Former NFL player Chad Johnson was arrested in Florida on Monday morning.

Johnson was arrested after a judge in Broward County determined that he violated his probation stemming from a 2012 domestic violence bust.

A warrant was issued for Chad Johnson earlier in the month after he failed to report to his probation officer on two separate occasions. Johnson also failed to show proof of enrollment in a required domestic violence education class.

Johnson failed to report to his probation officer on February 15 and March 15 and failed to show that he completed the court ordered Batterers Intervention Program.

Johnson was serving out his probation following a domestic violence conviction that involved ex-wife Evelyn Lozada. The six-time Pro Bowl player known as Chad Ochocinco was serving one-year probation in the case. Johnson and Evelyn wed on July 4, 2012 but filed for divorce in August.

Bail has not yet been set but is expected momentarily.

Chad Johnson turned himself into police and was arrested a short time later. It is still unclear why Johnson waited so long following the issuance of the arrest warrant to turn himself over to authorities.

Johnson has not responded to the new charges or arrest.

More information to follow as official police reports are made available.

Do you think Chad Johnson will be given a slap on the wrist and sent on his way or actually spend time behind bars for his failure to appear?

Chad Johnson Arrested In Florida is a post from: The Inquisitr

Evan Mathis, NFL player, pees on IRS building: yes, you read that correctly. Not only did the Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman relieve himself on Internal Revenue Service property, but he also posted a pic of it on Instagram.

The little sprinkle happened Wednesday on the same day that NBC News reported interim commissioner of the IRS Steven Miller would be forced to resign amid incompetence and misconduct in unfairly targeting conservative groups with greater financial scrutiny.

The IRS scandal has been a black eye for President Barack Obama’s second term, and it did little to bridge the gap between parties in an increasingly partisan Washington.

With that said, Evan Mathis did what millions of Americans — Democrats, Republicans, and now, especially, Tea Party members — have longed to do.

Along with the bold, brave, and somewhat immature imagery, Mathis posted a simple two-word caption: “Audit this.” Classy. And funny.

Philly.com reported that DCFanaticsBlog speculated an apology would be on the way tweeting, “Evan Mathis will be apologizing later today. Count on that,” to which Mathis responded, “How high are we counting?”

(Looks like the IRS may have to wait a little longer if they plan on a mea culpa any time soon.)

You’ve got to hand it to Mathis on this. He’s taking a bold step in the very public, permanent online world, by lashing out against the government body with the most potential to make one’s life a living hell.

“NFL player pees on building” isn’t a headline you can forget very easily, and it’s likely the NFL will respond with one of its famous fines as a result of the crude gesture. There’s also the possibility that the IRS could next shift unfair scrutiny to wise-guy offensive linemen now that conservative groups are off the table.

Either way, Mr. Evan Mathis — NFL player, who pees on IRS property — we salute you for having the guts to do it. What do you think — too disrespectful or perfectly understandable?

Evan Mathis, NFL Player, Pees On The IRS, Literally is a post from: The Inquisitr

Tim Tebow as a Philadelphia Soul quarterback could be just the push the young quarterback needs to eventually become an NFL superstar. The Arena League team recently offered Tebow the QB 1 position, and now it is just up to Tebow to accept.

Tebow was released by the New York Jets on April 29, and, while he has been tied to several possible teams, no offers have come around at this time.

Since being cut, Tebow has been receiving offers from teams outside of the NFL including the Omaha Beef of the Champions Indoor Professional Football League.

Talking about what the league could do for Tebow Philadelphia Soul owner and former Philadelphia quarteback Ron Jaworski notes:

“One [criticism] of Tebow is that he is slow and methodical. He would be forced to quicken it up in this league and it would be good training for him. You can learn a lot in this league. It’s about processing information and getting the ball out . . . or you get whacked.”

While Tim Tebow may see the move to arena football as a step backwards, it could be exactly what he needs to thrive. Former Rams and Cardinals Pro Bowl QB Kurt Warner used the Arena league to develop his talents before he became one of the most successful NFL quarterbacks of all-time.

The Arena Football league requires quarterbacks to think quick on their feet while throwing from inside the pocket. The fast pace could help Tebow develop better footwork while processing play calling and actions at a faster pace.

The question now is whether or not Tim Tebow wants to be QB 2 in a professional league or QB 1 in what amounts to a farm league of sorts.

Tim Tebow’s Philadelphia Soul Offer Could Turn Him Into The Next Kurt Warner is a post from: The Inquisitr

Titus Young’s arrests keep piling up after authorities took the former Detroit Lions wide receiver into custody this week for the third time in the last seven days.

According to Orange County Sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Joe Balicki, the 23-year-old footballer was picked up late Friday night in San Clemente, California.

According to Balicki, Young was arrested after he was caught breaking into a home.

After police were called to the scene, Young fought with several deputies and led them on a foot chance.

Young was charged with attempted burglary, assaulting an officer, and resisting arrest.

Police officers called the run-in a “brief struggle” and noted that he “wanted to fight with the deputies.”

You may recall that Young was arrested last Sunday in Riverside County. During his Riverside arrest, police believed he was driving under the influence of alcohol. Later that same day, Young was arrested as he attempted to break his car out of an impound yard.

This is hardly Young’s first run-ins with the law. The Detroit Lions cut Titus Young from their roster after he was disciplined multiple times last season. At one point, Titus Young intentionally linked up wrong during a Week 14 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Following his complete insubordination, the Lions quickly cut him, and he was eventually picked up on waivers by the St. Louis Rams who released him 10 days later.

Titus Young’s arrests weren’t his only issues,. He also punched teammate Louis Delmas during an offseason workout program and he was sent home twice for other behavior.

As of Sunday afternoon, Titus Young’s arrest kept him behind bars with a $75,000 bail.

No comments about the former NFL players arrests have been made public at this time.

Do you think Titus Young will return to the NFL or end up spending serious time behind bars?

Titus Young Arrests Pile Up, Taken Into Custody Three Times In One Week is a post from: The Inquisitr

Amy Trask is ending her run as one of the highest-ranking women in American professional sports. The Oakland Raiders CEO on Sunday announced that she was retiring after 25 seasons.

Trask started with the Raiders when they were still in Los Angeles and then moved with the team to Oakland in 1995. Trask went on to become the teams CEO in 1997 after serving as late owner Al Davis’ most trusted adviser.

In an email statement regarding her retirement, Trask wrote:

“Earlier today, I informed Mark Davis of my decision to leave the Raiders. Having honored a commitment that I made to effectuate a smooth transition and transfer of control, I no longer wish to remain with the organization. For over a quarter of a century, it was my honor and my privilege to work for the Raiders. I will forever appreciate the opportunity afforded me by Al Davis.”

In a team statement, the Raiders added:

“Mark Davis, Carol Davis and the rest of the Raiders family would like to thank Amy Trask for her valued contributions to the Raiders for the past 25 years. The Raiders wish her the very best in her future endeavors.”

Mark took over the team after his fathers death in 2011. After taking control, he hired GM Reggie McKenzie to run the teams operations in January 2012.

After Al Davis’ death, much of the Raiders front office and coaching staff were let go and replaced with new blood. Even some of the teams trusted scouts were shown the door.

In her last years with the Raiders, Trask was attempting to ditch the clubs aging stadium. Trask was working with the city of Oakland to potentially build a new stadium and now she exits the franchise in the last year of its stadium lease.

Do you think a new CEO can help revitalize the Oakland Raiders front office, players, coaches and fans?

Amy Trask Resigns As Head Of Oakland Raiders is a post from: The Inquisitr

San Clemente, CA — Titus Young reportedly has had a third run-in with the law in California in the space of one week.

The former Detroit Lions wide receiver allegedly tried to break in to a home late Friday night. He then tried to run from responding officers who detained him after a brief foot chase and a scuffle. Young has been charged with attempted burglary, assaulting a police officer, and resisting arrest and is being held on $75,000 bail pending a Monday court hearing.

Lt. Joe Balicki of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department had this to say about Titus Young’s latest arrest: “He actually tried to fight with them. But there [were] more deputies then him so they were able to subdue him without — I guess there was some punches thrown but they were able to get him into handcuffs without too much damage.” Balicki added that it is unclear why Titus targeted that particular residence.

Young was busted twice last Sunday in the span of 15 hours. He was initially pulled over in Riverside County for allegedly making an illegal left turn in front of a patrol car the early hours of Sunday morning. This led to a suspicion of DUI arrest, for which he was later released with a citation. About 2:30 pm that same afternoon, Young allegedly hopped the fence at a local tow yard to get to his Mustang which was impounded after the DUI arrest. Cops were called, and they took him into custody on a burglary charge. For the second time that day he was processed at the Robert Presley Detention Center.

In February, Titus Young was released by the Detroit Lions who had drafted him out of Boise State in the 2011 NFL Draft. He was then picked up by the St. Louis Rams but was cut loose after just 10 days. Young had a tumultuous tenure with the Lions which included several suspension for behavior detrimental to the team. “[H]e was considered largely a disruption in 2012 for doing things like sucker-punching a teammate and lining up in the wrong spots during a game.”

In his 2011 rookie season, Young made 48 catches for 607 yards and six touchdowns. For 2012, he had 33 receptions for 383 yards and four touchdowns.

[Image credit: Jeffrey Beall]

Former Detroit Lion Titus Young Arrested For The Third Time In A Week is a post from: The Inquisitr

Levi’s Stadium is the new home of the San Francisco 49ers. The team is set to move out of Candlestick Park in 2014 and Levi Strauss, the San Francisco based jeans maker, is set to pay $220 million over 20 years for the naming rights to the new stadium.

The iconic company made the announcement Wednesday at their headquarters, along with 49ers’ CEO Jed York, Santa Clara Mayor Jamie Matthews, and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee.

Levi Strauss’ CEO Chip Bergh released the news and made it known that the company is “thrilled” to become partners with the 49ers. Jed York believes the partnership is a win-win situation as they’ve had a connection for a long time.

The 49ers and Levi’s jeans use similar colors in their logos, and the team has worn the company’s jeans since the “Gold Rush era.”

The deal will not be official until after the Santa Clara City Council meets on Thursday night. The $220 million will be split 70/30 as the top half will go to the public agency that’s building the new stadium, according to CBS Sports.

The 49ers will get the rest and Levi’s will have their name on the stadium to seal the deal. The Bay Area will have their last season at Candlestick Park in 2013 before Levi’s Stadium arrives. The facility will hold over 68,500 fans and is reportedly worth $1.2 billion.

On top of receiving a percentage of the $220 million, the 49ers will also receive $66 million through a sponsorship agreement with Levi Strauss.

According to the San Jose Mercury News, the $220 million deal over 20 years looks to be the second-highest in NFL history. The Giants and Jets call MetLife Stadium their home, which is currently in the middle of a $400 million contract over 25 years.

While closing his statement, CEO Chip Bergh was very excited to announce that Levi Strauss has partnered with their “neighbors,” so to speak.

“Levi’s Stadium will connect two iconic Bay Area brands that share similar values, a rich heritage and a pioneering spirit,” Bergh said at the announcement. “Joining the incredible legacy of the 49ers organization is a perfect fit for the Levi’s brand — and a chance for us to engage with sports and music fans across the Bay Area and around the world.”

Do you like Levi’s Stadium as the new name for the San Francisco 49ers’ $1.2 billion project?

