Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 828 of 1503)

      Browns rookies upset with Mangini

      June 1, 2009 /

      According to a report by the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the 2009 Browns rookie class is upset with head coach Eric Mangini after he set up a 10-hour bus trip to Hartford, Connecticut last Friday to work his charity football camp.

      “It’s a sophisticated form of hazing,” said one league source. “I’ve never heard of anything like it.”

      Mangini’s eighth annual football camp, for under-resourced children in grades 8-12, is voluntary for the rookies — but all felt compelled to attend, a source said. It runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today.

      “It’s voluntary, but it’s not really voluntary,” said one source. “These players are fighting for starting jobs and playing time. What are they supposed to do, say ‘No, I’m not going?’ ”

      “This was not mandatory. Eric had reservations about doing it at first, and then people told him they thought it would be a good opportunity for them to be exposed to this type of event, and having the chance to work with the kids.

      “Since the rookies have been back, we have a lot of programs that are set up for them which are designed to improve them professionally, build team unity and also help serve the community. In fact, since they have been back in mid-May, they have visited a Veterans hospital and are scheduled to visit a school next week.

      “Also, if anyone is ‘dismayed,’ nobody has expressed that to anyone in the organization.”
      One source said the rookies aren’t opposed to charity work, “but put them on the plane. The camp comes right in the middle of voluntary minicamp and next week’s organized team activities. They’re expected to show up Monday and perform at a very high level after being on a bus for more than 20 hours over the weekend.”

      This might not be a big deal in the grand scheme of things considering it’s not too much to ask players to hop on a bus for 10 hours and give back to the community. But this is at least the second or third time Mangini has ruffled some feathers since coming to Cleveland and it remains to be seen whether or not the players are responding to his no-frills attitude.

      And really, it doesn’t make much sense to put these players on a bus for 20 hours (round trip) to work a camp, only to have them return to practice and compete at a high level a few days later. Player bonding is all well and good, but you have to be reasonable. Whether these are professional athletes or not, everyone gets worn out from long trips. Mangini should have thought this one through a little more.

      NFL

      Tennessee QB Crompton received death threats in 2008

      June 1, 2009 /

      According to a report by ESPN.com, Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton received death threats last season in the wake of the Volunteers losing seven games for only the second time in the program’s history.

      Crompton received at least two e-mailed death threats during his junior season, the player told the Knoxville News Sentinel.

      The problem was brought to his parents’ attention after a package they received had slanderous messages scrawled on the box.

      “That’s when my parents started talking about it,” Crompton said, according to the newspaper.
      Crompton said he never reported the threats to the school.

      He also stayed quiet when he began to receive harassing phone calls after his cell number was made public on the Internet.

      “It was tough, I’m not going to lie,” he said. “When you’re faced with adversity, your true character comes out — as a person, as a student, as a Christian.
      “It tested me.”

      People seem to lose the sense of reality when it comes to sports sometimes. Crompton is only 21 years old – he’s still a kid. He’s a student athlete trying not only to succeed at sports, but also in the classroom so that he can excel in a career field when he’s done playing football. He doesn’t deserve to have his life threatened because of what he does or doesn’t do on the field – no one does.

      I know we’re talking about Tennessee football here, but relax people – it’s just a game.

      College Football

      Rams interested in Vick?

      June 1, 2009 /

      According to a report by Michael Lombardi of the National Football Post, the Rams are interested in suspended quarterback Michael Vick, who was recently released from federal prison.

      Michael Vick update: According to people I’ve talked to who are close to him, Vick is in great spirits and looking forward to the future. I’m told he’s in great “non-professional football shape” and is determined to prove he can regain his superstar status in the NFL. He’s also very determined to do all the little things he didn’t do previously. He intends to spend more time studying the game, more time preparing to play, more time working on his game. Two years alone with nothing but your thoughts can be a powerful motivational tool.

      Several people in the NFL told me not to rule out St. Louis as a possible destination for Vick. The Rams might have some ownership issues to deal with before actually signing him, but they have genuine interest. They’ve been doing their due diligence on Vick, and if the Commissioner does reinstate him, look for them to actively pursue him. It makes sense — a new coach with an older quarterback who hasn’t played well. Playing in a dome on carpet would highlight Vick’s speed and athleticism.

      As with all rumors, this should be taken with a grain of salt, but as Lombardi notes in his article – don’t rule the Rams out. Then again, the Rams organization is in complete flux because of a possible sale, so they have bigger things to concentrate on right now.

