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Dwight Harrison played in the NFL for 10 years. Recently, he was terrified of a phone call.

"I was up all night," he told me, "scared to death. At times, I can't even speak. I'm afraid to talk to you."

I am not in the habit of scaring people to death. But Harrison worried he would say the wrong thing. He worried I wouldn't believe him, which is understandable. His story is so absurd, so unfair, that it sounds like a sick joke. But it is not a joke. It is Harrison's life. And here is what happened:

Harrison requested higher disability pay from his NFL retirement plan.

The plan's trustees said no ... and took away his entire pension.

MICHAEL McCANN: Judge rejects $765 million NFL concussion settlement

Then they charged him for legal fees.

Now Harrison lives alone in Beaumont, Texas, in what he calls "a little FEMA house," because a hurricane wiped out his other one. He is 65. He is on Medicaid now. He is still fighting for the money, and the acknowledgment that he deserves it. But it is not a fair fight. After too many hits to the head, his brain flickers on and off.

"My situation ... sometimes it's bright, sometimes it's dim, and sometimes the light don't come on at all," said Harrison, who in his 10-year career from 1971 to '80 played for the Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Colts and Denver Broncos. "I can't sometimes keep my thoughts. Forgive me, please."

The night before our first talk a few months ago, Harrison's light went on, and he wanted to take advantage of it. He grabbed a recorder that he keeps on a small table next to his old standard-definition television and spoke his thoughts. The next day, a few minutes after he mustered the courage to answer my call, he placed his recorder next to the phone and pushed PLAY.

We will let the trustees of the Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle NFL Player Retirement Plan begin this story. The year was 1993.

There are six trustees on the board at any given time: Three that represent owners, and three that ostensibly represent players. Former players have long grumbled that the board is more interested in protecting owners and the union than helping former players.

Former Bears star Dave Duerson was appointed by the union but publicly doubted that former players were suffering because of football hits. Duerson later committed suicide and was found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disease commonly linked to concussions. His tragic story seems to epitomize the NFL's concussion problem: Denial for too long, until it was too late.

But in 1993, the trustees examined Harrison's medical records and determined he was "totally and permanently disabled."

We repeat: The trustees said Harrison was "totally and permanently disabled."

They awarded him a $1,729 monthly disability benefit. They also determined that Harrison had been disabled since Jan. 1, 1984, and awarded him a lump sum of $184,756 in retroactive benefits.

Still, Harrison felt he deserved more. He had good reasons to believe that. The retirement plan featured four tiers of "total and permanent disability" benefits, depending mostly on how a player was disabled. The trustees put him on the lowest tier. They determined that, while Harrison clearly had serious medical problems, they did not result from playing in the NFL. He disagreed, and his wife sent a letter to the board asking them to reconsider.

In 1994, the trustees again acknowledged Harrison's "total and permanent disability," at age 45 ... but they would not give him more money. Instead, they informed him that his "disorder has its origin in an incident that occurred while you were playing college football, not League football." They also said that his depression was "of recent origin".

Yes, the trustees tied Harrison's health problems to his life before and after his NFL career ... but said he was not damaged during his career.

SI VAULT: Wives and girlfriends often bear the burden of caring for suffering former NFL players

How did they reach this conclusion? In part, they used Harrison's honesty against him. He had told at least one doctor he was traumatized seeing a teammate suffer a broken neck and paralysis his senior year at Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville). That allowed the trustees to trace his problems to his college career, instead of his NFL career.

And of course, it's reasonable to assume that his memory loss, depression and diminished cognitive function got worse after he retired. That enabled the trustees to say his depression was "of recent origin".

Still, there was no debate about his disabilities. Two doctors had confirmed them -- and one of them was appointed by the retirement plan, not by Harrison. The only dispute was what caused him to be disabled.

Harrison appealed. And this is when his case and his savings began to disintegrate.

The trustees argued that he failed to appear for a psychiatrist's examination, failed to respond to requests for counsel, then failed to appear for another examination. The trustees alleged that when a process server approached Harrison, Harrison drove away quickly, did not stop and kept shaking his head, trying to lose the process server.

They said he did not provide financial information. They said he participated in activities that "include socializing with college football teammates at a team reunion, direct participation in real estate transactions and other business activities." They claim he was trying to run a rodeo out of his backyard. They say witnesses described him as a "businessman" who was "interested in anything to make money." They said he missed appointments with their doctors. He also missed two court hearings.

They denied his appeal and suspended his benefits.

Then they filed a counterclaim to recoup everything they had paid him.

The trustees could have denied his request for more money and kept him on the lowest tier. Instead, they basically called him a crook.

The winners of the major awards for this NFL season and the members of this year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame class are scheduled to be revealed here Saturday on the eve of the Super Bowl.

The award winners are to be announced and the new Hall of Famers are to be introduced during the “3rd Annual NFL Honors” show. The show, to be hosted by Alec Baldwin, is to be taped from 6 to 8 p.m. at Radio City Music Hall and is to air on Fox from 8 to 10 p.m.

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is considered a heavy favorite to win his record fifth league most valuable player award. Manning’s first four MVP seasons came with the Indianapolis Colts. He set single-season league records this season for passing yards and touchdown passes. He’ll seek his second career Super Bowl triumph Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J., when the Broncos face the Seattle Seahawks.

The MVP award and other top league awards are chosen by the Associated Press.

Also among the awards to be given Saturday are coach of the year, offensive and defensive players of the year, offensive and defensive rookies of the year, comeback player of the year and Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.

The four to seven new Hall of Famers also are to be introduced during the show. They are to be chosen earlier Saturday by the media members who serve as Hall of Fame voters.

The 15 modern era finalists are Morten Andersen, Jerome Bettis, Derrick Brooks, Tim Brown, Edward DeBartolo Jr., Tony Dungy, Kevin Greene, Charles Haley, Marvin Harrison, Walter Jones, John Lynch, Andre Reed, Will Shields, Michael Strahan and Aeneas Williams.

The two seniors committee nominees are Ray Guy and Claude Humphrey.




NFL award winners, Hall of Fame selections to be announced Saturday evening

Even Commissioner Roger Goodell joked before the Super Bowl about making it known that, no, actually, the NFL "cannot control the weather."

Only his all-powerful league, it seems, could get away with a February title game outdoors at a northeast site. And while there were heavy clouds and a slight sprinkle of rain in the hours before the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks kicked off Sunday to determine a champion, the temperature was above 50 degrees and nothing resembling the blizzard some worried might arrive.

Yes, no matter what potential problems could come along — from a groundswell of concern, not to mention court cases, about concussions; to a headlines-generating hazing scandal; to a prominent player charged with murder; to officiating errors — everything seems to work out for the country's most popular sport.

It's why Goodell and the NFL are all about more, more, more nowadays, starting with, he hopes, more teams making the playoffs, perhaps as soon as the 2015 season.

Moments after the theatrical touch of fake snow that fell from overhead as Goodell delivered his annual "state of the NFL" address two days before Sunday's big game, he noted with pride what a feat it was to pull off the first outdoor, cold-weather Super Bowl — and not far from the hub of activity and attention that is New York.

"We are doing something innovative and unprecedented, something consistent with the essence of football and the Super Bowl. There has been a tremendous amount of energy and excitement about this Super Bowl," Goodell said. "This is the No. 1 market and a great stage for this Super Bowl matchup — and the world will be watching."

That is true. Football's biggest game is usually the highest-rated television program in the United States each year, with more than 100 million folks expected to gather in front of televisions with pizza, wings, chips, beer, etc., in this country alone. Then there's the audience of about a billion around the globe with access to the game, too.

Even run-of-the-mill, regular-season games are TV gold, accounting for 34 of the 35 most-watched shows last fall (the lone interloper was the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, at 22nd). It's not enough for Goodell and his owners. They know they have the most must-see property there is, especially in this era of DVRs and splintered audiences that makes live sports increasingly valuable. And so they're going to do whatever they can to crank up a revenue stream that already tops $9 billion annually and is set to rise when new deals with broadcast partners kick in next season.

Expect an announcement soon that the Thursday night games that have been on the NFL Network will bring in extra dollars via a contract with another broadcaster. And this summer, the league will launch a digital video service called "NFL Now" to tap into mobile advertising.

"There's a reason there's advertiser demand — there's consumption," said Brian Rolapp, the league's executive vice president of media.

And on and on it goes for the NFL. There are, to be sure, uncomfortable issues that will fill the air in the offseason, despite the league's best efforts to run things so there is barely a day in the calendar that isn't filled with some sort of football talk it can control: The combine, the draft, free agency all get attention up until training camps open and the cycle begins anew.