49ers To Play In Levi’s Stadium, Iconic Jeans Maker To Pay $220 Million is a post from: The Inquisitr

Moreno Valley, CA — Titus Young, the former Detroit Lions wide receiver, was arrested twice in 15 hours in Riverside County, California, in two incidents involving his car.

He was initially pulled over for allegedly making an illegal left turn in front of a patrol car the early hours of Sunday morning. This led to a suspicion of DUI arrest, for which he was later released with a citation.

About 2:30 pm that afternoon, Young allegedly hopped the fence at a local tow yard to get to his Mustang which was impounded after the DUI arrest. Cops were called, and they took him into custody on a burglary charge, and for the second time that day he was processed at the Robert Presley Detention Center.

In February, Titus Young was released by the Detroit Lions who had drafted him out of Boise State in the 2011 NFL Draft. He was then picked up by the St. Louis Rams but was cut loose after just 10 days. Young had a tumultuous tenure with the Lions which included several suspension for behavior detrimental to the team. “[H]e was considered largely a disruption in 2012 for doing things like sucker-punching a teammate and lining up in the wrong spots during a game.”

He also tweeted his dissatisfaction with playing time.  ” … Detroit cut him after a tumultuous 2012 that ended with Young essentially tweeting his way out of town.  The Rams claimed him on waivers, but quickly decided after meeting with Young that he was not ‘quite there” mentally.”

In his 2011 rookie season, Young made 48 catches for 607 yards and six touchdowns. For 2012, he had 33 receptions for 383 yards and four touchdowns

NFL insiders believed that Titus Young had a lot of potential that perhaps now may never be realized: “On several occasions, he appeared to be right on the cusp of being a dynamic, consistent slot receiver in the league. But alas, the psychological and character issues that have been a concern since the start of his career aren’t going away, and there’s simply no room for a player so adept at getting into trouble in the NFL, no matter how talented he may be.”

Do you think the NFL career of Titus Young is over or should he get a second/third chance despite two arrests in one day?

[Image credit: Jeffrey Beall]

Former Detroit Lion Titus Young Arrested Twice In One Day is a post from: The Inquisitr

Rob Gronkowski will undergo a fourth surgery on his broken left forearm, according to latest reports.

This operation will apparently occur after doctor’s determine if antibiotics that Gronk took over a six-week period have been able to taken care of a stubborn infection in Gronk’s injured arm.

Despite claims by Gronkowski’s agent, Drew Rosenhause last month that there were no plans for another surgery, one more medical procedure — or perhaps two – is apparently inevitable. “According to a source familiar with the case, Gronkowski is going to need a fourth operation to change the plate that’s securing the broken bone in the forearm. While there has been some suggestion recently that this step might be avoided, the source indicated the fourth operation still has to happen. The plate has to be switched, no matter what, and the surrounding tissue tested.”

The New England Patriots’ star tight end, 23, has been taking a lot of heat for seemingly spending most of his off-season time partying rather than recuperating and gearing up for next season’s NFL campaign. Many of his escapades have been captured on YouTube video.

Gronk has been out of action for the most part since last November 18 in a Patriot win over the Indianapolis Colts. “Gronkowski initially injured his left forearm in a win over the Colts in November. He missed five games but returned for the regular season finale. In New England’s playoff game with Houston, he re-injured the forearm and was ruled out for the rest of the postseason.”

In the 2012 season, Gronk caught 55 passes for 790 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Patriots.

He also suffered an ankle injury in the 2011 post-season that required surgery. The injury may have cost the Patriots a win in the Super Bowl. In 2011, Gronk set the single-season record for touchdowns by a tight end, with 17 receiving touchdowns, and 18 overall.

Rob Gronkowski was a second round Patriots pick in the 2010 NFL Draft out of Arizona.

Rob Gronkowski Needs More Surgery [Report] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Plaxico Burress had to sell his mansion to pay a court judgment for a 2008 car crash, but in exchange he’s getting his driver’s license back.

Burress was ordered by a judge in 2012 to pay Alise Smith about $160,000 for neck and back injuries she suffered in the accident after he allegedly rear-ended her vehicle. A lien was subsequently placed against the residential property for the unpaid judgment. After the NFL wide receiver failed to pay up, a judge also decided  to suspend his Florida license.

The Virginia Beach home belonging to Plaxico Burress was about to be put on the auction block to satisfy the judgment by court order, but Burress managed to sell the house first. He reportedly pocketed about $480,000, but part of that a chuck of that cash went to Smith. ” [Her]lawyer … just filed legal docs, acknowledging Plax finally made good on the money he owed her … so it’s a done deal.” As a result, Burress’ license was reinstated today.

It’s not like Plaxico Burress will out on the street after selling off his Virginia Beach home. Burress, the former New York Giant, stands to make over $900,000 if he makes the Pittsburgh Steelers roster in the upcoming NFL season. Burress began his career with the Steelers who drafted him in 2000 in the first round (8th overall pick) out of Michigan State University.

As The Inquistir previously reported, this wouldn’t be the first time Plaxico Burress got into some license trouble. In 2009, he was sentenced to jail pursuant to a plea bargain for about two years after he accidentally shot himself in the thigh in a Manhattan nightclub. It turned out that Burress did not have the proper license for the firearm he was carrying, violating New York’s stringent gun laws, which have become even more strict in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Plaxico Burress Sells Home To Pay Court Judgment is a post from: The Inquisitr

Reno, NV — Terrell Owens is trying his hand at bowling.

The NFL Pro Bowler made his semi-professional bowling debut this week (see video embed) in the United States Bowling Congress Open Championship. By the way, the play-the-play announcing is apparently real and not a gag, even though it sounds like a Saturday Night Live parody.

Owens, 39, described as “a poster child for diva wide receivers,” is not just a mere bowler; he’s actually an owner. He reportedly owns the Dallas Strikers, a group competing in the Professional Bowlers Association League, one of eight, five-player teams in the league. He tossed a 185 in his first game, followed by a disappointing 129 and 161. To improve his bowling skills, Owens has actually trained with some of the sport’s top coaches.

Terrell Owens has not give up football for bowling, however. As The Inquisitr has previously reported, Owens has been working out this off season with an eye toward returning to the league in 2013, possibly with the Chicago Bears. After spending a year away from the NFL and dabbling in Arena Football, the wide receiver is itching for the chance to prove he can still contribute in the league. Owens was released by the Seattle Seahawks in August 2012.

Owens commented that the bowling tournament occurred in a opening in his apparently hectic schedule: “I have a lot of stuff going on right now, but there happened to be a break in my schedule. I wanted to experience this tournament, and the experience was good. I’m really into bowling, and I like it a lot.”

The six-time Pro Bowler (in NFL football, that is) may be looking for a new income stream as he reportedly owes about $400,000 in unpaid taxes for the years 2005, 2007 and 2009. He has also struggled to keep up with child support payments.

Watch Terrell Owens make his pro bowling debut:

Terrell Owens Makes Professional Bowling Debut [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Tim Tebow rumors that he will play a role with the Miami Dolphins are believed to be false.

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the team has no interest in handing Tebow a major role with the franchise. Tebow was recently released by the New York Jets on waivers, and rumors soon pointed to a possible career in the Canadian Football League.

Sources within the Dolphins organization say they have no interest in signing Tebow. In fact, Tim Tebow has not practiced with the team, and he has never undergone a team physical.

While the team has never said they would rule out a Tim Tebow interview, they also have not jumped at the chance.

Tim Tebow has repeatedly said he wants to rejoin the NFL with a new team, although his chances at signing appear to be slipping away with each and every passing day.

A sign of the changing times for Tebow might very well be the loss of media attention he grew accustomed to over the last two seasons. The fact that Tim Tebow can’t even land a QB2 position doesn’t bode well for his future.

In the meantime, Tebow was recently offered a QB position with the Omaha Beef indoor franchise. The Lingerie League also offered the former NFL quarterback a chance to coach a bunch of women in their underwear.

From starting QB to Lingerie League coaching offers, how quickly they fall in two short years.

Do you think Tim Tebow’sd days in the NFL have passed?

Tim Tebow Rumors Not True, Won’t Have Role With Miami Dolphins is a post from: The Inquisitr

COMMENTARY | As we recently reported, the Washinton Redskins could soon be undergoing a name change. D.C. Council member David Grosso, 42, recently began circulation a resolution to change the teams name to the Washington Redtails.

The new name would remove a moniker that even many Redskins fans find offensive, and it would provide a touching tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen and the redtail hawks that live in the area.

Since introducing his resolution on Wednesday, some critics have argued that longtime fans won’t be willing to give up the team’s longtime moniker.

Truth be told, retiring a mascot isn’t that big of a deal. I live near the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In 2007, the school following threats from the NCAA retired Chief Illiniwek, a long-time symbol of the universities sports franchises. When news of the retirement surfaced, many fans vowed to keep the Chief’s legacy alive. Fans of the university bought up shirts, coffee mugs, and any other merchandise they could find. My own university even stocked an increased supply of Illiniwek merchandise ahead of the  Chief’s retirement.

Fast forward six years after the Illini ditched Chief Illiniwek and I honestly can’t remember the last time I saw someone wearing a Chief shirt or drinking from an Illiniwek coffee mug.

The Washington area while stocked full of politicians and businessmen is also a very diverse area with a lot of different nationalities and races. It is very likely that those minorities will understand the need for a name change and will ultimately allow the resolution to move forward.

As Grosso points out:

“District residents and their elected representatives should not tolerate commercial or other use of derogatory terminology relating to any people’s racial identity, or which dishonors any person’s race, or which dishonors the name Washington.”

Spinning the “have more pride in your hometown” angle should be good enough to convince many fans that the name change is worth enacting.

Grosso claims to have support form eight of the council’s 13 members, and two more are leaning towards his name change recommendation. The Redskins name change is expected to receive a formal introduction in the near future.

As an avid football fan, I personally understand that only one thing matters to fans, a Super Bowl ring for their favorite players. The Washington Redskins name doesn’t define the team, its storied history defines its legacy.

Do you care if the Washington Redskins name change becomes a reality? What name would you give to the Redskins?

Redskins Name Change, Why It Should Happen And Nobody Will Really Care is a post from: The Inquisitr

Tim Tebow has been released by the New York Jets in what was seen as a move that had been coming for quite a while.

Once Rex Ryan decided that the team wanted to add West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, it seemed that the writing was on the wall.

The release comes just one year after the Jets first signed the cult favorite quarterback. Along with the former Denver Bronco QB came a media circus.

An signing announcement that drew 200 members of the media seemed a bit excessive for a backup quarterback.

That circus eventually devolved into a mess that the team was obviously ill-equipped to deal with.

Ryan never actually said that he had no faith in the run-first quarterback’s ability to play in the NFL.

The head coach also didn’t give his media darling much of a chance to start.

Before Tim Tebow was released, there was plenty of talk about just how bad the Florida Gator star was behind center.

That talk has only continued today as the discussion starts to turn to whether or not another NFL job is in the offing.

It’s hard to do business with Tim Tebow. The constant pressure on coaches to play him & circus that follows, it’s just hard to do biz w him

— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) April 29, 2013

And BTW, he chose Jets over Jags bc he knew neither coach nor GM in J’Ville wanted him, only owner was pushing for him

— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) April 29, 2013

If indeed no National Football League team wants to give him a chance, the Canadian Football League would be open to the idea.

