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The Miami Dolphins expected the worst after Dustin Keller suffered a grisly right knee injury in Saturday's preseason loss to the Houston Texans.
NFL-com's Ian Rapoport confirmed the inevitable Sunday, reporting that Keller will be lost for the entire season, according to a source informed of the injury. Specifically, Rapoport reported Keller tore his ACL, PCL, MCL and also dislocated his kneecap. That's similar to the string of injuries suffered by current 49ers running back Marcus Lattimore last October. In an email sent to Rapoport on Sunday, Keller expressed his gratitude for all the support he's received from family and fans.
"I just want everyone to know that as disappointing as this is I don't want anybody feeling sorry for me," Keller wrote. "It's going to be a hard road back, but I promise I'm going to come back stronger, faster and be a better player than before.
"I'm very confident that my team is going to have a great season and even though I won't be on the field this year I am behind my guys 100%! More than anything, I'd like to thank all my family, friends and teammates for their prayers and support. I'm glad to have the support system in my life that I do."
The injury leaves a gaping hole in Miami's roster. The team was busy calling around for tight end help Sunday morning, according to the Miami Herald's Armando Salguero, but Keller's pass-catching ability won't be replaced. He was brought in to give young quarterback Ryan Tannehill a sure-handed target underneath, one who would keep defenses honest and spring Mike Wallace free downfield. Now a combination of Charles Clay, Michael Egnew and rookie Dion Sims will attempt to fill Keller's shoes. Miami will be forced to realign its offensive approach through the air.
For Keller, it's a crushing blow after he signed a one-year contract this offseason, essentially betting on himself to produce a monster season in Miami. After witnessing his early chemistry with Tannehill, that seemed likely, but now the Dolphins are left to pick up the pieces.
With an injury of this magnitude, it's fair to wonder if and when Dustin Keller will play again.
Dustin Keller (knee) out for Miami Dolphins' season - NFL-com
NFL-com's Ian Rapoport confirmed the inevitable Sunday, reporting that Keller will be lost for the entire season, according to a source informed of the injury. Specifically, Rapoport reported Keller tore his ACL, PCL, MCL and also dislocated his kneecap. That's similar to the string of injuries suffered by current 49ers running back Marcus Lattimore last October. In an email sent to Rapoport on Sunday, Keller expressed his gratitude for all the support he's received from family and fans.
"I just want everyone to know that as disappointing as this is I don't want anybody feeling sorry for me," Keller wrote. "It's going to be a hard road back, but I promise I'm going to come back stronger, faster and be a better player than before.
"I'm very confident that my team is going to have a great season and even though I won't be on the field this year I am behind my guys 100%! More than anything, I'd like to thank all my family, friends and teammates for their prayers and support. I'm glad to have the support system in my life that I do."
The injury leaves a gaping hole in Miami's roster. The team was busy calling around for tight end help Sunday morning, according to the Miami Herald's Armando Salguero, but Keller's pass-catching ability won't be replaced. He was brought in to give young quarterback Ryan Tannehill a sure-handed target underneath, one who would keep defenses honest and spring Mike Wallace free downfield. Now a combination of Charles Clay, Michael Egnew and rookie Dion Sims will attempt to fill Keller's shoes. Miami will be forced to realign its offensive approach through the air.
For Keller, it's a crushing blow after he signed a one-year contract this offseason, essentially betting on himself to produce a monster season in Miami. After witnessing his early chemistry with Tannehill, that seemed likely, but now the Dolphins are left to pick up the pieces.
With an injury of this magnitude, it's fair to wonder if and when Dustin Keller will play again.
Dustin Keller (knee) out for Miami Dolphins' season - NFL-com
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The Denver Broncos might be without All-Pro linebacker Von Miller longer than his initially reported four-game suspension.
The league now is discussing a six-game suspension, a union source told NFL-com's Albert Breer on Monday. A possible resolution is "highly unlikely" Monday, another source told NFL-com's Ian Rapoport. Although both parties are discussing the terms of the suspension, Miller is not expected to agree to a compromise because it would counter his insistence that he has not violated league policy, Rapoport added. An appeal hearing has not yet been scheduled.
ESPN was the first to report on the likelihood of an extended suspension.
Breer reports, according to two sources, that a diluted sample caused the most recent violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy. The case is a complicated one.
From Breer's report: "Thanks to those unusual circumstances, Miller's most recent misstep could be viewed as a second or third violation of the policy. The NFL could've positioned itself to levy an eight- or even a 16-game suspension in this case, but talks began before things got to that stage, once Miller learned, according to a source, that he was 'in a little more trouble than expected.' Miller was believed to have some leverage early on, due to a breach of confidentiality. "The parties agreed to postpone the appeal hearing, initially scheduled for Aug. 15, in order to negotiate Miller's punishment. There have since been settlement talks, with a six-game suspension recently coming up as a possible solution. Miller's side, according to a second source, had been trying to negotiate the suspension down to four games, which was what the original penalty was expected to be. The hope remains that the appeal hearing won't be necessary, and that the parties can hammer out an agreement. If there's no independent resolution, the appeal hearing would be the next step."
With Elvis Dumervil on the Baltimore Ravens, Derek Wolfe sidelined by a scary neck injury and Miller out for at least the first month of the season, the Broncos have major questions in their front seven. As long as the Broncos can keep the rest of the AFC West at bay through Halloween, Miller's return will provide a major boost in the second half of the season.
Broncos' Von Miller facing possible 6-game suspension - NFL-com
The league now is discussing a six-game suspension, a union source told NFL-com's Albert Breer on Monday. A possible resolution is "highly unlikely" Monday, another source told NFL-com's Ian Rapoport. Although both parties are discussing the terms of the suspension, Miller is not expected to agree to a compromise because it would counter his insistence that he has not violated league policy, Rapoport added. An appeal hearing has not yet been scheduled.
ESPN was the first to report on the likelihood of an extended suspension.
Breer reports, according to two sources, that a diluted sample caused the most recent violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy. The case is a complicated one.
From Breer's report: "Thanks to those unusual circumstances, Miller's most recent misstep could be viewed as a second or third violation of the policy. The NFL could've positioned itself to levy an eight- or even a 16-game suspension in this case, but talks began before things got to that stage, once Miller learned, according to a source, that he was 'in a little more trouble than expected.' Miller was believed to have some leverage early on, due to a breach of confidentiality. "The parties agreed to postpone the appeal hearing, initially scheduled for Aug. 15, in order to negotiate Miller's punishment. There have since been settlement talks, with a six-game suspension recently coming up as a possible solution. Miller's side, according to a second source, had been trying to negotiate the suspension down to four games, which was what the original penalty was expected to be. The hope remains that the appeal hearing won't be necessary, and that the parties can hammer out an agreement. If there's no independent resolution, the appeal hearing would be the next step."
With Elvis Dumervil on the Baltimore Ravens, Derek Wolfe sidelined by a scary neck injury and Miller out for at least the first month of the season, the Broncos have major questions in their front seven. As long as the Broncos can keep the rest of the AFC West at bay through Halloween, Miller's return will provide a major boost in the second half of the season.
Broncos' Von Miller facing possible 6-game suspension - NFL-com
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Earlier this month, Curley Culp made it to the Hall of Fame. He’s now suing NFL Films.
A total of ten former players have sued the league’s in-house movie-making arm for the allegedly uncompensated use of images in NFL Films products. They each have decided to “opt out” of a settlement reached in litigation originally filed by Fred Dryer.
The plaintiffs are Culp, John Riggins, Ron Yary, Dave Casper, Tom Mack, Phil Villapiano, Willie Buchanon, Joe Kapp, Mike Bass, and Roman Gabriel. Each man originally supported the Dryer case until learning of the details of the settlement.
“Less than half of the NFL players played long enough to vest, typically forced from the game because of injury,” Culp said. “If we are successful in this case, many of these players will finally see some financial benefit in their retirement.”
“This situation is particularly galling for the retired NFL player who never made more than $20,000 a year, now counting his pennies to pay for his medication, while his image is on the TV screen, promoting a $10 billion organization,” Kapp said. “I believe NFL Films has a legal — and a moral — obligation to pay retired players a fair share of the value the league makes from using our identities.”
Whether there’s a moral obligation is debatable. Whether a legal obligation will be determined in a New Jersey court of law.
Five Hall of Famers sue NFL Films | ProFootballTalk
A total of ten former players have sued the league’s in-house movie-making arm for the allegedly uncompensated use of images in NFL Films products. They each have decided to “opt out” of a settlement reached in litigation originally filed by Fred Dryer.
The plaintiffs are Culp, John Riggins, Ron Yary, Dave Casper, Tom Mack, Phil Villapiano, Willie Buchanon, Joe Kapp, Mike Bass, and Roman Gabriel. Each man originally supported the Dryer case until learning of the details of the settlement.
“Less than half of the NFL players played long enough to vest, typically forced from the game because of injury,” Culp said. “If we are successful in this case, many of these players will finally see some financial benefit in their retirement.”
“This situation is particularly galling for the retired NFL player who never made more than $20,000 a year, now counting his pennies to pay for his medication, while his image is on the TV screen, promoting a $10 billion organization,” Kapp said. “I believe NFL Films has a legal — and a moral — obligation to pay retired players a fair share of the value the league makes from using our identities.”
Whether there’s a moral obligation is debatable. Whether a legal obligation will be determined in a New Jersey court of law.
Five Hall of Famers sue NFL Films | ProFootballTalk
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The New England Patriots are under fire for an incident that resulted in the death of a fan at a 2010 home game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., and it could cost them $10 million or more, according to Buffy Spencer of The Republican.
According to Spencer, Kimberly Chartier of Chicopee, Mass., is suing the Patriots, the NFL and three other parties for the wrongful death of her husband, Jeffrey Chartier, at the Pats' Sept. 12, 2010 home opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Chartier, who was 40 years of age at the time of his death, died of a heart attack following an alleged verbal altercation with a Gillette Stadium security guard.
The security guard in question is Arthur Sherman, who allegedly confronted Chartier about the presence of his son, Tedy, on the field prior to the game.
According to the lawsuit, NFL officials approached Chartier and his then-six-year-old son prior to the game and asked if Tedy would be interested in coming on the field. Tedy was allowed to have his photo taken as well as run around on the field, but Sherman allegedly confronted his father, saying Tedy didn't have the credentials needed to be on the field.
After a 15-minute argument, Sherman allegedly confronted Chartier once again. This resulted in Chartier returning to his seat before he ultimately suffered a heart attack triggered by what the suit calls an "angered and extremely agitated" state. The heart attack led directly to Chartier's eventual death.
The suit alleges that Chartier's death was a direct result of the conduct displayed by Sherman:
Jeff Chartier died as a result of cardiac arrest that was precipitated by agitation and stress caused by an interaction with a security guard at Gillette Stadium who inappropriately and unnecessarily confronted Jeff Chartier and his son Tedy in a harsh, unprofessional, confrontational, disrespectful and antagonistic manner.
Also, the suit asks for "fair monetary value" regarding what Chartier meant to his family. According to the lawsuit, that includes compensation for net income, services, protection, care, assistance, society, companionship, guidance, counsel and advice.
It remains to be seen how this lawsuit will play out, but this is yet another negative story in what has been a tumultuous offseason for the Patriots already.
NFL and Patriots Sued for Minimum $10 Million over Fatal Incident from 2010 | Bleacher Report
According to Spencer, Kimberly Chartier of Chicopee, Mass., is suing the Patriots, the NFL and three other parties for the wrongful death of her husband, Jeffrey Chartier, at the Pats' Sept. 12, 2010 home opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Chartier, who was 40 years of age at the time of his death, died of a heart attack following an alleged verbal altercation with a Gillette Stadium security guard.
The security guard in question is Arthur Sherman, who allegedly confronted Chartier about the presence of his son, Tedy, on the field prior to the game.
According to the lawsuit, NFL officials approached Chartier and his then-six-year-old son prior to the game and asked if Tedy would be interested in coming on the field. Tedy was allowed to have his photo taken as well as run around on the field, but Sherman allegedly confronted his father, saying Tedy didn't have the credentials needed to be on the field.
After a 15-minute argument, Sherman allegedly confronted Chartier once again. This resulted in Chartier returning to his seat before he ultimately suffered a heart attack triggered by what the suit calls an "angered and extremely agitated" state. The heart attack led directly to Chartier's eventual death.
The suit alleges that Chartier's death was a direct result of the conduct displayed by Sherman:
Jeff Chartier died as a result of cardiac arrest that was precipitated by agitation and stress caused by an interaction with a security guard at Gillette Stadium who inappropriately and unnecessarily confronted Jeff Chartier and his son Tedy in a harsh, unprofessional, confrontational, disrespectful and antagonistic manner.
Also, the suit asks for "fair monetary value" regarding what Chartier meant to his family. According to the lawsuit, that includes compensation for net income, services, protection, care, assistance, society, companionship, guidance, counsel and advice.
It remains to be seen how this lawsuit will play out, but this is yet another negative story in what has been a tumultuous offseason for the Patriots already.
NFL and Patriots Sued for Minimum $10 Million over Fatal Incident from 2010 | Bleacher Report
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The NFL and its teams have spread the word this summer about rules banning most bags and purses on game days.
But they’ve gotten help — not always with a favorable tone — from national TV broadcasts, fans on social media and YouTube, and even through a viral mock public service announcement. The Dallas Cowboys will learn Saturday whether the informative messages, occasional outrage, humor and the team’s exhaustive planning have gotten through to fans arriving for the preseason home opener.
“We’re catching a little bit of a break because we’ve got a later preseason game,” said Paul Turner, director of event operations and security at AT&T Stadium.
