Bills lose preseason game at Toronto
February 21, 2012
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP)—The Buffalo Bills will be making one fewer trip northof the border after announcing Tuesday that they won’t be playing theirscheduled preseason “home” game at Toronto this summer.
The game will instead be played at Orchard Park as a result of what the teamdescribed as “scheduling conflicts” at Toronto’s downtown Rogers Centre. Itwas unclear what the conflicts are.
This was supposed to be the third and final preseason game the Bills werescheduled to play in Toronto as part of a five-year, $78 million agreement theteam reached with Toronto-based Rogers Communication in 2008. The deal, whichexpires after this year, was supposed to include three preseason games and fiveannual regular-season games.
In announcing the preseason game being switched, the Bills said they willstill play their annual regular-season game at Toronto this year. The date andopponent of that game will be determined once the NFL releases its schedule inthe next two months.
Bills CEO Russ Brandon said the team is in negotiations with Rogers toextend the series beyond this year.
“Our core goal is to continue to regionalize our franchise and continue ourseries in Toronto, which has served us so well,” Brandon said. “We willprovide more information once terms are finalized.”
In December, Bills owner Ralph Wilson told The Associated Press that he wasoptimistic the deal would be renewed.
Though playing in Toronto has been a windfall for the Bills in generatingextra money and raising the team’s profile in Canada’s largest city andfinancial capital, the series has experienced its share of growing pains.
Expensive ticket prices and the Bills’ losing record have contributed toseries organizers having difficulty selling out the 54,000-seat venue. That wasparticularly the case for Buffalo’s previous two preseason games in Toronto.
The Bills drew a crowd of 39,583 for their preseason game againstIndianapolis in 2010, and there was an announced crowd of 48,433 for theirpreseason game against Pittsburgh in 2008.
All four previous regular-season games at Toronto were announced assellouts, even though tickets were still available at game time.
The Bills also announced Tuesday that there will be no increase to theirseason-ticket prices, and have dropped prices for certain sections by as much as$15 per seat for the upcoming season.
The Bills already had among the NFL’s lowest ticket prices. And they’recoming off a season in which they failed to sell out their final three homegames last year.
The team’s season-ticket base dropped to 37,555 last year, down from 44,000the previous season. The Bills blamed the drop on the NFL lockout wiping outmost of the offseason, when the team generates most of its sales.
“Everyone in the organization is committed to building upon our strongfoundation,” Brandon said, “and taking a significant step forward this year.”
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Eagles DT Jenkins to restructure deal
February 21, 2012
PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins has agreed torestructure his contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jenkins signed a $25 million, five-year deal last offseason and had 5.5sacks, seven tackles for loss, and 61 total tackles in his first season with theteam. Jenkins spent his first seven seasons with Green Bay.
“We are very excited about having Cullen back on our football team,”Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said Tuesday. “Cullen made an immediateimpact for us this year on and off the field. We look forward to a great futuretogether with him in an Eagles uniform.”
Philadelphia went 8-8 last season.
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Vikings reach deal to use TCF Stadium
February 21, 2012
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)—The Minnesota Vikings say the organization has reached atentative deal with the University of Minnesota on how much the team will pay touse TCF Stadium while a new Vikings stadium is being built.
Vikings spokesman Lester Bagley declined to name a dollar amount, but saidthe “agreement in principle” would add about 3,000 temporary end zone seats tothe 50,000-seat stadium. Bagley says other details need to be resolved beforeboth parties sign off on the deal.
The Star Tribune (http://bit.ly/xnotMv ) says the Vikings paid $1.7 millionto play a game at TCF Stadium after the Metrodome roof collapsed in December2010.
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Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com
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Griffin to run 40 in Indy, no throwing
February 21, 2012
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP)—Robert Griffin III is looking forward to sittingdown and talking with NFL executives and coaches during the NFL combine.
While they know about Griffin being the first Heisman Trophy winner fromBaylor, and all the records and big numbers he put up, the quarterback realizesmany still have questions about him and the Bears’ potent spread-formationoffense.
“I’m excited to wow them in the interviews with the type of offense that werun, just so they can understand it’s not as simple as some people make ourspread out to be. It’s a different kind of spread,” Griffin said. “Although Idon’t agree with it, but people say I just burst on the scene this year, so no one knows much about me, whether NFL GMs or analysts, so I get a chance to putmy best foot forward.”
