In taking a case involving the National Football League's exclusive licensing deal for sports merchandise, the Supreme Court could go beyond caps and give leagues more leeway in areas such as team relocation, legal scholars said yesterday.

"A broad ruling in favor of the NFL could rewrite almost all of sports antitrust law," said Gabe Feldman, associate law professor and director of the Sports Law Program at Tulane.

The court will hear an appeal from American Needle Inc., of Buffalo Grove, Ill., which filed an antitrust challenge to an agreement the NFL struck with Reebok International Ltd. American Needle had been one of many firms that manufactured NFL headwear until the league granted an exclusive deal to Reebok in 2001.

The NFL won the case in the federal appeals court in Chicago. But it also asked the Supreme Court to hear the case in a quest for a more sweeping decision that could put an end to what the league considers costly, frivolous antitrust lawsuits.

Other than Major League Baseball, which has an antitrust exemption dating to a 1922 Supreme Court decision, the other sports leagues have an intense interest in the case. The NBA and NHL asked the court to rule in favor of the NFL.

The team agreed to a three-year contact with guard Kraig Urbik, the first of their three third-round draft picks. No financial terms were released. Urbik, the 79th selection overall, is the eighth of nine draft picks to sign. Only No. 1 pick Ziggy Hood remains without a deal. Urbik, 6 feet 5, 328 pounds, made 50 starts at Wisconsin, including 34 at right guard and 16 at right tackle. He figures to join the mix at right guard, along with veterans Darnell Stapleton and Trai Essex, when the Steelers open camp July 31 at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe.

Philadelphia and second-round draft choice LeSean McCoy of Pitt agreed to terms on a four-year deal. McCoy, taken by Philadelphia with the 53rd overall selection, is the first second-round pick to sign.