SAN FRANCISCO — A federal jury ordered the NFL Players Association to pay $28.1 million to retired players after finding the union failed to properly market their images.

The jury said the union owed the retirees $7.1 million in actual damages for failing to include them in lucrative marketing deals with Electronic Arts Inc., the maker of the popular “Madden NFL” video games, sporting card companies and other sponsorship agreements.

Hall of Fame cornerback Herb Adderley filed the lawsuit last year on behalf of 2,056 retired players who contend the union failed to actively pursue marketing deals on their behalf with video games, trading cards and others sports products.

The lawyers and judge still must decide how to divvy up the jury’s award, some of which will go to attorneys’ fees.

Several retired players either testified during the trial or appeared in the court to lend support, including retired Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr, who attended the last day of testimony on Friday.

Richard Berthelsen, the union’s acting executive director, said outside court that the NFLPA would ask the trial judge, U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup, to toss out the verdict. If that fails, it intends to appeal.

Lawyers representing Adderley and the retired players told the jury during the three-week trial that the union actively sought to cut them out of licensing deals so active players could receive bigger royalty payments.

As proof, the retirees pointed to a 2001 letter from an NFLPA executive telling EA Inc. executives to scramble the images of retired players in the company’s popular Madden video game, otherwise the company would have to pay them.

Hasselbeck to return to Seattle lineup

RENTON, Wash. — Matt Hasselbeck is ready to make his first start in six weeks on Sunday when the Seahawks play first-place Arizona.

Coach Mike Holmgren said Monday his three-time Pro Bowl quarterback has been cleared to practice with the starting offense Wednesday. Barring the unforeseen, Hasselbeck will then start his first game since he hyperextended his right knee in a loss at the New York Giants on Oct. 5. A surgeon in Los Angeles found that a bulging disk in Hasselbeck’s back was affecting a nerve and weakening the knee.

The Seahawks are 1-4 without Hasselbeck. They are 1-3 with him, and seem headed to early elimination in the NFC West.

Law returns to Jets

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Ty Law is back with the New York Jets — just in time to play against the New England Patriots.

The five-time Pro Bowl cornerback agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Jets on Monday after sitting out the first 10 weeks of the season as a free agent.

The NFL Network first reported the signing on its Web site Monday night. The Jets wouldn’t confirm the deal because it had not yet been completed, likely pending a physical.

Barnett done for season

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Monday that linebacker Nick Barnett tore a right knee ligament in Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, which the Packers lost 28-27. Surgery has not yet been scheduled.

It’s a major blow to an already-suspect run defense which gave up 192 yards rushing to Vikings running back Adrian Peterson on Sunday.

Barnett, a former Oregon State star, was injured on the Vikings’ first drive of the second half while trying to tackle Peterson.

Hunter gets jail term

BEL AIR, Md. — Former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Javin Hunter was sentenced to six months in jail Monday for a fatal hit-and-run accident last year.

The Harford County State’s Attorney’s office said Hunter was given a total of five years with all but six months suspended. Hunter pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the accident on July 17, 2007.

Ellis George Spencer Jr., 53, was struck from behind while riding a scooter and died several hours later, state police said at the time.

The 28-year-old Hunter was questioned about the accident after he went to a state police barracks the next day.

The Ravens picked Hunter from Notre Dame in the sixth round of the 2002 draft. He played little and was let go after injuring his Achilles tendon.

BASEBALL

Cancer survivor Lester receives Hutch Award

SEATTLE — Boston left-hander Jon Lester, who has recovered from cancer, clinched the World Series for the Red Sox in 2007 and threw a no-hitter last season, was selected as the recipient of the Hutch Award.

The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle made the announcement on Monday.

It gives the award annually to a major league player who best exemplifies the honor, courage and dedication of former major league pitcher and manager Fred Hutchinson, who died from cancer in 1964 at age 45.

“This is a tremendous honor for me and my family to have been selected for the Hutch Award,” Lester said in a statement released by the Fred Hutchinson Center. “I’m humbled to know that legends such as Mickey Mantle, Sandy Koufax and Lou Brock have won this award in the past.”

Lester was 16-6 with a 3.21 ERA in 2008 while helping lead Boston to the postseason. He threw the 18th no-hitter in Red Sox history on May 19 against Kansas City.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Green leaves Trojans

LOS ANGELES — Southern California redshirt freshman tailback Broderick Green said he is leaving the program to return to Little Rock, Ark. to be with his ailing grandmother.

The 6-foot-2, 235-pound Green did not play against California on Saturday and will officially transfer after the fall semester.

“Because of unforeseen family health issues with my maternal grandmother who raised me and my mother, I have asked the University of Southern California to grant me a scholarship release at the end of the semester,” Green said in a statement posted on coach Pete Carroll’s Web site. “Over the last few weeks, as I have tried to maintain the desire to be a part of the USC football family, a stronger desire to be closer to family in this time of need has emerged.”

Green ran for three touchdowns and 168 yards this season, 121 against Washington State on Oct. 18. He was fifth on the depth chart for the tailback-heavy Trojans.

“Broderick’s been a great kid in our program and we’re going to miss him,” Carroll said on his site. “We wish him the best and look forward to seeing him get settled in wherever he ends up in the future.”

Carroll said playing time was also a factor for Green.

“I think the number of guys he’s battling against was a concern,” Carroll told the Los Angeles Times. “Somewhere in there, that was one of his concerns, but he has a lot of things that are weighing on him.”