for 6, the Patriots innings seemed destined for a quick finish, but Fabian Allen, batting at No. 7, had other ideas.

Batting alongside No. 8 Keron Cottoy, Allen took on Afghanistan left-arm wristspinner Zahir Khan, smashing 16 runs off the 16th over. The next two overs - off Jade Dernbach and Springer - yielded 13 and 18 runs respectively, and included two fours, two sixes and a dropped chance to reprieve Cottoy.

Dernbach's final over, the penultimate of the innings, went for another 20 runs, with Allen reaching his half-century off 23 balls. The run spree of the final overs was capped by a 14-run over to end the innings, and from 82 for 6, Patriots had climbed to 176. The unbeaten Allen-Cottoy partnership was worth 94, of which 81 runs came in the final five overs.

Varied fortunes for Phillips and Tallawahs

The 22-year-old New Zealand batsman took charge of the Tallawahs chase after opener Chris Gayle was out in the third over, trying to pull one over cow corner. The very next ball, Phillips crunched Sheldon Cottrell for a drive through the covers and followed it up with three more boundaries off successive deliveries to collect 18 off the over. Phillips did not slow down even after Tallawahs lost Chadwick Walton, and had raced to a half-century by the eighth over, taking 25 balls to reach the landmark. When Phillips reached 50, his team's score was 60 for 3, headlining the ease with which he scored, even as his team-mates struggled.

Phillips then raced into the 60s by hitting Brathwaite for a four and two sixes in the ninth over, taking 17 runs off the Patriots' captain. However, Tallawahs were tied down again by tidy second spells from Hafeez and Joseph. Imran Khan, the leg-spinning allrounder, was having a difficult time rotating the strike, and Hafeez prised his wicket out with a caught-and-bowled dismissal in the 14th over. He ended the innings with remarkable returns of 1 for 13 in four overs. The next over saw Andre Russell fall for a first-ball duck, trying to pull Rayad Emrit, and the pressure of the chase and lack of support finally took a toll on Phillips.

Looking to target Cottoy in the 16th over - with the required run-rate around 12 - Phillips holed out to long-on for a 49-ball 87 that included eight fours and five sixes. At that stage, he had scored 71% of the Tallawahs' runs.

At 123 for 6, Tallawahs needed a near miracle from their lower order to pull off the chase, especially with the pitch slowing as the evening progressed. Springer entertained with a few lusty blows, and Tallawahs entered the final over with 25 needed and three wickets in hand. But Brathwaite's accuracy stifled them, and they lost all three wickets, including a run-out, in five balls.

Jofra Archer's rise in England cricket continues after being awarded an ECB central contract across all formats.

Barbados-born Archer only made his international debut in May shortly after he qualified to represent England and then went on to play a crucial role in the triumphant World Cup campaign and the Ashes series. He was among six players to receive both Test and white-ball contracts for the 2019-20 season, announced on Friday.

In all, selectors awarded 10 Test contracts and 12 white-ball contracts.

Opening batsman Rory Burns earned a Test contract after becoming the third-highest runscorer of the Ashes series with 390 runs from his 10 innings. Batsman Joe Denly - who missed out on World Cup selection after much discussion about his possible role as a spin-bowling all-rounder - was awarded his first white-ball contract.

Moeen Ali, who was dropped for the second Test against Australia and took no further part in the Ashes, missed out on a Test contract, as did Adil Rashid. Both had been contracted across all three formats last year but were awarded only limited-overs deals for next season. Rashid has not played since the World Cup final in July because of a right shoulder injury that required painkilling injections during the tournament.

Jason Roy, who battled to establish himself as a Test batsman through the Ashes was awarded only a white-ball contract.

Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett and David Willey missed out on white-ball contracts for 2019-20.

Selectors can also award a limited number of increment contracts, which went to Burns, Denly and Jack Leach for 2018-19 in recognition of their performances for the team through the current season. Leach and Tom Curran received increment contract for the 2019-20 year commencing on October 1.