Most teams have had at least one home game. Reaction has been a mixture of annoyance from some fans — often women — to acceptance of the new security reality.
Newspapers and TV stations have shown photos and videos of fans waiting in lines with wallets, phones, keys and other essentials stuffed in Ziploc-type bags.
There are also isolated stories about women dumping their purses in the trash when faced with that option or skipping the game.
A pair of New Orleans comics, Lauren LaBorde and Colleen Allerton, tweaked the outrage with their “My Purse My Choice” faux PSA, which has had more than 370,000 views. The clip also was shown on the Today show.
The video, partially a reflection of their annoyance at paring down their belongings at a New Orleans Saints game, lists “essential items” carried in their purses. The recitation of items ranged from a Pinkberry rewards card to a turkey wrap — delivered in the gravest tone possible.
But it could end up turning into a real PSA.
“If it does save one woman from having to do that [throw away her purse], great,” Allerton said.
Small and clear
The rule changes, however, come from a deadly serious event. Acting partly in response to the Boston Marathon bombing, the NFL will permit only small clutch purses and clear PVC or vinyl bags.
Fans coming to Arlington on Saturday to see the game against the Cincinnati Bengals will not be allowed to bring in regular purses, fanny packs, diaper bags, seat cushions and more.
The Cowboys will hand out free 1-gallon storage bags to fans who were unaware of the rules or forgot. The league and teams also are selling clear regulation bags with logos for about $10 to $20.
But those are mostly on back order and might not be available until next month. At the AT&T Stadium gift shops, the bags are sold out. Cowboys season-ticket holders were given the chance to receive free bags before the start of preseason.
The league hopes these measures will prevent someone from bringing a weapon to the stadiums’ gates or to some other crowded area outside the traditional security perimeter.
A benefit is expected to be faster-moving security lines.
“Fans are able to get in faster than ever,” said Brian McCarthy, an NFL spokesman. “Some teams did have two home games and did see the process working even better in week two than week one.”
Getting out the word
Since the bag announcement in June, Turner said, the Cowboys have been working on different ways to notify fans.
Season-ticket holders and others buying tickets from the team received notices of the security changes. Turner and Cowboys cheerleaders have appeared on local TV morning shows.
The team also has contacted ticket resellers, cab companies, limousine and shuttle services and hotels to enlist their help in informing fans.
The Cowboys also requested a list of entrepreneurial parking lot operators from the city and are providing those businesses with signs informing ticket holders about the security measures.
‘Ditching their bags’
Cowboys staff is also on weekly conference calls with other teams to discuss best practices for the new league-wide policy.
One of the lessons is the need for more trash containers or the need to empty them more often.
“People are ditching their bags,” Turner said.
He said there also will be more K-9 police units outside the stadium. At earlier games, officials noticed that some fans hid their belongings in bushes or other secluded places with plans retrieve them after the game. Those have to be treated as suspicious packages and checked out by law enforcement.
For fans who forgot about the new rules, there will still be a chance to stash their bags in their cars.
The team plans to have an extra 35 to 40 people working outside the stadium, in part to keep fans from getting in line with outlawed bags.
Everyone entering a Cowboys or Texas Rangers parking lot this weekend will also get a flier explaining the policy. Cowboys staff will be in parking lots, at nearby street crossings and near the gates to intercept fans who might have to return their bags. On some of the approaches, staff will have 15-foot blue flags with messages about the security rules.
“We’re hoping that by the time they get into line and we’re using the metal detector to screen you, we’ve had a number of opportunities to inform people and make them aware,” Turner said.
AT A GLANCE
What’s in, what’s out
Permitted bags at NFL stadiums (one per person, including children):
Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches
1-gallon clear plastic storage or freezer bags
A small clutch bag, about the size of a hand, can be taken into the stadium with one of the clear plastic bags.
Any medically necessary bag
Examples of bags and other items banned:
Standard-size purses
Backpacks
Computer bags
Camera and binocular bags
Diaper bags
Cinch bags
Fanny packs
Seat cushion
Publicity intense about new NFL security rules banning most bags, purses | Dallasnews-com - News for Dallas, Texas - The Dallas Morning News
But they’ve gotten help — not always with a favorable tone — from national TV broadcasts, fans on social media and YouTube, and even through a viral mock public service announcement. The Dallas Cowboys will learn Saturday whether the informative messages, occasional outrage, humor and the team’s exhaustive planning have gotten through to fans arriving for the preseason home opener.
“We’re catching a little bit of a break because we’ve got a later preseason game,” said Paul Turner, director of event operations and security at AT&T Stadium.
Most teams have had at least one home game. Reaction has been a mixture of annoyance from some fans — often women — to acceptance of the new security reality.
Newspapers and TV stations have shown photos and videos of fans waiting in lines with wallets, phones, keys and other essentials stuffed in Ziploc-type bags.
There are also isolated stories about women dumping their purses in the trash when faced with that option or skipping the game.
A pair of New Orleans comics, Lauren LaBorde and Colleen Allerton, tweaked the outrage with their “My Purse My Choice” faux PSA, which has had more than 370,000 views. The clip also was shown on the Today show.
The video, partially a reflection of their annoyance at paring down their belongings at a New Orleans Saints game, lists “essential items” carried in their purses. The recitation of items ranged from a Pinkberry rewards card to a turkey wrap — delivered in the gravest tone possible.
But it could end up turning into a real PSA.
“If it does save one woman from having to do that [throw away her purse], great,” Allerton said.
Small and clear
The rule changes, however, come from a deadly serious event. Acting partly in response to the Boston Marathon bombing, the NFL will permit only small clutch purses and clear PVC or vinyl bags.
Fans coming to Arlington on Saturday to see the game against the Cincinnati Bengals will not be allowed to bring in regular purses, fanny packs, diaper bags, seat cushions and more.
The Cowboys will hand out free 1-gallon storage bags to fans who were unaware of the rules or forgot. The league and teams also are selling clear regulation bags with logos for about $10 to $20.
But those are mostly on back order and might not be available until next month. At the AT&T Stadium gift shops, the bags are sold out. Cowboys season-ticket holders were given the chance to receive free bags before the start of preseason.
The league hopes these measures will prevent someone from bringing a weapon to the stadiums’ gates or to some other crowded area outside the traditional security perimeter.
A benefit is expected to be faster-moving security lines.
“Fans are able to get in faster than ever,” said Brian McCarthy, an NFL spokesman. “Some teams did have two home games and did see the process working even better in week two than week one.”
Getting out the word
Since the bag announcement in June, Turner said, the Cowboys have been working on different ways to notify fans.
Season-ticket holders and others buying tickets from the team received notices of the security changes. Turner and Cowboys cheerleaders have appeared on local TV morning shows.
The team also has contacted ticket resellers, cab companies, limousine and shuttle services and hotels to enlist their help in informing fans.
The Cowboys also requested a list of entrepreneurial parking lot operators from the city and are providing those businesses with signs informing ticket holders about the security measures.
‘Ditching their bags’
Cowboys staff is also on weekly conference calls with other teams to discuss best practices for the new league-wide policy.
One of the lessons is the need for more trash containers or the need to empty them more often.
“People are ditching their bags,” Turner said.
He said there also will be more K-9 police units outside the stadium. At earlier games, officials noticed that some fans hid their belongings in bushes or other secluded places with plans retrieve them after the game. Those have to be treated as suspicious packages and checked out by law enforcement.
For fans who forgot about the new rules, there will still be a chance to stash their bags in their cars.
The team plans to have an extra 35 to 40 people working outside the stadium, in part to keep fans from getting in line with outlawed bags.
Everyone entering a Cowboys or Texas Rangers parking lot this weekend will also get a flier explaining the policy. Cowboys staff will be in parking lots, at nearby street crossings and near the gates to intercept fans who might have to return their bags. On some of the approaches, staff will have 15-foot blue flags with messages about the security rules.
“We’re hoping that by the time they get into line and we’re using the metal detector to screen you, we’ve had a number of opportunities to inform people and make them aware,” Turner said.
AT A GLANCE
What’s in, what’s out
Permitted bags at NFL stadiums (one per person, including children):
Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches
1-gallon clear plastic storage or freezer bags
A small clutch bag, about the size of a hand, can be taken into the stadium with one of the clear plastic bags.
Any medically necessary bag
Examples of bags and other items banned:
Standard-size purses
Backpacks
Computer bags
Camera and binocular bags
Diaper bags
Cinch bags
Fanny packs
Seat cushion
Publicity intense about new NFL security rules banning most bags, purses | Dallasnews-com - News for Dallas, Texas - The Dallas Morning News
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
It was your typical college football game, this one being in Conference USA. A line judge was hearing the normal abuse. "You’re blind." "Dumb zebra." The varying expletives. All of it.
But one particular insult caught the official’s attention. “Hey, you suck,” the official heard from a screaming fan. “Bring the girl back.”
“The girl” was Sarah Thomas, who had officiated a game on the same field the week before her male counterpart.
She laughs as she recounts the story, showing no indication of stress despite being on the verge of splintering one of the last glass ceilings in the professional sports world.
Since the inaugural NFL season in 1920, there has never been a permanent female official. That will likely change next season, as sources tell Bleacher Report that Thomas is nearly a lock to begin officiating NFL games in 2014.
This isn't a publicity stunt or a flaccid attempt at political correctness. This is a league genuinely diversifying itself with an official who just happens to be a woman. Good for it. It's about time. Thomas' impending hire is just a continuation of the league's decades-long effort to broaden its base of game officials. When she takes the field next season, it will be almost 50 years since the league hired its first black game official, Burl Toler, in 1965.
Just five years ago, Mike Carey became the first African-American to referee a Super Bowl. The league appointed its first Latino referee, Alberto Riveron, in 2008.
The position of game official has become extremely prominent in the television age. Ed Hochuli’s right bicep has its own Twitter account, proving some refs have a level of popularity that rival even the league's own players.
Thomas is a unique draw, but while her gender is the reason she's getting so much attention, she remains one of the more qualified candidates the league has seen in a long time.
“She’s a natural,” said Dean Blandino, the NFL’s vice president of officiating. “One of the things we look for in young officials is, are they intimidated on the field? She is not. She has all the characteristics we want in an official. “Sarah is in a unique position, obviously, but she will be defined by the calls she makes on the field. Just like every other official.”
“People who know who I am understand this is something I've wanted to do for a long time,” Thomas said. “They know how serious I am and how dedicated I am to this job. I put as much effort into this as anyone.”
Thomas says she’s experienced no discrimination of any kind from other officials or players as she has worked NFL camps. In New Orleans, she received cheers from fans. “As for the players,” she said, “they just don’t seem to care.”
The question is: Will it stay that way? Will players or fans or even coaches troll her if she makes a call they don’t like?
When Toler would sometimes walk onto the field before games in the 1960s, he would have to stand between his white counterparts to avoid having objects thrown at him by bigoted fans.
“He was never one to come home and complain about what people would say,” Toler’s son, Burl Jr., told The Washington Post in 2008. “But I know he kind of—without boasting about it or expressing it—there were some issues with fans. Number one, they don’t like referees. Being a black referee was a double whammy.” There is no true predecessor to Thomas, but there was another woman football pioneer who made similar news. Katie Hnida was the first woman to score in an NCAA Division I-A football game, doing so as a kicker for the University of New Mexico in 2003. Hnida started her career at Colorado but left the program after allegedly facing verbal and physical abuse from teammates.
Hnida says things have changed for the better since her experiences, but she still believes Thomas will face some adversity.
“There is still a minority that feel the football field (and locker rooms) should be men only,” she wrote in an email. “But despite my experience at CU, I think most guys are ready for it. I had a phenomenal experience at New Mexico, along with a handful of semi-pro and arena teams.
“All that being said, I am sure Sarah will get a rude comment or two that relate to her gender, particularly if she makes a call a player is unhappy with. I'm sure she has dealt with that on occasion before and will be ready. And of course the Internet will be filled with all sorts of ridiculousness...”
Thomas was discovered by an NFL scout. Admittedly, he had some difficulty explaining Thomas' unique situation to former official Gerald Austin over the phone: “I have an official you should look at,” the scout told Austin.
“What’s his name?” Austin said.
“His name is Sarah.”
“Sarah?”
“Yeah,” the scout explained. “He’s a she.”
“I started officiating 17 years ago,” Thomas said. “I had no idea there were no females officiating in the NFL. That’s not what I set out to do. I just wanted to be a good official.”
Her background is impressive. Only years after her career got off the ground in 1996, she became the first female official of a Division I-A college football game. Years later, she became the first to officiate a bowl game.
She’s done just about everything on every level—except the NFL. But that should change. And soon.
Ref Sarah Thomas Will Break NFL Glass Ceiling, Because She's Too Good Not to | Bleacher Report
But one particular insult caught the official’s attention. “Hey, you suck,” the official heard from a screaming fan. “Bring the girl back.”
“The girl” was Sarah Thomas, who had officiated a game on the same field the week before her male counterpart.
She laughs as she recounts the story, showing no indication of stress despite being on the verge of splintering one of the last glass ceilings in the professional sports world.
Since the inaugural NFL season in 1920, there has never been a permanent female official. That will likely change next season, as sources tell Bleacher Report that Thomas is nearly a lock to begin officiating NFL games in 2014.
This isn't a publicity stunt or a flaccid attempt at political correctness. This is a league genuinely diversifying itself with an official who just happens to be a woman. Good for it. It's about time. Thomas' impending hire is just a continuation of the league's decades-long effort to broaden its base of game officials. When she takes the field next season, it will be almost 50 years since the league hired its first black game official, Burl Toler, in 1965.
Just five years ago, Mike Carey became the first African-American to referee a Super Bowl. The league appointed its first Latino referee, Alberto Riveron, in 2008.
