Mac's Football Blog

Blogging All Things Pro Football

Mac's Football Blog welcomes reader feedback. If you have a question, tip, or comment, e-mail Brian by clicking here. Some on-going features: 2009 NFL Rookie Signing Status, and if you want to see a Team-by-Team breakdown of the signing status of the 2009 NFL Draft class, click here.

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Saturday, July 11, 2009

Chargers' Brinkley Upgraded to Good Condition

San Diego Charger rookie running back Curtis Brinkley was upgraded to "Good" condition on Friday after being the victim of a random shooting.

What this means for his football career is another matter.
Upgraded from stable to good condition yesterday afternoon, Brinkley was quoted by one of his old coaches as worrying aloud that he would miss his big chance to make the Chargers' roster when the team goes to training camp this month. "He's going to be OK - that was the first thing," said Brian Fluck, athletic director and football coach at West Catholic. "What is this going to do to his football career? That's the next question."


McNair to be Laid to Rest Today

Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair will be laid to rest today during a funeral in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Funeral services, which are open to the public, will be held at Reed Green Coliseum on the campus of Southern Miss, with his burial to take place in McNair's hometown of Mount Olive, approximately 30 miles northwest of Hattiesburg.

Meanwhile:

Sahel Kazemi, McNair's 20-year old mistress and killer, will be laid to rest in Jacksonville, Florida today.

McNair allegedly had a six-year affair with an exotic dancer from Minneapolis.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Rams Agree to Terms With 3rd Round CB Bradley Fletcher

Agent Nate Haber has announced that his client, third-round cornerback Bradley Fletcher, has agreed to a four-year deal with the St. Louis Rams.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but Haber reports that Fletcher "...received the 2nd highest % increase on signing bonus in the rd."

Fletcher is a 6-0, 196-pound cornerback from Iowa, whom the Rams chose with the 66th overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. Fletcher appeared in 47 games, including 17 starts, during his time with the Hawkeyes. He made 152 tackles and picked off 5 passes during his career.

He is the first of the St. Louis Rams seven draft choices to agree to a contract. That Fletcher has agreed to a four-year deal is noteworthy, as in previous years, Rams' draft picks have signed for just three years.


Darius Butler Contract Details

Citing a league sources, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com has the contract details for New England Patriots second-round cornerback Darius Butler:

Signing bonus: $0
Roster Bonus: $440,000 in 2009
Option Bonus: $1,627,500 in 2010
"Log" Bonus: $150,000 (likely tied to playing time/team qualifier)

Base salaries

2009: $310,000
2010: $395,000
2011: $582,500
2012: $770,000

Patriots Sign 2nd Round CB Darius Butler

Drew Rosenhaus, via his Twitter account, has announced that the New England Patriots and second-round cornerback Darius Butler have agreed on a four-year contract.

Butler was the 41st overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft and is one of four Patriots' second-round picks. He is just the second of the team's 12 draft choices to agree to a contract, joining fourth-round offensive lineman Rich Ohrnberger who signed a four-year deal last month.

A four-year starter at the University of Connecticut, Butler was rarely thrown at during his final two seasons in Storrs, so while he didn't allow a touchdown pass in 2007 or 2008, he also didn't grab many interceptions, finishing his 45-game career with 10 INTs. Butler's athleticism also led to him playing some wide receiver and handling the Huskies' full-time kick-return duties in 2008.

Chargers' Brinkley Shot in Philadelphia

San Diego Chargers undrafted rookie running back Curtis Brinkley is hospitalized after being shot in a suburb of Philadelphia, Liz Wagner of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
"Cheltenham Township police said Brinkley, 23, was stopped in his car at the intersection of Spring Avenue and Ashbourne Road just after midnight when a gunman walked up and started blasting with a handgun.

Brinkley, who lives in Philadelphia, sped away to escape and the gunman fled in a waiting car. Police found Brinkley wounded in his car nearby.

He was taken to Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia."
Relatives are saying the wounds are non-life threatening.

Stallworth Released From Jail

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth's 24-day stay in a Miami jail is over.
"His attorney, Christopher Lyons, said Stallworth was released from the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center early Friday.

The 28-year-old Stallworth served 24 days of the 30-day jail sentence after pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter. Stallworth struck and killed a pedestrian in an early-morning crash March 14. Police said he had spent the night drinking at a swanky Miami Beach nightclub."


Thursday, July 09, 2009

Agent: Browns "Nail Down Deal" With 6th Round RB James Davis

Player agent Alvin Keels announced on his Twitter page that he has "nailed down a deal" with the Cleveland Browns regarding 6th round running back James Davis.
AlvinKeels Im cooking on the grill just enjoying this evening. Nailed down a deal today with my 6th round client James Davis of the Cleveland Browns
Terms of the deal, and the meal, were not disclosed. Davis would be the first of the Browns' eight draft choices to have signed a contract.

Redskins' Cerrato Attends Jarmon's Workout

Steve Moss of WKYT.com reports that 18 NFL teams attended the workout of former University of Kentucky defensive end Jeremy Jarmon, who is available in next week's Supplemental Draft.

Moss notes that Washington Redskins Vice President of Football Operations Vinny Cerrato was among the NFL talent evaluators in attendance.
"I thought he worked out well. I thought he ran well," Cerrato said. "I thought he represented himself well. He was in good shape. He needs to get a little bit stronger.

"He's a great kid. He'd be solid in the locker room. He's smart. He's got all those intangibles," Cerrato said."



Cutler Gave Stafford Tickets

John Taylor of CollegeFootballTalk.com reports that last November, then-Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler gave then-University of Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford four tickets for the Broncos' November 16 game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Stafford shared the tickets with some teammates, which prompted an internal investigation by the Georgia, who self-reported itself to the NCAA.

The players ended up having to donate $40, the face value of the tickets, to the Boys and Girls Club of Athens.

Since I've done a lot of pro-Cutler material on this blog, I'll now admonish Cutler for this improper gift.

Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!

Cardinals Sign 3rd Round S Rashad Johnson

The Arizona Cardinals announced that they have signed third-round safety Rashad Johnson to a three-year contract.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but Johnson liked received a signing bonus between $480,000 and $490,000.

Johnson was a two-year starter at Alabama, earning first-team All-SEC honors in 2007 and 2008. In 50 career games, Johnson made 224 tackles and grabbed 11 interceptions.

Redskins Vets to Commute to Training Camp

Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network reported this excellent piece of information yesterday, and I meant to comment on it, but it totally slipped my mind.
"Coach Jim Zorn is allowing all players with four years or more of NFL experience to opt out of one of the staples of training camp — shacking up en masse in a dorm or hotel — and to commute to and from their homes for training camp. It was a decision that certainly caught his players by surprise but, according to some front office people I spoke to around the league, could be a philosophy that becomes more mainstream."
The days of NFL teams convening for training camp in far away locales are already drawing to a close, with teams preferring instead to hold camps at their own facilities. So Zorn's decision to let veterans with x-amount of time in the league opt out of uncomfortable dorm living really is just them being the first franchise to take the next inevitable step.

For what it's worth, less than half the Redskins' current 80-man roster have 4+ years of experience.