Griffin was in Fort Worth on Monday night to accept the Davey O’Brien Awardthat recognizes the nation’s top quarterback.
When the NFL draft takes place in two months, Griffin wants to be the firstquarterback selected even though most projections have Stanford’s Andrew Luckgoing first overall to the Indianapolis Colts.
“We both want to be the best, we both want to be No. 1. Whether I getdrafted first or not, it’s not going to change the way I play,” Griffin said.“All I can say, it’s about motivation. You never want to feel like everybodythinks you’re a sure thing in life because it can rob you of your motivation togo out and get better.”
Griffin insisted he has no hints of what might happen on draft day, but saidwhen he went to Indianapolis during Super Bowl week that fans there were tellinghim they wanted him to come there. RG3 added that he hopes Peyton Manning staysin Indianapolis, because “he’s a legend and deserves that.”
Along with the interviews later this week at the NFL combine, Griffin plansto run the 40-yard dash and do other drills.
But Griffin said he likely won’t throw in Indianapolis. He will instead savethat for his pro day March 21, which has been moved up a day to avoid going atthe same time as the pro day for Luck, the Heisman runner-up.
Griffin has been working extensively with quarterback consultant Terry Sheapreparing for the NFL combine and his pro day. They have done a lot of work onthe dual-threat quarterback’s foot work.
“Just getting used to the type of routes you have to throw at the nextlevel,” Griffin said. “Basically just trying to find the best way to allow myskills to shine, whether that’s my quick release or just my ability to drive thefootball down the field.
“It’s like a performance when it comes to your pro day and when you’rethrowing. It’s exactly like a performance, you’ve just got to memorize thescript and go out and execute to the best of your ability,” he said. “Once youget drafted, you can go to your team and learn the grand scheme of things.”
Griffin set or tied 54 school records in 41 games at Baylor, which lastseason tied a school record with 10 wins—the other 10-win season was in 1980during Mike Singletary’s senior year. The Bears won their last six games in2011, and the record-setting 67-56 victory over Washington in the Alamo Bowl wastheir first bowl victory since 1992.
Griffin is the school’s career passing leader, completing 800 of 1,192passes (67 percent) for 10,366 yards and 78 touchdowns with 17 interceptions.His 2,254 yards and 33 TDs rushing are records for a Bears quarterback.
Sure, those numbers were made possible by Baylor’s offensive scheme. ButGriffin said it was based on plenty of pro-style principles.
“At first glance, they see four or five wide receivers, a lot of motion, alot of different sets of formations,” Griffin said. “If you take it from thataspect, it’s exactly the same things that the pros do, go two-tight, four wideand two tight ends, and tight end at running back like the Patriots do.”
Vikes face tough decision on Hutchinson
February 20, 2012
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)—The Minnesota Vikings are going younger this offseason intheir attempt to catch up with the rest of their division. Some of their mostexperienced starters have contracts and ages that make them candidates for a paycut—or for simply being cut altogether.
One of them is five-time first-team All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson, who isscheduled to make $6.95 million in 2012, the final installment of a seven-yeardeal worth as much as $49 million. He is well aware of the way his salary sticksout.
“I know what the cap situation is and all that, but it’s out of mycontrol,” said Hutchinson, who recently turned 35.
He said he wouldn’t be surprised if the team asks him to redo his deal tostay this season. He also acknowledged he has considered the possibility ofbeing let go before the new league year begins and free agency opens next month.
“Any player has to worry about that in the NFL,” Hutchinson said in aphone interview Monday with The Associated Press.
Last year, the Vikings jettisoned left tackle Bryant McKinnie and widereceiver Bernard Berrian well ahead of the expiration of their contracts. Rightguard Anthony Herrera, due to draw $2.65 million this season, is anothercandidate for the same fate, though cornerback Cedric Griffin, with three moreyears on his current deal at more than $14 million combined, is the most glaringcontender after a down season and a public expression of frustration with beingbenched.
Hutchinson, the mainstay of the offensive line who started 131 consecutivegames including the playoffs until a broken right thumb sidelined him at the endof 2010, has the most complicated and highest-profile case. His last of sevenPro Bowl selections came two years ago, and his durability and dominant blockingisn’t what it was. But the Vikings would surely miss him if he goes.