ECB Central Contracts list:

Test James Anderson Jofra Archer Jonny Bairstow Stuart Broad Rory Burns Jos Buttler Sam Curran Joe Root Ben Stokes Chris Woakes

ODI / T20 Moeen Ali Jofra Archer Jonny Bairstow Jos Buttler Joe Denly Eoin Morgan Adil Rashid Joe Root Jason Roy Ben Stokes Chris Woakes Mark Wood

Incremental Tom Curran Jack Leach

India A 417 (Gill 92, Nair 78, Dube 68, Mulder 3-47, Piedt 3-78) and 202 for 3 dec (Panchal 109, Nair 51*, Piedt 2-88) drew with South Africa A 400 (Markram 161, Mulder 131*, de Bruyn 41, Kuldeep 4-121, Nadeem 3-76)

Priyank Panchal scored a century and Karun Nair hit his second half-century of the match on the final day of the second unofficial Test between India A and South Africa A in Mysuru, before the two teams agreed to call off the game after just 64 overs of action on Friday. The result meant India A won the two-match series 1-0.

Opener Panchal's 109 and Nair's 51 not out from No. 4 took the home side to 202 for 3 in their second innings, with the declaration coming once Nair had reached his milestone. But with not much time left on the day, South Africa opted not to chase their 220-run target.

Panchal - who had batted at No. 3 with Shubman Gill opening in the first innings - was on 9 with his opening partner Abhimanyu Easwaran on 5 overnight. The two built on the Indians' 17-run first-innings lead with a 94-run stand before Abhimanyu fell, bowled by offspinner Dane Piedt, for 37 off 93 balls with three hits to the boundary.

That was in the 34th over, and Piedt struck again in his next over when he had Gill, batting at No. 3 this time after top-scoring with 92 in the first dig, caught by Senuran Muthusamy for a duck.

Panchal chugged along though, and proceeded to add 92 more with Nair, bringing up his 22nd first-class century in the process. His innings included nine fours and four sixes. It continued Panchal's rich vein of form, which had hit a temporary snag in the Duleep Trophy with a top score of 33 across four innings.

Muthuswamy, the left-arm spinner, did succeed in sending back Panchal, caught and bowled, but Nair, who had settled down by then, continued his own strong form in recent times with a half-century. His scores in first-class cricket this season read: 99, 166*, 90, 20, 78 and 51*. When the teams shook hands, Nair had captain Wriddhiman Saha, unbeaten on 1 off 33 balls, for company.

Earlier, after Aiden Markram asked the Indians to bat, they rode on the half-centuries from Gill and Nair as well as Saha's 60, Shivam Dube's 68 and Jalaj Saxena's unbeaten 48 to put up 417.

Kuldeep Yadav and Shahbaz Nadeem combined to then reduce South Africa to 142 for 5, before hundreds by Markram and Wiaan Mulder rescued the visiting side. Markram (161) and Mulder (131*) added 155 runs for the sixth wicket, and though Markram was eventually bowled by Mohammed Siraj, Mulder carried South Africa close to India's total.

Kuldeep and Nadeem picked up seven wickets between them, and Markram was named the player of the match.

This match marked the end of South Africa A's tour of India, which started with a five-match one-day series - India took that 4-1 - and concluded with the two four-dayers, the first of which the Indians won by seven wickets.

The senior sides from the two countries are currently engaged in a T20I series and will then play three Test matches.

Kuldeep Yadav hasn't been part of the last two T20I squads India's selectors have chosen, for the West Indies tour and at home against South Africa, but that hasn't dented his confidence. Kuldeep was instead picked in the India A side for the second unofficial Test against South Africa A, which ended in a draw in Mysore on Friday.

Kuldeep had a reasonable outing in the game, taking 4 for 121 in 29 overs in the only innings India bowled in.

"So far, I have done a good job in limited-overs format. I feel very comfortable with the white ball," Kuldeep told reporters after the third day. "I am not worried about not being picked for the last two T20I series. Maybe the selectors felt I needed a break. Maybe the team thinks some changes are required. I respect that, and I have no complaints. I see this as an opportunity to do well in Tests."

Stats bear out Kuldeep's assertion. After the 2016 T20 World Cup, he has been among the best spinners in the world in T20 cricket, and one of the top two Indians.