But Goodell pledged to work this offseason to prevent the type of alleged bullying and harassment in the Miami Dolphins locker room that led one player to leave the team and another to be suspended.

"Our No. 1 priority is to make sure that we have a workplace environment that's professional," he said.

There are other tasks at hand. The tentative $765 million settlement reached to try to make concussion-related lawsuits brought by thousands of former players go away was put on hold last month by a federal judge in Philadelphia. Even if or when that is finalized, there will be weekly injuries to heads and other body parts that sideline prominent players, destined to be a part of a violent sport in perpetuity. There is the standing murder charge against former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, who was an emerging star but now is in jail. There are the officiating inconsistencies that prompted Goodell to raise the idea of having the league office oversee instant replay reviews at all games.

That's another topic for another day. As kickoff approached Sunday, the attention was on football, just the way the NFL wants it.

During his pre-Super Bowl news conference, Goodell dismissed a question that referred to the weather by saying: "I'd like to think that we're going to get focused on the game.

"That's really what this is all about."


As Super Bowl Shows, Nothing Slows Powerful NFL - ABC News

President Barack Obama has repeatedly advocated making the federal tax code “fairer” for Americans, but his White House is staying out of the fray when it comes to calls for the federal government to remove one super-sized tax loophole: the National Football League’s non-profit status.

Since the 1966 merger agreement of the National Football league and the American Football League, the modern day NFL has been exempt from paying taxes, even as its revenue has hit stratospheric levels. Section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code provides for tax “exemption of business leagues, chambers of commerce, real estate boards, boards of trade and professional football leagues,” including the $9 billion-a-year business that is the NFL, as well as the National Hockey League and the Professional Golfers’ Association of America.

“I don’t have anything on a specific enterprise’s tax status,” a White House official said, when asked about the NFL’s loophole. “But here’s what the President has done to make this system more fair: making middle class tax cuts permanent, bringing rates for most wealthy to Clinton era rates to make system most progressive it has been in decades, and an effort to reform the system to close unfair loopholes and make system better for American businesses and workers.”

Congress’ Joint Committee on Taxation estimates the loophole costs the federal government $10 million in lost revenue annually, and $109 million over ten years. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Sen. Angus King (I-ME) wrote a “Dear Colleague” letter last week asking for support for the Properly Reducing Overexemptions for Sports Act (PRO Sports Act), to remove the loophole.

“Arcane technicalities have allowed these leagues to rough the taxpayer,” they wrote.

Major League Baseball benefited from the same exemption for years, before giving it up in 2007 — largely over requirements that non-profit entities publish the salaries of top executives. In it’s latest filing, the NFL reported paying commissioner Roger Goodell $29,419,000 in 2012.

Obama appointed Pittsburgh Steelers owner and campaign donor Dan Rooney to be the United States Ambassador to Ireland in his first term.

Read more: White House Won't Say If NFL Should Pay Taxes | TIME-com White House Won't Say If NFL Should Pay Taxes | TIME-com

The NFL's report in the Miami Dolphins harassment case is expected to be released soon, shedding further light on the much-scrutinized, troubled relationship between offensive linemen Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito.

The report will likely address whether the Dolphins organization was at fault for the locker-room culture that led Martin to leave the team last October. He later said he was harassed daily by teammates, including Incognito, and alleged that their racial, aggressive and sexually charged comments played a role in his departure. Incognito's Dolphins suspension was lifted Tuesday, but Miami officials say that was an administrative move agreed to by all parties some time ago, and had nothing to do with any new developments in the league investigation.

Last week, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said he has an idea of what will be in the league's report, and indicated he doesn't expect any new revelations. He said he's proud of the way the people running the franchise responded to the scandal.

Martin has said he tried to be friends with Incognito. The two players traded more a thousand text messages in a year's span, and the teasing and vulgar banter went both ways, with references to sex, drugs, violence and bawdy behavior, often in a jocular tone.

The back-and-forth continued last week. In his first interview since the scandal broke, Martin told NBC persistent vulgar language around the team made him feel trapped.

Incognito's attorney Mark Schamel responded with a statement saying Martin was "hiding behind false allegations" rather than dealing with "his poor on-field performance and myriad other issues."

The NFL report will come from New York attorney Ted Wells three months after he was retained by the NFL to investigate the case, which inspired a national debate about hazing and workplace bullying.

Wells will determine the role of coach Joe Philbin, his staff and Miami management in the case. One issue is whether anyone on the coaching staff ordered Incognito to toughen up Martin, who became a starter as a rookie in 2012 but played poorly at times.

Martin has said people in the organization knew he was unhappy about comments teammates made to him, but he didn't talk to Philbin about it. The 6-5, 312-pound Martin abruptly left the team Oct. 28. He was briefly hospitalized and then joined his family in California and underwent counseling for emotional issues. Incognito was suspended Nov. 3 and sat out the final eight games.

Both players have said they want to play in 2014, but it likely won't be with the Dolphins.

Incognito becomes a free agent this winter and will probably sign with another team, and Dolphins are expected to trade or release Martin, who has two years remaining on his contract.

Teammates said the two linemen seemed to be good friends, despite their contrasting backgrounds. Martin, 24, was a classics major at Stanford, while Incognito, 30, was kicked off his team at Nebraska and went on to develop a reputation as one of the NFL's dirtiest players known for out-of-bounds behavior.

Incognito has said he regrets racist and profane language he used with Martin, but said it stemmed from a culture of locker-room "brotherhood," not bullying. Incognito is white and Martin is black.

Teammates both black and white have said Incognito is not a racist, and they've been more supportive of the veteran guard than they have of Martin.

In November there were reports that Ross might clean house after the season. But Philbin was retained to return for a third season in 2014, and most of his staff remains, including offensive line coach Jim Turner, who worked most closely with Incognito and Martin.

General manager Jeff Ireland left the Dolphins in January after six seasons because of the team's mediocre results, and because he clashed with Philbin over personnel decisions.


NFL report coming on Miami Dolphins' bullying scandal

Despite growing support for the use of medicinal marijuana in the NFL, the league remains steadfast in its stance against the drug. The NFL's true motivations are up for interpretation, but former NFL running back Ricky Williams believes they are self-serving.

According to TMZ-com, Williams feels as though the NFL is trying to protect its image rather than its players.

"I don't think the NFL really cares about whether or not players use marijuana," Williams said.

Current Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark chimed in as well. He admitted that some of his teammates smoke marijuana, and he claimed that many use it as what they believe to be a healthier alternative to other painkillers, according to ESPN-com:

I know guys on my team who smoke. And it's not a situation where you think, "Oh, these are guys trying to be cool." These are guys who want to do it recreationally.

A lot of it is stress relief. A lot of it is pain and medication. Guys feel like, "If I can do this, it keeps me away from maybe Vicodin, it keeps me away from pain prescription drugs and things that guys get addicted to." Guys look at this as a more natural way to heal themselves, to stress relieve and also to medicate themselves for pain. Guys are still going to do it.

Clark's comments come on the heels of New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie stating in a recent interview with This Is 50 that the NFL should turn the other cheek when it comes to the use of marijuana, per Dom Cosentino of NJ-com.

"They need to just let it go," Cromartie said. "We're just going to do it anyway. They just need to let it go. They need to go ahead and say, 'Y'all go ahead, smoke it, do what you need to do.'"

It can be argued that no past or present player is more familiar with the NFL's marijuana policy than Williams. He spent more than a decade in the league with the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens, but marijuana use interrupted his career on more than one occasion.

Williams decided to retire in 2004 while he was in his prime due to the fact that he faced a four-game suspension and substantial fine after testing positive for marijuana.

He returned to the Dolphins the following season, but he was subsequently suspended for the entire 2006 season after violating the NFL's drug-testing policy for a fourth time. The fourth test was reportedly related to his interest in holistic medicine rather than marijuana, but the fact remains that Williams has been at odds with the NFL's testing program many times.

Because of that, it is no surprise that Williams' comments are making some waves throughout the NFL community.

The NFL's great marijuana debate has heated up in recent weeks, and commissioner Roger Goodell has made his feelings known on the subject. According to Jane McManus of ESPNNewYork-com, there are not currently any plans to permit marijuana use in the NFL, but Goodell is in favor of keeping tabs on its potential viability: We'll continue to follow the medicine. Our experts right now are not indicating that we should change our policy in any way. We are not actively considering that at this point in time. But if it goes down the road sometime, that's something that we would never take off the table.

As marijuana use in the United States becomes more widely accepted, however, talk of removing it from the NFL's banned substances list will undoubtedly pick up steam as well.

The NFL has every right to ban marijuana if it so chooses since testing employees for the drug is a common practice throughout the business world.