They averaged 144.9 yards rushing per game last season, fourth-most in theNFL, despite a new left tackle and instability at right guard. There are enoughpositions in need of an upgrade that they can’t address them all in one year.Plus, Hutchinson’s experienced presence has certainly helped the others playingaround him, particularly center John Sullivan, who parlayed a breakout seasoninto a new contract.
General manager Rick Spielman said last week “sometimes you just have tomake some tough business decisions” regarding players on the roster with highsalaries, but said he hadn’t yet contacted the agents of anyone the Vikings willrenegotiate with or release early.
When asked to assess his performance in 2011, Hutchinson said he played“great.” After shoulder surgery in 2010 to repair an injury he played throughin 2009, Hutchinson wasn’t as strong that year as he wanted to be because of allthe time spent on rehabilitation rather than training. With extra time to restlast summer during the lockout, he came back much healthier.
“It was the best shape I’ve been in in a number of years,” Hutchinsonsaid.
He missed the last two games with a concussion, just the third of his 11 proseasons he didn’t play in all 16 games. His helmet came off during a playagainst the New Orleans Saints, and he got kicked in the back of the head hardenough that his teeth cut his lip.
“I took quite the blow to the head. I was fortunate to not have anyconcussions before that. I passed the baseline test and remembered everything,but it was more of a balance issue I was dealing with, an equilibrium-typething,” Hutchinson said.
His 2011 season ended early, but that wasn’t necessarily a negative. TheVikings finished 3-13, an embarrassing mark on everyone’s resume.
“It was a rough year,” Hutchinson said. “What could’ve gone wrong wentwrong. I’ve been fortunate enough that it was the first time in my career I hada season like that. It’s not fun. I hope to never have that happen again.Hopefully it was a one-year deal.”
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Follow Dave Campbell on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DaveCampbellAP
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Chiefs, CB Routt agree to 3 yrs., $19.6M
February 20, 2012
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)—A person familiar with the situation tells TheAssociated Press that the Kansas City Chiefs and cornerback Stanford Routt haveagreed to terms on a $19.6 million, three-year deal.
The person, speaking on condition of anonymity Monday because the team hadnot announced the deal, said the agreement includes a $4 million signing bonusand $6 million the first season.
Routt is still owed $5 million next month from the Raiders, who released himafter the first year of a $54.4 million, five-year deal. Routt chose the Chiefsover competing offers from Buffalo, Cincinnati, Houston, New Orleans, Minnesotaand Tennessee.
Routt will likely take over for Brandon Carr, who will become a free agent.Signing Routt means the Chiefs are more likely to use the franchise tag on widereceiver Dwayne Bowe instead of Carr.
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AP Sports Writer Josh Dubow contributed to this report.
Canadians eligible to buy Packers stock
February 20, 2012
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)—Canadians who want to buy Green Bay Packers stockwill now get their chance.
The team said Monday it has cleared Canadian regulatory requirements and isnow selling shares north of the border. Each share costs $250. In the U.S.,there’s also a $25 handling fee. In Canada, the charge is $35.
The NFL’s only publicly-owned team originally offered 280,000 shares forsale. It says there were 17,000 shares left as of Feb. 14 and the sale will endno later than Feb. 29.
The money is being used to fund an expansion of Lambeau Field. The sharespay no dividends and have virtually no re-sale value.
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Bills, WR Johnson ‘far apart’ on deal
February 20, 2012
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP)—Stevie Johnson and the Buffalo Bills are still “farapart” in contract talks. And the receiver doesn’t expect the team to use itsfranchise tag to retain him, a person familiar with discussions told TheAssociated Press on Sunday.
The person spoke with The Associated Press on the condition of anonymitybecause talks are ongoing.
The update on talks comes after the two sides exchanged offers last week,and agreed to meet at the NFL combine in Indianapolis this week.
Johnson has led the Bills in receiving in each of the past two seasons andis eligible to become a free agent next month.
The Bills have a policy against discussing contract talks. General managerBuddy Nix did say last month that he would like to re-sign Johnson.
Starting Monday, NFL teams can begin using a franchise tag to retain therights of their prospective free agents.
Applying the tag would not prevent the Bills from continuing to negotiate along-term contract with Johnson. However, if a deal is not reached, it would putthe team in a position to have to pay the receiver about $9.4 million nextseason.
Such a contract would handcuff the Bills’ payroll, and limit their abilityto sign other free agents to improve a team that’s not made the playoffs in 12seasons—the NFL’s longest active drought.