The position of game official has become extremely prominent in the television age. Ed Hochuli’s right bicep has its own Twitter account, proving some refs have a level of popularity that rival even the league's own players.
Thomas is a unique draw, but while her gender is the reason she's getting so much attention, she remains one of the more qualified candidates the league has seen in a long time.
“She’s a natural,” said Dean Blandino, the NFL’s vice president of officiating. “One of the things we look for in young officials is, are they intimidated on the field? She is not. She has all the characteristics we want in an official. “Sarah is in a unique position, obviously, but she will be defined by the calls she makes on the field. Just like every other official.”
“People who know who I am understand this is something I've wanted to do for a long time,” Thomas said. “They know how serious I am and how dedicated I am to this job. I put as much effort into this as anyone.”
Thomas says she’s experienced no discrimination of any kind from other officials or players as she has worked NFL camps. In New Orleans, she received cheers from fans. “As for the players,” she said, “they just don’t seem to care.”
The question is: Will it stay that way? Will players or fans or even coaches troll her if she makes a call they don’t like?
When Toler would sometimes walk onto the field before games in the 1960s, he would have to stand between his white counterparts to avoid having objects thrown at him by bigoted fans.
“He was never one to come home and complain about what people would say,” Toler’s son, Burl Jr., told The Washington Post in 2008. “But I know he kind of—without boasting about it or expressing it—there were some issues with fans. Number one, they don’t like referees. Being a black referee was a double whammy.” There is no true predecessor to Thomas, but there was another woman football pioneer who made similar news. Katie Hnida was the first woman to score in an NCAA Division I-A football game, doing so as a kicker for the University of New Mexico in 2003. Hnida started her career at Colorado but left the program after allegedly facing verbal and physical abuse from teammates.
Hnida says things have changed for the better since her experiences, but she still believes Thomas will face some adversity.
“There is still a minority that feel the football field (and locker rooms) should be men only,” she wrote in an email. “But despite my experience at CU, I think most guys are ready for it. I had a phenomenal experience at New Mexico, along with a handful of semi-pro and arena teams.
“All that being said, I am sure Sarah will get a rude comment or two that relate to her gender, particularly if she makes a call a player is unhappy with. I'm sure she has dealt with that on occasion before and will be ready. And of course the Internet will be filled with all sorts of ridiculousness...”
Thomas was discovered by an NFL scout. Admittedly, he had some difficulty explaining Thomas' unique situation to former official Gerald Austin over the phone: “I have an official you should look at,” the scout told Austin.
“What’s his name?” Austin said.
“His name is Sarah.”
“Sarah?”
“Yeah,” the scout explained. “He’s a she.”
“I started officiating 17 years ago,” Thomas said. “I had no idea there were no females officiating in the NFL. That’s not what I set out to do. I just wanted to be a good official.”
Her background is impressive. Only years after her career got off the ground in 1996, she became the first female official of a Division I-A college football game. Years later, she became the first to officiate a bowl game.
She’s done just about everything on every level—except the NFL. But that should change. And soon.
Ref Sarah Thomas Will Break NFL Glass Ceiling, Because She's Too Good Not to | Bleacher Report
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The Indianapolis Colts' no-coast offense sliced and diced the preseason darling Cleveland Browns on Saturday night. In the midst of wrapping sophomore quarterback Andrew Luck in a praise blanket, Colts coach Chuck Pagano pointed to the one thing that could doom his offense in 2013.
"He's running way too much," Pagano said after the Colts' 27-6 victory. "I know that. He's running way too much. We've got to do a better job of keeping him clean." Keeping its franchise quarterback upright was a key goal for Indy heading into the offseason, but those efforts might have been hindered when left tackle Anthony Castonzo left Saturday's game with a right knee sprain.
Luck's ability to extend the play is borderline Roethlisbergian, leaving him susceptible to more hits than normal. Luck showed in 2012 he's capable of taking a beating; however, he must protect himself better once he is outside the pocket.
The Pro Bowl quarterback said Saturday night he's still trying to figure out how to get down.
"I don't know -- I haven't figured out how to slide," Luck said. "I'm just going to go down, and however way I go down and avoid a hit is the way it'll be."
To be fair, Michael Vick still hasn't learned how to slide either. Who thought something done in every Little League World Series baseball game could be so difficult?
Andrew Luck running too much, Chuck Pagano says - NFL-com
"He's running way too much," Pagano said after the Colts' 27-6 victory. "I know that. He's running way too much. We've got to do a better job of keeping him clean." Keeping its franchise quarterback upright was a key goal for Indy heading into the offseason, but those efforts might have been hindered when left tackle Anthony Castonzo left Saturday's game with a right knee sprain.
Luck's ability to extend the play is borderline Roethlisbergian, leaving him susceptible to more hits than normal. Luck showed in 2012 he's capable of taking a beating; however, he must protect himself better once he is outside the pocket.
The Pro Bowl quarterback said Saturday night he's still trying to figure out how to get down.
"I don't know -- I haven't figured out how to slide," Luck said. "I'm just going to go down, and however way I go down and avoid a hit is the way it'll be."
To be fair, Michael Vick still hasn't learned how to slide either. Who thought something done in every Little League World Series baseball game could be so difficult?
Andrew Luck running too much, Chuck Pagano says - NFL-com
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Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Titus Young could face a warrant for his arrest Tuesday if he does not appear in court for a pre-trial hearing in an attempted burglary case amid his family's concerns about his mental health.
An Orange County Superior Court judge has placed a bench warrant for the 24-year-old Young on hold after at least two previous hearings where the former player was a no-show, including the latest one on Aug. 6.
Young, who was a second-round draft pick in 2011 but was released in February, has pleaded not guilty to four felonies and seven misdemeanors after being arrested outside a home in San Clemente on May 10.
The arrest came after a string of erratic behavior that began five days earlier, on May 5, in neighboring Riverside County. He was arrested there for suspicion of driving under the influence and arrested again 15 hours later after authorities say he was caught trying to retrieve his car from a tow yard in Moreno Valley, east of Los Angeles.
He was charged with misdemeanor trespassing in that matter and the case is still pending.
Young's ex-girlfriend also has filed a restraining order against him. They have a child together.
Young's attorney, Altus Hudson, did not return a call seeking comment.
Hudson told USA Today after the missed Aug. 6 hearing that Young was "in treatment," but would not say for what. "Titus continues to be safe and I am aware of where he is," the newspaper quoted Hudson as saying.
Prosecutor Susan Laird also did not return a call for comment before the hearing.
Young's family believes he is suffering from a mental disorder. His father, Richard Young, has said his son started changing after sustaining a concussion early in his rookie year with the Lions in 2011.
Troy Vincent, a former player who is the NFL's senior vice president for player engagement, has said he wasn't aware of Young having a concussion. Young rejected several offers of help after someone close to him contacted the league long before this spring's arrests, Vincent has said.
Young was released by the Lions after a drop in productivity and disruptive behavior, including punching a teammate and intentionally lining up incorrectly during a game.
Read more here: NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.: Former NFL player Titus Young due in Calif. court | Celebrities | Kentucky-com
An Orange County Superior Court judge has placed a bench warrant for the 24-year-old Young on hold after at least two previous hearings where the former player was a no-show, including the latest one on Aug. 6.
Young, who was a second-round draft pick in 2011 but was released in February, has pleaded not guilty to four felonies and seven misdemeanors after being arrested outside a home in San Clemente on May 10.
The arrest came after a string of erratic behavior that began five days earlier, on May 5, in neighboring Riverside County. He was arrested there for suspicion of driving under the influence and arrested again 15 hours later after authorities say he was caught trying to retrieve his car from a tow yard in Moreno Valley, east of Los Angeles.
He was charged with misdemeanor trespassing in that matter and the case is still pending.
Young's ex-girlfriend also has filed a restraining order against him. They have a child together.
Young's attorney, Altus Hudson, did not return a call seeking comment.
Hudson told USA Today after the missed Aug. 6 hearing that Young was "in treatment," but would not say for what. "Titus continues to be safe and I am aware of where he is," the newspaper quoted Hudson as saying.
Prosecutor Susan Laird also did not return a call for comment before the hearing.
Young's family believes he is suffering from a mental disorder. His father, Richard Young, has said his son started changing after sustaining a concussion early in his rookie year with the Lions in 2011.
Troy Vincent, a former player who is the NFL's senior vice president for player engagement, has said he wasn't aware of Young having a concussion. Young rejected several offers of help after someone close to him contacted the league long before this spring's arrests, Vincent has said.
Young was released by the Lions after a drop in productivity and disruptive behavior, including punching a teammate and intentionally lining up incorrectly during a game.
Read more here: NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.: Former NFL player Titus Young due in Calif. court | Celebrities | Kentucky-com
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Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was allegedly a regular user of the hallucinogenic drug PCP, and had become so paranoid by heavy use that he had started carrying a gun wherever he went, according to a report due out this week in Rolling Stone magazine.
The story, written by magazine contributing editor Paul Solotaroff, also alleges that Hernandez's college coach at the University of Florida, Urban Meyer, "may have helped cover up failed drug tests" by Hernandez, as well as an assault and a drive-by shooting outside a local bar in Gainesville, Fla.
Meyer, now the head coach at Ohio State University, has repeatedly denied accusations that he may have enabled lawless behavior by Hernandez while at Florida. In July, Meyer texted The Columbus Dispatch that "Hernandez was held to the same drug testing policy as every other player. ... "Our staff, myself and our families worked very hard to mentor and guide him."
The magazine released a preview of the story online Tuesday. Hernandez was arrested in June for the murder of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd, a semi-pro football player whose body was found riddled with bullets near Hernandez's home in North Attleboro, Mass.
The native of Bristol, Conn. was about to enter his 4th NFL season, all spent with the Patriots, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played in 10 games in the 2012 season, catching 51 passes for 483 yards and five touchdowns. Hernandez had signed a five-year contract extension with a guaranteed $12.5 million signing bonus that was due to kick in after this coming season, but the Rolling Stone article alleges that Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was so fed up with Hernandez missing practice and pulling what the preview describes as "thug-life stunts" that the tight end was one incident away from being cut from the team.
The report of PCP use by Hernandez, if true, would indicate that the tight end's drug use was more serious than suspected. Prior to being drafted by the Patriots, Hernandez admitted to them that he had used marijuana and had failed at least one drug test while at the University of Florida. The article preview also alleges that Hernandez's mother, Terri, cheated on her husband, Dennis, with a drug dealer named Jeffrey Cummings, whom she married after her husband's death in 2006.
This is the second time in recent months that Rolling Stone has focused on a notorious crime committed in the Boston area. Earlier this year, the magazine was criticized for running a cover photograph that glamorized accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
Read more: Report alleges PCP use by ex-NFL star Aaron Hernandez | Fox News
The story, written by magazine contributing editor Paul Solotaroff, also alleges that Hernandez's college coach at the University of Florida, Urban Meyer, "may have helped cover up failed drug tests" by Hernandez, as well as an assault and a drive-by shooting outside a local bar in Gainesville, Fla.
Meyer, now the head coach at Ohio State University, has repeatedly denied accusations that he may have enabled lawless behavior by Hernandez while at Florida. In July, Meyer texted The Columbus Dispatch that "Hernandez was held to the same drug testing policy as every other player. ... "Our staff, myself and our families worked very hard to mentor and guide him."
The magazine released a preview of the story online Tuesday. Hernandez was arrested in June for the murder of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd, a semi-pro football player whose body was found riddled with bullets near Hernandez's home in North Attleboro, Mass.
The native of Bristol, Conn. was about to enter his 4th NFL season, all spent with the Patriots, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played in 10 games in the 2012 season, catching 51 passes for 483 yards and five touchdowns. Hernandez had signed a five-year contract extension with a guaranteed $12.5 million signing bonus that was due to kick in after this coming season, but the Rolling Stone article alleges that Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was so fed up with Hernandez missing practice and pulling what the preview describes as "thug-life stunts" that the tight end was one incident away from being cut from the team.
The report of PCP use by Hernandez, if true, would indicate that the tight end's drug use was more serious than suspected. Prior to being drafted by the Patriots, Hernandez admitted to them that he had used marijuana and had failed at least one drug test while at the University of Florida. The article preview also alleges that Hernandez's mother, Terri, cheated on her husband, Dennis, with a drug dealer named Jeffrey Cummings, whom she married after her husband's death in 2006.
This is the second time in recent months that Rolling Stone has focused on a notorious crime committed in the Boston area. Earlier this year, the magazine was criticized for running a cover photograph that glamorized accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
Read more: Report alleges PCP use by ex-NFL star Aaron Hernandez | Fox News
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Before the N.F.L. regular season begins next Thursday, the league will get a clearer picture of what may be its biggest worry: the lawsuit brought by more than 4,500 retired players alleging that the N.F.L. intentionally misled them about the dangers of head injuries. In the coming days, Judge Anita B. Brody of United States District Court is expected to rule on the league’s motion to dismiss hundreds of cases that were consolidated. Brody, from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, could toss out some of the claims of negligence and fraud. She could disqualify some plaintiffs, including retirees with advanced dementia and other problems, as well as the families of stars like Junior Seau, who committed suicide.
Brody could also order the sides to continue working with a mediator, as they have been since July, to reach a settlement, although the league and the retired players are unlikely to reach an agreement until they get more clarity from Brody about the scope of the case, legal experts said.
Regardless of Brody’s decision, the case, the most visible of its type, may provide a framework for similar lawsuits brought by football players and other athletes who say that a league failed to protect them adequately.
And given the stakes — billions of dollars in potential damages, a risk of lasting harm to the N.F.L.’s image and a possibility of Congressional intervention — her ruling will be widely watched and most likely appealed, perhaps by both sides.
