Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 393 of 1503)

      Police change their tune, not ready to rule Vick out as a person of interest in shooting

      July 1, 2010 /

      Michael Vick isn’t out of the woods yet. He was a person of “no interest” to police in the shooting of Quanis Phillips, but video surveillance taken the night of the incident has put his involvement in question.

      Vick told police that he was “long gone” by the time the shooting took place outside a club in which he was celebrating his 30th birthday late last week. But video shows him leaving the club just three minutes before the shooting took place, which casts some doubt in what the quarterback said in interviews with authorities.

      Now police don’t know what to call Vick, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. They’re not ready to deem him a suspect or even an accomplice to the shooting, but as they’re gathering more facts, they’re changing their tune in terms of whether or not he’s a person of interest.

      “Right now, we don’t really have a title for him,” police spokesman Adam Bernstein told the Daily News yesterday.

      “We didn’t know anything” when they were asked Friday morning about their interest in Vick’s involvement in the shooting, Bernstein said.

      “Since then, we have viewed this video. And more people have come forward, giving information,” Bernstein said.

      The Daily News is also reporting that Vick’s federal probation officer in Norfolk is also investigating the incident as well to see if the quarterback was in violation of his probation. So even if Vick isn’t charged by the police for having a connection in the shooting, it doesn’t mean that he will escape all punishment.

      And wouldn’t that be something. It’s been roughly a year since he was released from prison and he’s already in hot water again with the law.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL

      NFL suspends Jackson for three games

      July 1, 2010 /

      ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the NFL has suspended Chargers’ restricted free agent Vincent Jackson for three games this season. The suspension stems from the receiver’s two DUIs, although it can also be appealed.

      Earlier this week I discussed possible trade partners for Jackson if the Chargers eventually decide to deal him. He has already stated his intentions to hold out if GM A.J. Smith doesn’t abide by his wishes for a new contract, or trades him to a team that will invest in him long-term.

      Interestingly, Schefter also reports that even if Jackson follows through with his holdout threats, the suspension will still start in Week 1 no matter what. If that’s the case (there’s no reason to doubt Schefter), then it gives V-Jax all the more reason to follow through with his holdout, seeing as how he won’t be playing the first couple of weeks anyway. He could ultimately holdout through training camp on the first couple of weeks to see if the Chargers offer him a long-term deal and then make his decision before Week 4.

      That said, no matter what Jackson does, Smith isn’t going to give in. He’s a hard-nosed executive that doesn’t bow to plays threats or demands. If he wants Jackson to play on a one-year tender, then that’s probably the receiver’s best and only option. We’ll just have to wait and see if either side gives in, although my money is on Smith standing firm.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL

      Just one more reason for Giants fans to loathe GM Brian Sabean

      July 1, 2010 /

      If you’re a Giants fan and you’re eating while reading this, stop immediately. For those general baseball fans checking this post out, you might find this extremely interesting and damn near hilarious.

      ESPN’s Buster Olney conducted a poll recently where he asked “a dozen general managers” about making trades with other GMs. Below are the five poll questions.

      1. Who is the easiest GM for you to make a trade with?
      2. Who is the toughest GM for you to make a trade with?
      3. Who is the most open, as you go through the process of making a trade?
      4. Who is the biggest poker player, as you go through the process of making a trade?
      5. Of the other 29 general managers, who would you hire to be your GM?

      As Olney points out, the results were fascinating – or nauseating for Giants fans.

      The point of the exercise was not to rip anybody; rather, it was merely to get some sense of the style of various general managers. Without a doubt, however, the GM who got hammered in a way I never expected was the Giants’ Brian Sabean, for one simple reason — rival executives say they cannot get him on the phone. They cannot get him to return messages. In a couple of cases, some GMs say they don’t even bother calling Sabean, they just go straight to assistant Bobby Evans.

      The feeling of the other GMs is that beyond the issue of simple etiquette — “It’s just flat-out disrespectful to not return a call,” said one GM — Sabean isn’t putting himself in position to hear trade ideas that could benefit the Giants. “What happens if somebody calls to offer Brock for Broglio?” said one GM. “That’s what I get nervous about — what if the other team is shopping a really good player and he gets traded without me getting involved? That’s why I return all calls.”

      In 14 years (dear Lord, has it been that long?), a general manager is going to have some ups and downs. It’s not realistic for a GM to have never been burned by a signing or a trade. But Sabean’s resume reads more like a horror script than someone who has kept his job longer than any other current GM in Major League Baseball.

      You want bad trades? Try Jeremy Accardo for Shea Hillenbrand and Vinnie Chulk, or Russ Ortiz (in his prime) for Damian Moss and Merkin Valdez, or of course, the mother of all bad trades: Joe Nathan, Fransisco Liriano and Boof Bonser for one miserable year of A.J. Pierzynski (and cash!).

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, MLB

      Report: Phillies interested in Dan Haren

      July 1, 2010 /

      According to MLB Trade Rumors (via ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick), the Phillies have Diamondbacks’ starter Dan Haren on their radar and might be interested in dealing for the ace.

      ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reported (via Twitter) earlier in the week that the Phils would like to add an arm “higher in caliber” than Jeremy Guthrie, and Haren certainly qualifies. However, Philadelphia is far from the only team looking into acquiring the 29-year-old. We heard yesterday that the Nationals expressed interest in Haren, and that the Cardinals also covet the right-hander. Those two clubs, along with the Yankees, Tigers, and Twins, have scouted the Diamondbacks’ ace recently.

      The Phillies’ fourth and fifth starters behind Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and Jamie Moyer have had their struggles this year. Kyle Kendrick has posted a 4.88 ERA in 15 starts, and even after three straight quality starts, Joe Blanton’s ERA still sits at 6.19. Given the question marks in rotation, the Phillies have made starting pitching depth a priority as the trade deadline approaches.

      Whether it’s Haren or Cliff Lee, the Phillies keep coming up in trade rumors involving starting pitchers. It’s not known who the D-Backs would want in return for Haren, although at least one of Philly’s top prospects (Domonic Brown, Jarred Cosart or Jonathan Singleton) would likely be involved in any deal.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, MLB

      Owners, NFLPA already working on a new deal

      June 30, 2010 /

      FOX Sports’ Alex Marvez has some outstanding news for football fans, as he’s reporting that the NFLPA has entered negations with commissioner Roger Goodell and the two sides are entertaining a new six-year Collective Bargaining Agreement that would extend through the 2016 season.

      There are still some hurdles that must be overcome before a new deal can be struck, however.

      While stating some progress is being made, Smith remains adamant that the NFL provide detailed financial records for its teams before an agreement can be struck. Goodell has strongly resisted such requests and shows no sign of acquiescing.

      Such information is especially important to the NFLPA because Smith claims the league is demanding an 18 percent reduction in player salaries. NFL executive vice president/legal counsel Jeff Pash has said Smith’s contention is a “misrepresentation” of the league’s proposal. Pash said the $1 billion generated by a new split of applied revenues between the two parties would be reinvested toward business stratagems designed to produce more money for both sides. Pash also said that player salaries wouldn’t necessarily be affected. The league generated roughly $9 billion in 2009 with a 52-to-48 percent overall revenue split between the NFLPA and NFL.

      Click here to read the full article, including a more detailed explanation as to why Smith is demanding that the league shows the union its financial records.

      The two sides are unlikely to come to terms on an agreement before some posturing takes place, but with the threat of a lockout coming in 2011, it’s highly encouraging that talks have already begun. Everyone stands to lose a substantial amount of money if there were no football next year, so chances are a deal will eventually get done.

      Let’s hope both sides can come to an agreement soon.

      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL

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