The NFL is no ordinary business, though, and pressure is going to mount on Goodell in terms of making a change down the line.


Ricky Williams and Ryan Clark Speak on NFL's Marijuana Policy | Bleacher Report

There are plenty of opinions going around regarding who the Texans should select with their first-round pick. Their biggest need looks to be the quarterback position, as Matt Schaub faltered last season and Case Keenum proved that he is not the answer.

During an interview with Will Grubb of CBS Houston, former Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips suggested the team take Manziel. Said Phillips:

Those kinds of guys who can make first downs when you're not supposed to, I think they give you something. I just think he makes plays that nobody else can make. I thought it would be the Earl Campbell of Houston, the reincarnation. Having the Heisman trophy winner come to Houston from the state of Texas.

Phillips was not far off. Manziel is a dual-threat quarterback who can make plays out of absolutely nothing. His presence will allow for a whole new dimension on the offensive side of the ball in Houston. The Texans struggled to make those first downs a year ago, and Manziel would be the perfect answer.



2. St. Louis Rams (from Washington): Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M

The Rams will probably trade out of this pick. However, without any trades taking place in this mock draft, they will remain here for all intents and purposes. With the second pick, the Rams can fill a huge need by taking Matthews.

With a young, budding offense, St. Louis desperately needs to protect its quarterback so he can efficiently distribute the ball to all available weapons. Improving the protection will benefit electrifying players like Tavon Austin and Zac Stacy.



3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina

Sure, the Jaguars could go with a quarterback here. But with arguably the most talented player left on the board, they'll fill another need. Jacksonville has been lackluster in terms of rushing the passer, and Clowney will be able to come in and contribute immediately.

With Gus Bradley now in Jacksonville, his defensive mind will create ways for Clowney to flourish. With Clowney now in the fold, Jacksonville can look toward filling the void at the quarterback position in Round 2.

4. Cleveland Browns: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville

It seems as though the Browns haven't had a decent quarterback under center since Ronald Reagan was president. Well, that is all about to change with the selection of Bridgewater. One of the most polished quarterbacks in this year's draft, he will certainly be able to come in and ignite this offense.

Cleveland already has a good amount of talent on the offensive side of the ball. Wide receiver Josh Gordon lit it up during the 2013-14 season. Tight end Jordan Cameron really came into his own as well. With Bridgewater under center, they finally have a signal-caller who can effectively distribute the football.



5. Oakland Raiders: Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson

The Raiders could look at other needs here; however, it will be difficult to pass up on a talent like Watkins. Oakland is in severe need of playmakers on the offensive side of the ball, and they have a perfect chance to grab the best one in this year's draft.

Watkins, the speedy 6"1', 205-pound receiver has all of the makings to be the NFL's next elite offensive weapon. He demands a great amount of respect on the field and can really open things up for Oakland's offense. Quarterback Matt McGloin is still rather inexperienced, and Watkins will have a big hand in improving the quarterback's confidence.



6. Atlanta Falcons: Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo

In the Falcons' 4-3 defensive scheme, Mack will serve as a defensive end. That's not a stretch for the versatile pass-rusher. Mack has some of the most natural ability of any defender in this year's draft and will immediately improve a stagnant Falcons pass rush. With the ability to stand up as an outside linebacker or put his hand in the dirt as a 4-3 defensive end, Mack's versatility will allow him to succeed immediately in a Falcons defense that utilizes a base 4-3 with some 3-4 looks.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA

Now that Lovie Smith has inherited the Buccaneers, he will undoubtedly bring with him similar philosophies that served him well in Chicago. One such philosophy is stocking up on talented pass-rushing linebackers.

Barr is still a bit raw; however, watching him on film is purely incredible. His explosion off the line, athleticism and strength gives him the skill set of an elite NFL linebacker. With a little bit of coaching, Barr could turn out to be one of the most dominant linebackers in the league.



8. Minnesota Vikings: Blake Bortles, QB, UCF

Now that the Vikings are basically out of viable options at the quarterback position, it's time to pull the trigger on one early in the draft. Luckily for Minnesota, Bortles is still on the board.

After an impressive 2013 season, the 6'5", 230-pound quarterback quickly shot up draft boards. This wasn't only because of his impressive size, but also because of his strong arm and deceptive speed and athleticism. The Vikings are certainly looking for an answer at quarterback, and Bortles is their guy.



9. Buffalo Bills: C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama

The Bills have a fair amount of holes to fill if they are to compete in the AFC East. Even though they already have a very talented front seven, adding Mosley to the mix would just become unfair for opposing offenses.

With Kiko Alonso already in the fold after an impressive rookie season, pairing him with Mosley could possibly begin the makings of one of the league's most terrifying linebacker corps. Alonso and Mosely have so much speed, they will undoubtedly be able to slow down some of the more high-octane offenses in their division.



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After suffering one of the most crushing defeats of his career last Sunday in the Super Bowl, Peyton Manning sought out Richard Sherman to ask how he was doing after he injured his ankle in the game.

Even Sherman was impressed.

“He was really concerned about my well-being,’’ the Seattle cornerback said in a radio interview. “After a game like that, a guy who’s still class enough to say, ‘How are you doing?’ To show that kind of concern for an opponent shows a lot of humility and class.’’

Gestures like that help explain why Manning is probably the most popular player in the NFL.

His popularity is the main reason why the fans made the Broncos the favorite in the Super Bowl. The Las Vegas sports books, which initially made Seattle a slight favorite before the money poured in on Denver, collected a nice payday.

The reality was the championship was decided in the NFC title game when Seattle beat San Francisco in a close duel of the NFL’s two best teams. The Super Bowl was a coronation.

Seattle linebacker K.J. Wright told Sports Illustrated that when he first looked at film of the Broncos, he thought, “Man, we already got this game won.”

Seattle’s defense vs. Manning was a perfect matchup for the Seahawks. Manning is a rhythm, timing passer who reads defenses well and can pick apart any defense when not harassed in the pocket. If teams try to blitz Manning, he often burns them.

But when teams can pressure him with the front four without blitzing, Manning struggles. He lacks mobility and often can’t escape the rush if the back seven are covering his receivers. The Seahawks blitzed him only six times in the Super Bowl.

The loss likely means that Manning, 37, will finish his career like Brett Favre, with one Super Bowl title. That’s one more than Dan Marino, who only reached one and lost.

Manning, 11-12 in the postseason, has history going against him next year. The last time a team lost the Super Bowl and won it the next year was the Miami Dolphins’ perfect season in 1972.

Elite company for Seattle’s Wilson

The Seahawks showed in this passing era that defense can still win championships. They ranked 26th in passing, the worst passing offense for a Super Bowl champion.

Their passing game is likely to improve as Russell Wilson continues to gain experience. He’s the third quarterback since 2001 to win a Super Bowl in his second season. The other two are Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger.

Fan-friendly Jaguars

The Jaguars are doing everything they can to cultivate and maintain their current season ticket holders. They held their third fan forum with coach Gus Bradley and general manager Dave Caldwell Thursday night.

Bradley and Caldwell both hung around after the formal program to meet fans and pose for pictures. It’s hard to imagine Bill Belichick doing that.

Caldwell gave the fans a review of the roster, but he was the warmup act for Bradley, who specializes in motivational speeches.

Bradley worked Helen Keller, a hungry parrot, his daughter and a scary ride at an amusement park into his talk.

The Keller reference was her quote that worse than being blind would be to see and not have vision. Bradley has vision of the team being the best it can be, but also having humility.

They also both took questions from the audience, including some from fans in London, who watched it being streamed live.

Rewarding season ticket holders

The Jaguars are adding record-size video boards and a swimming pool to improve the fan experience. They also showed potential sponsors at the Super Bowl an artist rendering of a covering over EverBank Field that would be more sun screen than roof because it wouldn’t be enclosed or climate controlled, though it would be retractable.

A sun screen could make it easier for fans to tolerate hot days early in the season. The Jaguars stress the artist rendering wasn’t a proposal, but it could be a good idea a few years down the road if they figure out a way to finance it. It’s easier to keep upgrading the stadium than to build a new one.

The Jaguars also want to honor season ticket holders. They will construct some sort of wall in the stadium where the names of the season ticket holders will be listed by seniority. Season ticket holders since the beginning of the franchise will get some sort of apparel or merchandise. Other season ticket holders will receive apparel.

No consensus on draft

The mock drafts last week by ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay show there’s no consensus at the top. Although they both have OT Greg Robinson going second to the Rams, Kiper has the Texans taking QB Johnny Manziel with the No. 1 pick and the Jaguars taking DE Jadeveon Clowney at No. 3.

McShay has the Texans taking Clowney and the Jaguars QB Teddy Bridgewater.