“It has to be in the Mount Rushmore of things that keep Roger Goodell awake at night,” the lawyer Scott A. Andresen said, referring to the N.F.L.’s commissioner.
Andresen, who teaches sports law at Northwestern University, added that he would not be shocked if the case eventually went to the Supreme Court.
But the dispute is a long way from reaching that point. Possible appeals could take many months. A potential discovery period could take even longer, involving depositions of key league officials and an extensive search for documents that might illustrate what the league knew, and when, about the dangers of concussions.
It is also a thorny case that in some ways echoes suits brought against the tobacco industry and settlements paid to New York workers who developed respiratory illnesses after the Sept. 11 attacks.
The N.F.L. has denied accusations that it deliberately misled players about head injuries, saying that it relied on the best science available at the time to create policies on concussions. The N.F.L. has also argued that any disputes should be governed not by the courts but by the collective bargaining agreements signed by the league and its players union.
If the judge lets any of the claims proceed, the plaintiffs still must prove that their medical problems were at least partly the result of head hits sustained in the N.F.L. That is a high hurdle given that almost all of them played football at the youth, high school and college levels, where they could have also sustained concussions.
The players involved in the suit vary widely in age and professional experience. Some played on practice squads and never participated in a game. Many were linemen, linebackers or running backs; others were punters or kickers.
The plaintiffs signed a variety of contracts and played under different rules on head injuries. Some played part or all of their careers when collective bargaining agreements were not in effect. Some have Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or advanced dementia, while others have symptoms that they say may worsen without proper medical monitoring.
Brody could dismiss negligence claims by players who were in the league while collective bargaining agreements were in effect. She could also allow players with only substantial injuries to pursue claims. The fraud claims may be the hardest to justify dismissing, legal experts said, because they focus on decisions the N.F.L. made, not a player’s medical history.
The complexity of the case “would be a really good reason for the court to engage in behavior to encourage a settlement,” said Paul Haagen, a director of the Center for Sports Law and Policy at Duke University. If the case balloons, Congress could weigh in by calling for stricter safety standards, he added.
The chances of a quick settlement, though, are complicated by the plaintiffs’ competing agendas. Some older retirees may want money as soon as possible, while younger players facing many more years of medical bills might want to hold out for more.
“Unfortunately, there’s a lot of us that don’t have 10 years to find out what the decision is,” the former fullback Kevin Turner said in April after oral arguments in the case were heard. Turner, 44, who played for the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles, was found to have A.L.S., also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2010.
The N.F.L. still must clarify how much of any settlement its insurance companies will cover. Several of them have argued in court that they do not have to indemnify the N.F.L. because of the policies they wrote. Larry Schiffer, a lawyer representing Alterra America Insurance, which wrote one policy for one year for the N.F.L., told the judge that a settlement could cost $2.5 billion, a figure some legal experts consider conservative.
The cases involving the insurers’ obligation to indemnify the league are unlikely to be resolved until after the underlying case with the retired players is clarified. But the league may be reluctant to settle with the players before it knows how much of any settlement its insurers might cover.
“If the N.F.L. knows its insurers would pay most of it, they’re more likely to settle,” said Mark Conrad, the director of the sports business program at Fordham. “But if the insurers try to opt out and the league has to pay most it themselves, they’re less likely to settle.”
[url]www-nytimes-com/2013/08/29/sports/football/concussion-case-nea
Brody could also order the sides to continue working with a mediator, as they have been since July, to reach a settlement, although the league and the retired players are unlikely to reach an agreement until they get more clarity from Brody about the scope of the case, legal experts said.
Regardless of Brody’s decision, the case, the most visible of its type, may provide a framework for similar lawsuits brought by football players and other athletes who say that a league failed to protect them adequately.
And given the stakes — billions of dollars in potential damages, a risk of lasting harm to the N.F.L.’s image and a possibility of Congressional intervention — her ruling will be widely watched and most likely appealed, perhaps by both sides.
“It has to be in the Mount Rushmore of things that keep Roger Goodell awake at night,” the lawyer Scott A. Andresen said, referring to the N.F.L.’s commissioner.
Andresen, who teaches sports law at Northwestern University, added that he would not be shocked if the case eventually went to the Supreme Court.
But the dispute is a long way from reaching that point. Possible appeals could take many months. A potential discovery period could take even longer, involving depositions of key league officials and an extensive search for documents that might illustrate what the league knew, and when, about the dangers of concussions.
It is also a thorny case that in some ways echoes suits brought against the tobacco industry and settlements paid to New York workers who developed respiratory illnesses after the Sept. 11 attacks.
The N.F.L. has denied accusations that it deliberately misled players about head injuries, saying that it relied on the best science available at the time to create policies on concussions. The N.F.L. has also argued that any disputes should be governed not by the courts but by the collective bargaining agreements signed by the league and its players union.
If the judge lets any of the claims proceed, the plaintiffs still must prove that their medical problems were at least partly the result of head hits sustained in the N.F.L. That is a high hurdle given that almost all of them played football at the youth, high school and college levels, where they could have also sustained concussions.
The players involved in the suit vary widely in age and professional experience. Some played on practice squads and never participated in a game. Many were linemen, linebackers or running backs; others were punters or kickers.
The plaintiffs signed a variety of contracts and played under different rules on head injuries. Some played part or all of their careers when collective bargaining agreements were not in effect. Some have Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or advanced dementia, while others have symptoms that they say may worsen without proper medical monitoring.
Brody could dismiss negligence claims by players who were in the league while collective bargaining agreements were in effect. She could also allow players with only substantial injuries to pursue claims. The fraud claims may be the hardest to justify dismissing, legal experts said, because they focus on decisions the N.F.L. made, not a player’s medical history.
The complexity of the case “would be a really good reason for the court to engage in behavior to encourage a settlement,” said Paul Haagen, a director of the Center for Sports Law and Policy at Duke University. If the case balloons, Congress could weigh in by calling for stricter safety standards, he added.
The chances of a quick settlement, though, are complicated by the plaintiffs’ competing agendas. Some older retirees may want money as soon as possible, while younger players facing many more years of medical bills might want to hold out for more.
“Unfortunately, there’s a lot of us that don’t have 10 years to find out what the decision is,” the former fullback Kevin Turner said in April after oral arguments in the case were heard. Turner, 44, who played for the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles, was found to have A.L.S., also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2010.
The N.F.L. still must clarify how much of any settlement its insurance companies will cover. Several of them have argued in court that they do not have to indemnify the N.F.L. because of the policies they wrote. Larry Schiffer, a lawyer representing Alterra America Insurance, which wrote one policy for one year for the N.F.L., told the judge that a settlement could cost $2.5 billion, a figure some legal experts consider conservative.
The cases involving the insurers’ obligation to indemnify the league are unlikely to be resolved until after the underlying case with the retired players is clarified. But the league may be reluctant to settle with the players before it knows how much of any settlement its insurers might cover.
“If the N.F.L. knows its insurers would pay most of it, they’re more likely to settle,” said Mark Conrad, the director of the sports business program at Fordham. “But if the insurers try to opt out and the league has to pay most it themselves, they’re less likely to settle.”
[url]www-nytimes-com/2013/08/29/sports/football/concussion-case-nea
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The NFL has agreed to a $765 million settlement deal with thousands of former players who sued the league, accusing it of hiding the dangers of brain injury while profiting from the sport's violence, according to court papers released Thursday.
The league agreed to fund medical exams, concussion-related compensation and a program of medical research as well as to cover some legal expenses, according to a filing in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on Thursday.
The settlement is considered something of a win for the league, which observers estimated generates annual revenue as high as $10 billion. “It would certainly seem to be fair financial terms to the NFL as an enterprise, especially given how difficult this lawsuit has been from a PR and perception viewpoint on both the NFL and the sport of football,” said Robert Boland, professor of sports management at New York University. “This is a very positive end for the NFL.”
More than 4,500 players had accused the league of glorifying football's ferocity while concealing the risks of concussions and long-term brain damage as a result of repeated hits to the head.
U.S. District Judge Anita Brody in July had ordered both sides to meet with mediator Layn Phillips, a retired federal judge, in an effort to settle the dispute.
“This is a historic agreement, one that will make sure that former NFL players who need and deserve compensation will receive it, and that will promote safety for players at all levels of football,” Judge Phillips said. “Rather than litigate literally thousands of complex individual claims over many years, the parties have reached an agreement that, if approved, will provide relief and support where it is needed at a time when it is most needed.”
The family of former Chicago Bears and Notre Dame safety Dave Duerson, who committed suicide and left a note asking that his brain be examined for evidence of football-related damage, is among those who are part of the lawsuit. The family filed a separate wrongful-death lawsuit against the NFL and helmet maker Riddell in February of 2012, but it was consolidated with the other concussion-related lawsuits by a judicial panel.
In the transfer order, Judge John G. Heyburn II wrote the Duerson case was similar to the others because all involved the NFL's knowledge about the effect of concussive injuries on players; the NFL's monitoring of its players for such injuries; the NFL's policies for returning players to a game or practice after a concussion; and the design and manufacture of Riddell helmets.
Duerson’s son, Tregg, and ex-wife, Alicia, could not be reached for comment.
Tom Demetrio, the Chicago attorney, representing the Duerson family in its case against the NFL, said the family had no immediate reaction to the announcement of the proposed settlement because they do not know yet the details, including how much money players or players’ families will receive.
"So what we do know is this is not an insignificant amount of money,” he told the Tribune. “This is the NFL saying, 'we know there’s exposure.' This is not an insult, this amount of money. It’s a significant acknowledgement that the underlying cases are meritorious. That’s what I walk away with."
Duerson’s attorneys did not want the case consolidated because of the "unique nature" of the allegations, which Demetrio said Thursday included the fact that Duerson did not play under the current collective bargaining agreement. But Demetrio said this settlement is likely the final remedy for players or their families seeking legal action against the NFL.
Chris Seeger, a lawyer representing players, told reporters in a conference call that families of players who committed suicide – such as Duerson – will be eligible for compensation for a “seven-figure payout.”
Seeger called the settlement “extraordinary” and “historic.”
Around $675 million will go toward players or families of players who were injured. Baseline medical exams for players will be capped at $75 million and a separate $10 million will go toward research purposes.
The agreement covers all retired players – not just those who were plaintiffs – and future payments will be adjusted for inflation. The fund providing payouts to players is designed to last some 60 years and includes a provision that it never can dip below $50 million; otherwise, the NFL’s obligations would speed up, Seeger said. Players will not have to prove that concussions caused their injuries, he said.
The settlement would not impact any current benefits programs for retired players.
Despite the strong allegations players and their attorneys set forth in legal complaints, Seeger said he didn't regret not litigating what the NFL knew or didn’t know about concussions. The main goal, he said, was to achieve the “right results for the players,” and to do so in a timely manner for them and their families
He said that discussion have been ongoing for more than a year, but the breakthrough in negotiations came when Phillips was appointed in July as a mediator. There were marathon all-day sessions and plenty of phone calls. The two sides didn’t agree until Thursday.
“We didn’t know there would be a deal until early this morning,” Seeger said.
Players who retire after the settlement is approved by the judge – expected to be in the next two to three months – are not covered, meaning future lawsuits are a possibility. Retired players also can opt out of the settlement. Duerson’s attorney said that no decision has been made on opting out.
Riddell is not part of the settlement. In fact, Seeger said he “looks forward to continuing the litigation” against the company.
The NFL Players Association issued this statement on the proposed settlement:
"All of the plaintiffs involved are part of our player community, and we look forward to learning more about the settlement."
The league had said it disclosed the informat
The league agreed to fund medical exams, concussion-related compensation and a program of medical research as well as to cover some legal expenses, according to a filing in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on Thursday.
The settlement is considered something of a win for the league, which observers estimated generates annual revenue as high as $10 billion. “It would certainly seem to be fair financial terms to the NFL as an enterprise, especially given how difficult this lawsuit has been from a PR and perception viewpoint on both the NFL and the sport of football,” said Robert Boland, professor of sports management at New York University. “This is a very positive end for the NFL.”
More than 4,500 players had accused the league of glorifying football's ferocity while concealing the risks of concussions and long-term brain damage as a result of repeated hits to the head.
U.S. District Judge Anita Brody in July had ordered both sides to meet with mediator Layn Phillips, a retired federal judge, in an effort to settle the dispute.
“This is a historic agreement, one that will make sure that former NFL players who need and deserve compensation will receive it, and that will promote safety for players at all levels of football,” Judge Phillips said. “Rather than litigate literally thousands of complex individual claims over many years, the parties have reached an agreement that, if approved, will provide relief and support where it is needed at a time when it is most needed.”
The family of former Chicago Bears and Notre Dame safety Dave Duerson, who committed suicide and left a note asking that his brain be examined for evidence of football-related damage, is among those who are part of the lawsuit. The family filed a separate wrongful-death lawsuit against the NFL and helmet maker Riddell in February of 2012, but it was consolidated with the other concussion-related lawsuits by a judicial panel.
In the transfer order, Judge John G. Heyburn II wrote the Duerson case was similar to the others because all involved the NFL's knowledge about the effect of concussive injuries on players; the NFL's monitoring of its players for such injuries; the NFL's policies for returning players to a game or practice after a concussion; and the design and manufacture of Riddell helmets.
Duerson’s son, Tregg, and ex-wife, Alicia, could not be reached for comment.
Tom Demetrio, the Chicago attorney, representing the Duerson family in its case against the NFL, said the family had no immediate reaction to the announcement of the proposed settlement because they do not know yet the details, including how much money players or players’ families will receive.