      People are generally going to have two thoughts on whether or not a team should pursue Vick. One group will think it’s a disaster waiting to happen, while the other will look at a team signing him as a low risk, high reward type of situation. I guess it all depends on whether or not he’ll be suspended, when the Falcons will officially release him (don’t forget he’s still under contract in Atlanta), and what kind of shape he’s in.

      But personally, no matter how high the reward might be, I wouldn’t invite that circus to town if I owned a team. I wouldn’t want to deal with PETA or the media storm that would come with his signing, nor would I want my team to endure that.

      NFL, Rumors & Gossip

      Rachel Alexandra to skip Belmont

      May 30, 2009 /

      Despite blowing the horse racing world away with her performance at the 2009 Preakness, filly Rachel Alexandra will skip the Belmont Stakes this year due to fatigue

      As a result, Calvin Borel, who rode Mine That Bird to victory in the Kentucky Derby and Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness, will once again be aboard Mine That Bird in the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown.

      Though it was widely thought that Rachel Alexandra would not run in the Belmont, owner Jess Jackson fueled hopes that she would run by not announcing a decision last Monday after the filly had her first work back from the race. But on Friday, Jackson ended speculation by saying he believes the filly would benefit from more time between races.

      “We know the media and many fans would have liked to see her run in the Belmont Stakes – we feel the same,” Jackson said in a press release. “But all of us sincerely interested in the horse must agree that we only want to see her run when it is best for her. While she is in great shape, having strong works, and recovering well from her amazing performances, we feel Rachel deserves a well-earned vacation. Since March 14, Rachel has won four graded races with just two weeks’ rest between her last two victories. We will always put her long-term well-being first. And, of course, we want to run her when she is fresh.”

      They have to do what’s best for the horse, but man, what a blow to horse racing. Rachel Alexandra became only the fifth filly to win the Preakness and had finished first in each of the five races she ran in this year. She brought some excitement to racing this year (even though she didn’t compete in the Kentucky Derby and won’t compete in the Belmont) and it’s a shame she won’t run in the third leg of the Triple Crown.

      That said, Borel’s story is intriguing on its own. He won riding Mine That Bird (a 50/1 long shot) at the Kentucky Derby and then again on Rachael Alexandra in the Preakness. Now he’ll hop back on Mine That Bird for the Belmont and try to win his own version of the Triple Crown. I haven’t seen any odds yet, but I’d be willing to bet that Mine That Bird will be the favorite to win the Belmont since he was victorious at the Kentucky Derby and finished second to Rachael Alexandra in the Preakness.

      General Sports

      Broncos’ Marshall seeking a pay raise

      May 30, 2009 /

      According to a report by the Denver Post, Broncos’ receiver Brandon Marshall has asked the team for a pay raise.

      In Marshall’s defense, his salary request is affordable for a receiver who averaged 103 catches and 1,295 receiving yards the past two years. Larry Fitzgerald averages $10 million a year, Randy Moss $9 million, Andre Johnson has an eight-year deal at $7.5 million per and Anquan Boldin is holding out in Arizona trying to get a deal worth at least $9 million per.

      Even if Marshall is another big season away from gaining inclusion in the elite receiver group, he believes he is considered close enough to the neighborhood to seek greater compensation.

      The timing of Marshall’s contract request, however, is peculiar given so many other issues that could negatively affect his immediate future. Begin with the arthroscopic hip surgery March 31. Although Marshall started running last week and is expected to be fully healthy by training camp, an injured hip can be a delicate injury for a receiver.

      There also is the matter of Marshall’s ongoing legal trouble that could draw a second NFL suspension in two years. ESPN’s “Outside The Lines” will air a story Sunday that rehashes Marshall’s past troubles with former girlfriend Rasheeda Watley.

      Marshall’s on-field production certainly garners a pay raise, but his off-field issues will keep the Broncos from giving him one. Why would Denver risk giving him more money and/or more years when he can’t keep his act together off the field? No matter how much money he brings in, it wouldn’t be wise for a fortune 500 company to give its top salesman a raise when he goes out drinking all the time, beats women and winds up in trouble with the law, so why would the Broncos cater to Marshall? It’s a similar situation in that it’s just not a smart business move.

      Marshall needs to concentrate on being productive on the field, flying right off it and then the money will come. His past actions are hurting his future financial gain and he should learn from the mistakes he’s made.

      NFL

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