Bruce Smith Convicted of DUI in Virginia

Future Hall of Fame defensive end Bruce Smith was convicted of drunken driving today in a Virginia courtroom, the Associated Press reports.
"Virginia Beach General District Court Judge Teresa McCrimmon gave Smith a 90-day suspended jail term at a hearing Thursday and fined him $350. Smith's license was suspended for one year for refusing to take an alcohol breath test.

McCrimmon pointed to evidence that Smith had trouble completing field sobriety tests after he was stopped for speeding last month."

Smith is appealing the ruling.

Rape Investigation at Home of Falcons WR Harry Douglas

MyFoxAtlanta.com is reporting that Gwinnett police are investigating a rape allegation that allegedly occurred at the home of Atlanta Falcons second-year wide receiver Harry Douglas.

Douglas is not a suspect.

DeMarcus Ware Addresses Playing Time Issue

A day after former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Greg Ellis said DeMarcus Ware would remove himself from games to give Ellis more playing time, Ware offered a diplomatic response on 1310 The Ticket.
"You know, I just think that everybody got an ample amount of playing time, for what it was worth," Ware said diplomatically, acknowledging that he was uncomfortable discussing the subject. "At the end of the day, if I was off the field, there was a reason why I was off the field. Maybe Greg rushed the passer better against a certain guy. But I think at the end of the day, the time that guys got is how it is."

This morning I wrote that Ware's best bet was to downplay Ellis' comments, which he's done. Cowboys fans have to be comforted knowing that Ware is an elite player who absolutely "gets it". Ware has and will earn every nickel the Cowboys pay him in his next contract.

Williamses Allowed to Play During Appeal

Rochelle Olson of the Star Tribune reports that Minnesota Vikings defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams have been cleared to play while they appeal their court case regarding their use of StarCaps, Hennepin County District Judge Gary Larson has ruled.
"Lawyers for the two defensive linemen asked Larson to let them continue to play football. The NFL wanted the players to serve out their suspensions.

The NFL argued that a restraining order Larson issued late last year was dissolved by the actions of U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson.

The players' lawyers asked Larson to either keep his order in place, allowing them to play, or begin a trial as soon as possible on state law issues regarding drug policy and privacy claims. They said state law gives employees an opportunity to explain use of a product innocently used but otherwise banned, but the NFL didn't allow the Williamses to explain their use of the over-the-counter StarCaps, which were found to contain the banned diuretic bumetanide, a substance that can mask steroid use."


Suprise! In-Game Tweeting Not Allowed by NFL

Responding to yet another total non-story, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello has e-mailed ProFootballTalk.com, saying that in the NFL "We already have a rule that prohibits the use of cell phones or other handheld devices in the bench area during games".

So there you have it.

As I wrote on Tuesday, Chad Ochocinco's pledge to use Twitter during a game was nothing more than him having some fun, knowing that the claim would bring more attention to himself.

Jaguars Sign 4th Round WR Mike Thomas

Vito Stellino of the Florida Times-Union reports that the Jacksonville Jaguars have signed fourth-round wide receiver Mike Thomas to a four-year deal worth $2.257 million dollars.

Per Stellino, Thomas received a signing bonus of $507,450.

Thomas caught 259 passes for 3,231 yards and 22 touchdowns, and ran a dazzling 4.29 in the 40-yard dash at the Combine. But at a shade under 5-8, wasn't drafted until the fourth-round (107th overall).

Sahel Kazemi's DUI Video

The Nashville PD released it yesterday, so it was only time before it wound up on YouTube.



Off-Field Investments Likely Cost Kevin Houser His Job

Unsuccessful off-field investments likely ended long-snapper Kevin Houser's 10-year stint with the New Orleans Saints, reports Jeff Duncan of the Times-Picayune.

Duncan writes:
"It couldn't have been for performance. In nine seasons, Houser never botched a bad snap. Not one.

Oh, sure, he might've zipped one a tad high or a little left from time to time. But he never duck-hooked or dribbled one so poorly it cost the Saints a blocked punt or field goal.

By my unofficial count, that's 1,257 long snaps: 640 for punts, 354 for extra points and 263 for field goals."

And there's the matter of Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey's Twitter missives.
"thx chad houser our long snapper for losing my coaches, teamates, and me around 2mill$.. what a dumb ass. ..... "

"you think your buying LA film tac creits. but the f -- -- -- snapper didn't... wow this is a f -- -- - up world we live in."
Duncan's final assessment is dead on:
"Whether (Sean) Payton cut Houser for on-field performance or was simply acting on the wishes of his players advisory council is irrelevant. Because of his involvement, it will always look as if he was motivated by a squandered investment."


Mac's Top 10 NFL Tight Ends

Since we've already discussed three tight ends, here's a quickie list of my Top 10 heading into the 2009 season:

1. Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta
2. Jason Witten, Dallas
3. Antonio Gates, San Diego
4. Dallas Clark, Indianapolis
5. Chris Cooley, Washington
6. Owen Daniels, Houston
7. John Carlson, Seattle
8. Zach Miller, Oakland
9. Bo Scaife, Tennessee
10. Greg Olson, Chicago

Lions' Pettigrew Should Start Immediately

It's just a little after 8am ET and I've already had posts about Heath Miller, Chase Coffman, and now I'm about to write about Detroit Lions first-round tight end Brandon Pettigrew, meanings it's tight end Thursday here at Mac's Football Blog!

MLive.com's Tom Kowalski writes that Pettigrew has already impressed the Lions, and the rookie from Oklahoma State should step right into the starting position.
"Schwartz often talks about the importance of Pettigrew in the offense, not only because it's a vital position for blocking in the running game, but because he's such a big target. Pettigrew has a mammoth wing span and Detroit's quarterbacks can always look for him in times of trouble - and they don't have to be precise with their accuracy to get the completion."
I really thought that the Lions would spend their first few picks after taking quarterback Matthew Stafford on defense, but it's hard to argue against the Pettigrew pick. At 6-5 and 265 pounds, Pettigrew will be an excellent target for Stafford (or Daunte Culpepper) to look for on 3rd down and in the red zone.

Vikings' Trainer Meets Again With Favre

Minnesota Vikings trainer Eric Sugarman was back in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, checking on the physical condition of "retired" quarterback Brett Favre, writes Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune.
"With training camp opening 10 weeks after the surgery, Favre's arm should be back to full strength. Unless Favre changes his mind or there is a problem agreeing on a contract, there seems little doubt Favre will be in uniform when Vikings training camp opens in Mankato on July 31."


Greg Ellis Rips the Cowboys

Oakland Raiders defensive end Greg Ellis is taking some serious digs at his former employer.
"It's a disgrace when DeMarcus Ware comes off the field just so I can get in the game and when the coaches tell him to come on the field, he tries to hide so I can play," Ellis said during an appearance on ESPN 103.3's Michael Irvin Show. "And you're telling me we're trying to win the Super Bowl?"
Irvin pressed Ellis, asking if Ware would purposely take himself out of games to increase Ellis' playing time.
"On his own," Ellis said. "He would say, 'G, come on.' And I would tell him, 'No, DeMarcus, go ahead, man. You're coming up on your contract year. Don't mess that stuff up. Go ahead and do you, and we're just going to do what the coaches, or whoever the powers that be, what they want to do.'"
The sad part of this is that even if it's somehow 100% accurate, Ware, one of the NFL's more accountable and likable players, is unlikely to confirm what Ellis is saying. And that could hurt Ware's reputation across the league, as well as jeopardize Ware's relationship with an organization that he'd like to make him the highest-paid player in NFL history.