"So what we do know is this is not an insignificant amount of money,” he told the Tribune. “This is the NFL saying, 'we know there’s exposure.' This is not an insult, this amount of money. It’s a significant acknowledgement that the underlying cases are meritorious. That’s what I walk away with."
Duerson’s attorneys did not want the case consolidated because of the "unique nature" of the allegations, which Demetrio said Thursday included the fact that Duerson did not play under the current collective bargaining agreement. But Demetrio said this settlement is likely the final remedy for players or their families seeking legal action against the NFL.
Chris Seeger, a lawyer representing players, told reporters in a conference call that families of players who committed suicide – such as Duerson – will be eligible for compensation for a “seven-figure payout.”
Seeger called the settlement “extraordinary” and “historic.”
Around $675 million will go toward players or families of players who were injured. Baseline medical exams for players will be capped at $75 million and a separate $10 million will go toward research purposes.
The agreement covers all retired players – not just those who were plaintiffs – and future payments will be adjusted for inflation. The fund providing payouts to players is designed to last some 60 years and includes a provision that it never can dip below $50 million; otherwise, the NFL’s obligations would speed up, Seeger said. Players will not have to prove that concussions caused their injuries, he said.
The settlement would not impact any current benefits programs for retired players.
Despite the strong allegations players and their attorneys set forth in legal complaints, Seeger said he didn't regret not litigating what the NFL knew or didn’t know about concussions. The main goal, he said, was to achieve the “right results for the players,” and to do so in a timely manner for them and their families
He said that discussion have been ongoing for more than a year, but the breakthrough in negotiations came when Phillips was appointed in July as a mediator. There were marathon all-day sessions and plenty of phone calls. The two sides didn’t agree until Thursday.
“We didn’t know there would be a deal until early this morning,” Seeger said.
Players who retire after the settlement is approved by the judge – expected to be in the next two to three months – are not covered, meaning future lawsuits are a possibility. Retired players also can opt out of the settlement. Duerson’s attorney said that no decision has been made on opting out.
Riddell is not part of the settlement. In fact, Seeger said he “looks forward to continuing the litigation” against the company.
The NFL Players Association issued this statement on the proposed settlement:
"All of the plaintiffs involved are part of our player community, and we look forward to learning more about the settlement."
The league had said it disclosed the informat
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After years of damaging publicity, the National Football League reached a surprise settlement with a group of 4,500 former players who sued it over concussion-related issues.
The settlement represents a major victory for the NFL. Just a week before the 2013 season, the league has largely removed an issue that has dogged it for years and led some to suggest the sport should be banned.
The agreement, reached at 2 a.m. Thursday Eastern time after nine weeks of intense mediation, came far earlier than most expected. It calls for the NFL to pay $765 million, mostly for medical benefits and injury compensation for the retired players, in addition to funding medical research and covering legal expenses. The settlement includes all retired NFL players who present medical evidence of severe cognitive impairment, not just those who joined the suit.
The NFL admitted no wrongdoing or liability in the agreement, which must be approved by Anita Brody, the federal judge in Philadelphia overseeing the case. She is likely to approve the agreement, said a person familiar with the matter. The plaintiffs don't have to approve the settlement, but anyone can opt out, a league spokesman said.
Layn Phillips, a former U.S. District judge who mediated the settlement, said in a statement that it would "provide relief and support where it is needed at a time when it is most needed," while avoiding a long legal process.
"This settlement is a very important step for ensuring that future generations of football players do not suffer the same way that many in my generation have," said Kevin Turner, an NFL running back in the 1990s and a lead plaintiff who suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a motor neuron disease known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
The settlement will cost each of the NFL's 32 franchises $24 million over 20 years, or roughly $1.2 million a year. Projected league revenues this season are $10 billion, and the NFL finalized a series of media-rights deals last year that guarantee more than $40 billion through 2022.
The agreement doesn't prevent future players from making claims or suing the NFL for injuries incurred while playing. But because all current players are party to the current collective-bargaining agreement between the NFL's owners and the league's players' union, those claims would be handled through the arbitration process outlined in the labor deal.
NFL Executive Vice President Jeffrey Pash, who spearheaded the case for the league, called the deal "an important step that builds on the significant changes we've made in recent years to make the game safer, and we will continue our work to better the long-term health and well-being of NFL players."
The lead plaintiffs' attorney, Christopher Seeger, said the settlement is an opportunity for the most severely affected players to get medical coverage quickly and covers retired NFL players for the next 60 years. Former players who suffer from ALS, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, dementia and other neurological conditions will receive "substantial benefits," some as high as $5 million, he said.
Mr. Seeger said the deal will "get help quickly to the men who suffered neurological injuries. It will do so faster and at far less cost, both financially and emotionally, than could have ever been accomplished by continuing to litigate."
Legal experts familiar with the case say the plaintiffs' attorneys didn't believe they had enough firepower to win in court. NFL lawyers were prepared to probe each plaintiff about his athletic history to try to convince the court the NFL couldn't be held liable for injuries that could have come from youth, high-school or college football—or substance abuse.
John Goldman, a litigator with Herrick, Feinstein LLP, who was following the case, said the plaintiffs had "tough legal hurdles," given the inability of players to prove what caused their injuries.
Current executives at the NFL Players Association issued a terse statement: "All of the plaintiffs involved are part of our player community, and we look forward to learning more about the settlement."
Kevin Mawae, a former president of the NFLPA who wasn't a plaintiff, said the settlement was far too small. "Basically, for the cost of their least valuable team, the NFL was able to remove a huge monkey off their back," Mr. Mawae said. "But even worse than the money, it's that they don't have to admit guilt and the players will never be able to know the information that the league knew about this issue." He said, "At end of the day it's a very small price to pay considering the negative outcome that could have happened to the NFL if the players had taken this to court."
The settlement calls for $75 million of the NFL payment to go to baseline medical exams for ex-players, $675 million to go toward compensation and $10 million to go to research and education.
The cost of notifying members of the class won't exceed $4 million. Legal fee payment will be determined by the district court. The NFL will pay 50% of the settlement over the next three years, then the balance over the next 17 years.
If the initial funds are exhausted, the NFL will have to contribute a maximum of $37.5 million to supplement the fund, bringing the total to just over $800 million, not including legal fees, which are expected to be as much as $100 million, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Players in the suits include Pro Football Hall of Famers Chris Doleman and Bruce Smith and recent stars such as former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor.
Families of players with chronic traumatic encephalopathy who have been posthumously diagnosed, including those who committed suicide as did former NFL linebacker Junior Seau, also will be eligible for millions of dollars in compensation, Mr. Seeger said.
Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton said the deal is a good one for the players, simply because most olde
The settlement represents a major victory for the NFL. Just a week before the 2013 season, the league has largely removed an issue that has dogged it for years and led some to suggest the sport should be banned.
The agreement, reached at 2 a.m. Thursday Eastern time after nine weeks of intense mediation, came far earlier than most expected. It calls for the NFL to pay $765 million, mostly for medical benefits and injury compensation for the retired players, in addition to funding medical research and covering legal expenses. The settlement includes all retired NFL players who present medical evidence of severe cognitive impairment, not just those who joined the suit.
The NFL admitted no wrongdoing or liability in the agreement, which must be approved by Anita Brody, the federal judge in Philadelphia overseeing the case. She is likely to approve the agreement, said a person familiar with the matter. The plaintiffs don't have to approve the settlement, but anyone can opt out, a league spokesman said.
Layn Phillips, a former U.S. District judge who mediated the settlement, said in a statement that it would "provide relief and support where it is needed at a time when it is most needed," while avoiding a long legal process.
"This settlement is a very important step for ensuring that future generations of football players do not suffer the same way that many in my generation have," said Kevin Turner, an NFL running back in the 1990s and a lead plaintiff who suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a motor neuron disease known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
The settlement will cost each of the NFL's 32 franchises $24 million over 20 years, or roughly $1.2 million a year. Projected league revenues this season are $10 billion, and the NFL finalized a series of media-rights deals last year that guarantee more than $40 billion through 2022.
The agreement doesn't prevent future players from making claims or suing the NFL for injuries incurred while playing. But because all current players are party to the current collective-bargaining agreement between the NFL's owners and the league's players' union, those claims would be handled through the arbitration process outlined in the labor deal.
NFL Executive Vice President Jeffrey Pash, who spearheaded the case for the league, called the deal "an important step that builds on the significant changes we've made in recent years to make the game safer, and we will continue our work to better the long-term health and well-being of NFL players."
The lead plaintiffs' attorney, Christopher Seeger, said the settlement is an opportunity for the most severely affected players to get medical coverage quickly and covers retired NFL players for the next 60 years. Former players who suffer from ALS, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, dementia and other neurological conditions will receive "substantial benefits," some as high as $5 million, he said.
Mr. Seeger said the deal will "get help quickly to the men who suffered neurological injuries. It will do so faster and at far less cost, both financially and emotionally, than could have ever been accomplished by continuing to litigate."
Legal experts familiar with the case say the plaintiffs' attorneys didn't believe they had enough firepower to win in court. NFL lawyers were prepared to probe each plaintiff about his athletic history to try to convince the court the NFL couldn't be held liable for injuries that could have come from youth, high-school or college football—or substance abuse.
John Goldman, a litigator with Herrick, Feinstein LLP, who was following the case, said the plaintiffs had "tough legal hurdles," given the inability of players to prove what caused their injuries.
Current executives at the NFL Players Association issued a terse statement: "All of the plaintiffs involved are part of our player community, and we look forward to learning more about the settlement."
Kevin Mawae, a former president of the NFLPA who wasn't a plaintiff, said the settlement was far too small. "Basically, for the cost of their least valuable team, the NFL was able to remove a huge monkey off their back," Mr. Mawae said. "But even worse than the money, it's that they don't have to admit guilt and the players will never be able to know the information that the league knew about this issue." He said, "At end of the day it's a very small price to pay considering the negative outcome that could have happened to the NFL if the players had taken this to court."
The settlement calls for $75 million of the NFL payment to go to baseline medical exams for ex-players, $675 million to go toward compensation and $10 million to go to research and education.
The cost of notifying members of the class won't exceed $4 million. Legal fee payment will be determined by the district court. The NFL will pay 50% of the settlement over the next three years, then the balance over the next 17 years.
If the initial funds are exhausted, the NFL will have to contribute a maximum of $37.5 million to supplement the fund, bringing the total to just over $800 million, not including legal fees, which are expected to be as much as $100 million, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Players in the suits include Pro Football Hall of Famers Chris Doleman and Bruce Smith and recent stars such as former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor.
Families of players with chronic traumatic encephalopathy who have been posthumously diagnosed, including those who committed suicide as did former NFL linebacker Junior Seau, also will be eligible for millions of dollars in compensation, Mr. Seeger said.
Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton said the deal is a good one for the players, simply because most olde
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2006/12/07
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29893
After a restless night, hundreds of NFL players nervously checked their cellphones Saturday morning, cringing every time it buzzed.
Tim Tebow was among those who got the dreaded call telling him to come see the coach and bring in his playbook.
Teams had to whittle their rosters to the 53-man maximum Saturday, and although his release wasn't a big surprise, Tebow was by far the biggest name among the notable cuts.
"I will remain in relentless pursuit of continuing my lifelong dream of being an NFL quarterback," an undaunted Tebow tweeted.
After being let go by his third team in 18 months — and with the season just five days away — the quarterback's chances of immediately catching on with another team seem slim.
Several other veteran QBs also found themselves looking for work on this Labor Day weekend as the Giants released longtime backup David Carr, the Packers cut Vince Young and the Bills chopped Matt Leinart.
Other noteworthy cuts included:
—Eagles RG Danny Watkins
—49ers LS Brian Jennings
—49ers WR Austin Collie
—Panthers QB Jimmy Clausen.
—Saints S Jim Leonhard
—Browns K Shayne Graham
—Chargers WR Robert Meachem
Those who made the 53-man rosters had a weekend respite before heading back to work Monday, except for the Broncos and Ravens, who kick off the season Thursday night in Denver.
The Broncos held meetings and a walk-through Saturday after final cuts were made. They'll practice Sunday, as will the Super Bowl champion Ravens, who are being forced to start the season on the road because baseball's Orioles wouldn't move their game in Baltimore that night.
Among Denver's cuts was veteran running back Lance Ball, paving the way for the injured C.J. Anderson of Cal to make the roster while the Broncos wait for him to recover from a sprained right MCL. That makes 10 straight seasons that an undrafted college free agent has made the Broncos' opening day roster.
Two teams have longer streaks: Indianapolis (15 years) and Kansas City (11). The Colts kept 27-year-old rookie linebacker Caesar Rayford, a veteran of the Arena and Canadian leagues, and QB Tyler Bray made the Chiefs' roster.
"It's not an easy day because they all worked hard," Broncos boss John Elway said about the players who didn't make it. "We just don't have enough slots for everybody."
Every coach calls this the cruelest day of the year in pro football — even the Giants' Tom Coughlin, whose birthday was Saturday. But Sunday might prove worse as some bottom-rung players who barely had the chance to celebrate making the team get discharged in favor of waiver wire pickups.
Teams can also fill their eight-man practice squads Sunday.
This could be it for Tebow, the popular but polarizing player who has provided both his supporters and detractors with plenty of fodder during his 35-game NFL career that includes a 47.9 completion percentage, 17 touchdown throws, nine interceptions, a dozen TD runs and 15 fumbles.
Jettisoned by the Jets last winter, Tebow signed June 11 with New England, where the man who drafted him in Denver, Josh McDaniels, is the offensive coordinator. His three-month stay with the Patriots was decidedly lower key than his stints with the Broncos, whom he led to the playoffs in 2011, and Jets, but he still had trouble throwing the ball, posting a passer rating of just 47.2.
