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."
"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.Relatives are saying the wounds are non-life threatening.
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."
"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."
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 BrownsTerms 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.
"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."
"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.
"Virginia Beach General District Court Judge Teresa McCrimmon gave Smith a 90-day suspended jail term at a hearing Thursday and fined him $350. Smith's license was suspended for one year for refusing to take an alcohol breath test.
McCrimmon pointed to evidence that Smith had trouble completing field sobriety tests after he was stopped for speeding last month."
"You know, I just think that everybody got an ample amount of playing time, for what it was worth," Ware said diplomatically, acknowledging that he was uncomfortable discussing the subject. "At the end of the day, if I was off the field, there was a reason why I was off the field. Maybe Greg rushed the passer better against a certain guy. But I think at the end of the day, the time that guys got is how it is."
"Lawyers for the two defensive linemen asked Larson to let them continue to play football. The NFL wanted the players to serve out their suspensions.
The NFL argued that a restraining order Larson issued late last year was dissolved by the actions of U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson.
The players' lawyers asked Larson to either keep his order in place, allowing them to play, or begin a trial as soon as possible on state law issues regarding drug policy and privacy claims. They said state law gives employees an opportunity to explain use of a product innocently used but otherwise banned, but the NFL didn't allow the Williamses to explain their use of the over-the-counter StarCaps, which were found to contain the banned diuretic bumetanide, a substance that can mask steroid use."
"It couldn't have been for performance. In nine seasons, Houser never botched a bad snap. Not one.And there's the matter of Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey's Twitter missives.Oh, sure, he might've zipped one a tad high or a little left from time to time. But he never duck-hooked or dribbled one so poorly it cost the Saints a blocked punt or field goal.
By my unofficial count, that's 1,257 long snaps: 640 for punts, 354 for extra points and 263 for field goals."
"thx chad houser our long snapper for losing my coaches, teamates, and me around 2mill$.. what a dumb ass. ..... "Duncan's final assessment is dead on:
"you think your buying LA film tac creits. but the f -- -- -- snapper didn't... wow this is a f -- -- - up world we live in."
"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."
"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.
"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."
"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.
"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.
"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.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 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."
“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.
"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.
"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.These TVs will only be sold from 10am-2pm, and you know these will go very, very quickly so get there early.
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. "
"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.
"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."
“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.”
"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).
Why did Loreane, a single mom, write this book? Well, evidently she got tired of answering the same questions about her famous son.From the Editorial Review at Amazon.com:
“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."
"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.
"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."
"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.
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
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.
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"I was thinking, 'Oh my. What did I just do?' " The Commish said, laughing. "I really didn't know what it entailed, frankly."
"Per a league source, the one or more members of the front office were "laughing" about Dockett's declaration.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):
Perhaps that development will prompt another "major announcement" from Dockett."
"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 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."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."
"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."
“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."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."
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
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.
"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."
"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.
Since Winfield wants to be in Minnesota, and is under contract, I don't expect him to be a training camp holdout."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."
"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.
"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."
"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."
