Lambeau officials study new Wis. gun law
June 30, 2011
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)—Lambeau Field officials are trying to determine howthe state’s new concealed carry legislation will affect them.
The Wisconsin legislation allows the carrying of concealed weapons but notin buildings owned or leased by the state.
Green Bay Packers ' Donald… AP – Jun 16, 11:41 pm EDT NFL Gallery
Gov. Scott Walker is expected to sign the bill after July 4th and the law isexpected to go into effect in October or November.
Pat Webb is the executive director of the Green Bay/Brown CountyProfessional Football Stadium District. Webb tells WLUK-TV(http://bit.ly/iQftNF) he doesn’t know if the law officially considers Lambeau agovernment building.
Green Bay Police Captain Paul Ebel says they are dissecting the legislationand planning to consult with the city’s attorneys and the Packers organization.
The NFL says guns are not allowed in any NFL stadium.
Information from: WLUK-TV, http://www.fox11online.com
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Niners TE Davis praises QB Alex Smith
June 30, 2011
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP)—San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis(notes) believesthe NFL lockout has been good for Alex Smith but said the veteran quarterback is“on his last straw” with the team.
Taking a break from an informal workout at San Jose State on Thursday, Davisrepeatedly praised Smith, whom he says has matured this offseason.
San Francisco 49ers defensive … AP – Jun 28, 4:35 pm EDT NFL Gallery
Davis was among about two dozen players who have attended the workouts ledby Smith, a free agent who plans to re-sign with San Francisco when the lockoutends. That included wide receiver Michael Crabtree(notes), who did not practice muchdue to a sore foot.
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Ochocinco gets 150-mph NASCAR ride
June 30, 2011
HAMPTON, Ga. (AP)—Chad Ochocinco(notes) has turned to NASCAR in his ongoingsearch for thrills away from the football field.
Ochocinco was strapped in for the ride as Jeff Burton drove his No. 31 cararound Atlanta Motor Speedway on Thursday. Burton estimated he reached speeds of150 to 160 miles per hour with Ochocinco.
MIAMI, FL – MAY 24: Chad &quo… Getty Images – May 25, 12:11 am EDT NFL Gallery
A smiling Ochocino says he has interest in the sport as an owner—for a No.85 car, of course—but not a driver because “I’d lose every damn day.”
Ochocinco, the six-time Pro Bowl receiver, took the ride about six weeksafter visiting the Professional Bull Riders circuit near Atlanta to ride a1,500-pound bull for 1.5 seconds.
He also has had a soccer tryout with Sporting Kansas City of the MLS andsays he next plans to wrestle an alligator.
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Players, owners join Goodell-Smith talks
June 30, 2011
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)—NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA head DeMauriceSmith have resumed talks aimed at ending the lockout—this time joined by ahandful of players and owners.
The group is meeting at a Minneapolis law firm with U.S. Magistrate ArthurBoylan. The participants included New York Giants owner John Mara andIndianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday(notes)
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It’s the fifth set of “secret” talks between the two sides this month asthe clock ticks on the 2011 season.
Training camps are scheduled to open in just over three weeks with the Hallof Fame game on Aug. 7.
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T.O. accused of not paying child support
June 30, 2011
ATLANTA (AP)—The mother of Terrell Owens’(notes) child says the NFL star hasrefused to pay the full $5,000 a month in child support he owes.
Melanie Paige Smith filed court papers June 20 in an Atlanta court seekingto hold the player in contempt.
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Owens “has failed and refused to pay the full amount of child support forJune 2011,” Atlanta attorney Randall Kessler wrote in court records. Owens’financial advisers have informed Smith that he’s decided to no longer pay thefull amount, Kessler added.
Kessler said Wednesday that Smith doesn’t have any ill will toward Owens.
“She simply asks that he follow the order to which he agreed,” he said.“Rather than discussing his situation with her or her lawyers first, he simplycut his child support.”
Owens’ agent, Drew Rosenhaus, did not immediately return messages Wednesdayseeking comment.
Owens, a free agent, is recovering from knee surgery and can’t sign with ateam until the NFL lockout is resolved.
The athlete is a resident of Fulton County, which encompasses most ofAtlanta and several suburbs, Smith’s attorneys say. The case was filed in FultonCounty Superior Court.
Smith says she’s had to pay attorney fees and costs to enforce the court’sMay 2007 child support order, and she’s asking for a judge to order Owens to paythose, as well.
Kessler said he’s looking forward to hearing from Owens or hisrepresentatives and working out an agreement quickly.
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Rookies anxious to get first paycheck
June 29, 2011
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP)—The NFL lockout has prevented Marcell Dareus(notes) fromcashing in on turning pro, so he mows his godfather’s lawn in exchange for aplace to stay.
Other rookies are low on dough, too. Von Miller(notes) sleeps in the same room hehad in high school. Anthony Castonzo(notes) makes deliveries for his parents’restaurant. And Aaron Williams(notes) does ranch work, throwing hay and fixingbarbed-wire fences.
“Acres and acres of land; you’re always moving,” Williams said. “But it’sbetter than sitting on your butt playing Xbox.”
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These are odd times for NFL rookies, and more than 150 of them gathered fora symposium sponsored by the players association that concluded Wednesday. Thisincoming class is unlike any other, because the lockout has indefinitely delayedthat first pro paycheck.
“Guys are hurting for money right now,” said quarterback Christian Ponder(notes),a first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings. “It’s a crazy time, especiallywith the uncertainty of when we’re going to start and get some money in ourpocket.”
To make the situation even more gloomy for players just out of college, theleague is pushing for a rookie wage scale as part of a new collective bargainingagreement.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and players association chief DeMaurice Smithspoke to the group Wednesday but offered no indication as to when the4-month-old labor dispute might end. Negotiations are ongoing, but with trainingcamps scheduled to open in about three weeks, the season remains in jeopardy.