Ware's best bet is to downplay the comments. Don't deny what Ellis is saying, but don't elaborate or attempt to clarify what happened and just let this blow over, which it assuredly will.

Bengals 3rd Round TE Coffman Should Sign in Time for Camp

Cincinnati Bengals third-round tight end Chase Coffman, the 98th overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft, anticipates being in training camp on time, reports Carlos "Big C" Holmes of the Dayton Daily News.
"There is no way I am not going to be signed before we go into training camp," Coffman said during a recent phone interview. "I'm making it there the very first day if not a couple of days early. I'm getting in there and getting as much work as I can. That's one thing that can really set a rookie back is not making it into training camp on time. I'm letting my agents handle that part of the business and I will continue to focus on what I need to focus on."
Of course, and as Holmes points out, the two players chosen after Coffman in the draft have already signed contracts. So has Keenan Lewis, the player chosen two spots ahead of Coffman, so the parameters of a deal for Coffman are already in place.

But Bengals fans have to like the attitude and approach Coffman is taking. He, along with a healthy Ben Utecht, should boost the Bengals running and passing game in 2009.

Bruce Smith's DUI Trial Starts Today

The DUI trial for former Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins defensive end Bruce Smith gets underway today in Virginia Beach General District Court.

Smith was charged with DUI during a traffic stop last month in Virginia Beach.

Smith was an 11-time Pro Bowler, 9-time All-Pro, retired as the NFL's all-time sack leader and will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August.

Heath Miller: Salary Cap Casualty?

That's apparently the "scuttlebutt", according to Florio.
"Apparently, there is scuttlebutt that Steelers tight end Heath Miller could be a salary-cap casualty in what currently is scheduled to be the last year with a salary cap.

And as a source with intimate knowledge as to the dynamics of the team's operation tells us, there's simply no way that the team will be cutting Miller."
Oh, there's scuttlebutt that the Pittsburgh Steelers would release a 27-year old tight end who has missed just two games in his four-year career, has started 60 of 62 games, is a good blocker, has 168 receptions, 1,932 yards and 21 touchdowns in the regular season, and chipped in 26 receptions for 348 yards in the playoffs, helping the Steelers to two Super Bowl rings, has an $800K base salary for 2009, and who wouldn't be a unrestricted free agent in an uncapped 2010?

And that a source with intimate knowledge of the team dynamics said that there's simply no way that the team would cut Miller, a cheap, durable, and productive player who has been nothing short of a model player on and off the field?

The hell you say!

Look, I know it's July, and throwing on a beige raincoat and pretending to be Colombo isn't nearly as fun as it sounds, but this is just silly talk.

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

McNair Filmed Suicide Prevention Ad

Ken Whitehouse of the Nashville City Paper reports that Steve McNair had recently filmed a public service announcement for the Tennessee Department of Mental and Developmental Disabilities.
“We were developing a PSA but it never reached the point of being aired and it seems broadcasting it now is not only inappropriate but doesn't serve the community, his family or memory, or the issue we hoped the PSA would help address,” said Jill Hudson, the department’s communications director.


Goodell, Mora Summit Mt. Rainier

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Seattle Seahawks head coach Jim Mora's group has made it to the 14,411-foot summit of Mt. Rainier, the Associated Press reports.
"United Way of King County spokesman Jered Erlandson says the team made it to the summit at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday and expected to return to Camp Muir by about 3 p.m. The climb is a fundraiser for the Seattle charity."
In other news, my office chair has really poor lumbar support.

McNair/Kazemi's Deaths Ruled "Murder-Suicide"

During a press conference, the Nashville Police Department have ruled that Steve McNair was murdered by Sahel Kazemi, who then killed herself.

Also:

- Nashville PD believes McNair was asleep on the sofa when Kazemi shot him once in the head, twice in the chest, then placed the gun against McNair's left temple and shot him one last time.

- Nashville PD believes Kazemi then sat besides McNair, pressed the gun against her skull and pulled the trigger, killing herself instantly. Police believe that her intention was to fall into McNair's lap when she died, which she did, but ultimately slipped to the floor where she was found at McNair's feet.

- Nashville PD believes Kazemi had money troubles and that she believed McNair was seeing another woman. That her life was "spinning out of control" and that she believed she had seen another woman leaving the condo.

- Nashville PD says Kazemi purchased the gun Thursday evening. She was arrested for DUI on early Thursday morning.

- Nashville PD say there is no evidence that the crime scene was tampered with, meaning that Kazemi and McNair were the only ones present with the crimes were committed. There is no evidence that anyone else was involved in this.

Packers To Sell More Than 450 Television Sets

For $30, you can purchase a little-used, 20-inch, cable-ready JVC television set from the Green Bay Packers this Saturday.
"The TVs, more than 450, previously were in Lambeau Field suites since 2003 and used primarily on game days. The suites are in the process of being upgraded with new flat screen TVs for the 2009 season.

All units, which will be offered first-come, first-served, are not HD-capable but are cable-ready and therefore will work with cable TV systems. For use with off-air antennas, however, a digital converter will be needed. Also, remote controls are not available for all TVs; available remote controls will be included with TVs on a first-come, first-served basis. Universal remote controls are available for purchase at area TV retailers. "
These TVs will only be sold from 10am-2pm, and you know these will go very, very quickly so get there early.

Ex-Boyfriend Alerted Media of McNair's Affair With Kazemi

Mike "Colombo" Florio of ProFootballTalk.com has the transcript of an e-mail sent by Keith Norfleet, the ex-boyfriend of Sahel Kazemi, to The Tennessean just hours after Kazemi's DUI arrest last Thursday.
"Steve McNair was involved in another dui case tonight in downtown Nashville. He was riding with someone I know that actually got the dui and he hopped out of the car real quick and got a cab home because I guess he was too drunk to drive himself and yea you would be pretty amazed at the fact of who he was actually with which I really don't think his wife would like it too much either being the fact she was a 20 year old young girl claiming to be his girlfriend. I thought he was married? Hmmm . . . This is completely legit too. I know because I'm the person that come to pick he car up for the person that got the dui and the cop told me the whole story so I don't know if this is interesting news or not to you guys but I thought you might like to know."
Florio still wants to know who sold Kazemi the gun, and what arresting officer Shawn Taylor, who previously arrested McNair on DUI charges, told Kazemi and Norfleet.

Medical Examiner: Kazemi Fired Gun

TMZ.com reports that Tennessee assistant medical examiner Dr. Feng Li said that preliminary test results indicate that Sahel Kazemi fired the gun that killed both Steve McNair and herself.
"Feng -- who conducted autopsies on the two bodies -- told us he was able to make the determination from the crime scene investigation, police interviews, autopsy findings and preliminary lab results -- which include gunshot residue test."


Jerry Rice on Brett Favre

Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice is training in Minnesota with some NFL players and was asked about Brett Favre. Rice sounds unconvinced that Favre can play at a high level for a full season.
“I really don’t. Brett is a competitor. But I know towards the latter part of my career, even though I still wanted to be out on that football field, it was like things became a little bit more difficult. But my job was different. It consisted of a lot of running and stuff like that. With Brett, the thing for him is dropping back, planting himself and throwing the ball downfield so it might be a little bit different for him. But he’s a competitor. I think if he still wants to play, I think he should. But I really thought this team would be moving and looking down the road instead of trying to look for the one-year miracle.”