In 68 T20 matches since that T20 World Cup, Kuldeep has taken 81 wickets at an average of 22.97 (ninth-best in the world, second among Indians), and an economy rate of 7.60 (fifth among Indians). His strike rate of 18.1 is seventh-best among all spinners. Yuzvendra Chahal has a marginally better average (22.11) and a better strike rate (16.9, third-best in the world), but a higher economy rate of 7.83.

"There is no doubt that wristspinners are dominating the world," Kuldeep said. "But sometimes, when you try to stop runs, you actually turn out to be expensive. We need to work on our accuracy. You need to accept that you do get hit for runs and work on being economical."

The recent T20I series exclusion, however, could be down to India's desire to have bowlers who can contribute with the bat, as was expressed recently by captain Virat Kohli.

That might work towards pushing Kuldeep to hone his red-ball skills, where he is still in the mix, even though he has had little game time of late. Since the start of 2017, Kuldeep has played in just 10 first-class games, six of them Test matches, largely due to his national commitments and being the third spinner in a Test team that already has R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. He has done reasonably well in those games though, taking 40 wickets at 25.87, with three five-wicket hauls.

"It's hard to play red-ball cricket when you aren't consistently playing that format," Kuldeep said. "If you aren't a regular in this format, it takes time to get into your rhythm. When you are consistently playing limited overs and suddenly switch to Tests without much preparation, it will be tough to excel. You need to bowl long spells, play practice games, to understand field placements and to know how to pick wickets. It was important for me to come here (in the India A game) and bowl as many overs as possible. There is still plenty of work to do.

"When three spinners like Ashwin, Jaddu and I are in the squad, it's challenging to pick the right combination. You need to be ready to grab your chance. Of course, there is pressure because you only get a few chances, and you have to make full use of them."

The lawyer for a woman who earlier this week alleged sexual misconduct by Antonio Brown reached out to the NFL on Thursday night after the New England Patriots wide receiver apparently sent what were described as threatening text messages to her client, Sports Illustrated reports.

Attorney Lisa J. Banks wrote the NFL asking it to stop alleged conduct by Brown that she deemed as "intimidating and threatening to our client, in violation of the NFL Personal Conduct Policy," according to the report. The NFL responded quickly, setting up a phone call between league investigators and the woman's attorneys.

The woman told SI that, on Wednesday night, she received a group text message that appeared to come from the same phone number Brown gave to her in 2017, when she was hired by the wide receiver to paint a mural in his suburban Pittsburgh home. The text chain had four other numbers on it, SI reported.

The woman said she believes Brown was encouraging others in the group to investigate her, describing her as a "super broke girl" and asking someone he refers to as "Eric B" to "look up her background history." He then sent a screenshot of an Instagram photo she had posted showing the faces of her young children, adding "those her kids ... she's awful broke clearly."

The texter accused the woman of fabricating her account of a 2017 incident for cash.

The woman's allegations were first included within a Sports Illustrated story published Monday that detailed multiple domestic incidents involving Brown.

According to SI's initial report, Brown had hosted a charity softball game in Pittsburgh to benefit the National Youth Foundation, a Pennsylvania-based volunteer group of women that promotes inclusion and gender equality, as well as developing academic skills in kids. The event had an auction that included artwork, and Brown agreed to purchase a portrait of himself before befriending the artist who created it.

Brown invited the artist to come to his home to create another painting of him, according to the report, arranging for transportation from New York to western Pennsylvania. The artist told SI she was thrilled by Brown's willingness to share her work on social media, but on her second day in Pennsylvania, things changed.

According to the report, which did not include the artist's name, she "was in a kneeling position while painting and turned to find Brown behind her, naked, holding a small hand towel over his genitals." The artist said she didn't stop painting and that "after that, it all ended abruptly."

Brown paid her $2,000 for the mural, according to SI, and didn't contact the artist thereafter.

The artist is not pursuing charges or remuneration, according to SI.

After SI published its story Monday, Brown's attorney, Darren Heitner, tweeted that his client denied he ever acted inappropriately.

Heitner told SI he had not advised Brown to communicate with the woman but otherwise declined comment when reached Thursday.

Messages sent by SI to Brown's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, were not immediately returned Thursday, according to the report.