Caldwell said he has a top-five put together. Clowney is likely to be on it, but the other four are anybody’s guess. Caldwell insists he won’t force a quarterback and wouldn’t rule out not taking one in the first two rounds.

“If we’re going to give into pressure [to take a quarterback high], we’re going to make the wrong decision,’’ he said. “Our vision is to build a franchise that can sustain and win over a period of time. In that process, if a quarterback presents himself, we’ll grab him.’’

Quotable

“Marv, I love you, man. We were like family, and we know we wouldn’t be where we are without each other.’’ Wide receiver Andre Reed on what he told former Bills coach Marv Levy when he asked Levy to present him for his Hall of Fame induction.

Read more at Jacksonville-com: NFL Confidential: Peyton Manning shows class in defeat | members-jacksonville-com

Missouri defensive lineman Michael Sam hopes to be the first openly gay player in the NFL, which is about to have its tolerance tested, ready or not.

"We admire Michael Sam's honesty and courage," the NFL said in a statement Sunday night, minutes after the publishing of two media interviews in which Sam revealed he is gay.

"Michael is a football player. Any player with ability and determination can succeed in the NFL. We look forward to welcoming and supporting Michael Sam in 2014." But will NFL teams look at Sam — a first-team USA TODAY All-America selection this past fall — any differently now that he's forging into uncharted waters?

It didn't seem to faze Sam's teammates at Missouri, whom he informed of his sexual orientation before last season and then went out and led the Southeastern Conference with 11½ sacks.

"I think we learned a lot about football players," Domonique Foxworth, the NFL Players Association president, told USA TODAY Sports via text message. "And we will soon learn something about the NFL."

Two executives in personnel for NFL teams, speaking on condition of anonymity for competitive reasons, told USA TODAY Sports they had Sam rated as a third-day prospect even before Sunday's announcement and didn't think it would have a substantive impact on his status.

"I applaud him for it," one of the executives said. "I'm pretty confident people won't care." Of course, saying that and actually drafting a guy who's set himself up as a trailblazer are two different things, particularly with a player who isn't regarded as an elite prospect.

The next test for Sam and NFL teams comes next week in Indianapolis, where Sunday's announcement is sure to draw an unusual spotlight from league executives and reporters at the scouting combine.

"I'm not naïve," Sam told the New York Times. "I know this is a huge deal and I know how important this is. But my role as of right now is to train for the combine and play in the NFL."

A Hitchcock, Texas, native, Sam made his watershed announcement via interviews with ESPN and the Times that were published simultaneously Sunday night.

He said he went public now in part because many seemed aware of his sexual orientation at the Senior Bowl two weeks ago.

"I didn't realize how many people actually knew, and I was afraid that someone would tell or leak something out about me," Sam told ESPN. "I want to own my truth. ... No one else should tell my story but me."

He celebrated in advance by having dinner Saturday with a group that included former NFL running back Dave Kopay, who was one of the first ex-players to come out as gay, and former punter Chris Kluwe and linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, who both have been outspoken in their support of gay rights.

"He's very much a good kid, very passionate about football and well-spoken," Kluwe told USA TODAY Sports. "I think he'll do great."

Though no NFL player has announced publicly he's gay while his career is active, several former players — including Esera Tuaolo, Kwame Harris and Wade Davis — have said they're gay after retiring.

"Michael is first and foremost a talented football player, and his humility and heart will reshape the way that Americans think about LGBT people and the sports world," Davis, who now serves as executive director of LGBT sports organization You Can Play, said in a statement.

"His story sends a message to LGBT young people, especially young black men, that you are free to show up in the world as your authentic self and others will embrace you. When I came out after playing in the NFL, I felt the suuport from fans, teammates and the league and I know he will be embraced and continue to inspire."

Sarah Kate Ellis, president of the advocacy organization GLAAD, said in a statement Sam "has demonstrated the leadership that, along with his impressive skills on the field, makes him a natural fit for the NFL. With acceptance of LGBT people rising across our coasts — in our schools, churches and workplaces — it's clear America is ready for an openly gay football star."

The NFL has been preparing for this moment. In April, the NFL sent a sexual orientation anti-discrimination and harassment policy to all club presidents, coaches and general managers, who shared it with their staffs. The collective-bargaining agreement also includes anti-discrimination language.

The support shown by Sam's Missouri teammates — some of whom joined the social media outpouring on his behalf Sunday night — is one positive sign football may be ready.

"Michael is a great example of just how important it is to be respectful of others," Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said in a statement. "He's taught a lot of people here first-hand that it doesn't matter what your background is or your personal oreientation, we're all on the same team and we all support each other.

"If Michael doesn't have the support of his teammates like he did this past year, I don't think there's any way he has the type of season he put together."

Said Foxworth: "That is what being a team, a man, a brother is all about. I'm proud to be linked to those men even if our link is only that we both played football. This is the same level of support I expect a gay player to receive from teammates in the NFL."



Missouri DE and NFL prospect Michael Sam announces he is gay

Feb. 9, 2014, will one day be remembered as it should -- as the day in which a young man described himself with pride and honesty.

But make no mistake, it is also the day that Missouri defensive end Michael Sam's stock in the NFL Draft began to drop because he announced he was gay. He was already sliding due to concerns over the dreaded 'tweener label -- with some scouts viewing him as too short for defensive end and a project to convert to stand-up linebacker following an inconsistent week at the Senior Bowl.

NFLDraftScout-com has Sam ranked as the No. 110 overall prospect. An initial drop to 160 from 90 on Monday morning was part of a comprehensive adjustment in the rankings leading up to next week's scouting combine that generated movement among hundreds of prospects. In all, 65 of the top 350 prospects were affected by the rankings update, and Sam was never intended to drop past No. 110. The bottom line is Sam's announcement will affect his position on the draft boards of some teams, but NFLDraftScout-com currently projects him as a third- to fourth-round prospect overall, with all factors considered.

As noted by CBSSports-com's Jeremy Fowler, Sam's teamates at Missouri learned of his secret in August. Rather than allow Sam's private life to divide the locker room, coach Gary Pinkel earned Coach of the Year consideration for his team's 12-2 record, which included their first-ever SEC East xhampionship and a No. 4 overall ranking to end the season -- the highest ever at Missouri.

Sam's teammates and coaches never spoke of Sam's personal life because it was his personal life. On the field, Sam's play spoke for itself. He was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the best conference in college football and earned comparisons in this player profile to one of the NFL's most feared pass rushers.

If teammates knew about Sam's homosexuality, you can bet NFL scouts did, as well. And yet they didn't announce to the world that Sam was gay.

The respect shown by Sam's teammates, coaches and the NFL to this point has been commendable. The NFL issued a statement shortly after the news broke of Sam's courageous announcement that read:

"We admire Michael Sam's honesty and courage. Michael is a football player. Any player with ability and determination can succeed in the NFL. We look forward to welcoming and supporting Michael Sam in 2014."

A statement by the league is a step in the right direction. The mostly positive feedback provided by anonymous NFL personnel in stories written for every sports outlet in the country shows that the league and its members are closer to welcoming a gay player than ever.

But issuing support behind a logo or the cloak of anonymity is far different than welcoming Sam (or other homosexuals) publicly.

In conversations with high-ranking front office officials since 2001, I've been told that a player's sexuality would have no bearing on his draft status. If, as Pete Prisco summarizes here, the player can play, he'll have no problem landing and sticking in the NFL.

The problem is that while Sam is a good prospect, he's not a great one. While starring as a defensive end for the Tigers, Sam was asked to play linebacker at the Senior Bowl and he struggled with the position change, showing limited flexibility and fluidity. This fact could limit him to the defensive end position in the traditional 4-3 alignment, further complicating his stock.

And while NFL teams may be more willing to accept a gay player in 2014, there remains a bit of a don't-ask-don't-tell policy. By announcing his personal lifestyle, Sam made it public. And with that announcement, Sam is inviting the media and by extension the public to follow his journey into the NFL.

Sam's homosexuality isn't the point. There are gay players in the NFL now and almost surely teammates, coaches and front office executives who know about them. But by coming out, Sam turned a very bright spotlight on himself.

And the reality is teams would rather the bright lights shine on their superstars on game day. Any club drafting Sam would add distractions for players, and teams normally work to avoid any distraction.

As the media glare intensifies at the Scouting Combine and the weeks leading up to the draft, Sam will be viewed as more and more of a distraction. That fact -- not Sam's homosexuality -- is what will cause him to slip into the late rounds or perhaps even entirely out of the draft.