Rich Baldinger Will Be Charged in Fatal Crash

Former Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Rich Baldinger has been charged with operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, a misdemeanor charge, after his involvement in a June 27 car accident that claimed the life of 61-year old Marilyn Walters.
"The penalty for the charge ranges from one day to one year in the Jackson County Jail or a fine of up to $5,000, or both, said Tammy Dickinson, chief trial assistant for Jackson County."
Baldinger spent 12 seasons in the NFL, with stints with the New York Giants (1982-83), Kansas City (1983-92), and the New England Patriots (1993).

Tomlinson's Mom Wrote a Book

Loreane Tomlinson, mother of San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson, has written a book entitled "LT and Me: What Raising a Champion Taught Me About Life".
Why did Loreane, a single mom, write this book? Well, evidently she got tired of answering the same questions about her famous son.

“It had been coming up for a while,” said Loreane, who resides in Fort Worth, Texas, in the second home her son purchased for her. “People would be sent to me, reporters from CNN and ESPN and all over. They'd ask me, 'How did you raise a champion?' I'd tell them I didn't know I was raising one. I was just raising my kids."
From the Editorial Review at Amazon.com:
"In LT & Me, Loreane shares her secrets to identifying and nurturing your kids’ dreams. She reveals what she did right as a parent, what she did wrong, what she did when she didn’t know what to do, and where she found God in it all. Containing a foreword by LT, never-before-published photos, close-up glimpses of football games and red carpet events, encouragement and wisdom for single parents, and personal family stories, LT & Me is packed with behind-the-scenes information for those curious about one of the modern-day football greats. And ultimately this touching story of the love between a mother and a son will bring families closer together and give special insight into how they can help each other reach their full potential in life . . . on and off the field."
LT & Me hit bookshelves on Tuesday.

Titans to Open LP Field to Public

The Tennessee Titans will open LP Field to the public from 9am-7pm on Wednesday and Thursday so that fans may pay their respects to Steve McNair.

“Mr. (Bud) Adams thought this would be a fitting place for fans to show their respects to Steve and celebrate his career,” Titans Vice President Dan MacLachlan said. “LP Field is one of the places where he made so many great memories for so many of our fans.”

Fans will be able to share their memories and thoughts of McNair in a book that will be presented to his family, donate to the Steve McNair Foundation, and parking will be free.

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Before Harrison, Hall Needs to Induct Kenny Easley

After 15 seasons in the National Football League, safety Rodney Harrison announced that his playing days were over and he’s about to begin a new career as an analyst for NBC’s “Football Night in America” broadcasts.

Almost immediately, several media members, including those with votes for the Hall of Fame, began beating the drum for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, with Harrison himself leading the way.

"Yes, I think I belong in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.” Harrison said during a post-retirement interview with Sirius radio interview with Peter King and Bob Papa. “I don't have the Pro Bowls, but that's not because I didn't put up the numbers. Blaine Bishop had 70 tackles and one interception one year and he went to the Pro Bowl instead of me. It's an all-star game based on popularity. I was never about self-promoting. I was unselfish. I would never trade in the Super Bowls for Pro Bowls, believe me.”

Nancy Gay of FanHouse, who is one of the 44-person board of selectors, writes tonight that "Rodney Harrison Demands Your Respect".

Sure there is a shortage of safeties in the Hall of Fame, which figures to change as players like Harrison and John Lynch come up for consideration in the next five years, as well as further down the road when active safeties such as Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu and Brian Dawkins become eligible.

But before the Hall of Fame selection committee takes action on any of these candidates, though, it needs to give serious consideration to a safety from a generation before them:

Kenny Easley.

The argument against inducting Easley into the Hall of Fame is that his career was too short, therefore he lacks the longevity and statistics of a Hall of Fame player. Easley only played seven seasons (89 games) in the NFL, three of which were shortened, either by injury (1986) or work stoppages (1982, 1987).

Theoretically, a player with less than six full seasons worth of games shouldn’t have statistics that are comparable to a pair of 15-year safeties like Harrison and Lynch.

Yet somehow, he does.

Tackles

Tackles were not an official statistic until 2001. Even now, tackles are tracked and accredited differently from team-to-team, so there is no uniform way of knowing exactly how many tackles a player actually had.

Because they each played for 15 seasons, both Harrison and Lynch have well over 1,000 tackles. Based on their unofficial tackle numbers from www.pro-football-reference.com, Lynch averaged 4.7 tackles per game, while Harrison averaged 6.37. Tracking down Easley’s tackle stats was a bit more difficult, but according to the Seahawks’ 2008 media guide, Easley had 326 tackles over the 51 games he played in the 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1985 seasons, which equals out to a 6.39 tackles per game average.

Even if Easley had averaged just 3 tackles per game in the 38 other games he played between the ’84, ’86 and ’87 season, which surely would be a severely low estimate, he still would’ve averaged over 5 tackles per game over his 89-game career.

Quarterback Sacks

By far, Harrison’s 30.5 quarterback sacks is the crown jewel of his HOF resume. He’s the all-time leader among defensive backs in this category, and is one of only five defensive backs with 18+ sacks in a career.

Though dwarfed in comparison to Harrison’s total, Lynch’s 13 career sacks is an impressive number of sacks for a safety.

Easley had 8 official quarterback sacks in his seven-year career. Of course, sacks weren’t an official statistic until 1982, his second season in the NFL, so it’s possible, if not highly probable, that Easley also would’ve posted 10+ quarterbacks sacks in his career if:

a.) Quarterback sacks been an official statistic his rookie season, and
b.) His career wasn’t shortened by two work stoppages.

Interceptions

Throughout his career, Lynch wasn’t a prolific interception guy, never having more than three in a single-season. In his career, he totaled 26 interceptions, none of which were returned for a touchdown.

Harrison complemented his 30.5 quarterback sacks with 34 interceptions, making him the only 30/30 player in NFL history. That's an impressive feat, and Harrison also had 361 return yards and a pair of touchdowns, so not only was he good at intercepting the ball, he could do some damage with it after the catch, as well.

Easley led the AFC in interceptions in 1984 (10) and during his 7-year career, had 32 picks and 538 return yards and 3 touchdowns. Easley had nearly as many interceptions as Harrison, nearly as many return yards as Harrison and Lynch combined, and of the three, had more touchdowns.

Have I mentioned that he accomplished those feats in less than half as many games than either Harrison and Lynch played?

Awards and Accolades

Harrison mentioned in his interview that Pro Bowls are a popularity contest, and that he went to just two Pro Bowls during his entire 15-year career can be explained away by his not being liked by his peers, particularly those on the offensive side of the ball.

Fair enough, but what about the Pro Football Writers of American naming Harrison to just three first-team All-Pro squads? (Blaine Bishop was named to three first-team All-Pro teams, as well.)

Lynch was a fixture in Hawaii, earning nine trips to the Pro Bowl during his 15-year career. Like Harrison, Lynch was often left off All-Pro teams, earning first-team honors on two occasions.