Tebow's last play with the Patriots, and perhaps in the NFL, was a 9-yard touchdown toss Thursday night to rookie free agent Quentin Sims with six seconds left against the Giants.
Now Tebow is out of work again and maybe out of chances.
"I can't predict that," Broncos coach John Fox said. "I wish nothing but the best for him, as I've said many times. He did a lot of good things for us, was great to this organization and to this coaching staff, myself included. So, I wish him nothing but the best."
Tim Tebow Biggest Name Among NFL Cuts - ABC News
Tim Tebow was among those who got the dreaded call telling him to come see the coach and bring in his playbook.
Teams had to whittle their rosters to the 53-man maximum Saturday, and although his release wasn't a big surprise, Tebow was by far the biggest name among the notable cuts.
"I will remain in relentless pursuit of continuing my lifelong dream of being an NFL quarterback," an undaunted Tebow tweeted.
After being let go by his third team in 18 months — and with the season just five days away — the quarterback's chances of immediately catching on with another team seem slim.
Several other veteran QBs also found themselves looking for work on this Labor Day weekend as the Giants released longtime backup David Carr, the Packers cut Vince Young and the Bills chopped Matt Leinart.
Other noteworthy cuts included:
—Eagles RG Danny Watkins
—49ers LS Brian Jennings
—49ers WR Austin Collie
—Panthers QB Jimmy Clausen.
—Saints S Jim Leonhard
—Browns K Shayne Graham
—Chargers WR Robert Meachem
Those who made the 53-man rosters had a weekend respite before heading back to work Monday, except for the Broncos and Ravens, who kick off the season Thursday night in Denver.
The Broncos held meetings and a walk-through Saturday after final cuts were made. They'll practice Sunday, as will the Super Bowl champion Ravens, who are being forced to start the season on the road because baseball's Orioles wouldn't move their game in Baltimore that night.
Among Denver's cuts was veteran running back Lance Ball, paving the way for the injured C.J. Anderson of Cal to make the roster while the Broncos wait for him to recover from a sprained right MCL. That makes 10 straight seasons that an undrafted college free agent has made the Broncos' opening day roster.
Two teams have longer streaks: Indianapolis (15 years) and Kansas City (11). The Colts kept 27-year-old rookie linebacker Caesar Rayford, a veteran of the Arena and Canadian leagues, and QB Tyler Bray made the Chiefs' roster.
"It's not an easy day because they all worked hard," Broncos boss John Elway said about the players who didn't make it. "We just don't have enough slots for everybody."
Every coach calls this the cruelest day of the year in pro football — even the Giants' Tom Coughlin, whose birthday was Saturday. But Sunday might prove worse as some bottom-rung players who barely had the chance to celebrate making the team get discharged in favor of waiver wire pickups.
Teams can also fill their eight-man practice squads Sunday.
This could be it for Tebow, the popular but polarizing player who has provided both his supporters and detractors with plenty of fodder during his 35-game NFL career that includes a 47.9 completion percentage, 17 touchdown throws, nine interceptions, a dozen TD runs and 15 fumbles.
Jettisoned by the Jets last winter, Tebow signed June 11 with New England, where the man who drafted him in Denver, Josh McDaniels, is the offensive coordinator. His three-month stay with the Patriots was decidedly lower key than his stints with the Broncos, whom he led to the playoffs in 2011, and Jets, but he still had trouble throwing the ball, posting a passer rating of just 47.2.
Tebow's last play with the Patriots, and perhaps in the NFL, was a 9-yard touchdown toss Thursday night to rookie free agent Quentin Sims with six seconds left against the Giants.
Now Tebow is out of work again and maybe out of chances.
"I can't predict that," Broncos coach John Fox said. "I wish nothing but the best for him, as I've said many times. He did a lot of good things for us, was great to this organization and to this coaching staff, myself included. So, I wish him nothing but the best."
Tim Tebow Biggest Name Among NFL Cuts - ABC News
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Joe McKnight, whose NFL career has included vomiting, erroneous statements and, yes, an impressive kick-return average, is visiting Green Bay.
NFL-com's Ian Rapoport reported that McKnight is set to work out for the Packers on Saturday, according to a source who has spoken with the player. The running back was released Monday by the New York Jets after three seasons. McKnight's preseason was marred by a failed conditioning test, anxiety issues, concussion-like symptoms and a collapse that led to him being carted off the practice field.
In other words, a change of scenery probably could do McKnight some good. The Packers are in the market for a running back and returner after DuJuan Harris was lost for the season to a knee injury.
The Packers didn't make any cuts Friday, but they must get to the 53-man limit by Saturday at 6 p.m. ET. Their current depth chart at running back includes Eddie Lacy, Alex Green, Johnathan Franklin and James Starks.
Consider McKnight a long shot to stick around.
Joe McKnight to work out for Green Bay Packers - NFL-com
NFL-com's Ian Rapoport reported that McKnight is set to work out for the Packers on Saturday, according to a source who has spoken with the player. The running back was released Monday by the New York Jets after three seasons. McKnight's preseason was marred by a failed conditioning test, anxiety issues, concussion-like symptoms and a collapse that led to him being carted off the practice field.
In other words, a change of scenery probably could do McKnight some good. The Packers are in the market for a running back and returner after DuJuan Harris was lost for the season to a knee injury.
The Packers didn't make any cuts Friday, but they must get to the 53-man limit by Saturday at 6 p.m. ET. Their current depth chart at running back includes Eddie Lacy, Alex Green, Johnathan Franklin and James Starks.
Consider McKnight a long shot to stick around.
Joe McKnight to work out for Green Bay Packers - NFL-com
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Thursday night brings the debut of the 2013 NFL season—the good stuff, not the dull-as-drywall preseason, as the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens travel to Denver (Orioles!) to visit the Broncos, contenders again under Peyton Manning. There will be unbroken pro football now through Ice Bowl XLVIII in New York Frigid City (brrrrr!), and because of this, there is the kind of universal giddiness that used to be reserved for poker nights or holiday mornings.
The NFL is the nation's most popular sport, a weekend religion, a television juggernaut, a workplace argument, a family bond—and, if nothing else, a blissfully legitimate excuse for mid-afternoon nachos and beer. Optimism thrives at the moment—the Patriots, the Bills, and your horrendously constructed fantasy team are all atop the standings at 0-0! Exciting questions abound. Can the Ravens repeat? Is Colin Kaepernick a great? Are the Seahawks for realsies? Will RGIII be healthy in Washington? What will Chip Kelly cook up in Philadelphia? Why do the helmets on the Jacksonville Jaguars look like 1979 Trans Ams?
At times football can appear invincible, as if it can never be stopped. And yet there is trouble lurking below the surface—not even below the surface, actually, right there, unavoidable, intractable. A beloved game has an unshakeable queasy feeling.
Last Thursday, the NFL settled for $765 million with a group of 4,500 ex-players who sued the league over concussion-related injuries. In the agreement, the NFL admitted no wrongdoing or liability, but agreed to pay medical benefits and injury compensations to former players, as well as fund medical research.
There continues to be a low rumble about the settlement and its impact. Some of it has been cold-veined talk about the timing of the NFL's move—taking care of this now, before the season begins, avoiding an uncomfortable discussion stretching deeper into the season or subsequent seasons. (There's something more than crass and/or comical about this, the idea that settling the lawsuit could possibly end a complicated long-term medical discussion that continues to evolve.) There's also been a lot of conversation about the dollar amount. The Journal reported that NFL revenues are projected to reach $10 billion this season; ESPN reported that the player plaintiff group had sought $2 billion. They wound up taking far less than half of that, to be paid in increments over a period of 20 years, 50% in first three years, the rest over the next 17 years.
This has made some former players less than happy.
"Basically, for the cost of their least valuable team, the NFL was able to remove a huge monkey off their back," Kevin Mawae, the former president of the NFL players association—and not a plaintiff in this lawsuit—told the Journal's Matthew Futterman and Kevin Clark. "But even worse than the money, it's that they don't have to admit guilt and the players will never be able to know the information that the league knew about this issue."
The frustration is real. But this settlement does not rule out other lawsuits. It does not close the door on the information that Mawae wants. More challenges are sure to come.
Nor does the resolution of this case signal a new, sanguine era of confidence. Anxiety only grows. It's hard to be around discussion of any contact sport—at any level, male or female athletes—without hearing parents worry out loud about the potential long-term impact of concussion-related injuries. The mood has changed, taken on an ominous weight. A couple years ago, Tom Brady's father, Tom Sr., gave an interview to Yahoo Sports! in which he wondered out loud whether he would have allowed his son to play football if he had the same choice today. Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner has expressed similar reservations about his own children.
Those are not random voices, unfamiliar with the potential money and adulation that can be earned playing this game. Their hesitation speaks to a problem that goes deep to the roots and cannot be swept away with a series of incremental payments.
Of course, the settlement has provoked some emboldened some bravado about free will and personal responsibility—the notion that players should know better, that risks are inherent in many jobs, that everyone makes the individual decision whether or not to play. This feels like cavalier talk, considering the long inertia on addressing concussion-related injuries, and the worrisome science that continues to accumulate.
A game of speed and collisions, football has often airbrushed its harsher parts as some kind of modern gladiator fable, in which the toughest limped to victory. But those hard hits mean something harder now. You don't need to have played a down to realize this. Thanks to former players who have chosen to tell their personal stories, we are learning more. Reality is rushing in. This game is still beloved. But it feels different to watch.
Can the NFL Face Its Demons? - WSJ-com
The NFL is the nation's most popular sport, a weekend religion, a television juggernaut, a workplace argument, a family bond—and, if nothing else, a blissfully legitimate excuse for mid-afternoon nachos and beer. Optimism thrives at the moment—the Patriots, the Bills, and your horrendously constructed fantasy team are all atop the standings at 0-0! Exciting questions abound. Can the Ravens repeat? Is Colin Kaepernick a great? Are the Seahawks for realsies? Will RGIII be healthy in Washington? What will Chip Kelly cook up in Philadelphia? Why do the helmets on the Jacksonville Jaguars look like 1979 Trans Ams?
At times football can appear invincible, as if it can never be stopped. And yet there is trouble lurking below the surface—not even below the surface, actually, right there, unavoidable, intractable. A beloved game has an unshakeable queasy feeling.
Last Thursday, the NFL settled for $765 million with a group of 4,500 ex-players who sued the league over concussion-related injuries. In the agreement, the NFL admitted no wrongdoing or liability, but agreed to pay medical benefits and injury compensations to former players, as well as fund medical research.
There continues to be a low rumble about the settlement and its impact. Some of it has been cold-veined talk about the timing of the NFL's move—taking care of this now, before the season begins, avoiding an uncomfortable discussion stretching deeper into the season or subsequent seasons. (There's something more than crass and/or comical about this, the idea that settling the lawsuit could possibly end a complicated long-term medical discussion that continues to evolve.) There's also been a lot of conversation about the dollar amount. The Journal reported that NFL revenues are projected to reach $10 billion this season; ESPN reported that the player plaintiff group had sought $2 billion. They wound up taking far less than half of that, to be paid in increments over a period of 20 years, 50% in first three years, the rest over the next 17 years.
This has made some former players less than happy.
"Basically, for the cost of their least valuable team, the NFL was able to remove a huge monkey off their back," Kevin Mawae, the former president of the NFL players association—and not a plaintiff in this lawsuit—told the Journal's Matthew Futterman and Kevin Clark. "But even worse than the money, it's that they don't have to admit guilt and the players will never be able to know the information that the league knew about this issue."
The frustration is real. But this settlement does not rule out other lawsuits. It does not close the door on the information that Mawae wants. More challenges are sure to come.
Nor does the resolution of this case signal a new, sanguine era of confidence. Anxiety only grows. It's hard to be around discussion of any contact sport—at any level, male or female athletes—without hearing parents worry out loud about the potential long-term impact of concussion-related injuries. The mood has changed, taken on an ominous weight. A couple years ago, Tom Brady's father, Tom Sr., gave an interview to Yahoo Sports! in which he wondered out loud whether he would have allowed his son to play football if he had the same choice today. Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner has expressed similar reservations about his own children.
Those are not random voices, unfamiliar with the potential money and adulation that can be earned playing this game. Their hesitation speaks to a problem that goes deep to the roots and cannot be swept away with a series of incremental payments.
Of course, the settlement has provoked some emboldened some bravado about free will and personal responsibility—the notion that players should know better, that risks are inherent in many jobs, that everyone makes the individual decision whether or not to play. This feels like cavalier talk, considering the long inertia on addressing concussion-related injuries, and the worrisome science that continues to accumulate.
A game of speed and collisions, football has often airbrushed its harsher parts as some kind of modern gladiator fable, in which the toughest limped to victory. But those hard hits mean something harder now. You don't need to have played a down to realize this. Thanks to former players who have chosen to tell their personal stories, we are learning more. Reality is rushing in. This game is still beloved. But it feels different to watch.
Can the NFL Face Its Demons? - WSJ-com
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2006/12/07
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Linebacker Aldon Smith and tight end Delanie Walker, teammates the previous two seasons in San Francisco, were named in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Santa Clara County by a man who claims he was shot during a June 2012 party that Smith hosted at his San Jose, Calif., home. Ronndale Esporlas, who filed the suit, also alleges that the NFL players illegally fired weapons.
Smith reportedly was stabbed at the party.
According to a copy of the lawsuit obtained by NBC Bay Area, Smith and Walker consumed large amounts of alcohol and were brandishing and firing guns in the air in an attempt to end the party. Smith and Walker allegedly knew the handguns they were brandishing were possessed illegally, according to Esporlas, and fired rounds on numerous occasions. According to the court document, Walker then moved from the balcony of the home to the driveway, where he allegedly fired more rounds into the air and toward some people at the party.