The woman's allegations are separate from those of Britney Taylor, Brown's former trainer who filed a civil suit in Florida earlier this month. In the lawsuit, she alleges that Brown -- in three separate incidents, two in June 2017 and another in May 2018 -- sexually assaulted her.

NFL investigators met with Taylor on Monday, and a source previously told ESPN that there are "more interviews and information gathering being conducted now beyond Taylor." It remains unclear when or if Brown will interview with the league.

Brown, who was signed by the Patriots on Sept. 9 -- before Taylor's lawsuit was filed -- and made his season debut Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, spoke publicly Thursday for the first time since the allegations came out. In the brief media session, Brown was not directly asked a question about his reaction to Taylor's lawsuit and deflected a question on whether he has heard from the NFL about being able to play throughout the 2019 season.

CHICAGO -- The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs wasted no time trading blows in the first game of their crucial four-game series.

Then, the Cardinals' Matt Carpenter delivered a haymaker that put the rival Cubs on the ropes.

Carpenter homered in the 10th inning against Craig Kimbrel in the All-Star closer's return from the injured list, and St. Louis regrouped after blowing a late lead to beat the Cubs 5-4 Thursday night. The teams will meet six more times in the final 10 days of the regular season.

In the midst of a disappointing season that saw his role diminish, Carpenter emphatically pointed to no one in particular in the visitors dugout upon contact.

"I mean, it was a gut punch in that inning before," Carpenter said of a squandered 4-1 lead. "We had that game locked, then it squeaked away from us. They tied it up. Just the emotional turn to be able to get the lead again then look in there and the excitement just fired up everybody."

Carpenter homered to deep center field off Kimbrel (0-3), who was activated before the game after dealing with right elbow inflammation. Chicago dropped a game behind Milwaukee for the second NL wild-card spot and four games behind St. Louis for first place in the NL Central.

"I'm really disappointed in myself to go out there and give up a home run like that," Kimbrel said. "Season's not over. We still have a lot of games left."

Giovanny Gallegos pitched a perfect 10th for his first save in two chances. Andrew Miller (5-5) recorded the final two outs in the ninth for the victory.

The significance of an emotion-charged road victory in the series opener with emerging ace Jack Flaherty on the mound wasn't lost on Manager Mike Shildt and his team.

"Yeah, a win is a win is a win, but that's an important win for sure," Shildt said. "I mean, you start the series off and knock that first one down and look forward to tomorrow."

Cubs slugger Anthony Rizzo provided a jolt in his unexpected return from a sprained right ankle, homering in the third inning to tie the score at 1. But Flaherty was spectacular otherwise, pitching three-hit ball while giving up only the one run and striking out eight. He left after 118 pitches with a 6-2 record with a 0.93 ERA in 10 starts since Aug. 1.

The Cubs finally broke through against closer Carlos Martinez in the ninth, which Nicholas Castellanos led off with a walk then advanced to second on Kris Bryant's single. After Kyle Schwarber was called out on strikes, Ben Zobrist hit an RBI double just inside the right-field line. Willson Contreras followed with a slow roller on which Martinez threw late to the plate while Bryant scored from third.

Jason Heyward tied it with a groundout against Miller that scored pinch runner Javier Baez from third.

"I was really proud of the guys, the way they came back at the end and had a chance to win," manager Joe Maddon said.

Tommy Edman lead off the fifth with a triple against Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks for the first of his two hits. Harrison Bader followed with an RBI single to snap a 1-1 tie.

The Cardinals took a 4-1 lead with a pair of runs in the sixth. Schwarber bobbled Yadier Molina's single in left field off Hendricks for a run-scoring error. Bader hit an RBI double off reliever Brad Wieck one out later.

RIZZO'S RETURN

Rizzo left a game against Pittsburgh on Sunday because of a sprained right ankle and was expected to be in a walking boot for up to a week. Shortly after he warmed up in the outfield while team medical personnel looked on, he was inserted into the leadoff spot and tabbed to play first base about 20 minutes before first pitch.