And then there’s Kenny Easley, who in seven NFL seasons, was voted to 5 Pro Bowls and was first-team All-Pro three times. Additionally, he was the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1981, the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1984 (one of only four safeties to win this award), and the Hall of Fame selection committee named him to the NFL’s 1980s All-Decade Team.

Ultimately, despite posting similar, if not better statistics than Hall of Fame candidates like Harrison and Lynch, and earning more individual honors in his career than either Harrison or Lynch earned, because he only played seven seasons, Easley will continue to receive little to no consideration for the Hall of Fame.

And that’s a shame, because Easley was a truly dominant player who's worthy of Hall of Fame recognition.

Legal Filing In Cowboys Roof Collapse Begin

Brooks Egerton of the Dallas Morning News reports that litigation over the May 2 collapse of the Dallas Cowboys' practice facility is about to begin.
"Rich Behm, the most seriously injured victim, has hired high-profile Dallas lawyer Frank Branson. Branson, in turn, asked a Dallas County court late last month to order a pre-litigation deposition of Nathan Stobbe, president of facility builder Summit Structures and its parent, Cover-All Building Systems."


Champ Bailey Defends Jay Cutler

Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune reports that, during an appearance on ESPN 1000 Radio in Chicago, Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey had the following to say about former Broncos and current Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.
"Well he’s definitely in the top 10 as far as what he’s done to this point,'' Bailey said. "Now where he can be, he can be the best in the game, he has that ability. The guys very smart, very sharp, a good arm; he has all the stuff you’d want. He reminds me of a Marino, Elway type of guy, and he’s going to be a great winner for them. It’s unfortunate for us that we had to lose a guy like that, but we’ve got to move on, we’ve got some quality guys back there that can definitely get the job done so we’ve just got to go out and handle business as necessary.''
Did Bailey ever question Cutler's ability as a leader?
"No, not at all,'' he said. "That’s one thing about him, he’s not a shouter, but when he gets upset and he knows we’ve got to get going he opens his mouth. I appreciate that from him, I’d rather have a guy that leads by example than a guy that talks all the time.''
Somewhere a sportswriter is busy preparing a rebuttal. Because even though he played alongside Cutler for the last three years, Bailey couldn't possibly know more about Cutler's leadership ability than a columnist at, say, NBC Sports.com does.

Seahawks' Schmitt Pleads Not Guilty to DUI Charges

Seattle Seahawks fullback Owen Schmitt pleaded not guilty to DUI charges on July 2 in Black Diamond, Washington, Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times reports.

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for later this month, O'Neil adds.

Packers Sign 4th Round OL T.J. Lang

The Green Bay Packers have announced the signing of fourth-round offensive lineman T.J. Lang.

Lang was chosen with the 109th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft and has the ability to play both guard and tackle. A three-year starter at Eastern Michigan, Lang played 26 games at left tackle and 10 at right tackle.

He is the fifth of the team's eight draft choices to sign.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Bengals Sign 7th Round FB Fui Vakapuna

The Cincinnati Bengals have announced the signing of seventh-round fullback Fui Vakapuna.

Vakapuna appeared in 42 games during his career at BYU, which began in 2003 and included a two-year mission in Carlsbad, California. Primarily a blocker, Vakapuna did carry the ball 249 times for 1,181 yards and 14 touchdowns during his career, adding 28 receptions, 189 yards and 4 touchdowns as a receiver.

The deal is for four years, and while financial terms were not disclosed, he likely received a signing bonus of around $62,000.

Titans Sign 4th Round OT Troy Kropog

The Tennessee Titans announced the signing of fourth-round offensive tackle Troy Kropog (Tulane) to a multi-year contract.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but the length of the contract is four years.

Kropog, the 135th overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft, was a three-year starter at left tackle for the Green Wave. The 6-5, 309-pounder helped pave the way for Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte and provides solid depth behind starters David Stewart and Michael Roos.

League To Look Into Chad Ochocinco's Plan For In-Game Tweeting

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco told a Houston radio station that he plans on using Twitter during games.
"You know, it's funny -- I like it," Ochocinco recently told KGOW in Houston. "I like it because it gives me the opportunity to reach out to thousands of people at one time. It gives me a chance to get my story across when something goes wrong . . . It's big for me and I'm taking it a step further.

"I have my own application coming out where people will be able to interact and follow me. You know more than through just the keyboard and reading my messages -- you'll actually be able to follow me and when the season starts, it's going to get even worse. I'm going to really make it fun. I'm using Twitter during games, during halftime, after the games. I'm going to be taking it to the next level."

Of course this meant that ProFootballTalk.com would have to check with the league to see if that's possible, which means that NFL spokesman Greg Aiello would have to respond to this total non-issue.

"We'll have to look into that one," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told PFT via e-mail.

It should be clear that Chad Ochocinco knows that the more outrageous his "Tweets" are, the more publicity and followers (33,246 right now) he gets. He's having a lot of fun with his Twitter account, but that's all it is: Fun. (Which of course means the NFL has to put an immediate stop to it.)

If Ochocinco really were planning on in-game tweets, which I don't believe for second that he is or ever was (not directly from him, anyway), he wouldn't have informed the public months in advance, creating the time for the NFL to institute a policy that expressly forbids it.

He's a much smarter business and showman than that.

Stallworth Audio Tape Reveals Details of Night Before Arrest

During a recorded interview with police, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth detailed his activities of the night before his arrest for DUI manslaughter on the morning of March 14.
"I seen him in the street and I flashed my lights at him to let him at least know I was coming. I tried to swerve over as much as I could," Stallworth said.

Later, his voice falling almost to a whisper, Stallworth said, "If he would have completely stopped and not kept going ... don't know why he kept going. I don't know. I should have just stayed home."


The Associated Press report also details the credit card receipts for Stallworth, as well as teammate Braylon Edwards, who Stallworth was with the night before. Edwards dropped over $3,000 that night, while Stallworth spent nearly $500, including a $375 bottle of Patron Silver which he sent to Edwards' table.

Giants' Boley Suspended One Game

New York Giants linebacker Michael Boley, who is recovering from hip surgery that already threatens his availability for training camp and the season-opener, has been suspended for one game by the National Football League for violating the league's Personal Conduct Policy, Patricia Traina of Inside Football reports.

So even if Boley is healthy, he will be forced to sit out the team's season-opener against the Washington Redskins.

Violations of the Personal Conduct Policy usually remain confidential, but in 2008, while a member of the Atlanta Falcons, Boley was arrested and charged with domestic battery.

UPDATE: Reports out of New York indicate that Boley's suspension is related to his arrest in 2008 and that both the Giants and Boley knew that a one-game suspension was coming down the pike when they signed him to a five-year, $25 million dollar contract earlier this off-season.

PFT: Why Did Kazemi Purchase a Gun?

Mike Florio of ProFootballkTalk.com raises an interesting question: Why did Sahel Kazemi purchase a gun within hours of being arrested for DUI?

As a 20-year old, she was unable to legally purchase a firearm, which is why she had to go through a private seller.

But Florio wonders if something Shawn Taylor, the arresting officer who also arrested Steve McNair on DUI charges in 2003, said prompted Kazemi to buy the gun.
"So we'd love to know everything that Taylor said to Kazemi after McNair left the scene.

In raising that question, we're not suggesting that Taylor intentionally tried to incite Kazemi to commit violence against McNair. But perhaps Taylor's efforts to console a potentiallly distraught Kazemi inadvertently stirred her emotions.