Esporlas claims a group of people near the street then fired shots back at the house, and he was caught in the crossfire. Esporlas says he was shot twice and "sustained serious, catastrophic and permanent injuries," according to the suit.
The party started on June 29, 2012, and went into the next day. The players allegedly charged $10 for entrance into the party and $5 per drink.
Smith, the 49ers' 2011 first-round draft pick, earned first-team All-Pro honors last season after recording 19.5 sacks and 49 tackles. Walker had 21 receptions for 344 yards with three touchdowns last year with the 49ers and signed with the Tennessee Titans in March.
Aldon Smith, Delanie Walker named in suit over alleged shooting - NFL-com
Smith reportedly was stabbed at the party.
According to a copy of the lawsuit obtained by NBC Bay Area, Smith and Walker consumed large amounts of alcohol and were brandishing and firing guns in the air in an attempt to end the party. Smith and Walker allegedly knew the handguns they were brandishing were possessed illegally, according to Esporlas, and fired rounds on numerous occasions. According to the court document, Walker then moved from the balcony of the home to the driveway, where he allegedly fired more rounds into the air and toward some people at the party.
Esporlas claims a group of people near the street then fired shots back at the house, and he was caught in the crossfire. Esporlas says he was shot twice and "sustained serious, catastrophic and permanent injuries," according to the suit.
The party started on June 29, 2012, and went into the next day. The players allegedly charged $10 for entrance into the party and $5 per drink.
Smith, the 49ers' 2011 first-round draft pick, earned first-team All-Pro honors last season after recording 19.5 sacks and 49 tackles. Walker had 21 receptions for 344 yards with three touchdowns last year with the 49ers and signed with the Tennessee Titans in March.
Aldon Smith, Delanie Walker named in suit over alleged shooting - NFL-com
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One of the ugliest offseasons in NFL history is finally over.
Since the Super Bowl on Feb. 3, NFL players have been arrested or charged with crimes at least 37 times, including 10 players accused of driving drunk and a murder indictment for ex-New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez. The list gets uglier if the second half of last season is included – three more car crashes and three more people dead in crimes allegedly committed by NFL players. On Dec. 1, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher fatally shot himself in the head after getting drunk and killing his girlfriend. A week later, Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent allegedly drove drunk and flipped his car, killing teammate Jerry Brown in the passenger seat.
Thursday's NFL opener between the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos launches Roger Goodell's eighth season as commissioner — a period marked by almost $10 billion in annual revenues and television ratings that dominate American sports. It also features an arrest rate of more than one per week — an average that hasn't changed much from the days of Goodell's predecessor, Paul Tagliabue, according to data compiled by USA TODAY Sports. In Goodell's seven years on the job, NFL players have been arrested or charged with crimes at least 395 times, including 107 drunken-driving arrests, 43 domestic-abuse cases, 34 cases involving guns and 84 cases involving fighting or disorderly conduct, usually at bars or nightclubs late at night.
"I don't think anything has changed (with players)," said Quentin Jammer, a 12-year veteran cornerback for the Denver Broncos. "I guess guys are going to do what they're going to do regardless. "
The NFL, however, believes its efforts are working, with one big exception — drunken driving.
"The current level of deterrence associated with a DUI is insufficient," NFL senior vice president Adolpho Birch told USA TODAY Sports. Instead of fines for first-time drunken drivers, Birch said the league wants mandatory suspensions under the league's substance-abuse policy. Goodell first cracked down on players in April 2007, seeking to reverse an alarming spike in player arrests. The move, seven months into his job, gave the commissioner broad authority to issue longer suspensions and larger fines and even punish repeat offenders who hadn't yet received due process in courts. By increasing the risk for teams that take on misbehaving players, Goodell hoped to tilt the scale toward clean characters. Teams would have to decide whether a player's talent is worth the trouble, not to mention missed games.
Goodell's toughened player-conduct policy was a reaction to 79 arrests in the 12 months since April 2006. Arrests have declined since 2007 — from a high of 66 in 2008 to a low of 47 in 2012. But another surge may be underway with 43 arrests so far this year.
To assess the impact of Goodell's crackdown, USA TODAY Sports compiled data on every arrest and criminal citation it could locate from news media reports and public records since January 2000. It included only active NFL players who belonged to team rosters at the time of arrest, except for rare cases.
USA TODAY Sports found:
-- Under Goodell, drunken driving has accounted for about 27% of arrests, despite a concerted effort by the league, teams and players union to combat the problem with education and phone numbers for players to call for free rides. USA TODAY Sports found 27 DUI arrests in 2004 and 2005 combined, in the same range as the 29 combined in 2012 and 2013.
-- Teams still take chances. The league has emphasized character issues, but troubled players continue to get signed to rosters. Many get drafted in lower rounds or sign with teams as undrafted free agents. That way, if they get in trouble — and the best predictor of who will run afoul of the law is who has done so in the past — teams have little financial investment and can cut their losses.
-- More arrests per year under Goodell — an average of 56 since he took over in September 2006 — than under Tagliabue — an average of 42 per year from 2000-06. Some qualifiers apply: Older arrests were harder to find and fewer court records from the Tagliabue era are accessible online from an era when media scrutiny was less intense. The number of annual arrests has been fairly consistent under both commissioners.
-- How the arrest rate for players stacks up depends on how it is measured. Compared with the general population, NFL players have a lower arrest rate. But some experts argue it's high when compared with people in the same income bracket as a player in the NFL, where the rookie minimum salary is $405,000.
"I think (the NFL rate) is high," said Earl Smith, a sociology professor at Wake Forest University. "Executives on Wall Street, they do other kinds of things. But for the money these players make, when you place them in the category of well-off Americans, they behave poorly."
The league often notes that its arrest rate, at 2%-3% of the player population per year, is lower than the 4% that FBI statistics show for the general population, and even higher for adult males. Likewise, the league's DUI arrest rate is close to 1% of the player population, still lower than the 1.6% arrest rate for males in the general population ages 20-24, according to FBI statistics for 2011.
The league also notes that arrested does not mean guilty. Of the criminal cases in which dispositions could be determined since 2000, USA TODAY Sports found that about one-third ended up in acquittals or dismissed cases without penalty to the player. The rest — about 67% — resulted in a conviction, plea deal or diversion program in which the player must pay a price for the alleged crime.
Goodell acknowledged that the league's efforts to educate and prevent problems, while substantial, offer no guarantees.
"You're still dealing with young men, individuals who are bound to make mistakes," Goodell said last month during the Hall of
Since the Super Bowl on Feb. 3, NFL players have been arrested or charged with crimes at least 37 times, including 10 players accused of driving drunk and a murder indictment for ex-New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez. The list gets uglier if the second half of last season is included – three more car crashes and three more people dead in crimes allegedly committed by NFL players. On Dec. 1, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher fatally shot himself in the head after getting drunk and killing his girlfriend. A week later, Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent allegedly drove drunk and flipped his car, killing teammate Jerry Brown in the passenger seat.
Thursday's NFL opener between the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos launches Roger Goodell's eighth season as commissioner — a period marked by almost $10 billion in annual revenues and television ratings that dominate American sports. It also features an arrest rate of more than one per week — an average that hasn't changed much from the days of Goodell's predecessor, Paul Tagliabue, according to data compiled by USA TODAY Sports. In Goodell's seven years on the job, NFL players have been arrested or charged with crimes at least 395 times, including 107 drunken-driving arrests, 43 domestic-abuse cases, 34 cases involving guns and 84 cases involving fighting or disorderly conduct, usually at bars or nightclubs late at night.
"I don't think anything has changed (with players)," said Quentin Jammer, a 12-year veteran cornerback for the Denver Broncos. "I guess guys are going to do what they're going to do regardless. "
The NFL, however, believes its efforts are working, with one big exception — drunken driving.
"The current level of deterrence associated with a DUI is insufficient," NFL senior vice president Adolpho Birch told USA TODAY Sports. Instead of fines for first-time drunken drivers, Birch said the league wants mandatory suspensions under the league's substance-abuse policy. Goodell first cracked down on players in April 2007, seeking to reverse an alarming spike in player arrests. The move, seven months into his job, gave the commissioner broad authority to issue longer suspensions and larger fines and even punish repeat offenders who hadn't yet received due process in courts. By increasing the risk for teams that take on misbehaving players, Goodell hoped to tilt the scale toward clean characters. Teams would have to decide whether a player's talent is worth the trouble, not to mention missed games.
Goodell's toughened player-conduct policy was a reaction to 79 arrests in the 12 months since April 2006. Arrests have declined since 2007 — from a high of 66 in 2008 to a low of 47 in 2012. But another surge may be underway with 43 arrests so far this year.
To assess the impact of Goodell's crackdown, USA TODAY Sports compiled data on every arrest and criminal citation it could locate from news media reports and public records since January 2000. It included only active NFL players who belonged to team rosters at the time of arrest, except for rare cases.
USA TODAY Sports found:
-- Under Goodell, drunken driving has accounted for about 27% of arrests, despite a concerted effort by the league, teams and players union to combat the problem with education and phone numbers for players to call for free rides. USA TODAY Sports found 27 DUI arrests in 2004 and 2005 combined, in the same range as the 29 combined in 2012 and 2013.
-- Teams still take chances. The league has emphasized character issues, but troubled players continue to get signed to rosters. Many get drafted in lower rounds or sign with teams as undrafted free agents. That way, if they get in trouble — and the best predictor of who will run afoul of the law is who has done so in the past — teams have little financial investment and can cut their losses.
-- More arrests per year under Goodell — an average of 56 since he took over in September 2006 — than under Tagliabue — an average of 42 per year from 2000-06. Some qualifiers apply: Older arrests were harder to find and fewer court records from the Tagliabue era are accessible online from an era when media scrutiny was less intense. The number of annual arrests has been fairly consistent under both commissioners.
-- How the arrest rate for players stacks up depends on how it is measured. Compared with the general population, NFL players have a lower arrest rate. But some experts argue it's high when compared with people in the same income bracket as a player in the NFL, where the rookie minimum salary is $405,000.
"I think (the NFL rate) is high," said Earl Smith, a sociology professor at Wake Forest University. "Executives on Wall Street, they do other kinds of things. But for the money these players make, when you place them in the category of well-off Americans, they behave poorly."
The league often notes that its arrest rate, at 2%-3% of the player population per year, is lower than the 4% that FBI statistics show for the general population, and even higher for adult males. Likewise, the league's DUI arrest rate is close to 1% of the player population, still lower than the 1.6% arrest rate for males in the general population ages 20-24, according to FBI statistics for 2011.
The league also notes that arrested does not mean guilty. Of the criminal cases in which dispositions could be determined since 2000, USA TODAY Sports found that about one-third ended up in acquittals or dismissed cases without penalty to the player. The rest — about 67% — resulted in a conviction, plea deal or diversion program in which the player must pay a price for the alleged crime.
Goodell acknowledged that the league's efforts to educate and prevent problems, while substantial, offer no guarantees.
"You're still dealing with young men, individuals who are bound to make mistakes," Goodell said last month during the Hall of
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It’s a widely held and probably comforting view that sports are driven by “transformative” athletes, a procession of unprecedented individual talents—Pelé, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods—that heroically drag their games to ever-escalating heights. Occasionally these players prompt physical transformations and rule changes, but usually their impact is more nebulous. Jordan never made anyone seriously consider raising the height of the hoop. He just played basketball better and more shrewdly than anyone else, and in doing so, he altered basketball’s cultural footprint, clearing the way for Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, maybe even Andrew Wiggins.
Robert Griffin III, 23 years old with a twice-reconstructed right knee, is, we’re told, one of these transformative athletes. This offseason, Griffin has been the subject of two full-length books, Dave Sheinin’s RG3: The Promise and Ted Kluck’s Robert Griffin III: Athlete, Leader, Believer, and both frame Griffin as an epochal, superhuman talent. “Someday historians may look back at the Redskins’ second play from scrimmage in their win over the Saints and pinpoint it as the moment offensive football changed forever in the NFL,” writes Sheinin. Kluck’s explicitly faith-based book goes even further, offering up RG3 as a sort of Cartesian theological proof: “RG3 and football should remind us of who it is that we really worship. … There’s something in Robert’s game that suggests that God made him to do exactly this, exactly now.” Take that, Tim Tebow.
Griffin was also the focus of a recent hourlong ESPN special that documented his rehabilitation process, his family life, and his insatiable thirst for Gatorade. And in May, Washington fans unearthed Griffin’s wedding registry and showered him and his fiancée with gifts, the sort of desperate affection normally lavished on a coveted free agent or a star player feared to be on the verge of departure. If Sunday football is America’s secular religion, all of this hagiography and breathless devotion has made Griffin seem like some blessed apparition: precious, magical, fleeting. We love him, and because we love him, we can’t stop worrying about him.
On Monday night, Griffin will embark on what’s likely to be the most scrutinized, parsed and reparsed, second-, third-, and fourth-guessed season in the history of American professional sports. Some of this has to do with his position as arguably the most popular player in the country’s most popular game. Mostly it is because of that right knee, a body part that’s become a microcosm for America’s mixed-up love affair with football.
As an athlete, marketing conduit, and general ambassador for the human race, Robert Griffin III leaves awfully little to be desired. A Texas high school football legend who was also a basketball star and an Olympic-caliber hurdler, Griffin passed on Stanford and Harvard to stay close to home at Baylor University, where he graduated with a 3.67 GPA, a degree in political science, and the 2011 Heisman Trophy. The following spring, Washington swung a blockbuster trade to draft Griffin second overall, after Andrew Luck. Before taking his first snap, the young quarterback had signed lucrative endorsement deals with Gatorade, Adidas, Subway, Nissan, and other corporate interests.