“You come out of college with plans of making big money, and everythinggoes on hold,” said Dareus, the third overall pick by the Buffalo Bills. “Itgrinds you.”
Dareus, a 320-pound defensive tackle from Alabama, said he earns his keepwhile living in Birmingham with his godfather.
“Everybody calls him `Sergeant,’ because he was a sergeant in the Army,”Dareus said. “At 6 o’clock in the morning, we’re up cutting grass. He ain’tplaying. He’s crazy about keeping his yard cut. He has kind of a big yard. Wecut it twice a week and trim his hedges. It’s an all-day thing.”
When asked if Sergeant provides a push mower or a rider, Dareus groaned.
“He’s old school.”
Dareus is hardly the only extraordinary athlete settling for an ordinarysummer job. Castonzo, an offensive tackle drafted in the first round by theIndianapolis Colts, is living with his parents in Chicago and making deliveriesfor their restaurant, just like he did growing up.
He’s a bit bigger now, though.
“When I show up at someone’s door, a 6-7, 315-pound guy, they’re like,`Oooooookay. Put the food over here, please,”’ he said with a laugh. “I makebasically whatever they tip me. With my parents, I’m on a volunteer basis. I’mliving like I’m still a college kid—there’s no money to spend.”
Detroit Lions receiver Titus Young(notes) is back with his parents, too. They livein Los Angeles, and because he played at Boise State, they appreciate the chanceto see more of him lately—up to a point.
“My mom is rooting for the lockout to continue,” Young said. “But my dadis saying, `Get out of the house, son.’ He’s looking up the latest on thelockout every day and telling me updates.”
Miller and Ponder said they’re getting by in part because they made moneydoing rookie-card signings.
“I saved it up, because I didn’t know how long this lockout was going tobe,” said Miller, the second overall pick by the Denver Broncos. “So I’ve gota couple of dollars in my pocket.”
And then there’s Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton(notes), who’s taking thebiggest financial hit of any rookie. As the top overall draft pick, he mighthave commanded $60 million guaranteed under the old labor system.
Newton was spotted Tuesday night in Bradenton grabbing a bite at a 7-Eleven.
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Ex-MLB union chief Miller praises Smith
June 29, 2011
NEW YORK (AP)—Former baseball union chief Marvin Miller says NFL playershave strong leadership in their labor negotiations with the league.
“I think DeMaurice Smith is a bright man with his head in the rightdirection,” the 94-year-old Miller said Wednesday of the NFLPA head.
DeMaurice Smith, who was head … AP – Jun 25, 2:52 pm EDT NFL Gallery
Miller emphasized the NFL lockout was the result of owners’ demands, notthose of players.
“This is entirely caused by a $9 billion a year industry, their demands,that despite their affluence the players should give up a billion dollars offthe salary cap, that the players with the worst and most serious injury ratesshould have their season extended with two additional games,” he said.
Under Miller’s leadership from 1966-82, baseball players gained free agencyand multimillion dollar contracts. Miller was attending a screening of adocumentary about Curt Flood, who unsuccessfully sued Major League Baseball totry to gain free agency. The film, “The Curious Case of Curt Flood,” isscheduled to premiere July 13 on HBO.
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Browns to air 1-hour radio show
June 29, 2011
CLEVELAND (AP)—The Cleveland Browns are going to “air” it out thisseason.
The team announced plans Thursday for a one-hour radio show, “ClevelandBrowns Daily,” devoted to the NFL franchise, which has struggled in the 12years since its expansion restart.
Cleveland Browns president Mik… AP – Jun 21, 5:55 pm EDT NFL Gallery
Hosted by Browns’ staffer and pro football writer, Vic Carrucci, the showwill air from 6-7 p.m. weekdays on ESPN 850 WKNR. The team says fans will getcomprehensive coverage and analysis of the Browns “on and off the field.” TheBrowns plan to incorporate the show with its other media platforms. They sayguests will include members of the team’s front office, alumni and “variouspersonalities from the football industry.”
Browns president Mike Holmgren says the team is excited to bring itspassionate fans “a year-round radio forum.”
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Titans WR Britt surrenders to police
June 29, 2011
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt(notes) hassurrendered to police on two outstanding warrants alleging that he providedinaccurate information on separate driver’s license applications.
Britt was briefly booked into jail in Nashville on Wednesday before postinga $2,000 bond, according to Nashville police. Police spokesman Don Aaron toldWKRN-TV that Britt was not at home when officers attempted to serve him on April14 with the misdemeanor charges issued by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Britt also faces a charge of resisting arrest in his home state of NewJersey earlier this month after detectives suspected he was carrying a marijuanacigar at a carwash. The former Rutgers star also recently pleaded guilty tomotor vehicle violations related to a speeding arrest in his native Bayonne(BAY’-ohn).
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Superdome’s renovations nearly complete
June 29, 2011
NEW ORLEANS (AP)—When the Louisiana Superdome’s manager surveys thestadium’s latest renovation project, he says he finds himself thinking moreabout his city’s hopeful future than its troubled recent past.
SMG vice president Doug Thornton, whose company runs the state-ownedstadium, says a $336 million, multiphase transformation during six years sinceHurricane Katrina has the dome ready to host and bid for major national events.
The latest improvements cost $50 million and include new, field-level standswith 24,500 seats and exclusive lounges.
Enough of the work has been completed in the last five months for thestadium to reopen for the Essence music festival this weekend. The dome isscheduled to host the next BCS national championship and NCAA men’s basketballFinal Four, along with the Super Bowl in 2013.
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