Or maybe Taylor simply held a grudge against McNair based on the events of 2003 -- and maybe Taylor said things aimed merely at driving a wedge between McNair and the young woman who wasn't McNair's wife, without realizing what his words might potentially trigger.

Again, we don't know what if anything Taylor said to Kazemi. But we think that someone within the police department should find out."

My belief is that McNair, who himself was arrested on gun charges back in 2003, and Kazemi had discussed the gun purchase beforehand for her personal protection.

She's a 20-year old woman, on her own, with an ex-boyfriend who seemed less than thrilled with his ex-girlfriend dating an older, married man.

Despite the existence of a Cadillac Escalade registered in both their names, McNair naturally wouldn't be comfortable furnishing her with a weapon that was sold to and registered in his name, thus the private sale.

It is an interesting question and hopefully the Nashville PD will get to the bottom of it and provide answers to these questions.

Yahoo!, NFLPA Settle Lawsuit

Yahoo Inc. and the NFL Players Association have reached a settlement over use of players' statistics, photos, and other data for Yahoo's online fantasy football platform, the Associated Press reports.
"Santa Clara, Calif.-based Yahoo sued the NFLPA last month, claiming Yahoo shouldn't have to pay royalties to use the data because the information is already publicly available.

Yahoo dropped the lawsuit Monday. Attorneys for Yahoo referred questions to Yahoo Sports spokeswoman Nicol Addison, who said Yahoo does not discuss litigation."


Bills (Finally) Announce Signing of Two Draft Picks

The Buffalo Bills have announced the signings of sixth-round cornerback Cary Harris and seventh-round cornerback Ellis Lankster.

Of course, if you read this website, you knew about Lankster's signing last Wednesday and Harris' signing yesterday.

Harris and Lankster are the first two of the Bills' eight draft picks to sign a contract.

Goodell, Mora Begin Climb to Camp Muir

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Seattle Seahawks head coach Jim Mora and CEO Tod Lieweke are climbing the 14,411-foot Mt. Rainier this week to benefit the United Way of King County (WA).

Joining them on this trek is Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times, who reports that the group, which also consists of several United Way execs and is being led by legendary mountaineers Ed Viesturs and Peter Whittaker, will climb to Camp Muir, the 10,000-foot base camp, today.

The climb is to conclude on Wednesday.

Seattle Times columnist Jerry Brewer wrote this morning of how Lieweke roped Goodell into accepting this challenge.
Goodell is here because Leiweke invited him during a league meeting last December. Goodell was hustling toward a room to start the meeting when the Seahawks' CEO stopped him and said, "I've got a challenge for you."

"What is it?" Goodell wondered.

"I want you to climb Mount Rainier with us," Leiweke said.

Goodell agreed. Later, on his way home, he started to realize what he had agreed to do.

advertising

"I was thinking, 'Oh my. What did I just do?' " The Commish said, laughing. "I really didn't know what it entailed, frankly."

I still think that, once they get to the top of the mountain, Mora and Lieweke should press Goodell about the NFL continuing to schedule the Seahawks and other west coast teams to play games at 1pm ET.

PFT: Cardinals "Laughing" About Dockett's Major Announcement

Mike Florio of ProFootballlTalk.com reports the following:
"Per a league source, the one or more members of the front office were "laughing" about Dockett's declaration.

Perhaps that development will prompt another "major announcement" from Dockett."
If you're unclear of what the backstory, on Monday, Arizona Cardinals defensive end Darnell Dockett used his Twitter page to schedule an announcement at 8:15pm (ET), an announcement his agent Drew Rosenhaus classified as being "major", before announcing the following statement (combined from multiple tweets):
"I am happy to announce that after meeting with the team recently, I have full faith and confidence in the Cardinals organization and I am looking forward to a great season. From the first day of training camp and on, I will not let my contract issues distract me or my team from reaching our goals. I also look forward to playing with my teammates and defending our NFC championship title and I appreciate the support I've received from all my fans this offseason. - WE WILL WIN THE NFC WEST."
And according to Florio, this statement reportedly generated laughter in the Cardinals' front office.

McNair's "What Ifs"

Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer writes that recently slain former NFL quarterback Steve McNair nearly ended up with the Carolina Panthers.

"In early 1995, the Carolina Panthers had yet to play a real NFL game but were feverishly preparing for their first NFL draft. They held the No.1 pick. The Panthers eventually narrowed their choices that April to a field of three: McNair, Penn State running back Ki-Jana Carter and Penn State quarterback Kerry Collins.

To hedge their bets, the Panthers sent mock jerseys of all three to New York for the NFL draft. But then on draft day, they traded down from the No.1 to the No.5 pick, where they would select Collins. Cincinnati traded with Carolina to get the top pick, picked Carter No.1 and suffered for years after the running back became an injury-riddled bust."

McNair was chosen 3rd overall by the Houston Oilers and the rest, as they say, is history. But McNair was such a tremendous athlete, his could have ended up playing baseball.

Yesterday, Larry Stone of the Seattle Times recalled an article he wrote after the Titans narrowly lost Super Bowl XXXIV to the St. Louis Rams, where the Seattle Mariners had drafted McNair in the 35th round of the 1991 draft and offered him $10,000 to sign, but McNair opted to accept the scholarship offer from Alcorn State.
"Mariner scouting director Roger Jongewaard recalled that McNair graded out to a 50 as a high-schooler, which corresponds to major-league average. But the Mariners believed that McNair could have developed into a Dave Winfield-type player, or even a top-flight pitcher."


Winfield Negotiations Not Dead

Ashanti Webb, the agent for Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield, said that negotiations on a new contract for Winfield aren't dead, reports Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.

"At this point right now, the Vikings and I have had talks," Webb said. "There have been discussions. It would be disingenuous or inappropriate for me to say there is any kind of hard [deadline]. Where are we at? July 6. I'm an optimist. They have not said to me, 'We're not doing something.' I'm not saying, 'We're at such grave differences that I'm telling them to forget it.'

We're talking. Not talking that much, but there are discussions. You haven't heard any [verbal] jabs from either one of us. ... I think in the realm of these situations this has been hospitable."

Winfield, 32, is entering the final year of his contract that pays him $6 million dollars this season.

Hall of Fame Super Bowl Gallery Named After Lamar Hunt

The Pro Football Hall of Fame will honor Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt by naming it's "Super Bowl Gallery" after him during a ceremony on August 8.

"That ceremony will precede the annual Hall of Fame ceremonies in the evening, when former Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas will be inducted as a member of the Class of 2009.

Hunt, who was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972, was the guiding figure behind the formation of the American Football League in 1960 and the founding of the Dallas Texans franchise, which became the Kansas City Chiefs in 1963.

He is also credited with naming the Super Bowl, taking the idea from a popular toy at the time, the super ball."

“This is a tremendous honor for our family and a meaningful tribute to my father’s contributions to the NFL’s showcase event,” Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement.

Monday, July 06, 2009

Junior Seau Open to Return to Patriots

40-year old linebacker and former NFL graduate Junior Seau told a San Diego radio station that he's open to the idea of returning for a 20th NFL season, but not until midway through the season and only with the New England Patriots.

I’ll definitely look at it at the end of October or November. Let’s put it that way,” said Seau, who has spent parts of the last three seasons with the Patriots.