Montreal Alouettes general manager Jim Popp said that his team owns the CFL rights to Tebow and he would be more than willing to give him a shot.

Popp added that he would need to start off as a backup, until he learned the CFL game.

The general manager also offered up that he had not yet talked to the newly unemployed quarterback’s agent and he expected they’d be looking for an NFL job first.

With Tim Tebow released, do you think his quarterbacking days are over?

[Image via Rob Wilson / Shutterstock.com]

Tim Tebow Released By Jets, Offered Job In CFL is a post from: The Inquisitr

The New York Jets have released quarterback Tim Tebow just days after picking Geno Smith in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Mark Sanchez is set to run the Jets’ offense as the Tebow-era is officially over in New York.

The Jets had six quarterbacks on their roster before making the decision to cut Tebow. Outside of Sanchez and the newly acquired Geno Smith, the Jets have Alabama-standout Greg McIlroy and long-time Jacksonville Jaguars starter David Garrard.

According to Brian Costello of the New York Post, Tebow met with head coach Rex Ryan and general manager John Idzik Monday morning before being informed of his release.

The Jets are confident that Sanchez can lead the team into the playoffs next season, making the decision to let go of Tebow that much easier. Tebow played in 12 games in his only season with the Jets though he finished with 39 passing yards.

The 25-year-old failed to find the end zone with the Jets and was never given the opportunity to run the offense as Rex Ryan continued to stick with Sanchez through his struggles in 2012. Tebow never complained though many believed he deserved a chance at the starting spot.

Since being released early this morning, Twitter has shed some light on Tebow’s 13-month span with the Jets. ESPN’s Darren Rovell first released the quarterback’s payout during his time as Sanchez’s backup.

Total $ Jets spent on the Tim Tebow experiment? $4,102,000.

— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) April 29, 2013

Tim Tebow played in 77 offensive snaps in 2012 or 7% of the total Jets plays (via @espnstatsinfo) — darren rovell (@darrenrovell) April 29, 2013

 ESPN’s Adam Schefter went on to release a comment by Rex Ryan on Tebow’s departure.

Rex Ryan: “We have a great deal of respect for Tim Tebow. Unfortunately, things did not work out the way we all had hoped.”

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 29, 2013

Tebow’s career is now in jeopardy as the Jaguars’ interest in the controversial quarterback has disappeared since trade rumors surfaced last season. No other team has expressed an interest in bringing in Tebow though many teams will re-evaluate their stance now that he’s on the market.

It couldn’t hurt to add Tebow to your roster as he’s proven he can win games in the NFL and can be a force in the red zone. He also has experience as a starter after leading the Denver Broncos to the playoffs in 2011.

Kyle Orton began 2011 as the Broncos’ starter but lost the job to Tebow after a 1-4 start. Head coach John Fox put his trust in Tebow and the young man delivered as the Broncos regained momentum and sneaked into the playoffs.

Tebow’s moment came in the first round as the Broncos upset the Pittsburgh Steelers. The former Heisman winner passed for a career-high 316 yards in the game, including an 80-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas on the first play of overtime.

The Broncos were knocked out in the next round after a 45-10 beating by the New England Patriots, though Tebow’s play wasn’t overlooked. He was traded to the Jets before the 2012 season as Peyton Manning signed a huge deal to become the newest starter in Denver.

Ever since the trade, Tebow has filled the papers but hasn’t seen much time on the field. His lack of playtime wasn’t helping the Jets as they finished with a 6-10 record.

The focus now turns to Tebow’s future in the NFL and nobody knows where he will end up, if anywhere. No matter how it all plays out, the chances of Tebow giving up on his NFL dreams are highly unlikely.

Does Tim Tebow deserve a shot with another team after the New York Jets released him on Monday? Which teams would be the best fit for the league’s newest free agent?

[Image via Creative Commons]

The New York Jets Release Tim Tebow After One Season is a post from: The Inquisitr

The NFL is one of the most unlikely tax exempt organizations in all of the United States. Senator Tom Colburn (R-OK) thinks it is high time that the exemption be revoked.

In order to revoke that particular exemption, the United States senator is looking to attach an amendment onto the Marketplace Fairness Act. This bill would place a tax onto web purchases anywhere in the country. Currently every state has a different rule about whether or not sales taxes are assessed on purchases made over the web.

Colburn doesn’t really seem to have a problem with bringing a more uniform tax approach to Internet sales, but it is his attempt to remove a status that probably shouldn’t be on professional sports leagues that is getting the attention now.

The NFL and other professional sports leagues are taxed as if they were charitable organizations. Senator Colburn has pointed out that while they may engage in charitable acts from time to time, they are profitable organizations that are in the business of making money.

Colburn also pointed out that taxpayers are losing around $91 million a year thanks to pro sports leagues saving money on taxes. These are the same leagues that are doling out hundreds of millions of dollars to grown men to play games.

The loophole that the National Football League, Major League Baseball and the NBA are using is the assumption that they are working to promote the sports they participate in general. The problem with that assumption is that most of the pro sports leagues have been promoting themselves rather than the sport in general.

When other professional football leagues have popped up, the National Football League has worked hard to make sure they don’t succeed at the same level they currently exist.

Unfortunately, the NFL and the rest of the pro sports leagues that benefit from this loophole are likely off the hook as the amendment ins’t likely to get a vote.

Senator Tom Coburn Wants To End NFL’s Tax Exempt Status is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Patriots and Buccaneers have struck a deal that will have each team sending their excess and unwanted running backs to the other team.

The move was just the latest in what has been a long and exciting extended weekend for the NFL. The 2013 NFL Draft has been going on over the last few days and teams all over the league have been using the event to reshape their rosters.

The deal has the New England Patriots sending Jeff Demps along with the 229th pick in the draft to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs are sending former Oregon star LeGarrette Blount to the Pats.

The Patriots and Buccaneers were able to strike the deal because both teams no longer felt as though the players that were involved in the deal fit into their plans for the upcoming season.

Tampa had been shopping Blount around to several different teams and wasn’t being particularly picky about the teams they tried to make a deal with. New England apparently changed the way they viewed Demps as a member of their roster when he decided to try and run track for the US Olympic team.

At one time, Blount was considered a franchise type player for Tampa. In his rookie season the running back managed 1,007 yards while averaging 5.0 yards per carry and scoring six touchdowns. His second year in the league, those numbers declined to just 781 yards and a 4.2 YPC number. Last season he rushed for just 141 yards on just 41 carries.

Demps has not appeared in a game in the NFL. The former Florida Gator wasn’t drafted after his senior season because of his apparent desire to run track. He was signed as a free agent by New England last August.

Just how much the Patriots and Buccaneers struck deal actually affects either team is something that we’re going to have to wait a while to see.

Patriots, Buccaneers Strike Deal For Excess Running Backs is a post from: The Inquisitr

Aaron Rodgers has signed a contract extension with the Green Bay Packers that will pay him $110 million over five years, the fattest salary in NFL history.

Rodgers was already on record saying that he wanted to stay with the green and gold for the rest of his career.

The Super Bowl XLV MVP will wear a Packers uniform through the 2019 season under the new deal and will take home $40 million in pay just for showing up for the upcoming season. “Rodgers will make $62.5 million from 2013-15, and $110 million in new money over the course of the extension.” The deal comes out to $22 million a year, which outpaces the $20 million annual salary that Ravens agreed to pay QB Joe Flacco after this year’s victory in the Super Bowl.

Rogers was drafted in the first round of the NFL draft (24th selection overall) by the Packers  out of the University of California, Berkeley, and became a starter in 2008 after Brett Favre finally got out of the way. He is a three-time Pro Bowler and ranks No. 1 in NFL history with a career passer rating of 104.9 and No. 2 in career completion percentage. Rodgers also threw for 21,332 yards from 2008-12, the most in NFL history by a quarterback in his first five seasons as a starter.

Last season, Rodgers threw for over 4,000 yards and 39 touchdowns, with only eight interceptions, leading Green Bay to an 11-5 record and the NFC North title. The Packers won the Wild Card game over the Minnesota Vikings but lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round. The Packers actually should have notched a 12-4 regular season mark, but you’ll recall the horrible end-zone call by a replacement ref that gifted a victory to the Seattle Seahawks over Green Bay in a September 2012 Monday Night Football matchup.

Packers’ executive Ted Thompson had this to say about the Aaron Rodgers contract extension: “Aaron is a true professional and a special player. He works hard, is humble, and is focused on his actions, on and off the field. He is an excellent teammate and pushes himself and others to be the very best. We are happy to reach an agreement to extend his career with the Packers.”

Aaron Rodgers, who had two years and $17.5 million left on his current deal, seems pretty happy about inking the contract extension with the Packers:

Big thanks to the Organization, our coaching staff, my teammates, and packer nation for the last 8 years!Excited about 7 more!#extension

— Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) April 26, 2013

Do you think that any professional athlete, even one as skilled and accomplished as Aaron Rodgers, is deserving of this kind of crazy money?

Aaron Rodgers, Packers Agree On $110 Million Contract Extension is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ new uniforms have been welcomed with open arms by the players who will wear them.

The uniforms includes a two-tone helmet and are part of the Nike Elite 51 uniform program that was first debuted by the Seattle Seahawks last season.

Speaking of the Jaguars’ new uniforms, billionaire owner Shad Khan called them “a piece of art.” Speaking of his team and their period of rebuilding, Khan said of Nike’s new design: “We’re young, we’re contemporary and it looks to the future.”

Khan took over the Jaguars in January 2012 and quickly began changing the team’s image, starting with new locker room and training rooms. Khan also hired a new general manager and head coach. For a team in transition, the uniform change signals a rebirth of sorts.

The new Nike uniforms have four color combinations, which includes a redesigned font and claw marks on the shoulders. The uniforms also offer a “Jags” logo over the heart. The patch represents the city’s strong military presence.

With the Jaguars’ new uniforms in hand Khan was asked what comes next for the NFL franchise:

“Winning, winning,” Khan said. “That’s what’s left. That’s the most important part. … I absolutely think (these) are pieces, and it’s a commitment that you set the stage that we want to provide the best and then expect the best. The end result is having a franchise that is winning and a contender. That’s where we want to have it.”

This is the second time in four years that the Jags have received a new look; the last redesign was revealed in April 2009. During the last reveal, owner Wayne Weaver said the uniforms would offer a more permanent identity for the franchise. Khan disagreed and thought the team after a 22-42 recorded needed a change after four years.

Players appear to agree with the new look; guard Uche Nwaneri said of the Jaguars’ new uniforms:

“We all want to represent something. We represent the Jaguars; we represent that city of Jacksonville, and this uniform is our way of basically representing those people on Sundays. I feel like you have to look good when you have a uniform like that to represent your city.”

The Jacksonville Jaguars rolled out a new logo in February 2013.

Jaguars’ New Uniforms Welcomed By Players is a post from: The Inquisitr

Openly gay kicker Alan Gendreau is setting his sights on the NFL.

The former Middle Tennessee State player is hoping to make the cut when he tries out for the National Football League later this year. Although he would become the first openly gay player in the NFL, he said that isn’t his ultimate goal. Gendreau just wants to play professional football.

“I’m a kicker that happens to be gay. It’s a part of who I am, and not everything I am. I just want to be known as a normal kicker,” he recently explained.

Although much has been made about the fact that Gendreau is openly gay, he’s also an incredibly talented kicker. He is reportedly the highest scorer in Sun Belt Conference history. He racked up a total of 255 points by the time his college career was over.