Examining why Michael Sam's NFL Draft stock is falling - CBSSports-com

I had the pleasure of spending six hours with Michael Sam on Saturday night, and let me tell you, America, if you don’t already love him, get ready to.

We met in Los Angeles at the home of P.R. pro Howard Bragman, who is leading the charge in helping Michael establish his identity before others do it for him. The dinner included several leaders from the LGBT sports community: former major league baseball player Billy Bean, who came out after he retired; David Kopay, a former NFL player who is gay; Brendon Ayanbadejo and Chris Kluwe, two former NFL players and LGBT advocates; Outsports.com editor Cyd Zeigler; and Michael’s agents, Joe Barkett and Cameron Weiss of Empire Athletes. We had each learned of Michael and the discussion to make his sexual orientation public at different stages; I learned of it a few weeks ago when Troy Vincent, a senior vice president at the NFL, reached out to me after speaking with one of Michael’s agents.

We met on the eve of Michael’s announcement over a meal that featured Cyd’s homemade peach cobbler, which Michael had requested. During dinner, Howard Bragman offered a toast. He saluted Kopay for his courage to be the first ex-NFL player to come out, and he thanked the rest of us for pushing the envelope, and he praised Michael, the bravest of us all. “We’ve come full circle,” Bragman said, “but Michael is the real hero here.”

The night was a celebration for the people who had advanced this movement for years, and an effort to show Michael our love and support. While the rest of the crew ate Asian food, Michael and I opted for the Asian-style ribs, a logical choice for a kid from Hitchcock, Texas, and an old man from Little Rock, Arkansas. Michael was happy, but not overwhelmed. It was clear that the moment was not too big for him. A large part of him hoped for the hoopla to begin and end quickly, so he could focus on preparing for the combine.

Michael told us the story of coming out to his team. “We were supposed to stand up and say our name and something about ourselves,” he recalled. “So I stood up and said, ‘I’m Michael, and I’m gay.’ ” We were blown away by the nonchalance of it, but he explained that almost everyone knew his secret. Times had clearly changed since I graduated from Weber State in 2000. I began to think about how incredible his Mizzou experience was, and what it all meant. Michael played his college ball in the middle of America, in the SEC, in a big-time program, and somehow no fans, teammates or coaches had an issue with it. Michael has accomplished so much—why would anyone question his ability to play on Sundays just because he’s gay?

Michael continued, explaining the recent success of the Mizzou football team and his 11.5-sack season. He said the team bonded, in part, because coach Gary Pinkel loosened the reins and let the players be themselves over the past two seasons. Coming out was a big weight off Michael’s shoulders, and as I listened to him, I realized he hadn’t experienced the same type of internalized homophobia that I did. And whatever he did experience, he was able to transcend it. Where I had crippling doubts about how I would be received, Michael knew 100% that his teammates wouldn’t care. He says, “Hey, I’m gay. Next?”

We had discussed the reasons for coming out now to the larger public, which I’m sure will be debated for months. Here’s the truth: Everybody at Mizzou knew Michael was gay, and he wanted to tell his own story. There were reporters at the Senior Bowl who knew his story and were trying to pitch themselves as the reporter who would write it. For Michael, the fear of being outed before he got his say was a major factor. After several hours, the dinner party moved on to a local nightclub, then another bar, and by midnight, a gay bar. Michael, wearing jeans and a button-up shirt, made fun of Cyd for wearing jeans with sneakers.

“I’m country,” I told him, “but you’re more country than a dozen eggs.”

Michael’s agents, Barkett and Weiss, joined us and fit in nicely, which impressed me. These guys are level-headed, open and focused on what’s best for Michael. He came to them after dumping a previous agency, because he felt they were too focused on him coming out and not focused enough on football. Empire Athletes is a small agency, which is ideal for any challenges Michael will face; he’s going to need guys to be there for him through his historic rookie season.

With Bragman’s help, they’ll navigate through the onslaught of media requests, and ensure that Michael finds a place to work out this spring free from distractions. I’ll do what I can to help. As I told him, “I know you’re a football guy. You know you’re a football guy. And we need to make sure everyone else knows that.”

Here’s what impresses me the most: Michael isn’t planning on running to the media when people make stupid comments, whether they’re from fans or a smattering of players, or when teams ask him difficult questions at the combine. He’s looking to protect his teammates, his coaches, his team and the NFL.

I admire his courage and how comfortable he is in his own skin. Shortly after midnight he jumped on stage with five of us and led a karaoke rendition of “My Girl” by The Temptations. I loved watching how liberated and free he is, and I thought about how powerful this is going to be for LGBTQ youth who still struggle with issues of self-hatred.

When I left him at 1 a.m., I told him how proud I am to know him, and I wished him luck. On my way to the hotel and on the flight back to New York, I wondered, Would other players follow Michael’s example? Certainly, I believe, but not in the droves many will imagine.

I thought about Michael in the greater context of American society, and it hit me: This is a black man, from the rural south, who is set to become the first openly gay player in the NFL. Paired with the NBA’s Jason Collins, his presence has the potential to reframe all the misconceptions about masculin

NFL prospect Michael Sam’s revelation that he is gay has and will continue to draw strong reactions, largely supportive. To me, the response in 2014 should be more of a shrug, especially to the younger generation. In hearing the news, my two teenage sons hardly broke stride. “Why is that news?” my 16-year old asked. As for NFL attitudes, there are many in decision-making roles who are progressive thinkers—one expressed exasperation to me, saying, “I can’t imagine what closeted LGBT athletes go through day to day”—but there are still a few cavemen in positions of power who stubbornly fight change not just in football but in society at large.

Roger Goodell, whose youngest brother is gay, is among those offering support and encouragement. And while the NFL will certainly support Sam and likely rely on him to be a future ambassador on this issue, the league office does not draft players. The teams hold Michael Sam’s future in their hands—and their support, or lack thereof, will be revealed through actions rather than words.


Comparisons have been made to Jason Collins, the NBA veteran who came out in a Sports Illustrated story last April and remains unsigned. A journeyman center who played for six teams over 12 seasons, Collins was 34 and entering free agency when he came out. It’s my sense that Collins still has the ability to play, but isn’t because teams feared his story would create a distraction that didn’t justify the transaction of bringing him on a bench player. Were Collins a star or even a game-changing talent, that would be overlooked. Because he’s not, it seems NBA teams have passed him over for anonymous players with similar skill-sets. It is this type of bias, a much more subtle form of discrimination than outright homophobia, that Sam might face going into the NFL.


Which begs the obvious question—and the only one that should matter: Can he play?

In last week’s column, I detailed the grind of February draft meetings currently being held by all 32 teams. After months of comprehensive evaluation, scouting departments are filling out player cards listing all the vital metrics—height, weight, 40-speed, broad jump, vertical jump, short and long shuttle times, bench reps of 225 lbs., medical info and so forth—and affixing those cards to The Board in the order of a wish list. The cards may also note character or off-field issues; during my time as Packers vice president from 1999 to 2008, we sometimes printed an image of a cannabis plant on the cards of those whom we had determined to be marijuana users.

As a general rule, NFL scouts care about a player’s ability above all else. They seek answers to common questions asked in football-heavy lingo: Is he a 3-4 or 4-3? Can he drop his hips? Can he set the edge? Does he move well in open space? While attributes such as character and work ethic are discussed, the primary concern of evaluators is always the talent level. After talking to a couple general managers, the NFL scouting community seems to be more concerned with Michael Sam’s ability than his sexual orientation. That said, public statements from teams about Sam—or any draft prospect for that matter—mean very little. Supporting Sam is the socially acceptable thing to do. But in draft rooms around the league, will there be a subtle bias against him? Will teams pass him over in favor of other prospects who are similarly talented but won’t be the subject of so much media attention?

Many teams want “football guys”—a term I constantly heard in Green Bay, and a term I still regularly hear when talking to current personnel executives. In simplest terms, a “football guy” loves working in and around the sport, with other “football guys,” often at the exclusion of other interests, hobbies and pursuits. Teams desire a singular focus from players, as well as other employees in football operations.


I sense the discussion about Sam over the next three months will be less about him coming out and more about his makeup as a “football guy.” It is this narrative, in my opinion, that will govern teams’ interrogation of Sam at the combine and beyond, all the way through the draft in early May. Teams will want to be assured that Sam’s sexual orientation and the accompanying media attention doesn’t detract from his laser-like concentration on being the best player he can be. This question of whether football is “important enough” to him is much more subtle than the issue of sexual preference, but it’s very prominent in the business of football, however cold that may seem. Teams are willing to put on blinders about side issues as long as a player has the talent and the devotion to the game that renders other factors moot.

Which leads to another subtle concern that could affect Sam’s future: maintenance.