“What I’m doing is basically just surfing and enjoying life with the kids and carrying on as if I am retired. But if they happen to need me towards the end of the season like they did last year, then I’ll definitely look at it.”

New England has had depth issues at inside linebacker, and with rookie Tyrone McKenzie tearing his ACL during mini-camp, it's possible that, by November, the Patriots could use Seau.

Darnell Dockett's Big Announcement Is...

....forthcoming?

It's 8:32pm ET, 17 minutes after Arizona Cardinals defensive end Darnell Dockett and his agent Drew Rosenhaus said they'd be making a major announcement.

Mike Sando (espn_nfcwest) is getting on with his day during the off-season: "@ddockett The clock ticks, 90. I'm heading outside to play with the kids and fire up the BBQ."

Warren Sapp (
QBKILLA) is still waiting: "8:30pm/Est Anybody Got The Breaking News From RSR And Dockett???"

We shall see what this earth-shattering announcement will be. Perhaps he's joining the crowd and opting to not run for a second term.

UPDATE: Here it is:
ddockett I am happy to announce that after meeting with the team recently, I have full faith and confidence in the Cardinals organization-cont

ddockett and I am looking forward to a great season. From the first day of training camp and on, I will not let my contract issues distract me

ddockett or my team from reaching our goals-. I also look forward to playing with my teammates and defending our NFC championship title

ddockett and I appreciate the support I've received from all my fans this offseason. - WE WILL WIN THE NFC WEST


So there you have it. Contract won't be an issue, looks forward to playing with his teammates, predicts his team will defend their NFC West title.

Good to know.

RIP: Lou Creekmur (1927-2009)

Detroit Lions Hall of Fame offensive lineman Lou Creekmur passed away Sunday night at University Hospital in Tamarac, Florida at the age of 82.

Creekmur was a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 1996 after being a six-time All-NFL selection, and 8-time All-Pro during his 10-year career with the Lions from 1950-59, a period where the Lions won three NFL Championships.

He was also a member of the Lions' 75th Anniversary team in 2008.

"Lou always will be remembered as one of the true standout players in Lions' history," Lions president Tom Lewand said. "Offensive linemen often don't get the credit they deserve and, until his induction into the Hall of Fame, that certainly was the case with Lou."



Gun Found Under Kazemi Belonged to Her

According to Kate Howard of The Tennessean, Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron said that the gun found under 20-year old Sahel Kazemi belonged to her and was purchased through a private seller after her DUI arrest on Thursday.

Aaron also said that five shots were fired.

McNair was shot four times (twice in the head, twice in the chest) and Kazemi was shot once in the head.

At this point, it's safe to say that is shaping up to be a murder-suicide, with Kazemi shooting and killing McNair before turning the gun on herself.

Jeff Fisher Remembers Steve McNair

During a tear-filled press conference, Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher remembers former Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair.

NFL.com link
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Cardinals' Dockett Planning Major Announcement

A few hours ago, Arizona Cardinals defensive end Darnell Dockett issued the following statement through his Twitter account.
ddockett Dockett fans, CARDINAL FANs, AND ALL SPORTS WRITERS AND ALL BLOGGER and any one else who wanna know I WILL MAKE AN ANNOUCMENT 2day @ 8:15.
Dockett's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, seconded the call for people in the Twitterverse to pay attention to an 8:15pm Tweet from Dockett.

Has Dockett agreed to a new long-term contract extension? Doubtful, as the team doesn't appear too eager to renegotiate Dockett's contract and, if they had, would be the ones who controlled the announcement of any long-term extension.

So what could it mean?

Honestly, I have no idea. But since this is what I do, I'll be refreshing the browser at 8:15.

Man Pleads Not Guilty in Shooting Death of Iowa High School Coach

Mark Becker, the 24-year old man arrested for shooting and killing Aplington-Parkersburg High School football coach Ed Thomas, has plead not guilty to first-degree murder.

Becker remains held on a $1 million dollar cash bond.

Jets Sign OT Nevin McCaskill

After waiver-wire acquisition offensive lineman Mike Fladell failed his physical, the New York Jets have signed first-year offensive lineman Nevin McCaskill (Green Bay) to an undisclosed contract.

McCaskill (6-4, 315) entered the NFL with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent from Hampton. He's also spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad and was released by the Green Bay Packers late last month once the team began signing draft choices.

Favre Puts Deposit on Edina Condo

"Retired" quarterback Brett Favre and his wife have put a $30,000 deposit on an Edina, MN condo, reports Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press.

Walter's source is of the aviary persuasion, but it was unlikely that Favre was going to purchase any property in Minnesota.

Favre is at the rental stage of his NFL career and anything over a 6-month commitment is too much to expect from #4.

Here's what the 50th and France neighborhood in Edina, MN looks like.

Report: Kazemi Recently Purchased Gun

ESPN is reporting that a relative of Sahel Kazemi was told by Nashville police that Kazemi had recently purchased a gun and that police are almost certain that she is the shooter.
"Farzin Abdi is 20-year-old Sahel Kazemi's nephew, but the two were raised together like brother and sister. Abdi says he does not believe Kazemi would have killed the former Tennessee Titans quarterback and herself.

Abdi said Kazemi had no motive to kill McNair. Nashville police didn't immediately have a reaction to Abdi's comments."


Bills Sign 6th Round CB Cary Harris

Last Wednesday, I reported that the Buffalo Bills had signed seventh-round cornerback Ellis Lankster to a four-year contract with a signing bonus of slightly more than $59,000.

The team still hasn't announced that signing, but I'm also able to report that the Bills have signed sixth-round (183rd overall) cornerback Cary Harris (USC) to a four-year deal with a signing bonus of around $107,000.

Harris (5-11, 187) was a three-year starter at USC, appearing in 50 games overall. Harris made 143 tackles, had 18 passes defended and 5 interceptions during his career. After the 2007 and 2008 season, Harris was an Honorable Mention All-Pac 10 selection.

Matt Birk Pinch-Hits for Peter King

Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk was this week's fill-in columnist for Peter King's MMQB column on SI.com and it needs to be said that if Birk didn't have an offensive line to lead in B-more, King would be Wally Pipp'd.

Birk touched upon the importance of doing more for former players, Steve McNair, Brett Favre, the joys and perils of parenthood, and injected some well-placed comedy into the "10 Things I Think I Think" part:
"Newsflash: Ten years ago, OTAs didn't exist, yet somehow teams were able to pull everything together and play a 16-game season with uniforms and everything. The O also should stand for optional, since OTAs are not mandatory."
May not be Harvard Lampoon material, but still, that's an excellent use of a "Major League" reference, Mr. Birk.

Antoine Winfield is Frustrated

Sean Jensen of the Pioneer Press reports that Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield is surprised that it's July and he still doesn't have a new contract.

"I didn't expect to be in July without a deal," Winfield said. "Personally, I'm a little disappointed. They consider me a core player, but they're not showing me that."

Between the OTAs, mini-camps, and wooing a certain Hall of Fame quarterback from Kiln, Mississippi, addressing Winfield's contract appears to have slide down the Vikings' lists of priorities.

"If they want me here, they should be able to get a deal done. There shouldn't be a problem," Winfield said. "If they don't, then they need to say that and let's work toward a resolution that works out good for everyone."