Former NFL player Wade Davis told Outsports that he doesn’t think Alan Gendreau’s sexual orientation will prevent him from making it into the pros. He said that the league is a business, and their decisions are based on whether or not the kicker will be an asset.

“They want the best players who can help them win. If this kid can kick 50-yarders consistently, then they’ll have him. But if he can’t, they won’t. Him being gay won’t have anything to do with it,” Davis added.

Although the kicker was openly gay in high school and at Middle Tennessee State, he said he decided to chat with Outsports anonymously during his freshmen year in high school. Gendreau said he didn’t want his sexual orientation to harm his family or his chances at the NFL.

“My whole thing in this is just to help anybody who is struggling with coming out. I want people to know that I didn’t have a problem with it, and they shouldn’t, either,” he explained.

Do you think an openly gay kicker has a chance at landing a position with the NFL?

[Image via Shutterstock]

Openly Gay Kicker Sets His Sights On The NFL is a post from: The Inquisitr

Washington Redskins Quarterback Robert Griffin III may be throwing an incomplete in his attempt to trademark the initials RG3.

The stakes could be pretty high since the QB’s jersey was the number one seller last season.

It turns out a motorcycle parts company already operates as RG3, which Griffin wants to put on jerseys and other apparel. Griffin is also seeking to trademark RGIII for the same reason.

Rob Henricksen owns Research Group 3, which is prominently known in the industry as RG3, and which supplies suspension parts and other services to professional and amateur bikers. RG3 has been in business since 1998 and filed preliminary paperwork with the US Trademark Office to reserve its right to oppose the QB’s trademark applications. The initials “RG3″ appear on many of the firm’s products.

Research Group 3′s lawyer Catherine Holland indicated a desire to “work out a coexistence agreement … We just want to clearly delineate the rights that each party has with regard to the phrase RG3.”

If the two sides can’t arrive at a settlement of some sort, which might involve a royalty payment from RG3 the football player to RG3 the motorcycle parts company, they could wind up in full-blown legal case at the Trademark Office that would be equivalent to a trial.

The legal standard for such intellectual property matters is the “likelihood of consumer confusion.” A formal finding of that kind could result in Robert Griffin III being unable to trademark RG3 for his clothing line. “We don’t want to have any confusion in the marketplace, and we’re sure he doesn’t, either,” Holland explained. The attorney also disavowed any attempt to make money off of Griffin’s fame and added that the motorcycle company wishes him all the best.

ProFootballTalk argues that confusion among consumers is unlikely, however: “we can’t imagine anyone mixing up the two brands.  Unless Griffin starts endorsing motorcycle suspension parts or RG3 comes out with a football-themed product line.”

In his rookie season, Robert Griffin III won Rookie of the Year Honors and was named to the Pro Bowl, and is obviously one of the NFL’s biggest stars. Griffin injured his knee in a Wild Card loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He is currently in rehab after surgery and is said to be way ahead of schedule.

Robert Griffin III In Trademark Dispute With RG3 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Tim Tebow incorporated Tai Chi into his training regimen to improve his quarterback mechanics.

So says independent QB coach Steve Clarkson who worked with Tebow in February and claims that Tebow has upgraded his skills in part by shortening his throwing motion. Clarkson added that Tebow’s footwork has in the past hampered his passing accuracy.

Tai Chi is a unique “internal” martial art that offers numerous benefits to students of any age: health and physical fitness, moving meditation, self defense, stress reduction, and so on. Students who go to class after a hard day’s work find themselves energized and uplifted by the time the session ends.

Expectations are that the beleaguered New York Jets backup quarterback and former Florida Gators Heisman Trophy winner will be traded or cut before next week’s NFL draft.  Tebow is nonetheless training with team during voluntary off-season workouts, however. Tebow got very little playing time in New York which raises a question as to why the team traded for him in the first place. Last season saw Tebow throw just eight passes and carry the ball only 32 times. The Jets added David Garrard to their roster so there is really no room for Tebow even if starter Mark Sanchez continues to underperform.

Clarkson is firmly in Tebow’s corner: “I would hope wherever he ends up, they give him an opportunity to play, because if they do, they’ll be pleasantly surprised. I think the guy can still play.”

Most NFL experts or so-called experts claim that Tim Tebow isn’t up to the job of NFL quarterback. Many of these same football experts also insisted that the Baltimore Ravens with Joe Flacco had no chance to win the Super Bowl.

On the subject of Tebow’s football footwork, Clarkson noted that “A lot of what was happening with his throwing motion and why it was elongated was because of the way he placed his feet at the end of his drop … So that was one thing that we really honed in on, was trying to tie his feet up  … Most of what people have talked about in his throwing motion were really based on his footwork.”

As far as Tim Tebow and Tai Chi, Clarkson explained, “There was a lot of Tai Chi that we kind of put into his workouts where we really taught him to make his body work as one unit … Most people who watch him will say for the most part that he has his moments when he throws in rhythm, he throws quite well. It’s when he had to reset himself, that’s when he would tend to get off balance and the ball would come off in an unnatural manner.”

Do you think that Tim Tebow deserves a chance to play quarterback in the NFL? Is he qualified to do so?

Have you ever practiced Tai Chi?

[Image by Shutterstock]

Tim Tebow Practiced Tai Chi To Improve QB Skills is a post from: The Inquisitr

George Allen “Pat” Summerall, the NFL broadcasting legend and former member of the New York Giants, has died, his family announced Tuesday.

The 82-year-old Summerall was in the Zale Lipshy Hospital in Dallas recovering from hip surgery, a family friend told The Dallas Morning News, when he went in to cardiac arrest.

Summerall struggled with health problems and alcoholism throughout much of his career, the newspaper noted. He was hospitalized in 1990 after mixing alcohol and medication.

Two years later, family, friends, and colleagues at CBS staged an emotional intervention that would finally convince Summerall he needed to take action.

He spent five weeks at the Betty Ford Clinic in Palm Springs, California, and never again touched a bottle.

“My time at Betty Ford saved my life,” Summerall would often say. Twelve years of sobriety followed, but on April 1, 2004, he would once again feel the effects of the habit he’d kicked.

At age 73, Pat Summerall had to undergo an emergency liver transplant due to the extensive damage he’d suffered throughout a lifetime of alcoholism.

Summerall did bounce back, however, staying active through 2011, but not all in the NFL.

Known for calling more Super Bowls than any other broadcaster at 16, he would bow out of the big game following Super Bowl XXXVI.

The matchup between New England and St. Louis ended with a thrilling last-second field goal from Adam Vinatieri, who captured the Lombardi for New England, 20-17.

“It’s right down the pipe. Adam Vinatieri. No time on the clock. And the Patriots have won Super Bowl XXXVI. Unbelievable,” Summerall said.

His broadcast partner John Madden told Summerall he was “a treasure” before signing off the final time.

“You are what the NFL is all about, what pro football is all about, and more important, what a man is all about and what a gentleman is all about,” Madden said.

Madden would announce his retirement seven years later. Here’s the duo calling that final drive:

Summerall called other sports for both CBS and FOX, but he’ll forever be remembered for his NFL coverage. It was a league he loved dearly and one he spent nine years of his life in as a player for the Chicago Cardinals and New York Giants.

He retired from the game in 1961, but never lost interest.

In fact, his last contribution to the sport could show up posthumously thanks to an in-person first-down line being developed by Alan Amron in part due to the financial backing of Summerall.

In comments to The Associated Press on Tuesday, the broadcaster’s daughter Susie Wiles called her father “an extraordinary man and a wonderful father.”

“I know he will be greatly missed,” she added.

What were your favorite memories of Pat Summerall?

[Image via Flickr Creative Commons]

Pat Summerall, NFL Broadcaster, Dead At 82 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Riddell was recently found negligent in a helmet suit filed against the company. The family of high school football player Rhett Ridolfi was awarded $11.5 million as a result.

A jury determined that the helmet manufacturer was negligent in warning players and football organizations about the health risks associated with its product.

Ridolfi reportedly suffered a concussion while practicing at Trinidad High School in 2008. The 22-year-old now has brain damage as a result of the accident. He is also paralyzed on the left side of his body. The player’s family later filed a suit against the helmet manufacturer.

Riddell is the country’s largest manufacturer of football helmets. Although many people have tried to sue similar companies that make helmets in the past, few people have won these lawsuits. Unfortunately for Riddell, other cases are currently pending.

The jury also found several of Ridolfi’s coaches to be negligent in their handling of the player’s concussion. However, they will not be required to pay the family any money.

The football helmet manufacturer was unhappy with the jury’s decision in the suit. While the company is only responsible for 27 percent of the $11.5 million awarded to the family, Riddell still intends to appeal the verdict as soon as possible.

The company said in a prepared statement:

“While disappointed in the jury’s decision not to fully exonerate Riddell, we are pleased the jury determined that Riddell’s helmet was not defective in any way. We are confident that the jury would have reached a different conclusion had the Court not erroneously excluded the testimony of our warnings expert. We intend to appeal this verdict, and we remain steadfast in our belief that Riddell designs and manufactures the most protective football headgear for the athlete.”

The manufacturer will be forced to contend with other lawsuits in the coming days. A case is scheduled to begin in Los Angeles later this week. Nearly 4,000 former players and their families have sued the NFL over the long-term health risks associated with the game. Riddell was also named in the suit.

What do you think about the verdict against Riddell? Do you think the think the family should have been awarded $11.5 million in the suit against the helmet manufacturer?

[Images via Shutterstock]

Riddell Loses Helmet Suit, Family Awarded $11.5M is a post from: The Inquisitr

The NFL met with LGBT groups last weeks as the league attempts to review policies and prepare for a group of players who say they are coming out soon.

The meeting took place at the NFL’s headquarters in New York City and included representatives from three LGBT groups — Athlete Ally, GLAAD, and You Can Play. It was part of a push by the groups to end homophobia in sports, and coincides with reports that several gay NFL players are preparing to come out.

The NFL has never had an openly gay active player, though several have come out after they retired from the league. One of those players, former Tennessee Titan Wade Davis, attended the meeting last week.

Also in attendance was Troy Vincent, NFL senior vice president of player engagement.

“We had a productive meeting in our office,” Vincent told Outsports. “We embraced the opportunity to review with the groups our policies that prohibit discrimination in the workplace. … In addition, we also discussed the ability of all personnel, including players, to express their opinions and feelings. We look forward to continuing the dialogue with these organizations and further educating everyone associated with the NFL about the importance of respect and inclusion in the office, the locker room and on the field.”

After the meeting, the participants expressed optimism in creating a more open and inviting atmosphere for all players.

“Football is the most popular sport in America, but it’s also a sport where many LGBT young people have felt unwelcome or unable to participate — in stands, on sidelines, or on fields across the country,” the groups said in a joint statement provided to The Huffington Post. “Fortunately, that attitude is changing, and the NFL can help make the sport even more inclusive. We look forward to being a resource for the NFL on LGBT issues and hope to be valuable to the league as we all continue to progress.”

Though there has never been an openly gay athlete in any major American sport, there seems to be momentum building toward several to come out. Last week the NHL  took a step in that direction when it announced a partnership with You Can Play.

An LGBT advocate within the NHL think that sport will have the first openly gay player.

