Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 396 of 1503)

      Vince Young unlikely to be suspended

      June 28, 2010 /

      While speaking at the NFL’s Rookie Symposium over the weekend, commissioner Roger Goodell said that Titans’ quarterback Vince Young is unlikely to be suspended following an incident in which he punched a man in a strip club earlier this month.

      From FOX Sports.com:

      Goodell acknowledged that a first-time legal offender like Young is unlikely to face an NFL suspension. Young, though, is guilty of embarrassing the NFL with a physical confrontation that was caught on the strip club’s security camera.

      When announcing a six-game suspension for Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in April, Goodell said one of the reasons for the punishment stemmed from behavior that “undermines or puts at risk the integrity and reputation of the NFL, NFL clubs or players.”

      Asked whether Young did the same and if that would factor into his final decision, Goodell said, “I think you have to look at these cases individually and understand them in a way of what are the issues going on with any individual. The intent of the (personal conduct) policy is to intervene so you help some individuals make a better decision and avoid these troubles. So when I sit down and look at all the facts around Vince or any other player, you want to make sure they understand that and what the policy was designed to do and more importantly understand the responsibility (of being an NFL player).”

      Some think that Goodell is too harsh on players and maybe he is. But the thing he does well is look at each situation separately when it comes to making a decision about whether or not to punish a player. If he needs to compare two separate incidents in order to determine the appropriate punishment for a player he will, but he’s not going to suspend Young for six games just because he served Big Ben for that amount. Nor should he.

      Young made a mistake, but this was also the first time he’s been in any sort of trouble. Goodell recognizes that and while he can’t be pleased that the incident occurred, I think it’s fair that Young goes without punishment.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL

      Report: Chris Henry had brain damage before he died

      June 28, 2010 /

      According to a report by the Cincinnati Enquirer, former Bengals receiver Chris Henry suffered from a chronic brain injury that may have influenced his mental state and behavior before he died last year.

      Bailes and fellow researchers believe chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, is caused by multiple head impacts, regardless of whether those blows result in a concussion diagnosis. A number of studies, including one commissioned by the NFL, have found that retired professional football players may have a higher rate than normal of Alzheimer’s disease and other memory problems.

      What’s interesting, Bailes said, is that Henry was only 26, and neither NFL nor WVU records show he was diagnosed with a concussion during his playing career.

      CTE carries specific neurobehavioral symptoms, Bailies said — typically, failure at personal and business relationships, use of drugs and alcohol, depression and suicide.

      Bailes said he and Omalu have now analyzed the brains of 27 modern athletes, and the majority showed evidence of CTE. But it’s found in only a small number of players, he said.

      Whether Henry’s brain damage can be attributed to playing football or not, it’s vital that doctors continue to research ways to make the game safer. Football is a violent game and while the league has taken steps to improve the equipment that players wear, they should never be satisfied when it comes to protecting the athletes.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL

      Goodell needs to act in latest embarrassment for Lions

      June 28, 2010 /

      If a player is arrested for driving under the influence, he’s subjected to a suspension. Often times he’s also ridiculed by the media and has his decision-making come into question in the process.

      But what happens when someone from a team’s front office commits the same crime? What’s the punishment for them?

      Over the weekend, Lions president Tom Lewand was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. His job with the team appears safe and he’s already released a contrite statement about how he will take responsibility for his actions, but at what point does Roger Goodell and the league get involved?

      If Goodell wants to hold players to a higher standard, he should do the same with front office personnel and anyone that falls under the NFL shield for that matter. It’s fine if he wants to rule with an iron fist, but he can’t be strict with the players and not with anyone else.

      Lewand made a mistake – he’s human. But when players make mistakes, they don’t escape punishment and neither should he. Whether he’s fined or suspended for several games, Goodell must seek punishment for Lewand. If he does, then he’ll avoid looking like a hypocrite and more importantly, he’ll show the players that he’s fair.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL

      Change of plans: Valentine not expected to land Marlins manager job

      June 28, 2010 /

      SI.com’s Jon Heyman reports that Bobby Valentine is no longer being considered for the Marlins’ vacant manager job, despite rumors last week that stated he was their top choice.

      Valentine had been viewed as the top candidate for the job since Fredi Gonzalez was fired last week, and sources told SI.com and other outlets on Friday that the longtime friend of Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria would indeed be hired. ESPN, Valentine’s employer for the past several months, reported that the Marlins were expected to make a four-year offer to him.

      But that same day, a person familiar with the search told The Associated Press that an interview between Valentine and the Marlins scheduled for Friday had been put on hold.

      Why negotiations between Valentine and the team ended was not immediately known. He has a long relationship with Loria, having managed the Rangers when Loria owned that franchise’s Triple-A affiliate. Valentine has a record in the majors of 1,117-1,072, and ended a six-year run as manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan’s Pacific League in 2009.

      This is surprising news and it would be interesting to hear what happened between Valentine and the Marlins that made discussions break down. Maybe Valentine was demanding more than Loria wanted to give, either financially or in terms of control over the team.

      Edwin Rodriguez will continue to manager the Fish as they make their way to Puerto Rico for a three-game series against the Mets this week.

      External Sports, MLB

      Ozzie Guillen, Carlos Zambrano and the pursuit of happiness

      June 27, 2010 /

      Following his dugout tirade on Friday that led to a suspension, Cubs’ starter Carlos Zambrano went to dinner with White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, who apparently gave the pitcher some sage advice on how to handle the situation.

      From the Chicago Sun-Times:

      ”I asked what happened,” Guillen said. ”He told me exactly what happened. … He was upset with a lot of the team. That was it. I told him what to do, to wait a couple of days. He will do what I tell him to do. Face it like a man. Don’t turn [his] back on this problem. … Go out, put your face on it and move on.

      ”What are they going to do to him? Trade, release or suspend him? At least when you face it like a man and admit you were wrong, everyone moves on. He didn’t kill anyone. He just made one mistake. We can’t criticize the kid for that. That’s the way he is. … We’ve got to respect people’s ways, and that’s the intensity this kid brings.”

      ”What are they going to do to him? Trade, release or suspend him?”

      Well, yeah. This isn’t the first time Zambrano has flown off the reservation and chances are, it wasn’t the last either. He could be a great person off the field, but he still has to take responsibility for his actions on it. And he doesn’t get a free pass just because he’s an intense guy.

      The other problem, of course, is that he has been awful on the mound this year. Whether he has pitched every fifth day or come out of the pen, Zambrano hasn’t gotten the job done. So when you throw a situation like the other night into the mix, where he’s berating teammates and not acting professional, it compounds the situation.

      It’s great that Guillen is standing up for a player (albeit, a player on an opposing team), but the Cubs had every right to take action by suspending Zambrano and whatever they do with him from here on out will likely be justified. Considering how much they’re paying him, they should be getting better on-field production or at the very least, someone that can control is temper.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, MLB

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