Jensen points out the recent contract situations of Darren Sharper and Matt Birk--two veterans who were allowed to play out the final year of their contract before moving on to another team--and that Winfield is taking steps to prepare a similar situation from happening to him.

"Now, Winfield is actively working on an auxiliary plan: He might move his family to Houston.

He and his wife, Erniece, have family in Houston, and they have spent more than a month there. While Antoine has been working out five days a week at a training facility, he and his wife also have been looking at land on which to possibly build.

"I know where I want to play," Winfield said. "I want to be in Minnesota. I love the defense. I love my teammates. I love the city. My kids are comfortable there. But, I understand the business."

Winfield's eldest son, Antoine Jr., will be in the sixth grade next school year, and his youngest son, Ethan, will start kindergarten. Without a long-term contract, Winfield said his three boys might start school in Minnesota, then transfer to Houston after the NFL season, when Winfield will become an unrestricted free agent."

Since Winfield wants to be in Minnesota, and is under contract, I don't expect him to be a training camp holdout.

That said, the Vikings are unlikely to be eager to "buy high" on Winfield, who at 32 years old is coming off his first Pro Bowl season. As Jensen notes, cornerbacks did very well for themselves this off-season. While Winfield may feel energized enough to play 5-6 years at a very high level, the Vikings may be leery of guaranteeing a large amount of money to a 32-year old cornerback.

Drew Stanton Should Be the Lions' 3rd QB

Tom Kowalski of MLive.com breaks down quarterback Drew Stanton as he continues his daily scouting reports of the players on the Detroit Lions roster.
"If the Lions could sign a veteran who would move up and be a solid No. 2 for several years, they'd likely make the move (Culpepper is on a one-year contract). That's not likely to happen so Stanton will probably be the No. 3 quarterback."
With a salary of $525K for 2009, the third-year quarterback from Michigan State fits the bill of what team's look for in a #3: Young, talented, and cheap.

That the Lions only have three quarterbacks on their roster helps Stanton's chances of being the third quarterback.

McNair Memorail Service Set for Thursday

A public memorial will be held for former NFL quarterback Steve McNair from 3-645pm on Thursday at Mount Zion Baptist Church.
"A memorial service is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the church for McNair, who was shot and killed on Saturday. Mount Zion Baptist Church is at 7594 Old Hickory Blvd. in Whites Creek.

Funeral arrangements in Mississippi are being finalized for McNair but are expected to be on Saturday in Hattiesburg.

In lieu of flowers, fans are asked to make a donation to the Steve McNair Foundation, 1 Willow Bend Drive, Hattiesburg, Miss. 39402."


McNair and Monogamy

One theme in the comments sections of articles about the tragic shooting deaths of Steve McNair and Sahel Kazemi, whether it's at The Tennessean or Joe Buck's favorite website TMZ.com, is that how could a 36-year old man, with a beautiful wife, four kids, and millions of dollars in the bank, risk it all by sleeping with a 20-year old woman.

What people need to understand is that human beings, whether you're talking about a 36-year old professional athlete with a wife and four kids, a 49-year old Governor with a wife and four kids, a 20-year old waitress at Dave & Buster's, or a 43-year old Argentinian businesswoman and mother of two, are not wired to be monogamous.

Sorry, but it's true.

Monogamy, while a noble pursuit, is a fairly recent, unnatural phenomenon. We're told that in order to be considered "good" or "normal", we've got to be monogamous. So it's not surprising that we're quite terrible at it.

Divorce rates are at nearly 50% and there's no shortage of unwed mothers. Nearly half of all married men, and a third of married women, will have at least one extra-marital affair. And the problem of infidelity is just as prevalent among regular people as it is with professional athletes, celebrities, and politicians.

"Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac", as Henry Kissinger famously once said. Since heterosexual men instinctively wish to mate with as many young, attractive females as possible, and heterosexual women want to mate with the alpha male, why are we so surprised when wealthy, powerful men like Sanford and McNair have affairs with younger, attractive women who are well aware of that man's marital status?

If we're honest, we shouldn't be.

Now, this isn't meant to absolve McNair and Sanford for their misdeeds.

Far from it.

Mechelle McNair and Jenny Sanford were likely to lead to believe that they were entering into monogamous marriages. Unfortunately for them, they did so by men who were incapable of remaining sexually monogamous (Sanford's Argentinian tryst likely wasn't his first, and the condo McNair shared with a friend was apparently used as a place for them to engage in their extra-marital activities) and living up to that bargain. Men in this situation usually wind up forfeiting their sterling reputations, as well as large amounts of cash and property in divorces settlements.

It's just this doesn't necessarily make Sanford or McNair bad people, or even bad parents, and infidelity certainly never justifies homicide.

It just makes them lousy husbands.

Sunday, July 05, 2009

McNair's Death Ruled a Homicide

Authorities have classified the death of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair as a homicide, but the death of Sahel Kazemi remains unclassified, Nashville police said.
"Autopsies were conducted early Sunday, and McNair was found to have suffered four gunshot wounds -- two to the head, and two to the chest, police spokesman Don Aaron said during an afternoon news conference."


Vince Young Reaction to McNair's Death

Current Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young released a statement through the team regarding the shooting death of his longtime friend and mentor, Steve McNair.

“I'm still in shock since hearing the news," Young said in a statement released by the Titans on Sunday. “I spent all afternoon and night thinking about my life on and off the field with 'Pops'. Since I was a teenager, he was like a father to me. I hear his advice in my head with everything I do. Life will be very different without him.

“My thoughts and prayers are with (his wife) Mechelle, the kids and the entire McNair family during this horrible time."

Reaction to McNair's Shooting Death

Here are some worthwhile reads and reactions to the news that former Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair was shot and killed in downtown Nashville on Saturday:

McNair was quiet and tough as nails, writes Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle.

The city of Houston was robbed of McNair's greatness, instead he's the greatest Titan of all-time, writes Jerome Solomon.

Titans fans loved McNair's resilience, writes Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.

McNair put Alcorn State football on the map.

Learning of the news on his way back from the first NFL-USO trip to the Persian Gulf, Titans head coach Jeff Fisher called McNair's death a "tragic loss".

The Ravens received a boost when McNair came to town, writes Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun.

McNair was one of the top competitors Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times has ever seen.

McNair thrived in pain and under pressure, writes David Boclair of the Nashville City Paper.

ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli remembers McNair's competitiveness.

Former Titans general manager and current New England Patriots consultant Floyd Reese issued a statement last night about McNair's death.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning says this is "a terrible loss for all of us".

Several members of the New York Jets, who played and coached with McNair in Baltimore, react to his death at the Jets' official website.

McNair Shooting Details Emerge

More details are beginning to emerge on the tragic shooting deaths of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair and his 20-year old girlfriend Sahel Kazemi in Nashville on Saturday.

According to authorities, McNair "was found seated on a living room sofa" and he was shot multiple times. Kazemi sustained a single bullet wound to the head, and a pistol was found near her body.

Police on Saturday night said that they while they had not ruled anything out, they were not actively looking for suspects. Those circumstances lead one to believe that investigators are learning towards this being a murder-suicide, with Kazemi killing McNair before turning the gun on herself.

The Tennessean has been all over this story, and are reporting that the police are expected to classify the deaths at some point today.

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