“I have no doubt that (the NHL) will be first,” Patrick Burke, a scout for the Philadelphia Flyers and co-founder of You Can Play, told USA Today. “Our league is ready for this and our players are ready for this. The culture of the sport, when it comes to LGBT issues, is so far ahead of the other sports that I have no doubt that there will be openly gay athletes in the NHL in the near future.”

The NFL players could come out in the near future as well. Current player Brendon Ayanbadejo, an LGBT advocate, said the gay players contacted him and could be making a joint announcement very soon.

NFL Meets With LGBT Rights Groups As Players Prepare To Come Out is a post from: The Inquisitr

The NHL has formed a partnership with You Can Play, an advocacy group that is dedicated to working with gay athletes and fighting homophobia in sports.

The NHL doesn’t currently have any openly gay athletes (neither does the NFL, MLB, or NBA) but that could change with today’s announcement.

Patrick Burke, a scout for the Philadelphia Flyers and co-founder of You Can Play, told USA Today: “I have no doubt that (the NHL) will be first … Our league is ready for this and our players are ready for this. The culture of the sport, when it comes to LGBT issues, is so far ahead of the other sports that I have no doubt that there will be openly gay athletes in the NHL in the near future.”

The partnership with You Can Play will promote an inclusive community and will discourage players from using casual homophobic language. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that he wants to create a welcome environment that will allow any gay NHL players to be open about their sexuality.

Bettman said: “We are welcoming and inclusive and we want to make sure that our sport has the right environment … And that is a message that resonates from our players, our fans and our teams … Our motto is Hockey Is for Everyone, and our partnership with You Can Play certifies that position in a clear and unequivocal way. We are delighted to reaffirm through this joint venture with the N.H.L. Players’ Association that the official policy of the N.H.L. is one of inclusion on the ice, in our locker rooms and in the stands.”

Donald Fehr, the chief executive of the players’ association, told the NY Times: “Bottom line, it’s the right thing to do, and that’s what we’re all supposed to do in this world.”

You Can Play will run seminars for rookies joining the league to educate them on gay issues. The league will also offer counseling services.

Boston Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference said: “It’s not a big deal if you’re straight or gay or whatever you are, it’s a matter of being a good teammate. We take a lot of pride in viewing the locker room as a family and treating each other like brothers. If one of those brothers feels ostracized for what he is, it’s just wrong.”

The NHL’s announcement comes amid heightened speculation that several NFL players are getting ready to publicly announce that they are gay. The NFL has struggled with homophobia in recent years. Before last year’s Super Bowl, several players said that they wouldn’t feel comfortable with a gay person in the locker room.

NHL Partners With Gay Advocacy Group is a post from: The Inquisitr

The NFL is mandating that every team install locker room cameras in the their stadiums before the 2013 season. The odd move will be used as a tool to enhance the fan experience at games.

The NFL promises anything shown by the locker room cameras will be safe for work. The idea behind cameras is to give fans a glimpse inside the home team’s locker room right before games start and during halftime.

Eric Grubman, NFL Executive Vice President, revealed the news at the 2013 IMG World Congress of Sports on Tuesday. NFL Spokesman Brian McCarthy then explained how it will work.

The locker room cameras will only show footage from the home team. It will be shot pre-game and during halftime. Each team will then have the choice of how to use the footage on replay screens. It will also be up to the teams if they choose to use audio with the footage.

One aspect that has attracted the NFL to the idea is extra advertising revenue. While fans are waiting for their game to start, a message could appear on the replay screen, “Here’s a glimpse into the locker room, presented by…” If the cameras prove to be popular, sponsors could pay good money for this.

Grubmam believes the move will help increase NFL attendance by giving fans a unique experience at the stadium. That way fans have a reason to go to games instead of staying home and watching on TV.

Another change the NFL will be introducing is on replays. All replay angles will be shown in-stadium. There have been instances since replay was introduced where the in-stadium operator would show biased angles to the crowd. The move will hopefully prevent crowds from getting to hostile when they believe a call did not go their way.

The locker room cameras are one of many changes coming to the NFL for the 2013 season. The infamous tuck-rule has been eliminated, and the crown-of-helmet rule has been introduced. Both rules should be positive changes as the new season approaches.

Do you think locker room cameras are a good idea? Will NFL attendance rise, or are the cameras a cheap gimmick?

[image via Wikimedia Commons]

NFL Installing Locker Room Cameras At Every Stadium is a post from: The Inquisitr

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, The Dallas Cowboys have signed quarterback Tony Romo to a six-year extension that is reportedly worth $108 million, though it doesn’t go into affect until after the upcoming season. The deal makes Romo the highest paid Cowboys player of all-time, though he has failed to lead the team past the divisional round of the NFL playoffs in his eight seasons in Dallas.

The deal comes just after Romo tied his career high by throwing 19 interceptions last season as the Cowboys failed to make the playoffs for the third straight year. Owner Jerry Jones proved Friday that he still believes in the 32-year-old out of Eastern Illinois by signing him to a blockbuster $108 million contract.

Outside of tying Drew Brees for the most picks in the NFL in 2012, Romo threw for a career-high 4,903 yards with 28 touchdowns. By signing Romo, the Cowboys have sealed up the quarterback spot for the next seven seasons and can now focus on the upcoming NFL Draft with room to spare in salary cap.

The Cowboys agreed to terms with former Detroit Lions linebacker Justin Durant earlier this week,  and have also signed linebackers Victor Butler and Ernie Sims. The Cowboys have the 18th pick in the upcoming draft, and should focus their attention on pass protection and adding a few targets for Romo on the outside.

The Cowboys could go with North Carolina’s Jonathan Cooper or Alabama’s Chance Warmack in the first round to add some depth to their offensive line. Wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson from the University of Tennessee has also been mentioned as a possible target for the Cowboys.

The Cowboys are known as “America’s team,” and some fans aren’t convinced Romo can lead Dallas to a Super Bowl. They might have a pretty good argument, as Romo has yet to come close to a championship and is only getting older. He will be 39-years-old by the end of his contract, meaning his numbers could fall off anytime within the final two or three seasons and force the Cowboys to look for a replacement while still paying him.

Is Tony Romo capable of leading the Cowboys to their first Super Bowl since 1995?

[Image via WikiMedia Commons]

Tony Romo Signs 6-Year Extension With Dallas Cowboys is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Baltimore Ravens have agreed to terms with former Oakland Raiders safety Michael Huff just two weeks after being released by his former team. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN,  Huff agreed to a three-year deal that is worth $6 million with the Ravens, who needed help in their defensive backfield.

The Ravens released strong safety Bernard Pollard earlier this offseason and lost free safety Ed Reed to the Houston Texans. Huff visited the Dallas Cowboys last week before signing with the Ravens and should be a starter come September. Huff is the fourth defensive player the Ravens have signed this offseason, including the addition of outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil this past Sunday.

Huff was the seventh overall draft pick in 2006 by the Raiders and spent the first seven seasons of his career there. Last year, Huff started 14 of 16 games at cornerback after the Raiders’ secondary was setback due to multiple injuries.

The 30-year-old finished 2012 with 56 tackles, two interceptions, and 13 pass breakups, primarily as a cornerback. Huff has 11 career interceptions and had a career-high 94 tackles in 2010.

A product of the Texas Longhorns, Huff is very athletic and considered a pretty solid tackler, though he is known to breakdown in coverage from time to time. Huff’s experience and flexibility defensively will certainly help the Ravens, who were lacking ever since Ed Reed packed his bags and left for Houston.

The Ravens defense is currently going through a major overhaul that all started before they won the Super Bowl when Ray Lewis announced he would retire after the playoffs. Since winning the Super Bowl, linebacker Paul Kruger signed with the Cleveland Browns and cornerback Cary Williams took his talents to Philadelphia to play for the Eagles.

Outside of signing Dumervil and Huff, the Ravens upgraded their defensive line with the additions of Chris Canty and Marcus Spears. Canty has played the last four seasons with the New York Giants while Spears his spent his entire eight-year career with the Cowboys. Canty and Spears were teammates for four seasons with the Cowboys from 2005-08.

The Ravens look to have made the necessary moves to contend for the Super Bowl once again in 2013 and will use the upcoming NFL Draft to cover the rest.

Does signing Michael Huff shore up the Raven’s secondary or will the new look defense fail to meet expectation in 2013?

Ravens Sign Michael Huff To 3-Year Deal is a post from: The Inquisitr

Elvis Dumervil has signed a long term contract with the Baltimore Ravens. Dumervil was a free agent thanks in large part to a faulty fax machine, and an agent who no longer works for the player.

Dumervil had agreed to a restructuring of his deal with the Denver Broncos last month but the player’s side wasn’t able to get the agreement faxed to the team in time to avoid the having to release the defensive end in a cost cutting move.

Not surprisingly, one of the top defensive players in the league fired the agent that cost him a job and some money. The new contract with the Ravens will at least take the defensive end off the unemployment line once and for all.

Elvis Dumervil signed a five year deal that is reportedly worth $35 million. The sack specialist will get $8.1 million this season. He will also get to play for the defending Super Bowl champions.

The Baltimore Ravens had to outlast the Broncos in the playoffs last year, barely scraping by with a 38-35 win in double overtime just to stay on their path to the Super Bowl. That win seemed to spur the team on to a rather impressive performance in the big game.

Dumervil spent his first six seasons in the NFL with the Denver Broncos after they drafted him out of Louisville in the 4th round of the 2006 Draft. One of the best defensive linemen in Denver Broncos history has amassed 63 sacks in those six years.

Elvis Dumervil has agreed with the Ravens. Details coming on denverpost.com/broncos

— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) March 24, 2013

The newly minted Raven had 12 sacks in 2011, 11 sacks last year and a career high 17 sacks during the 2009 season. The veteran pass rusher got off to an impressive start to his career by recording 8.5 sacks in his rookie season.

Do you think Elvis Dumervil will be able to put up similar numbers when he plays for the Baltimore Ravens?

Elvis Dumervil Signs With Baltimore Ravens is a post from: The Inquisitr

Jim Brown has reconciled with the Cleveland Browns. Before reconciling, Jim Brown had been boycotting the Browns football team.

Jim Brown is one of the all-time great running backs, honored as the Browns franchise’s leading rusher in the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame. Before retiring from the Browns, Jim Brown had rushed 12,312 yard in nine seasons. This NFL record stood until Emmitt Smith became the NFL’s all-time leading rusher with the Dallas Cowboys.

The Jim Brown boycott of the Cleveland Browns started when Jim Brown became at odds with former Browns team president Mike Holmgren, who removed Jim Brown from his post as an adviser to previous owner Randy Lerner. This alienated many Jim Brown fans.

But on March 20, Jim Brown reconciled with new owner Jimmy Haslam and the two worked out a plan for Brown to rejoin the franchise. This is what Haslam said about their plans:

“I think he feels good about it, and I think we feel good about it, and rightfully so. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know him, not just as a great football player but as a man.”

Jim Brown was considered a consultant the last time he was with the Browns. Haslam has said that Jim Brown’s official role will be made clear in the next two to three weeks:

“Jim Brown and I have spent a lot of time together. We spent about an hour together last night, and I think we’ve established a really good relationship, and I think sometime over the next two or three weeks we’ll formalize that relationship and Jim will play the appropriate role with the Cleveland Browns. … It’s a big deal, and that’s why I want to do it right. In the next couple of weeks we’ll announce something.”

What do you think about Jim Brown reconciling with the Cleveland Browns?