The Bills haven’t used the tag since 2006, when they designated cornerbackNate Clements their franchise player. Clements signed the $7.2 million offer,under the condition the team would allow him to become a free agent thefollowing season.
Johnson has not discussed how much he’s seeking, except to say he’s notasked the team to pay him $9 million or $10 million a season, which would puthim in the upper echelon of NFL receivers.
Johnson’s value has gone up since the Bills took a chance on using aseventh-round pick on selecting the player out of Kentucky in the 2008 draft.Sparingly used in his first two seasons, Johnson’s production took off in 2010,when he had 82 catches for 1,073 yards and 10 touchdowns in supplanting veteranLee Evans as the Bills’ top threat.
Johnson maintained his production this season after Buffalo traded Evans toBaltimore in August. He finished with 76 catches for 1,004 yards and seventouchdowns in becoming the team’s first receiver to have consecutive 1,000-yardseasons.
As productive as he’s been, Johnson has landed in hot water for hisover-the-top celebrations. He was benched for the final three quarters of theBills’ finale at New England after being flagged a second time in six games—and third time in two years—for an excessive touchdown celebration.
Losing Johnson would be a big blow to a Bills offense that lacks experienceddepth at the receiver position, and for an offense that made strides underquarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick last season. Despite a 6-10 finish, in whichBuffalo lost eight of its final nine games, the Bills finished 14th in the NFLin yards gained—the team’s best showing since finishing 11th in 2002.
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Longtime Lions assistant Clemons retires
February 19, 2012
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP)—Detroit Lions assistant coach Don Clemons isretiring.
The team says Clemons is departing after 27 seasons with the Lions. He was adefensive assistant in 2011.
He’s worked for nine head coaches with the Lions and coached multiplepositions on defense. He’s also served as the team’s strength coach.
Before joining the Lions in 1985, Clemons was strength and conditioningcoach at Arizona State and a linebackers coach at New Mexico State. He alsocoached outside linebackers at Kutztown State.
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11 ex-players sue NFL over concussions
February 18, 2012
NEW ORLEANS (AP)—Nearly a dozen former NFL players living in Louisianahave sued the NFL, the latest players to accuse the league of failing to protectplayers from the risks associated with concussions.
Several former New Orleans Saints players, including John Fourcade, areamong the 11 ex-players named as plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit filedFriday in federal court in New Orleans. The lawsuit says each of them hasdeveloped mental or physical problems from concussions or concussion-likesymptoms.
Several similar suits blaming the NFL for concussion-related dementia andbrain disease already have been consolidated in Philadelphia. James Dugan, alawyer for the former players from Louisiana, said he expects the case to betransferred to Philadelphia within a month.
The NFL has vowed to vigorously defend itself against the suits.
Football helmet manufacturer Riddell Inc. also is named as a defendant inthe lawsuit filed in New Orleans.
The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, accuses the NFL of ignoringplayers’ concussion risks for years “despite overwhelming medical evidence thaton-field concussions led directly to brain injuries and frequently had tragicrepercussions for retired players.”
“Wanting their players on the field instead of training tables, and in anattempt to protect a multibillion dollar business, the NFL has purposefullyattempted to obfuscate the issue and has repeatedly refuted the connectionbetween concussions and brain injury to the disgust of Congress, which hasblasted the NFL’s handling of the issue on multiple occasions,” the lawsuitsays.
A 2000 survey of more than 1,000 former NFL players found that more than 60percent had suffered at least one concussion, while 26 percent had sufferedthree or more during their careers, according to the lawsuit.
“Those who had sustained concussions reported more problems with memory,concentration, speech impediments, headaches and other neurological problemsthan those who had not been concussed,” the suit says.
The lawsuit claims the league has only recently taken action to address theproblem.
The other plaintiffs are: Tyrone Hughes, Eric Hill, Curtis Baham, RaionHill, Maurice Hurst, Treverance Faulk, Keaton Cromartie, Vince Buck, CharlesCommiskey and Tyrone Legette. Wives of the players also are named as plaintiffsin the suit.
Fourcade, 51, was a quarterback for the Saints from 1987 to 1990 and playedat Mississippi.
Dugan said he represents a total of roughly 30 former NFL players and plansto soon file other lawsuits on their behalf. He declined to name his otherclients.
“All of these players are seeking protections for themselves and theirfamilies,” he said.
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