Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 944 of 1503)

Jeff Reed goes one on one with towel dispenser…and loses.

The Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers have a real winner on their hands in kicker Jeff Reed.

Reed, 29, one of the most effective field goal kickers in the NFL, was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal mischief shortly before 3 a.m. Saturday.

According to a state police press release, Reed damaged a towel dispenser inside the men’s room at a Sheetz gas station on Route 22 in New Alexandria after he became infuriated that it did not contain towels.

Store employees told state police that they heard Reed “banging on something and that it was really loud.” The employees said Reed then left the bathroom “using profane language in a loud manner” and stating that there were no towels in the restroom.

State police cited Reed with disorderly conduct and criminal mischief, which carry a maximum fine of $300 and 90 days in jail each. Next, the case goes before a magistrate.

You know, if Reed would have just remembered what Towelie from South Park always says, he wouldn’t have been in that predicament.

Bucs, Lions, Jets not interested in Vick

Michael VickThree teams – the Buccaneers, Lions and Jets – have all stated publicly that they’re not interested in acquiring Michael Vick when the Falcons make him available via a trade this offseason.

Atlanta GM Thomas Dimitroff recently said that the Falcons will be actively shopping Vick’s rights this offseason, but as I wrote on Saturday, he’s going to have one hell of a time finding a suitor.

Vick is due $9 million in 2009, $10.5 million in 2010, $12 million in 2011, $12.5 million in 2012 and $13.5 million in 2013. He’s also owed $6.43 million in roster bonuses this season. Why would any team take on that kind of salary obligation, plus the media frenzy, plus give up a draft pick to acquire Vick? It’s ludicrous.

The Falcons will wind up cutting Vick and eating a portion of his salary, which is ridiculous considering how much hell he put them through in 2007. He almost single handily killed their ’07 season and now they have to pay the a-hole after they cut him? Doesn’t seem fair, but I guess so was signing him to a 10-year, $130 million contract in 2004, too.

Make no mistake – there will be suitors for Vick after Atlanta cuts him. But teams won’t dare say they want him now, especially not at the asking price.

Bears cut safety Mike Brown

Mike BrownThe Chicago Bears have decided to part ways with nine-year veteran free safety Mike Brown.

The decision on Brown was not a shock as general manager Jerry Angelo had made it clear Brown was no longer in the team’s plan. Angelo told the Tribune the Bears couldn’t afford to bring Brown back considering what they wanted to accomplish in other areas, including the development of Danieal Manning.

Now the Bears move forward with plans to fill voids on both sides of the ball.

Brown came into the league like a bat out of hell, but injuries absolutely destroyed a once promising career. Brown’s knack for coming up with the big play defined his career early on, but even he admitted he resembled a porcelain doll when it came to his body.

It’s hard to blame the Bears for cutting him, but they’ll miss his leadership. With safeties always in high demand, some team will take a shot at him.

Braves making late push for Griffey

Just a day ago it appeared that Ken Griffey Jr. would be heading back to Seattle for a one-year reunion with the Mariners. But now the Braves are making a late push for the free agent outfielder.

Ken Griffey Jr.Atlanta, which has been looking for a reasonably priced, veteran outfield bat, lost out to the Los Angeles Angels this week in a bid to sign Bobby Abreu.

If the Braves don’t sign Griffey, they could turn to veteran Garret Anderson as a fallback. But sources said that Griffey is Atlanta’s prime target, and the Braves are “in the mix” for his services.

The interest is apparently mutual. Griffey lives in Orlando, Fla., where Atlanta’s spring training site is located, and has a good relationship with Braves manager Bobby Cox.

Griffey would also be willing to split time with Matt Diaz in left field for the Braves, sources said.

Griffey is playing in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament in California this weekend. After playing a round Thursday, he told reporters that media reports of his imminent return to Seattle were nothing more than “rumors.”

Griffey would be a solid, low cost addition to the Braves’ outfield. It’ll be interesting to see how this one turns out.

Peppers to request trade if Panthers try and tag him

Julius Peppers is making it painfully clear that he does not want to be a Carolina Panther next season.

Julius PeppersQ: If Carolina franchises you within the next week, what would be your recourse at that point? Have you told them you would not be showing up to minicamp or anything of that sort?

Peppers: If they decide to use the tag on me, the first thing I would be doing is requesting a trade. Anything after that is basically, I don’t know. I don’t know what would be the course of action. Basically, we would deal with that when that time comes.

Q: How did things get to this point? After seven years, what is it about the situation in Carolina, specifically, that you want to get away from?

Peppers: Seven years is a long time. Since I’ve been here, I’ve given everything I had. There’s never been a time when I wasn’t giving my all. Basically, it’s a situation I feel it’s a point in my career I just want to do different things. It has nothing to do with anything that happened between me and any coaches, me and the owners of this team. It had nothing to do with anything anybody did. It’s nothing that happened. I just feel like personally for me and m y career, it’s time for a change. That’s pretty much it.

If nothing else, you have to respect Peppers’ honesty. He’s not beating around the bush about what he wants and he’s not handing out any false hope. Some times in life you just need a change and sports are no different. Peppers wants a new challenge and he wants to seek employment elsewhere. If a person in a 9 to 5 said the same thing, a lot of people would respect that. But when it comes to athletes, we immediately want to say they’re not loyal or they’re ungrateful.

I don’t blame the Panthers for trying to do whatever possible to keep him. But it’s going to be tough.

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