Jim Brown Reconciles With Cleveland Browns, Rejoins Football Team He’d Boycotted is a post from: The Inquisitr

The tuck rule has been eliminated by NFL owners at winter meetings, though the rule change comes about 11 years too late for the Oakland Raiders.

The tuck rule was made famous by the 2001 AFC Championship game, in which it appeared the Raiders’ Charles Woodson forced what appeared to be a fumble that would have iced the game. But officials said the play fell under the tuck rule, and what appeared to be a fumble was really a failed forward pass.

On the play, Tom Brady pump-faked and brought the ball back to his body as he was hit. The hit would now be ruled a fumble.

The tuck rule was seen as one of the most confusing and difficult to interpret, and critics said it still wasn’t applied consistently even after Brady’s famous play.

Only one team voted against eliminating the tuck rule, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The New England Patriots and Washington Redskins abstained from the rules vote.

“We didn’t think it was necessary to make that change,” Steelers president Art Rooney said. “We were happy with the way it’s been called.”

Eliminating the tuck rule wasn’t the only order of business at winter meetings. NFL owners also voted on other rule changes to be implemented in 2013. They eliminated a penalty for a coach throwing a challenge flag on a play that is automatically reviewed, and also introduced a “crown-of-the-helmet” rule.

This rule is part of the NFL’s fight against head injuries, and would penalize a running back 15 yards for using the crown of the helmet to initiate contact with a defender. The rule only pertains to tackle attempts made outside the tackle box, and incidental contact is not deemed a foul.

The Oakland Raiders seemed especially pleased with the rule change. After the voting was finalized, the team sent out a three-word tweet: “Adios, Tuck Rule.”

Tuck Rule Eliminated By NFL Owners is a post from: The Inquisitr

According to Jarrett Bell of USA Today, offensive tackle Jake Long signed a four-year deal with the St. Louis Rams Sunday after five seasons with the Miami Dolphins. Long’s four-year deal is reportedly worth $34 million plus an extra $2 million in incentives.

The 2008 No. 1 overall draft pick missed the last four games of last season with the Dolphins due to a left triceps injury. Though Long struggled in 2012 due to injury, the four-time Pro Bowler passed physicals in St. Louis earlier last week that led to the signing Sunday.

The Rams failed to make the playoffs last season after losing two of their last three games, but have landed one of the most coveted offensive tackles in free agency this offseason. Long was pursued by multiple teams up until his eventual signing with the Rams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

After being drafted No. 1 overall in 2008, Long signed a deal with the Dolphins that guaranteed him $30 million, almost double the amount of his new contract with the Rams. The extreme drop in salary just comes to show Long’s decline on the field.

Nevertheless, the Rams addition of Long gives them more depth on the offensive line and should give Sam Bradford more time to work with in the pocket. Long is expected to play on the left side of the offensive line, moving Roger Saffold to right tackle.

The Rams lost running back Steven Jackson last week after he signed with the Atlanta Falcons. Not one of the remaining backs on the Rams’ roster has more than two-years of NFL experience, which should become a priority for the Rams if they expect to contend in the NFC West.

Signing one of the best tackles in free agency is great, but the Rams will need to find a better running back to compliment the pick-up of Long. The Rams also lost wide receiver Danny Amendola after he signed with the New England Patriots five days ago. The Rams currently have just five wide receivers left on their roster, most notably Chris Givens who led the team in 2012 with 698 receiving yards.

As you can see, there are many holes the Rams’ must fill before the start of the 2013 season. St. Louis finished near the bottom of the NFL in most offensive categories in 2012, so signing a few more players that can help Sam Bradford wouldn’t hurt. Jake Long’s signing is a pretty good start for the Rams, but there is still plenty of work to be done if they have any plans of returning to the playoffs next season.

Jake Long Signs With St. Louis Rams is a post from: The Inquisitr

Herschel Walker could be headed back to MMA if UFC President Dana White is willing to have him, but White appeared skeptical when asked about it at a pre-event press conference for Saturday’s UFC 158, according to MMA Junkie.

“I’ll have to talk to him. … First of all, the athletic commission would have to approve that,” White said, adding that he believed Walker’s fight contract, originally with UFC acquisition Strikeforce, was still valid.

Strikeforce closed its doors following the January 12, 2013, event, but not before Walker, a former NFL and USFL running back, was able to rack up two TKO victories in two fights with the organization.

At 51, Herschel Walker still looks the part of an MMA fighter. Men’s Health even named him the fifth fittest man ever on its list of 100. Still, it’s easy to see where White’s skepticism is valid.

The two Herschel Walker MMA fights were less than stellar. His first at Strikeforce: Miami in January 2010 was against Greg Nagy, a fighter who showed little more movement than a tackling dummy (see video below).

His second, a year later, was against Scott Carson, an only slightly more active fighter. Walker won both contests, but it was clear he hadn’t faced upper echelon opponents.

Still, Walker believed he had another fight left when speaking to The LaVar Arrington Show on March 12.

“I would love to do it again,” he said. “I absolutely love MMA. I think it’s an excellent sport and you know what’s so strange about it, is I’m a little bit older so I’m having to work a little bit hard.”

Walker continued: “I tell people all the time, if you want to do this sport you got to get out and you got to train. You can do this but you got to train. You can’t just step out there and think you’re going to fight in that cage because a lot of those guys are trained to hurt you.”

Walker has remained humble in both victories, and his respect for the sport appears to be a common trait for NFL transfers trying to make a name for themselves in the fighting world.

Most recently, NFL cheerleader Rachel Wray even launched her MMA career, reiterating much of what Walker said about the training involved.

But in Walker’s case, he is a heavyweight entering a shallow yet talented division. Even the under-card fighters are capable of hurting you as Walker pointed out.

White may be hesitant because of the emphasis on competition he tries to place on the UFC brand, and the danger this fight would have of becoming an amateur-style contest should he try to match Walker with someone at the same skill level.

At the same time, matching Walker with someone like Mark Hunt could end badly for Walker, and that’s likely something fans wouldn’t wish to see for an athlete, who has defied age, inspired others, and proved a great ambassador of the sport.

Still, Walker looks phenomenal for any age, and even though his third and final fight — which he confirmed this would be on his radio appearance — could be a loss, he appears to have the physical constitution for it.

Furthermore, Walker is an adult, and he seems to know exactly what he’s getting himself in to. Do you think Herschel Walker and his MMA career should get one last shot?

[Image via Mary A Lupo / Shutterstock.com]

http://youtu.be/PSsgbMpD_fw

Herschel Walker Back To MMA: UFC Prez Weighs In is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kevin Kolb was released by the Arizona Cardinals Friday after two disappointing seasons with the franchise. The Cardinals went 5-11 last season, though Kolb won all four of his appearances before tearing cartilage in his ribs in Week 6.

Kevin Kolb lost the starting job to John Skelton in the preseason before regaining the starting role when Skelton went down in the first game of the season. Kolb went down five weeks later, and the Cardinals went on to lose 11 of their final 12 games.

The Cardinals finished last in the NFC West which led to the firing of Ken Whisenhunt. Bruce Arians has been brought in as the new head coach after leading the Indianapolis Colts to the playoffs as the interim head coach while Chuck Pagano recovered from leukemia.

The Cardinals decision to release Kolb came just before his $2 million roster bonus. The 28-year-old was due to make $9 million this upcoming season and had already made $20 million in two years with the Cardinals.

Arizona signed quarterback Drew Stanton to a three-year deal worth $8.2 million plus incentives just two days before releasing Kolb. Stanton was the Colts backup last season, so him following Bruce Arians to the Cardinals makes sense.

The Cardinals have been compensating quickly after releasing a player. Arizona signed running back Rashard Mendenhall Wednesday after releasing Beanie Wells Monday.

Arizona’s offense could use a lot of help after having the worst in the NFL last season. Mendenhall missed the majority of the 2012 season due to an ACL injury, but had over 1,000 rushing yards in two of his three full seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Even after signing Stanton, the Cardinals may go after a quarterback in the draft. Arizona has the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Kevin Kolb was sent to Arizona in 2011 by the Philadelphia Eagles for cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Kolb was expected to be the Cardinals franchise’s quarterback of the future, but ended up being a bust after many injury setbacks and mediocre play on the field.

Arizona will now move on without Kolb while he more than likely looks for a new job. There’s no doubting Kevin Kolb will get some offers before the 2013 season; the question is where it will be and for what kind of money.

Kevin Kolb Released By Cardinals is a post from: The Inquisitr

Long-time St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson signed a 3-year, $12 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons late Thursday night. The move for Jackson comes just two weeks after the Falcons released Michael Turner due to failing a physical.

Jackson will now take over as the lead back in Atlanta after Turner’s dismissal. The move for Jackson looks to be a slight upgrade from Turner, who averaged a career-low 3.6 yards per carry last season.

Stephen Jackson played nine seasons with the St. Louis Rams before departing to Atlanta Thursday. The 29-year-old rushed for over 1,000 yards in all but his rookie season and has more career rushing yards than any other active player in the NFL with 10,135.

Jackson is a powerful back, similar to Turner, but with a little more height and speed coming out of the backfield. A product of Oregon State, Jackson is the Rams all-time leading rusher but couldn’t come to terms with the team this offseason and looked to free agency instead.

It didn’t take long for Jackson to find a new home, and the Falcons seem like a perfect fit. Jackson has never had much talent around him in St. Louis, but he now joins a team that is ready to contend for a Super Bowl.

The Falcons deal with Jackson could make for a deadly combination when the season begins in September. Matt Ryan led the Falcons to the best record in the NFC last season and put up the best numbers of his career, so adding Jackson can only give that offense more options.

The Falcons tight-end Tony Gonzalez decided against retirement earlier this week, giving Matt Ryan another chance at a Super Bowl run with one of his most reliable targets. The addition of Jackson on Thursday compliments the Falcons running game as Jacquizz Rodgers is expected to share some of the work load.

The Jackson-Rodgers combination could work wonders for the Falcons, as Jackson is more of a “run you over” type of back, while Rodgers relies on his speed and quickness.

Atlanta lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game last season, and you know giving up a 10-point halftime lead motivates them every day going forward. Steven Jackson signs and the running back debate ends in Atlanta, setting up an offense that could dominate the NFC once again.

Steven Jackson Signs 3-Year Deal With Falcons is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Kansas City Chiefs released Matt Cassel on Thursday, ending the former starting quarterback’s rollercoaster career with the NFL team.

Kansas City’s decision to part ways with Cassel comes as no surprise after acquiring Alex Smith in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers earlier in the offseason.

The team held a press conference to introduce Smith on Wednesday afternoon, and it was inevitable that Cassel would be formally released shortly after.

New Kansas City coach Andy Reid wished Cassel the best of luck in the next phase of his career and thanked the former New England Patriots QB for his service to the team.

“He’s a good football player and deserves the respect we’re trying to give him right now,” Reid stated. “We think that is important.”

Cassel should not be out of a job for too long though, as the Arizona Cardinals have expressed interest in obtaining his services for the upcoming campaign.

Cassel looked as if he was going to be the quarterback the Chiefs were so desperately looking for after posting impressive numbers in his first season at the helm.

He threw for 3166 yards and 27 touchdowns while leading the Chiefs to the AFC West title. However, Kansas City was eliminated in the playoffs by the Baltimore Ravens in a disappointing 30-7 loss at Arrowhead Stadium.