Rizzo hit the first pitch by Flaherty in the third inning into the left-field bleachers to tie the score at 1, and fans at Wrigley Field celebrated wildly as he slowly circled the bases.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cardinals: INF Kolten Wong left the game in the fifth inning because of a left hamstring injury. He is day to day.

Cubs: INF Addison Russell was activated after a 10-game absence while in concussion protocol. ... Baez (fractured left thumb) was cleared for baseball activities and available to pinch run with the aid of a protective mitt. ... RHP Brandon Kintzler (strained left oblique) was expected to take part in a full bullpen session in the next day or two after he reported no setbacks in a 15-pitch session Wednesday.

UP NEXT

St. Louis RHP Michael Wacha (6-7, 4.76) and Chicago RHP Alec Mills (1-0, 3.42) are the scheduled starters Friday. LHP Jose Quintana was set to start for Chicago, but his assignment was pushed back to Saturday, when LHP Cole Hamels (fatigued left shoulder) had been scheduled to pitch. Hamels was scratched but hopes to rejoin the rotation next week.

CHICAGO -- How many times have this season's Chicago Cubs gotten a boost only to quickly fall backward? And if the boost the Cubs received Thursday evening -- a surprise return to the lineup for injured first baseman Anthony Rizzo -- wasn't enough to lift them for even one night, is there really anything left to push them over the finish line?

Rizzo's injured right ankle healed quickly enough for him to start in Game 1 of the biggest series of the season to date but, even after hitting a home run, his presence did little to affect the outcome -- no matter what the Cubs say -- as St. Louis Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty dominated on the road for the NL Central leaders.

"That was huge," Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks said of Rizzo's return. "The work he's been putting in the last few days to get him back on the field has been incredible. That's one of our leaders. To have him back out there, it lifted everyone up."

But how much did it really lift everyone? Rizzo was the only player to produce a run while he was in the game, going deep to tie the contest in the bottom of the third inning. By the time the Cubs got down 4-1, Rizzo came out of the game to rest his ankle before a late Cubs comeback fell short when closer Craig Kimbrel -- fresh off an injury himself -- gave up a 10th-inning home run to Matt Carpenter for a 5-4 St. Louis win.

"Pretty disappointed in myself to go out there and give up a home run like that," Kimbrel said. "Tonight was a big game for us. We really needed it."

The Cubs have been saying the same things for weeks. But now the calendar is closing in on them as the loss dropped them out of the postseason -- at least for the moment. Treading water -- or taking it on -- has been the theme for this team for months. Rizzo's inspirational return did little, just as the upstart story of Double-A infielder Nico Hoerner hasn't been a spark. The trade for Nicholas Castellanos was the burst the Cubs needed back in August, or so we thought. But the run didn't come then either. Even the Kimbrel signing in June hasn't paid off as he has been hurt and struggled, and now took the loss in a crushing September loss.

At least Rizzo is showing a sense of urgency that can't be questioned. Why did he play, instead of waiting a couple more days, after injuring his ankle Sunday?

"We don't have a couple more days," he said. "We have to win now. I love this team. This is what I want to do. I want to play.

"We have to come in and win. This is the bottom line. Guys are pumped."

They may be pumped, but they aren't playing good baseball. Another poor baserunning play, another fielding error and another bad night of chasing pitches out of the zone added up to another loss. Despite all of that, the Cubs mounted an admirable, game-tying three-run rally in the ninth inning off Carlos Martinez.

Here again was a chance to break through and use Rizzo's night to inspire them to greatness, even if he was out of the game. But the winning run was stranded at second not long before Carpenter took a fastball from Kimbrel out to center field. Game over.

"Overall, love the fight," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.

Sure, great. Fight is nice. Wins are better.

The Cubs have now dropped three in a row at home where they've dominated all year. The season is slowly slipping away, though there is still time to right the ship. It's a proud group that likely won't go quietly -- but they also don't seem to be too inspired by anything around them, which includes a rabid fan base. What more can Rizzo do for his team than play on a bum ankle and hit a home run?

"We're fighting at Wrigley field in late September to go to the playoffs, and that's where all the magic happens," Rizzo said, trying to stay positive.

On Thursday, the only magic that happened -- besides a ninth-inning tease -- was in Rizzo's ankle.