NFL teams do not like drama. They are composed of interdependent parts working toward a collective goal; teams want players to selflessly do their jobs and quietly fall in line. Of course, it doesn’t always work that way. Players sometimes, for a variety of reasons, venture out of the cocoon into public view. These attention grabs often involve contract disputes, but no matter the reason, a team’s antennae become raised and that player becomes viewed as higher maintenance than the rank and file. I am often asked about players who step out of the silent bubble. My answer is always the same: a player can do so without fear of consequence, no matter how subtle, if he is a superior talent, with the leverage of elite playmaking ability. A player who is “just another guy” forces front offices to consider a risk/reward equation when there is increased media attention.

This is where the prospects of Sam may be affected, though through no fault of his own. In every city his team travels to, local media and the national broadcast team will request him for interviews, even if he isn’t going to be a factor in that week’s game. He will draw intense reaction, both positive and negati

Mike Evans, a former star receiver at Texas A&M, crouched in a three-point stance in shorts and a T-shirt and then bolted down a soccer field as a high-speed camera recorded every step. Evans was here not to catch footballs or to practice dodging defenders, but to hone his technique for the 40-yard dash.

Ahead of the N.F.L.’s scouting combine, with workouts set to begin Saturday, Evans and about 20 other top college football prospects arrived most mornings at a picturesque field in Southern California to learn the art of sprinting from Ryan Flaherty, a strength and conditioning coach whose specialty is speed.

Held in Indianapolis every February, the four-day combine is part job fair, part track and field meet, with team interviews and a gantlet of physical tests. There are no medals handed out, but the athletes who run the fastest and jump the highest can expect their stocks to rise as the N.F.L. draft approaches in May.

For many players entering the draft, the 40-yard dash, one of the highlights of the televised event, will be the most important sprint of their young lives. So every year, players like Evans, 20, prepare by arriving for a two-month combine boot camp, hoping to shave tenths of a second off their times. Flaherty, 32, a track and field coach and former football player who runs the camp, puts his pupils through a six-days-a-week program that focuses on sprint mechanics and weight lifting.

The players train and lift only at maximum intensity. They focus on building fast-twitch muscle fibers, and they do power lifts that increase the amount of ground forces they generate when they run. Increasing the force the players produce with each step, while lowering or maintaining their body weight, Flaherty said, is the most effective way to increase their speed.

Flaherty also teaches the players tricks that help them accelerate off the starting line, like dragging the toes of their back foot on the ground. The toe-drag technique, practiced by elite Jamaican sprinters like Usain Bolt, keeps the back foot close to the ground and the shins properly angled, increasing power and momentum.

Many of the players who train at Flaherty’s 15,000-square-foot complex, called Prolific Athletes, say the techniques they learn are at times counterintuitive, but they work. Among the players in the current camp are the Heisman-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel — a teammate of Evans’s at Texas A&M — and Logan Thomas, who was the starting quarterback at Virginia Tech.

“I came in just running and kind of not knowing what to do,” said Manziel, referring to the 40-yard dash. “Ryan is a track guy that knows his sprinters and knows what we need to do to continue to get faster and the technique to work on. He’s really honed it in.”

Manziel said he had “shaved a lot” off his time.

Some of Flaherty’s former pupils, like Jeff Baca of the Minnesota Vikings, have set records at the combine. Baca, 24, a 6-foot-3, 300-pound offensive lineman, was a top performer last year in the 20-yard shuttle and the three-cone drill, which both require split-second changes in direction while running.

“I’m a big guy, and like most offensive linemen, I don’t have the best form,” Baca said. “But for six or eight weeks, Ryan turned me into a sprinter, and my times really came down. So I’m a huge believer in him.”

While all Flaherty’s athletes hope to impress at the scouting combine, some are under more pressure than others.

Evans had an illustrious career at Texas A&M, with 69 receptions and 12 touchdowns in his final season. At 6 feet 5 and 225 pounds, he is a hard-to-tackle receiver with a wingspan made all the more striking by his heavily tattooed arms. On one, Evans has the name of his daughter, Mackenzie. On the other is a tribute to his father, Mickey, who was murdered when Evans was 9.

Some scouting reports list him as a top-10 pick. Others expect him to be selected much later in the first round — and signed to a far less lucrative contract — because of concerns about his speed and explosiveness.

Evans is widely projected to run a 4.6 or 4.7 in the 40, Flaherty said, but he believes Evans will smash those expectations and run closer to a 4.3.

“I would be happy with anything under a 4.5,” Evans said.

To get him there, Flaherty has taught him that speed is all about hitting the ground hard and fast.

Studies indicate that the world’s fastest sprinters have one thing in common: the ability to generate many times their body weight in ground forces when they run. They have a very high ratio of force production to body weight, a measure known as mass-specific force.

In the gym, Evans dead-lifts as much weight as he can, muscling close to 500 pounds off the ground. Flaherty stands behind him, telling him to pick up the weight and then drop it on each repetition instead of lowering it. After each set, Evans immediately does a series of vertical jumps.

The unorthodox routine increases Evans’s force production and fast-twitch muscle fibers. But by avoiding the eccentric, or lowering portion of the dead lift, which breaks down muscle, Evans lowers his risk of injury and soreness and avoids gaining extra mass, Flaherty said.

Back on the soccer field, the sprinting drills are all about correcting common running mistakes.

The players learn not to pop up into an upright position when they take off at the starting line. Their bodies should be in a forward lean, their shins at an angle, their feet close to the ground and landing behind their hips — the form they would have if they were pushing a weighted sled off the starting line.

“If I was running the 40 before, I would just take off and stand straight up,” Evans said. “But now, my form is better. I’m staying low at first, and I’m working on my stance.

“I’m very confident about the combine. I feel like I’ll perform well.”

Despite all the attention the combine receives, there is debate as to whether the skills it tests are

The chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, a group that monitors racial diversity in the NFL, believes the league will soon enact a rule that will penalize a player 15 yards for using the n-word on the field during a game.

John Wooten said he expects the measure to be supported by the NFL Competition Committee during meetings next week in Naples, Fla. If the rule change is endorsed by the committee, it will be presented to owners for a vote.

"I will be totally shocked if the competition committee does not uphold us on what we're trying to do," Wooten said, according to CBSSports-com.

Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome is a member of the competition committee. On Saturday at the NFL Scouting Combine, Newsome was asked about the proposal.

"We did discuss it over the last three days," Newsome said. "We'll now go down to Naples starting next Friday and spend more time talking about it."

"With any rule that we put into play, we have to look at it from A to Z and find out what are the unintended consequences as much as the consequences," Newsome added. "But as it was stated in our meeting, there are mics everywhere. So, if something is being said, it's probably going to be captured somewhere. So, it would be an opportunity to get it verified if we had to."

The Alliance came to the defense of umpire Roy Ellison in November after Washington Redskins offensive tackle Trent Williams was accused of using the n-word toward the official during a game. Ellison was suspended by the NFL for profane language directed at Williams. The n-word was also prominent in the Wells report on the Miami Dolphins' workplace culture.

"I think they're going to do what needs to be done here," Wooten said. "There is too much disrespect in the game."

On the latest edition of the "Around The League Podcast," the guys speculate on big names who could be cut, then talk offseason forecasts for the Packers and Raiders.


Ozzie Newsome on proposed penalty for use of n-word - NFL-com

It was a 12-minute, 30-second glance into the future.

But when Michael Sam, the NFL’s first openly gay draft hopeful stood before a huge array of cameras, digital recorders and smartphones sending his image to Twitter on Saturday at the NFL’s scouting combine, he simply owned the moment.

He was composed, witty, engaging. He handled himself the way he’s going to have to handle himself in the days, weeks and months ahead in whatever becomes of his professional football career. Sam looked ready, sounded ready, oozed ready for what’s to come.

He is at the front of the line, a player who will have to wrestle, control and handle all of the attention that will be along for the ride.

Sam understands all of it, at least he says he understands. He received a standing ovation when the Missouri football team was honored at halftime of a recent Missouri-Tennessee basketball game in one of his few public appearances since his Feb. 9 announcement that he is gay.

Saturday, he repeatedly lauded those in and around the Missouri campus for “all of the support," including a "Stand with Sam" button he wore at the combine, given to him, he said, by a “very kind lady." And Sam’s announcement, as well as his appearance at the combine, has brought all of the is-the-NFL-ready-for-a-gay-player storylines. For the past two weeks, players have been quoted, both anonymously and on the record, about Sam's football future.

There have been gay players in NFL locker rooms before, some who have acknowledged it to teammates and some who have not. But Sam will be the first to have publicly announced it before arriving.

Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome constructed two Super Bowl teams as a team executive, and he was a Hall of Famer as a player. Newsome said Saturday that Sam already has dealt with teammates who knew Sam was gay. The challenge, at this point, Newsome said, is how Sam deals with the public and the media in a wired world.

“He’s been a good player, he’s been in the locker room, it’s what you, the media, what are y’all going to do with him," Newsome said. “Once he gets in, and he can rush the quarterback, get the quarterback on the ground and make tackles, he’s going to be a good teammate. The biggest thing is how the media is going to deal with it."

Newsome was then asked -- as an executive who makes roster decisions, who builds depth charts -- if the attention given to Sam would be a deterrent for those trying to figure out where Sam should be drafted.

“This is something that is new to the league and we all will have to adapt to it," Newsome said. “What I was talking about, I think our locker room has had the tendency to adapt to things a lot smoother than maybe the media does."

The Broncos' top decision-maker, John Elway, also a Hall of Famer as a player, has said Sam’s announcement would have no impact on how he will be evaluated as a player. That “having spent 16 years in an NFL locker room [as a player], the bottom line is that it's about treating others with respect and earning that respect. By all indications, it appears Michael has done just that throughout his football career."

That was the message Sam delivered for all those gathered in front of him Saturday. His “whole focus" has been preparing for the combine, preparing for his pro day next month.

“Heck, yeah, I wish you guys would ask me, 'Michael Sam, how’s football going?'" he said. “I would love for you to ask me that question, but it is what it is. And I just wish you guys would see me as Michael Sam the football player instead of Michael Sam the gay football player."

In his interviews with NFL team executives at the combine, Sam’s message has been he can be the pass-rusher every team covets, that concerns he’s too small to be a defensive end and did not perform well in linebacker drills at the combine are things he can alleviate with the benefit of opportunity.

“I’m a pass-rusher. If you put me in a situation to get the quarterback, I’m going to get the quarterback," Sam said. “Whoever the coaches, the GMs, this league is a passing league, and I like to believe in myself as a good pass-rusher."

While the attention Sam has in tow will come in large part because of his off-the-field life, Sam said his concentration is on football, and that football should determine his professional future.

Those who know Sam believe he can handle the attention, or as Missouri defensive end Kony Ealy said Saturday, “I expect him to go in there and just do his job. … He motivates. … He’s just that type of player, that type of person, off the field, all around."

Sam was asked Saturday if he felt like a trailblazer in all of this, and his answer showed his mindset, showed what he has presented to the league’s decision-makers.

“I feel like I’m Michael Sam."

Michael Sam, the football player.


Michael Sam seizes moment at NFL combine - ESPN

By several other defenders, including three with intriguing backgrounds -- outside linebackers Anthony Barr and Kahlil Mack and defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

They headline the five things we learned Monday.
1. Outside linebackers in a rush

Barr, an athletic pass rusher from UCLA whose many highlight plays included the blindside sack that sidelined USC's Matt Barkley, was timed on TV in 4.66 and 4.63 in 40 yards and had only 15 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press. Those are pedestrian numbers for a player NFLDraftScout.com has rated in the top 10, but they may not have a big negative effect on his draft because his athleticism and upside are a key factor.

Mack's 40-yard time was also announced at 4.66, but he showed his explosiveness with a 40-inch vertical. And, like Barr, who led the Pac-12 with 13.5 sacks last season, is considered to have great value in terms of upside.

NFLDraftScout.com has a verified 40-yard time on Barr from last spring at just below 4.50 and he had a much faster three-cone -- 6.82 seconds -- than Mack's 7.08. That is not entirely surprising or unexpected given his offensive background.

Barr was an offensive player until his last two years and is still learning his way around the other side of the line of scrimmage. Mack, who played only one year of high school football before becoming a big fish in Buffalo's small pond looks as good on game tape as he did on the 2013 stats sheets -- 19.0 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, three interceptions.

Because Barr is newer to defense, some scouts believe he has the higher ceiling.
2. Pitt's decorated DT Aaron Donald turns in more elite numbers

Donald, thought to be undersized at 6-0, 285 at Pittsburgh, played big last season and is getting bigger in the post-season.

His explosive power was obvious in games, were be blew up the line of scrimmage and led the nation with average sacks per game (1.6) and tackles for loss (2.4). On Monday, he showed why. He blasted through 40 yards in 4.68, had a 32-inch vertical and benched 225 pounds 35 times.

This should validate that this mighty mite of an interior lineman -- think John Randle skill set -- could move up in the first round of the draft.

3. Jadeveon Clowney questions, bro?

Clowney, the No. 1 rated player in the draft, did enough to show why, with a 40-yard time that was announced in 4.53 second, a vertical jump of 37.5 inches, 21 reps on bench and a 10-03 broad jump.

He had promised a 40 time in the 4.4 range, but at 4.53 is among the best ever for defensive ends at the combine. Four other defensive ends have run as fast or faster this century at the combine on NFLDraftScout.com's list.

The best time this century for a defensive end at the combine came in 2002 when UAB's Bryan Thomas, at 6-4, 266, was clocked in 4.47 and was the 22nd overall pick (New York Jets).

Clowney's 10-yard split was 1.56 seconds.

Three others had a 4.53 -- Lawrence Sidbury Jr. (6-3, 226, Richmond, fourth round, 125th overall to Atlanta); and two in 2013 -- Margus Hunt (6-8, 277, SMU, second round, 53rd overall to Cincinnati), and Cornelius Washington (6-4, 265, Georgia, sixth round, 188th overall, Chicago).

Clowney said he wanted to best Jevon Kearse's mark of 4.42, but Kearse actually ran a 4.58 and was listed as an outside linebacker when he came out of Florida in 1999. The last defensive end picked No. 1 overall in the draft was North Carolina State's Mario Williams in 2006 who, at 6-7, 299, ran 4.70.

After his impressive, albeit limited performance, Clowney pretty much stayed out of the position drills, which left him open to criticism by the talkative crew at NFL Network -- at least unit he sat among them on stage -- as well as other players.
4. Auburn's Dee Ford backed up by docs, doesn't back down

Auburn defensive lineman Dee Ford was unable to work out because, reportedly, he had back problems. But his mouth worked fine.

"I'm better (than Clowney)," he claimed "Let's put it like this. People like to talk about size all the time. Size is pretty much overrated in my eyes. People are just looking at the fact that he's a physical speciman. Honestly, if you want to watch the film, he plays like a blind dog in a meat market, basically."

When given a chance to back off, he kept his mouth doing what his feet couldn't -- running:

"When I rely on my athleticism rather than bring the technical aspects, the fundamental part, watch film to become a great pass rusher, I become a blind dog in a meat market," Ford said. "When I watch Jadeveon that's what I see. He's 6-foot-6, 240 and he just plays. But at the end of the day, does that make you a great pass rusher or a better pass rusher than me? No. ... We're not saying that dog can't run. We're just saying he can't find the meat. That wasn't a personal shot at him at all. It's just fun, it's competition."

Ford, who claims he'll be a full go March 4 at his pro day on the Auburn campus, eventually claimed "That wasn't a personal shot at him, you know what I'm saying?. ... It's all good. It's fun. It's competition. I want everybody to understand it was not a personal shot at him.

"Me a Jadeveon are cool. We laughing about the situation. I think his fans are very upset right now. But we are out here having fun and we are competing. I was just speaking matter-of-factly about the situation."
Clowney took it in stride.

"I just let that motivate me. I still think I am the best coming out of college...I feel like he was just saying something like that to just build his stock up, but it doesn't bother me.
"I told him 'I'm still better than you'

"I just told him we'll just see what happens when we get to the next level. It's cool, it's competition, like he said. We are just enjoying ourselves. He felt like he needed something to help himself out, to throw off that heat. I'm fine with it."

The other high-profile injury scratch was Notre Dame defensive lineman Stephon Tu

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has until Saturday to either veto, sign or let become law a bill that would allow businesses in her state to deny service to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered people based on the religious beliefs of the business owner. The National Football League is among those watching closely.

Super Bowl XLIX is scheduled for next February 1 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. The NFL has stopped short of saying the game could be moved elsewhere if the legislation becomes law, but the league has moved a Super Bowl out of Arizona before, and the implicit threat floats invisibly but menacingly in the desert sky.

The controversy comes as the NFL is readying to welcome its first openly gay player in Michael Sam, the Missouri linebacker who came out this month, and just as Jason Collins played his first game for the NBA's Brooklyn Nets as the first openly gay active player in the nation's four major sports leagues.

"The NFL is putting a lot of pressure on the governor (behind the scenes) to veto the bill, from what I can tell," Sam's public relations representative, Howard Bragman, told USA TODAY Sports. "I know the host committee has said, 'Veto it.' And I know the Arizona Cardinals have said, 'Veto it.' I know the NFL is very concerned and watching this very closely." NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said by email: "Our policies emphasize tolerance and inclusiveness, and prohibit discrimination based on age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other improper standard. We are following the issue in Arizona and will continue to do so should the bill be signed into law, but will decline further comment at this time."

Comment from others is plentiful. Delaware Gov. Jack Markell said the NFL should consider moving the game if the bill becomes law. The Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee said passage of the bill would "deal a significant blow to the state's economic growth potential." And Wade Davis, a gay former NFL player who is executive director of the LGBT activist group You Can Play, said he also hopes that the NFL will move the game should the bill become law.

"You know why?" Davis said. "Because let's say that Michael Sam is on the team that's going to the Super Bowl – what is he supposed to do? Not go around and eat? And there are other people in the front office who may have to work in Arizona for the Super Bowl. But I'm a firm believer that the NFL's going to do the right thing."

Asked if the NFL should suspend Cardinals home games if the bill becomes law, Davis said, "I don't know. I would hope that they would."

"But I think that we also have to do a good job of not just pointing the finger at the NFL," he said. "There's a baseball team there. There's a basketball team there. There are corporations there. We should put pressure on Coke and Pepsi and everyone and not just expect the NFL, as one separate entity, to do all the heavy lifting."

The potential collision between state politics and the National Football League comes in the form of SB 1062. (SB stands for Senate Bill, not Super Bowl.) The bill comes out of a New Mexico legal battle involving a wedding photographer who told a lesbian couple that she would not photograph their commitment ceremony in 2006 because it clashed with her religious beliefs. The photographer was sued for sexual-orientation discrimination and lost in the New Mexico Supreme Court.

The Arizona bill was written by the conservative-advocacy group Center for Arizona Policy and the Christian legal organization Alliance Defending Freedom. The bill would allow individuals to use religious beliefs as a defense against lawsuits and supporters say it would tweak existing state religious-freedom laws intended to ensure that individuals and business owners are not forced to go against their own beliefs.

Many prominent leaders in the Arizona business community oppose the bill. They sent a letter to Brewer urging her to veto the bill because it would expose businesses to a higher risk of lawsuits and hurt efforts to attract workers.

"The legislation is also already clearly having a negative effect on our tourism industry, one of the largest sectors of the economy," said the letter signed by presidents of several business groups, including the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

ANOTHER ARIZONA DISPUTE

It's back to the future for Arizona. In 1990, then-NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue threatened to move the 1993 Super Bowl out of Arizona if the state refused to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Voters turned thumbs down on the holiday and the NFL moved the 1993 Super Bowl to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

Arizona subsequently voted to recognize MLK Day in 1992 and the 1996 Super Bowl was played in Tempe's Sun Devil Stadium.

In that case, the NFL had three years lead time to relocate the Super Bowl from Arizona. The coming Super Bowl is about 11 months away. Is that enough time to make a switch should the NFL choose to do so? Former NFL executive Jim Steeg, director of the Super Bowl for 26 years, thinks it is. "If we want, anything can be done," he said, "given what it is."

When the events of 9/11 pushed the Super Bowl back a week after the 2001 season, Super Bowl host New Orleans had a conflict because of a national automobile dealers convention. Steeg said the NFL considered moving the game to Miami with talks as late as October – "so that gave us 120 days to try to put that together" – before the auto dealers swapped dates with the NFL.

Steeg said he thinks Tagliabue's threat to move the game caused some Arizona voters to vote against the holiday. "It's a unique base of people," Steeg said. "They're the wild West. And they don't want to be told what to do."

He thinks Arizona voters changed their minds by 1992 because "they saw all the impact of the Super Bowl. And it wasn't just the Super Bowl, it was all the businesses were scared. Because their primary business is hospit

1. Texans favoring Clowney?

You weren't the only one blown away by Jadeveon Clowney's hyperdrive 40-time. The Houston Texans were as well.

A number of NFL team sources say the Texans are now favoring taking Clowney with the first pick in the draft.

This information comes with a caveat—at this time of the year everyone lies about everything. It's always difficult to decipher what is true and what's a smokescreen around draft time.

However, an official inside the Texans organization told me that Clowney's speed, despite being so physically imposing, was one of the more stunning things he'd seen in a long time. "We've never really seen anything like Clowney. There's the chance he could redefine the position the way Reggie White or Bruce Smith did."

Smokescreen? Maybe. Probably. Yet around the league, the view is that the Texans are starting to slowly fall in lust with Clowney.

Clowney's official 4.53 time makes him faster than every starting quarterback in the NFL except Robert Griffin III, and since RGIII is coming off knee surgery, Clowney may be quicker than him as well. What is also helping Clowney is that he came off well during his interviews with teams, a number of NFL team officials told me. I'm not sure exactly what he said, but the clubs I spoke to seemed to have addressed concerns about his attitude and work ethic. At least for now they are.

What I'm told is the Texans feel is that if they do draft Clowney, once he got into the Texans locker room and was around linemate J.J. Watt—one of the hardest working players in the NFL—Clowney would respond well.

As one Texan official said: No one gets around Watt and slacks.

Yes, Clowney blew everyone away. He shocked the NFL. Especially the team at the top of the draft that is leaning toward taking him.

For now.


Ten-Point Stance: Mike Freeman's NFL Notebook After the Scouting Combine | Bleacher Report

The NFL scouting combine has come and gone, meaning it is time to start getting serious about the 2014 NFL draft. This is the first NFL mock draft of the offseason from Baltimore Sun reporter Matt Vensel, who projects each of the 32 first-round picks based on team needs, drafting tendencies and media speculation from other cities. Read on to find out which player he has the Ravens taking at pick No. 17.

They very well may end up picking a quarterback, but which one? For now, let's give them Clowney, the best pass-rushing prospect to come out of college in years, to pair with defensive end J.J. Watt.

Read more: Matt Vensel's 2014 NFL mock draft 1.0 - baltimoresun-com

Former NFL safety Darren Sharper turned himself into Los Angeles police late Thursday, after being charged in an arrest warrant in New Orleans alleging he and another man raped two women in the Louisiana city last year.

Sharper, 38, had already been charged with raping and drugging two women in Los Angeles and was freed on bail, the Los Angeles Times reports. He is now accused of raping nine women and drugging 11 in five states, including Florida, Nevada and Arizona. In nearly every incident, authorities claim Sharper plied victim with drinks causing them to black out.

Police say Erik Nunez, 26, was booked early Friday on two counts of aggravated rape, stemming from alleged assaults last September in New Orleans. Nunez was earlier described by authorities as an acquaintance of the six-time All-Pro safety originally from Richmond, Va. Each faces two counts of aggravated rape, Remi Braden, a police department spokeswoman, said in a news release.

The two women were allegedly raped at the same location on Sept. 23, Braden said.

"New information uncovered also indicates that Nunez also allegedly raped both women that night at the same location," she said.

Sharper's New Orleans-based attorney, Nandi Campbell, and attorney Leonard Levine, who represents Sharper in the California case, did not immediately return telephone calls seeking comment. Braden said she did not know whether Nunez had an attorney.

The assault investigation in New Orleans is ongoing and additional arrests are possible, Braden said.

If convicted in the California case, Sharper could face more than 30 years in state prison. If convicted of aggravated rape in Louisiana, both Sharper and Nunez would face life imprisonment.

Sharper was selected All-Pro six times and chosen for the Pro Bowl five times. He played in two Super Bowls, one with the Green Bay Packers as a rookie and a second with the New Orleans Saints. He retired after the 2010 season following 14 years in the NFL. He previously worked as an analyst for the NFL Network, which has suspended him indefinitely and without pay.

Sharper, who must remain in Los Angeles County as a condition of his release on a $1 million bond, now awaits an April 15 hearing on charges related to the two rape cases there. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

One of Sharper’s alleged victims claims she met him at an event on Sept. 22 before accompanying him to another bar, according to a New Orleans Police Department report. While there, the woman said, Sharper gave her a drink, which she consumed. Her next memory came several hours later, at around 10 a.m. on Sept. 23, when she woke up to Sharper "on top of her sexually assaulting her," the report said.

Nunez, according to his Facebook page, which includes a photo of Sharper, is an NFL event coordinator.

Darren DeWalt, an organizer of cancer charity events involving NFL players, said Nunez was never a paid employee of his non-profit foundation Get Checked or Check Out!

"He volunteered for some of our events, and that's all," DeWalt told NOLA-com. "I don't have any recollection of him."



Former NFL safety Darren Sharper surrenders to police in Los Angeles rape case | Fox News