Big things were expected of the Kansas City Chiefs, and Cassel the following year but he went 4-5 in nine starts before being sidelined with a hand injury late in the season.

Cassel was then benched in favor of Brady Quinn in 2012, and the writing was on the wall when Kansas City GM Scott Pioli was fired shortly after the season ended.

Kansas City released Cassel after numerous attempts to trade him for a late round pick were unsuccessful, as his $7.5 million salary scared some teams off.

Kansas City Chiefs Release Matt Cassel is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Dwight Freeney Rumors say the NFL free agent might be signing up with the Denver Broncos. Peyton Manning is reportedly trying to get the Broncos management to sign up Dwight Freeney.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, the Dwight Freeney rumors started after The Indianapolis Colts released Dwight Freeney, the franchise’s all-time leader in sacks, as well as frequently-injured receiver Austin Collie.

Dwight Freeney was an 11-year veteran with the Colts, who initially drafted Freeney. He racked up 107.5 sacks and earned seven Pro Bowl nods, as well as three first-team All-Pro selections.

NFL.com notes that the Colts’ release of Dwight Freeney surprised the NFL player:

“I was very surprised to hear they wanted to go in a different direction. Would have been nice to retire a Colt.”

The 33 year old Dwight Freeney might be past the prime of his career, but that does not mean his run with the NFL is over. The shift in the Colts defensive scheme was supposedly an impetus for making the decision. Working with another NFL team, Dwight Freeney would be able to go back to a 4-3 defense and play defensive end instead of the 3-4 scheme where he was playing outside linebacker.

Sports World Report explains why the Dwight Freeney rumors related to the Broncos make sense:

“Freeney saw his production drop in 2012 because of the 3-4 defense. The transition did not work in his favor. He produced his worst year of production, only recording 12 tackles and five sacks in 14 games. The five sacks were the second-lowest of his career. The Broncos are expected to cut Elvis Dumervil at the start of free agency because of his large salaray and will be in need of a pass rusher to place next to Von Miller. Freeney would certainly fit that mold.”

The Los Angeles Times reports that other Dwight Freeney rumors have the NFL free agent going to the Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, or New York Jets.

Which one of the Dwight Freeney rumors do you hope come true?

Freeney grew up a Giants fan. He says “playing in New York would be attractive…playing for them would be a dream.” #SXMBLITZ

— Adam Schein (@AdamSchein) February 20, 2013

Dwight Freeney Rumors Say NFL Free Agent Signing With Denver Broncos is a post from: The Inquisitr

Steve Hutchinson announced his retirement on Tuesday following 12 seasons in the National Football League with the Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings, and Tennessee Titans.

The Titans left guard decided to call it quits on his career after failing to recover sufficiently from a knee injury that limited him to 12 games last season.

The seven-time Pro Bowl lineman confirmed his decision to hang up his cleats on Tuesday. “Retiring today after a great run in the NFL. I want to thank the Seahawks, Vikings, Titans and their fans for the opportunity,” he wrote on Twitter.

Hutchinson was a four-year starter at the University of Michigan and helped lead the Wolverines to the national championship in 1997.

He was named an All-American in his final season in Ann Arbor and was taken by the Seattle Seahawks with the 17th pick in the first round.

Hutchinson spent four fruitful seasons in Seattle before moving to Minnesota where he would cement his place as one of the best linemen of his generation.

He made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons with the Vikings and helped pave the way for Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson.

Hutchinson left Minnesota in 2011 and joined the Tennessee Titans where he appeared in 12 games. He was placed on injury reserve December 5, 2012 after tweaking his knee in the 24-10 setback to the Houston Texans. He had two years remaining on the three-year deal he signed with Tennessee in March.

Steve Hutchinson made Seattle’s 35th Anniversary Team and was named one of the 50 greatest Vikings of all time.

Steve Hutchinson Retires From NFL is a post from: The Inquisitr

Denard Robinson has won the vote to grace the cover of EA Sports NCAA Football 2014. The former Michigan star beat out ex-Texas A&M receiver Ryan Swopes in a tightly-contested race.

EA Sports let the fans decide who should appear on the cover of the video game, and more than five million people voted on Facebook to determine the winner.

EA Sports confirmed earlier on Tuesday that Robinson had come out on top and that the former Michigan quarterback was delighted after the announcement.

“I want to say thank you to all the fans at Michigan for getting behind me,” he said. “It’s an honor to go to Michigan and for us to be on the cover on NCAA football.”

Michigan pushed hard for Robinson to grace the cover of the popular video game and received an unexpected helping hand from Snoop Dogg, who urged all of his Twitter followers to vote for the Florida-born speedster.

Robinson was an unheralded recruit when he came to the University of Michigan in 2009 but soon flourished in former coach Rich Rodriguez’s spread offense.

His dazzling runs made him a regular on Sports Center, and the fact that he did so without tying his shoelaces only added to his legend.

‘Shoelace’ holds a plethora of single-game records for total offense at Michigan but will enter the NFL draft as a wide receiver after struggling to throw the ball accurately for most of his tenure in Ann Arbor.

Denard Robinson will be the third Michigan player to appear on the cover of NCAA Football, following in the footsteps of Heisman trophy winners Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson. No release date for the video game has been announced.

Denard Robinson Wins Cover Vote for ‘EA Sports NCAA Football 2014′ is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Pittsburgh Steelers have released linebacker James Harrison. Harrison was the 2008 NFL player of the year and has been looked at as the heart of soul of the Steelers’ defense for years. During his tenures with the team, Pittsburgh has won two Super Bowls.

The move to jettison the mouthy linebacker looks to be just the latest retooling of a team that allowed itself to get rather old over the last few years. Before the 2012 season began the Steelers let long time favorite and star wide receiver Hines Ward go.

Wide receiver Mike Wallace seems less likely to return to Pittsburgh after teams like the Minnesota Vikings have shown real interest. Harrison’s big contract is one of the reasons why many feel the Pittsburgh Steelers let the vocal defender go. Harrison’s cap number for the 2013 season was in the neighborhood of $10 million.

Harrison had also missed eight games over the last two seasons and recently turned 34. Those facts also likely were taken into account when the decision was made to cut the linebacker.

Once a non-drafted free agent in the 2002 class, Harrison set a franchise record 16 sacks in 2008. For his part, Harrison seemed to understand the move by his now former team.

The verbose veteran sent out a tweet that read in part, “It’s been a great run but everything must come to a end,” he added that he was going to miss the fan base that is referred to as Steelers Nation.

It’s been a great run but all good things must come to a end. Thank you Steelers Nation I will miss you all!

— James Harrison (@jharrison9292) March 9, 2013

Harrison also holds the Super Bowl record for length of interception return. During Super Bowl XLIII Harrison returned an interception for 100 yards and what was eventually the decisive touchdown in the game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Will the Pittsburgh Steelers miss James Harrison next season?

Pittsburgh Steelers Release James Harrison is a post from: The Inquisitr

Mike Wallace will be one of the most sought after players in the NFL when the free agent frenzy officially commences on March 12 and the Miami Dolphins are determined to secure his services at any cost.

The 26 year old possesses the blazing speed that Miami’s top brass desperately craves at the wide receiver position and the Dolphins have earmarked Wallace as their number one priority, according to NFL.com.

“Jeff Ireland will have a corps of pass catchers within the next week that includes Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline and Davone Bess,” sources said. “The plan (Plan A at least) does not include Greg Jennings, who isn’t as valued by the organization as many outsiders believe him to be.”

This may come as a surprise to many, as the Dolphins were expected to make a serious run at Jennings, due to his relationship with current Miami head coach Joe Philbin during their time together with the Green Bay Packers.

The Packers won the Super Bowl in the 2010-11 season thanks to Philbin dialing up the plays as Green Bay’s offensive coordinator and Jennings making clutch catches and many expected a reunion in Miami.

The Dolphins have been searching for a number one wide receiver since shipping off the mercurial Brandon Marshall to the Chicago Bears for a pair of third round draft picks in March 2012.

Wallace has less baggage than the often troubled Marshall and will give the Dolphins the deep threat that they have coveted for many years now.

Miami will not be the only suitor in the Mike Wallace sweepstakes though as Pro Football Talk reports that the Minnesota Vikings are also keen to land the speedster and are not afraid of splashing the cash during the free agent market.

Will Minnesota make an offer that the former Mississippi star can’t refuse or will Wallace take his talents to South Beach?

Mike Wallace Tops Miami Dolphins’ Wishlist is a post from: The Inquisitr

A view of Michael Vick dog training in the past would be one of him teaching dogs to kill one another. Now the three-time Pro Bowl selection is taking his pup to training classes at a New Jersey PetSmart.

Vick’s dog is named Angel, a Belgian Malinois, and is being trained by Vick at the local PetSmart according to Crossing Broad, a Philadelphia Sports Blog.

Michael Vick has been accompanied by his bodyguard and family members on each occasion and even stopped to take photos with an employee and his puppy.

Anything involving Michael Vick and dogs has never been viewed well in the past. Vick spent almost two years in prison for illegal dog fighting a few years back before returning to the NFL.

Just last fall, Michael Vick released a statement in front of the press about his view on owning a dog after his stint in prison:

“I understand the strong emotions by some people about our family’s decision to care for a pet. As a father, it is important to make sure my children develop a healthy relationship with animals.

“I want to ensure that my children establish a loving bond and treat all of God’s creatures with kindness and respect. Our pet is well cared for and loved as a member of our family.

“This is an opportunity to break the cycle. To that end, I will continue to honor my commitment to animal welfare and be an instrument of positive change.”

The statement was firm and seemed to be honest. Vick made these remarks just this past October, so my guess would be that they still hold true today.

There are a lot of questions going forward for Michael Vick with the Philadelphia Eagles. With just one year left on his contract, the Eagles signed Dennis Dixon.

There has been a lot of talk about Vick being moved, possibly before the season starts, due to Nick Foles success late last season and Chip Kelly bringing in his former player Dennis Dixon. The Jacksonville Jaguars have been mentioned as a possible suitor for Vick.

No matter where Vick is playing football next year, the current focus remains on the irony of him partaking in dog training classes. Most people have yet to forgive Michael Vick for his involvement in illegal dog fighting a few years ago, and some never will.

Whether Vick is scrutinized for the rest of his life or not doesn’t seem to be bothering him one bit, as he was all smiles at PetSmart. Both Vick and his dog Angel are probably better off with the training than without it. Michael Vick dog training can quickly become confused with dog fighting considering his disgraceful past, but that won’t stop Vick from enjoying his pets with his family.

[Image via Crossing Broad]

Michael Vick Dog Training, NFL Star Enrolls In K9 Class is a post from: The Inquisitr

Lauren Silberman’s attempt to be the first female kicker in the NFL was cut short by injury after just two kicks. A group of people that was invited to a regional NFL combine, Silberman was not only the first female kicker to be invited to the combine, but the first woman in general.

Silberman is a former club soccer player from the University of Wisconsin and was trying out at the NFL scouting combine located at the New York Jets practice facility. ESPN reports that Silberman took the field and immediately tried two kickoffs.

The first kickoff went just 19 yards and the second just 13 yards. After the second kick, she asked that a trainer come over and look at her leg. The first female player to be invited to an NFL scouting combine has drawn quite a crush of media and more than 30 outlets watched as the was examined on the sidelines for about 30 minutes.