Griffin did not disappoint any of his new employers. In his first season, he was named the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year, leading the league in yards per passing attempt and yards per rushing attempt while setting a rookie record for quarterback rating. This was one of the most electrifying debut seasons in football history, one in which RG3 appeared to usher the sport into a new era athletically, aesthetically, and culturally.
Or will pro football destroy the first megastar of the post-CTE age?
RG3 knee injury: Can Robert Griffin III save the NFL, or will pro football destroy him? - Slate Magazine
Robert Griffin III, 23 years old with a twice-reconstructed right knee, is, we’re told, one of these transformative athletes. This offseason, Griffin has been the subject of two full-length books, Dave Sheinin’s RG3: The Promise and Ted Kluck’s Robert Griffin III: Athlete, Leader, Believer, and both frame Griffin as an epochal, superhuman talent. “Someday historians may look back at the Redskins’ second play from scrimmage in their win over the Saints and pinpoint it as the moment offensive football changed forever in the NFL,” writes Sheinin. Kluck’s explicitly faith-based book goes even further, offering up RG3 as a sort of Cartesian theological proof: “RG3 and football should remind us of who it is that we really worship. … There’s something in Robert’s game that suggests that God made him to do exactly this, exactly now.” Take that, Tim Tebow.
Griffin was also the focus of a recent hourlong ESPN special that documented his rehabilitation process, his family life, and his insatiable thirst for Gatorade. And in May, Washington fans unearthed Griffin’s wedding registry and showered him and his fiancée with gifts, the sort of desperate affection normally lavished on a coveted free agent or a star player feared to be on the verge of departure. If Sunday football is America’s secular religion, all of this hagiography and breathless devotion has made Griffin seem like some blessed apparition: precious, magical, fleeting. We love him, and because we love him, we can’t stop worrying about him.
On Monday night, Griffin will embark on what’s likely to be the most scrutinized, parsed and reparsed, second-, third-, and fourth-guessed season in the history of American professional sports. Some of this has to do with his position as arguably the most popular player in the country’s most popular game. Mostly it is because of that right knee, a body part that’s become a microcosm for America’s mixed-up love affair with football.
As an athlete, marketing conduit, and general ambassador for the human race, Robert Griffin III leaves awfully little to be desired. A Texas high school football legend who was also a basketball star and an Olympic-caliber hurdler, Griffin passed on Stanford and Harvard to stay close to home at Baylor University, where he graduated with a 3.67 GPA, a degree in political science, and the 2011 Heisman Trophy. The following spring, Washington swung a blockbuster trade to draft Griffin second overall, after Andrew Luck. Before taking his first snap, the young quarterback had signed lucrative endorsement deals with Gatorade, Adidas, Subway, Nissan, and other corporate interests.
Griffin did not disappoint any of his new employers. In his first season, he was named the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year, leading the league in yards per passing attempt and yards per rushing attempt while setting a rookie record for quarterback rating. This was one of the most electrifying debut seasons in football history, one in which RG3 appeared to usher the sport into a new era athletically, aesthetically, and culturally.
Or will pro football destroy the first megastar of the post-CTE age?
RG3 knee injury: Can Robert Griffin III save the NFL, or will pro football destroy him? - Slate Magazine
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2006/12/07
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Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos waited eight long months, then another 33 minutes, to get the season started.
A record-tying seven touchdown passes — something no one had done in 44 years — made it worth the while.
Connecting with his most prized addition, Wes Welker, and former college basketball player Julius Thomas and Demaryius Thomas for two TDs each, Manning directed Denver to a 49-27 victory over Super Bowl champion Baltimore on Thursday night in the NFL opener, a much-anticipated rematch against the team that ended the Broncos’ playoff run in January. “Peyton had an amazing night,” Broncos coach John Fox said. “Peyton’s had a lot of amazing nights.”
Not like this, though.
Manning is the sixth QB in NFL history to throw seven TD passes in a game and the first since Joe Kapp did it for Minnesota against Baltimore on Sept. 28, 1969.
The others read like a Who’s Who of passers who came along before the NFL became so pass-happy: Sid Luckman, Adrian Burk, George Blanda, Y.A. Tittle.
“I felt like we had to keep scoring because Baltimore can score at any time,” said Manning, who was 27 of 42 for 462 yards with no interceptions for an off-the-charts quarterback rating of 141.1.
“He’s phenomenal. To continue to come out every year and put that kind of performance on for us, it’s amazing,” Julius Thomas said.
Nobody had ever put up 49 points on the Ravens in their 18-year history.
All part of a thorough thrashing of the team that put a harsh end to what had looked like a Super Bowl-bound 2012 in Denver. The rematch came nearly eight months after Baltimore beat Denver 38-35 in double overtime on an icy January night in the same stadium.
The hero on that night was Jacoby Jones, who caught a 70-yard TD pass over Rahim Moore with 31 seconds left to tie it in regulation. His night was cut short when he went back to field a punt and teammate Brynden Trawick plowed into him at the Baltimore 15. Jones left with a sprained right knee and didn’t return.
The Broncos waited all off-season for the rematch, then for 33 minutes more when a lightning storm in the area delayed the start.
When they took the field, it was clear how much had changed.
Pass rusher Elvis Dumervil moved from Denver to Baltimore as part of a bizarre, fax-infused contract squabble. Receiver Brandon Stokley also switched sides. The Broncos lost their best defender, Von Miller, to a drug suspension while Baltimore had to rebuild its ’D’ after losing emotional leaders Ed Reed and Ray Lewis.
The Ravens suffered another loss of sorts when they were forced to play the season’s traditional opener on the road because of a conflict with the Orioles in Baltimore. The NFL hung a Flacco banner above Denver’s stadium, but he hardly felt at home.
Armed with a new six-year, $120.6 million contract, he matched the Broncos score for score in the first half but had to play catch-up after falling behind 35-17 early in the third quarter. His final numbers: 34 of 62 for 362 yards with two TDs and two interceptions.
It was such a runaway, the Broncos were throwing away touchdowns by the end. Linebacker Danny Trevathan fumbled his pick-6 just shy of the goal line, pulling a Leon Lett imitation by celebrating too soon and the ball bounced out of the end zone for a touchback instead of a touchdown.
No worries.
Denver was ahead 42-17 at that point.
“It was just a young mistake,” Trevathan said. “It was kind of selfish. I’m going to take full responsibility. I’m going to grow from it. There was some heated stuff on the sideline with (defensive co-ordinator Jack Del Rio) and you know, I needed that.”
Wearing an orange-and-grey glove like the one he wore on that icy January night the last time these teams met, Manning took a while to get warmed up against a Baltimore defence that had to replace seven Super Bowl starters.
After three punts, he ditched the glove once the rains stopped — and then he was unstoppable.
“I don’t like excuses but I do think that lightning delay did slow us down,” Manning said. “You guys have seen teams break it down: you come up for the team prayer, you put your hands in and you say, ”Broncos on 3,“ and you go out to the field.
“We did it three times tonight.”
After all those fits and starts, Manning & Co. found a rhythm the Ravens couldn’t match.
Manning’s seventh TD pass covered only a few yards in the air but Demaryius Thomas, a former first-round pick, hauled in the pass in the left flat and turned on the jets, racing past several gassed defenders for a 78-yard play that capped Denver’s big night.
“We gave them too many easy things,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “Even right down there at the end, fighting like crazy to create a play, and gave them that touchdown at the end. That’s the bottom line — you can’t give them easy plays.”
Demaryius Thomas finished with five receptions for 161 yards, Julius Thomas had five catches for 110 yards and Welker led the way with nine grabs for 67 yards.
Welker averaged 112 catches over the last six seasons in New England, where he was Tom Brady’s favourite receiver. He’s the first receiver to catch TD passes from both Brady and Manning.
He has said he can’t compare the two pre-eminent QBs, saying that’s like choosing between Michaelangelo and Picasso.
This night was certainly a masterpiece for Manning.
“Didn’t surprise me a bit,” said Stokley, who played with Manning in Denver and Indianapolis. “He’s capable of this kind of night.”
Manning
A record-tying seven touchdown passes — something no one had done in 44 years — made it worth the while.
Connecting with his most prized addition, Wes Welker, and former college basketball player Julius Thomas and Demaryius Thomas for two TDs each, Manning directed Denver to a 49-27 victory over Super Bowl champion Baltimore on Thursday night in the NFL opener, a much-anticipated rematch against the team that ended the Broncos’ playoff run in January. “Peyton had an amazing night,” Broncos coach John Fox said. “Peyton’s had a lot of amazing nights.”
Not like this, though.
Manning is the sixth QB in NFL history to throw seven TD passes in a game and the first since Joe Kapp did it for Minnesota against Baltimore on Sept. 28, 1969.
The others read like a Who’s Who of passers who came along before the NFL became so pass-happy: Sid Luckman, Adrian Burk, George Blanda, Y.A. Tittle.
“I felt like we had to keep scoring because Baltimore can score at any time,” said Manning, who was 27 of 42 for 462 yards with no interceptions for an off-the-charts quarterback rating of 141.1.
“He’s phenomenal. To continue to come out every year and put that kind of performance on for us, it’s amazing,” Julius Thomas said.
Nobody had ever put up 49 points on the Ravens in their 18-year history.
All part of a thorough thrashing of the team that put a harsh end to what had looked like a Super Bowl-bound 2012 in Denver. The rematch came nearly eight months after Baltimore beat Denver 38-35 in double overtime on an icy January night in the same stadium.
The hero on that night was Jacoby Jones, who caught a 70-yard TD pass over Rahim Moore with 31 seconds left to tie it in regulation. His night was cut short when he went back to field a punt and teammate Brynden Trawick plowed into him at the Baltimore 15. Jones left with a sprained right knee and didn’t return.
The Broncos waited all off-season for the rematch, then for 33 minutes more when a lightning storm in the area delayed the start.
When they took the field, it was clear how much had changed.
Pass rusher Elvis Dumervil moved from Denver to Baltimore as part of a bizarre, fax-infused contract squabble. Receiver Brandon Stokley also switched sides. The Broncos lost their best defender, Von Miller, to a drug suspension while Baltimore had to rebuild its ’D’ after losing emotional leaders Ed Reed and Ray Lewis.
The Ravens suffered another loss of sorts when they were forced to play the season’s traditional opener on the road because of a conflict with the Orioles in Baltimore. The NFL hung a Flacco banner above Denver’s stadium, but he hardly felt at home.
Armed with a new six-year, $120.6 million contract, he matched the Broncos score for score in the first half but had to play catch-up after falling behind 35-17 early in the third quarter. His final numbers: 34 of 62 for 362 yards with two TDs and two interceptions.
It was such a runaway, the Broncos were throwing away touchdowns by the end. Linebacker Danny Trevathan fumbled his pick-6 just shy of the goal line, pulling a Leon Lett imitation by celebrating too soon and the ball bounced out of the end zone for a touchback instead of a touchdown.
No worries.
Denver was ahead 42-17 at that point.
“It was just a young mistake,” Trevathan said. “It was kind of selfish. I’m going to take full responsibility. I’m going to grow from it. There was some heated stuff on the sideline with (defensive co-ordinator Jack Del Rio) and you know, I needed that.”
Wearing an orange-and-grey glove like the one he wore on that icy January night the last time these teams met, Manning took a while to get warmed up against a Baltimore defence that had to replace seven Super Bowl starters.
After three punts, he ditched the glove once the rains stopped — and then he was unstoppable.
“I don’t like excuses but I do think that lightning delay did slow us down,” Manning said. “You guys have seen teams break it down: you come up for the team prayer, you put your hands in and you say, ”Broncos on 3,“ and you go out to the field.
“We did it three times tonight.”
After all those fits and starts, Manning & Co. found a rhythm the Ravens couldn’t match.
Manning’s seventh TD pass covered only a few yards in the air but Demaryius Thomas, a former first-round pick, hauled in the pass in the left flat and turned on the jets, racing past several gassed defenders for a 78-yard play that capped Denver’s big night.
“We gave them too many easy things,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “Even right down there at the end, fighting like crazy to create a play, and gave them that touchdown at the end. That’s the bottom line — you can’t give them easy plays.”
Demaryius Thomas finished with five receptions for 161 yards, Julius Thomas had five catches for 110 yards and Welker led the way with nine grabs for 67 yards.
Welker averaged 112 catches over the last six seasons in New England, where he was Tom Brady’s favourite receiver. He’s the first receiver to catch TD passes from both Brady and Manning.
He has said he can’t compare the two pre-eminent QBs, saying that’s like choosing between Michaelangelo and Picasso.
This night was certainly a masterpiece for Manning.
“Didn’t surprise me a bit,” said Stokley, who played with Manning in Denver and Indianapolis. “He’s capable of this kind of night.”
Manning
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The quarterback's performance in a 37-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars was emblematic of his career. He started strong, directing a quick touchdown drive and completing his first five passes. He subsequently threw a red-zone interception and was booed off the field entering halftime after badly botching a clock-management situation. (Sanchez ran out of time before the Jets could attempt a field goal.)
The final numbers were solid: 13-of-23 passing for 169 yards and one touchdown with the interception. Sanchez played deep into the third quarter because rookie Geno Smith and No. 3 quarterback Greg McElroy both sat out with ankle injuries.
Sanchez, who left the game with a big lead, hasn't done anything in this preseason to prove he's made strides. The quarterback battle in New York really is about Smith battling himself. (Smith currently is losing.)
The second-round draft pick has to show he's healthy and effective next week or Sanchez will win the Jets' QB job by default. As usual.
Mark Sanchez could win Jets' job despite uneven game - NFL-com