Once it was determined that the issue was a quad injury, Lauren Silberman knew she was done for the day. NBC Sports is reporting that Silberman seemed to have landed awkwardly after her first kick, and that she had suffered a quad injury earlier in the week getting ready for the combine.

Silberman apparently did come back onto the field at one point, but she had a noticable limp and she didn’t attempt another kick. After the event, the wannabe NFL kicker talked to the media for about three minutes, seemingly fighting back tears of disappointment at various times saying:

“I’ve always been an athlete, and I’ve always been a gamer. When I had the opportunity to be in the NFL, one of the world’s most competitive leagues, I absolutely had to take the chance.”

Lauren Silberman added that she expects to be back some day to give the NFL at least one more try.

Lauren Silberman’s NFL Tryout Lasts Two Kicks is a post from: The Inquisitr

Manti Te’o had a phenomenal senior year at Notre Dame in helping his team reach the BCS title game. Then Te’o fell apart in the national championship game on Jan. 7 against Alabama. Then news broke that Manti Te’o lied about his dead girlfriend. Then it was discovered that his dead girlfriend didn’t exist. Then it was discovered that the dead girlfriend was actually a guy he never met in real life. Then… well you get the point.

Following all of his personal troubles there was still great hope for Manti Te’o as NFL teams gathered at this weeks NFL Combine to watch future NFL hopefuls strut around with all of their big time talent.

Unfortunately for Manti Te’o his NFL Combine started with a huge THUD. The Notre Dame star who was expected to run the 40-yard dash in under 4.75 seconds instead pulled in a lousy time of 4.82 seconds. The time was so bad that it led NBA star LeBron James when asked about his own 40-yard dash to proclaim:  “It’s better than Manti Te’o, I’ll tell you that.”

Scouts then observed that Manti had dropped from 255 pounds during his senior season to just 241 pounds. Essentially a smaller, slower, prospect showed up at the NFL combine and essentially failed to wow scouts, general managers and other team officials.

While most scouts would likely have forgiven a slightly slower than expected 40-yard dash, it becomes harder to ignore a slower and weaker linebacker.

Questions about his ability to handle the pressure of the national spotlight could further complications for Te’o as he enters the NFL draft. Three weeks ago Te’o was expected to be drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 13th draft spot. Yesterday ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. changed his position, placing the linebacker in the 20th draft position going to the Chicago Bears.

Now with mounting problems in his game it looks as if Manti Te’o could fall off the NFL first round draft pick board all together.

While it is easy to make assumptions at this point, the truth is the NFL draft isn’t until April and Manti Te’o will still have a chance to impress scouts during Notre Dame’s pro day on March 26.

The spotlight for Manti Te’o will now likely focus on his ability to gain a few pounds while also increasing his speed. If Manti Te’o can prove to NFL scouts, coaches and general managers that he is able to excel during a difficult point in his life, he could potentially turn his fake dead girlfriend story into a positive attribute of his character during trying times.

Despite his slower than expected 40-yard dash time Manti Te’o has at least one supporter in longtime ESPN basketball analysts Dick Vitale who tweeted:

Wow all this negative talk about MANTI TE’O ‘s 40 time -is he being rated 4 the Olympics? I know MANTI & he is a football player – #PROBOWL

— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) February 27, 2013

Do you think Manti Te’o will staill manage to pull off a first-round draft pick position despite his less than stellar NFL combine?\

Manti Te’o Continues To Fall Apart At NFL Combine is a post from: The Inquisitr

Tom Brady recently signed a three year contract extension with the New England Patriots, guaranteeing the star quarterbacks return through the 2017 season. Not only has Brady secured his NFL future, he will be receiving nearly double the pay guarantees witnessed on his last contract.

Tom Brady’s new contract actually lowered his base salary, a move meant to increase salary-cap. However, the superstar quarterback will witness higher guarantees over the next five seasons.

Under his former contract, Brady was guaranteed $30 million. Now the QB will receive a guaranteed $57 million for the next five years regardless of playing status.

Tom Brady will receive a $10 million payment from that signing bonus in 2013, $5 million on February 15, 2014, $10 million during the 2014 season, and $5 million on February 15, 2015.

In 2013, Brady will earn $1 million followed by $2 million in 2014. The QBs salary is guaranteed for both seasons. Originally, Brady would have earned $9.75 million for each season.

In 2015 and 2016, Brady will be guaranteed $7 million (injury only guarantee), followed by a $9 million injury only guarantee in 2017.

Here is the full breakdown of salary cap charges:

2013: $13.8 million

2014: $14.8 million

2015: $13 million

2016: $14 million

2017: $15 million

Given his one catastrophic injury that kept him out of the 2008 season the New England Patriots are putting quick a bit of money on their aging star QB.

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots have also left open the option of restructuring the deal in the future. A further restructuring down the road could help the Patriots secure more salary cap space as deemed necessary.

Do you think $57 million guaranteed  to Tom Brady in the quarterback position is worth the risk?

Tom Brady’s Contract Guarantees Have Nearly Doubled is a post from: The Inquisitr

Manti Te’o ran the 40-yard dash at Lucas Oil Stadium on Monday afternoon, and his time of 4.82 seconds failed to impress scouts and other officials in attendance.

The NFL front office believed the linebacker would finish the 40-yard dash with a sub-4.75 seconds marker.

Instead the  6-feet-1¼ inches, 241 pound linebacker came short of his goal and landed towards the back of the pack. Manti Te’o finished 20 out of 26 in the 40-yard dash.

In comparison, Missouri’s Zaviar Gooden posted the fastest time among linebackers with an impressive 4.47 seconds.

Watching as he took the field were the NFL’s top general managers, coaches, and team scouts. 

The 40-yard dash is an important marker for a players potential. Quick bursts of speed at the snap can often mean the difference of allowing a touchdown or manufacturing a turnover.

With Te’o failing to impress in the 40-yard dash, he will now need to excel in all other areas. Te’o was attempting to redeem himself after a poor outing during the Discover BCS National Championship against Alabama.

Despite his less than stellar performance in the 40, Te’o is still among the top players for the NFL drafts first round. Several analysts have Te’o going in the top 20.

ESPN NFL draft analyst Todd McShay’s mock draft has Te’o heading to the Chicago Bears with the 20th overall pick in the first round. 

As if the distraction of his fake dead girlfriend wasn’t enough, questions about his sexual orientation are also now popping up.

Do you think Manti Te’o will be knocked down a few rankings because of his poor 40-yard dash performance?

Manti Te’o Runs 40-Yard Dash In 4.82 Seconds, Disappoints Scouts is a post from: The Inquisitr

It isn’t particularly surprising that the San Francisco 49ers are trading backup quarterback Alex Smith. Ever since Smith lost the starting job to Colin Kaepernick, the writing has been on the wall.

Smith lost that job, not because he was performing all that poorly, but because he was knocked out of the lineup with a concussion. There is an unwritten rule in football that you cannot lose your job due to injury.

The fact that 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh was willing to break that rule showed just how sold on Kaepernick the team was. At the beginning of this month, San Francisco made their attempts to trade Smith official.

Deadspin is now reporting that the 49ers have a deal in place, but no one seems to know who will be the recipient of Smith’s services.

The Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs seem to be the two teams who are most desperate for a new starting quarterback. The Chiefs are reportedly about to cut former starting quarterback Matt Cassel, who has been largely a disappointment since being brought over from New England.

There are a couple of teams that have been ruled out. The Sporting News is reporting that the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Cleveland Browns have been ruled out thanks to statements by their respective front offices.

Smith could be quite the get for a team desperate for a QB. While the former Utah Ute phenom had been largely considered a bust coming into the 2012 season, he seemed to be turning it around this year.

Before his concussion, Alex Smith had thrown 13 touchdowns and just five interceptions in 10 games. He had also completed just over 70 percent of his passes.

Had he managed to finish the year at that pace, it would have been one of, if not the most accurate passing season in NFL history.

It appears that we might be waiting a while to see where Alex Smith ends up. The trade cannot be made official until March 12, the first day of the new NFL year.

Alex Smith Trade All But Done Deal is a post from: The Inquisitr

Texas wide receiver Marquise Goodwin thrilled NFL scouts on Sunday when he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.27 seconds, just shy of Chris Johnson’s all-time dash record. Goodwin fell short of the 2006 posted record by just three-hundredths of a second.

Goodwin was the only NFL hopeful to run the 40-yard dash in under 4.3 seconds, although he had some close competition from his fellow college athletes.

The closest dashes following Goodwin were running back Onterio McCalebb, wide receiver Tavon Austin, and wide receiver Ryan Swope. All three men posted a respectable time of 4.34 seconds.

Originally, McCalebb’s posted time displayed as 4.21 seconds, which led Johnson to tweet:

“Listen 4.21 thats childish.”

Eventually, the running back’s time was officially listed at 4.34 seconds. Following the official posted time, Chris Johnson joked on Twitter:

“Can’t lie that one scared me.”

Also posting decent 40-yard dash times were Arkansas running back Knile Davis (4.37), TCU wideout Josh Boyce (4.38), and Oklahoma receiver Kenny Stills (4.38). The 4.3-second mark is typically observed as an optimal run time for NFL Combine participants.

Top rated running-back Cordarrelle Patterson ran the dash in 4.42 seconds.

Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson entered the combine as a receiver and also posted a still impressive 4.43 seconds.

Geno Smith stayed at his QB position and led available quarterbacks with a 40-yard dash time of 4.59 seconds.

Are you impressed with this season’s NFL Combine participants based on their 40-yard dash times? Based on current NFL combine results, who do you think will rank at the top of the NFL draft?

Texas WR Marquise Goodwin Runs 4.27 Second 40-Yard Dash is a post from: The Inquisitr

Billy Cannon, a legend on the gridiron for LSU was taken to the hospital Tuesday afternoon after apparently suffering a stroke. Cannon played halfback and defensive back for the LSU tigers during the late 1950′s and won the Heisman trophy in 1959.

After his college playing days, Cannon went on to the NFL and played for the Oakland Raiders and the Houston Oilers. NFL.com reports that after his playing days, Cannon went to dental school.

The 75 year old has worked at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola for the past 15 years as the prison’s director of its dental program.

Billy Cannon suffered the stroke at around 12:30 PM on Tuesday, according to ESPN.com. Cannon’s family later sent out an emailed statement giving an update on his status:

“He did have a stroke and the doctors will conduct tests to see the extent. They will keep him in ICU tonight and watch him overnight. The family thanks everyone for their prayers and concerns.”

Perhaps Cannon’s greatest moment as an LSU Tiger came on Halloween of 1959. In a game against then #3 Mississippi, Cannon’s top ranked squad was down 3-0 with 10 minutes to go in the game.

Cannon took a punt return back 89 yards for the games only touchdown, breaking seven tackles in the process. Cannon’s life after playing football have not always been positive.

Billy Cannon was arrested in 1983 on federal counterfeiting charges. After pleading guilty he served about half of a five-year prison sentence. Once released, Cannon was essentially penniless.

After his release Cannon was eventually able to rebuild his life. Though his name around LSU was initially a bit tarnished, he was able to rebuild that as well by serving at the prison and attending LSU events.

Billy Cannon played halfback, fullback and tight end in the NFL, amassing 2,455 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns on the ground over 11 seasons.

Cannon also caught 236 passes for 3,656 yards and 47 touchdowns.

Billy Cannon: LSU Legend Hospitalized After Stroke [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr