Redskins coach Joe Gibbs among those who has no problem with the team's name

Count former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs among those who has no problem with the team's name.

The NFL team that Gibbs led to three Super Bowl titles in the first of two stints as coach has been heavily criticized for its nickname that's viewed as derogatory toward Native Americans. A group of U.S. senators and President Barack Obama have suggested it should be changed, which team owner Daniel Snyder vehemently refuses.

Asked about the controversy before the NASCAR race Saturday at Kentucky Speedway, the Hall of Fame coach and racing team owner defended the Redskins name.

''Never once did I hear anybody ever say anything negative about the name Redskins,'' Gibbs said about his time with the team. ''It was always prideful, it was courage involved. We have a song, 'Hail to the Redskins,'' and so everything, everything, about that name has been positive for me and my past.''

Growing up in North Carolina, Gibbs said the Redskins were the only NFL team on TV and that he ''pulled for them my whole life'' and said he never dreamed of coaching them from 1981-92 and again from 2004-07.

Washington won Super Bowls in the 1982, 1987 and 1991 seasons. Gibbs also became a NASCAR team owner during that period and has gone on to win three Sprint Cup titles as well as the 1993 Daytona 500.

Quote:Joe Jackson Gibbs (born November 25, 1940) is a former American football coach, NASCAR Championship team owner, and two time NHRA team owner. He was the 20th and 26th head coach in the history of the Washington Redskins (1981–1992, 2004–2007). Well known for his long hours and work ethic, Gibbs constructed what Steve Sabol has called, "The most diverse dynasty in NFL history," building championship teams with many players who have had mediocre to average careers while playing for other NFL teams. During his first stint in the National Football League, he coached the Redskins for 12 seasons and led them to eight playoff appearances, four NFC Championship titles, and three Super Bowl titles.

Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel has no intention of toning down his weekends

Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel has no intention of toning down his weekends.

Appearing at a PLAY 60 event with other AFC rookies, Manziel says he's been bothered by recent comments about his behavior. He was asked about remarks by Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith, Joe Montana and Warren Moon, who all said the young quarterback should curtail his off-the-field lifestyle.

Manziel says he respects their opinions, but adds that some recent social media reports have been distorted. Manziel says his weekend partying is not affecting him at practice and he's committed to football.

Manziel says he's ''tired of the hype'' and scrutiny and doesn't think he's ''doing anything wrong.'' He now realizes that wherever he goes ''people want to pull out their phones and follow me around and record everything.''

Quote:Johnny Manziel was experiencing the 2014 NFL Draft in reverse. All around him in the green room, the camera would run to surround the table inhabited by the latest pick. They went to Jadeveon Clowney across a narrow aisle first, and Manziel leaped up to embrace the towering, weeping man who almost certainly will sack him one day.

Although the original settlement was trumpeted by both sides

A revised concussions settlement between the NFL and former players could shrink the league's coffers. Only marginally, though, and not for a long time.

The NFL agreed Wednesday to remove a $675 million cap on damages from thousands of concussion-related claims. A federal judge who originally questioned whether there would be enough money to cover as many as 20,000 retired players still must approve the new terms.

The settlement is designed to last at least 65 years and cover retired players who develop Lou Gehrig's disease, dementia or other neurological problems believed to be caused by concussions sustained during their careers. Removing the cap might lead to the NFL paying out more money to ailing former players, even though the league and lawyers for the plaintiffs believe the $675 million won't be surpassed.

''If exceeding that number happens, it is well down the road,'' said Marc Ganis, president of Chicago-based consulting firm SportsCorp and a close observer of league business. ''I don't foresee anything in the next four or five years.

''This has the benefit of getting money to the families and people who need it now. If the actuarials are wrong, the additional money would not be paid for a while down the road. By then, there will be new TV contracts, the league will have grown more (financially).''

Although the original settlement was trumpeted by both sides, U.S. District Judge Anita Brody denied preliminary approval last January. Her concerns centered, simply, on whether there was enough money in the pot to satisfy all the legitimate claims; some 4,500 retired players were part of the lawsuit. Projections indicate many more will need help.

Dozens of ex-players also have said they would not take part in the original settlement, against the advice of the plaintiffs' attorneys.

''Some of the players were concerned and asking questions about whether they could be in a deal if they weren't sure there'd be money there for them 40 years from now if they get sick, God forbid. ... That's what drove these changes,'' plaintiffs' lawyer Christopher Seeger said.

The original settlement included $675 million for compensatory claims for players with neurological symptoms; $75 million for baseline testing; and $10 million for medical research and education. The NFL also would pay an additional $112 million to the players' lawyers, for a total payout of more than $870 million.

The revised settlement eliminates the cap on overall damage claims, but retains a payout formula for individual retirees that considers their age and illness. A young retiree with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, would receive $5 million. A 50-year-old with Alzheimer's disease would get $1.6 million. An 80-year-old with early dementia would get $25,000.

Where will the money come from? The NFL isn't exactly hurting for income as it approaches $10 billion in annual revenues.

''This comes out of their bottom line, although it is not a huge part of their bottom line,'' said David Orentlicher, a law professor at Indiana University's Robert H. McKinney School of Law. ''But anytime a business' prices and costs increase, they try to pass off as much as they can. If they can pass it all off, they will. Sometimes you have to eat some of it.

''The questions become, have they already maxed their prices for tickets and broadcast rights and sponsorships and the like?''

With new TV deals upcoming and the surging popularity of pro football, it seems unlikely the NFL has maxed out its earning potential.

Critics of the deal have said the league is getting off lightly. Others point out, as did Ganis, that the timing of getting payments to the injured or ill is the most crucial element.

One of the plaintiffs is Kevin Turner, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots and is now battling ALS.

''The compensation provided in this settlement will lift a heavy burden off of the men who are suffering,'' he said in a statement. ''I am also personally comforted by the knowledge that this settlement is guaranteed to be there for any retired player who needs it.''

Orentlicher projects the NFL will surpass the payouts of the original settlement agreement.

''It would be very surprising if their ultimate payoff is not significantly greater,'' Orentlicher said. ''I think they will spend more money as a result of this. It's just the nature of these kinds of settlements.

''If this is all the NFL has to pay, the owners will be very happy. When you add up all the damage these players are suffering and all the money teams have earned as a result, this isn't sufficient to compensate for the harm.''

Quote:Anita Brody - Anita Blumstein Brody (born 1935) is a United States federal judge.
Brody was born in New York City. She received a B.A. from Wellesley College in 1955, and a J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1958. Judge Brody was a deputy assistant state attorney general in New York from 1958 to 1959. From 1973 to 1981 she was in private practice in Philadelphia. In 1981 Judge Brody was appointed by Pennsylvania Governor Richard Thornburgh, and then elected a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, which is part of the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area.
Brody then became a federal judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Brody was nominated by President George H.W. Bush on November 22, 1991, to a new seat created as a result of the passage of 104 Stat. 5089. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 2, and received her commission as a District Court Judge on October 2, 1992.

Michael Sam didn't stand out

Michael Sam was laughing with teammates as they conducted a running-back drill for kids, each youngster stiff-arming and juking his way to a touchdown celebration dance in a makeshift end zone.

Sam didn't stand out. He was just another rookie, simply one of the guys.

The NFL's first openly gay active player, Sam's first months in the league have gone just as he would have hoped.

''It's very positive, it's very fun,'' Sam said. ''I'm excited to be playing for the Rams, I'm excited to be in the NFL.''

Sam was in town with the other NFC rookies, who took part in a PLAY 60 youth football clinic with local children at the Browns' training complex, part of the league's four-day rookie symposium. The AFC rookies will begin their symposium on Wednesday.

The full orientation for the players includes presentations, workshops and speakers covering a broad range of topics that fit under four core teaching principles: NFL History, Total Wellness, Professional Experience and, yes, Workplace Conduct.

But workplace conduct - that is, experiencing workplace respect and maintaining positive relationships, two main outlined elements of the symposium - hasn't been a problem for Sam. Not with his teammates and not among the other rookies.

It's obvious he has the respect of those around him.

''You don't see anyone not talking to him or against him,'' said guard Greg Robinson, Sam's teammate in St. Louis and the second overall pick in April's draft. ''They look at him as a football player.''

That doesn't mean Sam has to shy away from who he is, though. In a group meeting during the symposium, he was able to share some thoughts on his own life with teammates and rookies from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

''Just know someone's story before you judge them. That's pretty much what it comes down to,'' said Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans. ''He's a normal guy, just like us. Just here to play football.''

Sam is also quickly becoming known for his sense of humor.

''The Rams love him,'' Evans said. ''They always joke around with him. He seems like a fun-loving guy.''

And like any rookie, he is adjusting to the stark contrasts between the college and professional game.

Sam was the SEC's Co-Defensive Player Of The Year last season and was taken with the 249th overall pick in the seventh round of the draft, but he is working hard to carve out a role on a loaded Rams' defensive line, led by ends Chris Long and Robert Quinn, who was second in the NFL in sacks last season.

He has also been finding work on special teams.

''It's every fast. Everything is full speed,'' Sam said. ''If you make a mistake, it could cost you that win in practice or that win in a game. That one mistake. So you've got to pay attention to details.''

As for the details that have followed Sam around since he came out to the media in February, they haven't mattered to anyone in the league, especially those who have met him.

''He's just another guy in the locker room,'' Robinson said. ''He's really cool once you get to know him and I feel like he has a great story behind him.''

That story has resulted in a whirlwind year for Sam, without much time to reflect on the fact that he is finally an NFL player. It's a lifelong goal that made him not unlike every player on the field Tuesday, having fun with kids eager to show off their quick feet or sure hands.

''It still hasn't hit me yet, it's still like a dream,'' Sam said.

And as he continues to cross through uncharted territory, there is still that one vital, important thing to keep in mind. The thing that truly makes Sam's experience a worthwhile success.

''They treat me like a rookie,'' he said.

Quote:Michael Alan Sam, Jr. (born January 7, 1990)is an American football defensive end for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He attended the University of Missouri, where he played college football for the Missouri Tigers football team for four years.
Sam attended Hitchcock High School in Hitchcock, Texas, where he played football. Recruited by a number of colleges, he accepted a scholarship with Missouri. He was a consensus All-American and the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.

Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has refused to change the name

Three Virginia state lawmakers are forming a ''Redskins Pride Caucus'' to defend the Washington, D.C.-based football team that's come under pressure to change its name.

Last month, 50 U.S. senators sent a letter to the NFL urging it to change the name. And the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ruled last week that the Redskins name is disparaging to Native Americans and that the team should be stripped of federal trademark protection. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has refused to change the name.

Fairfax Democratic Sen. Chap Petersen, Manassas Republican Delegate Jackson Miller and Loudon Republican Delegate David Ramadan scheduled a news conference Monday at the Capitol to announce the caucus' formation.

In a news release, the lawmakers say their group would support ''commercial freedom'' in Virginia and oppose what they call Congress' ''inappropriate involvement'' in issues related to the Redskins.

Quote:The Washington Redskins name controversy involves the name and logo of the National Football League (NFL) franchise located in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Numerous civil rights, educational, athletic, and academic organizations consider the use of Native American names and/or symbols by any sports teams to be a harmful form of ethnic stereotyping which should be eliminated.[1] The Washington team is only one example of the larger controversy but receives the most public attention due to the name itself being defined as derogatory or insulting in modern dictionaries, and the prominence of the team being located in the nation's capital.

Hernandez was brought to St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford Saturday

Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was briefly taken from a jail to a hospital this weekend for an undisclosed problem, a Massachusetts sheriff said.

Hernandez was brought to St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford Saturday and was back at the Bristol County jail in Dartmouth about an hour later, Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson said Sunday.

Hodgson said he can't disclose what happened because of medical privacy laws.

Hernandez, a Bristol, Connecticut, native, has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in connection with the killings of two men in Boston in 2012 and the killing of another man found near Hernandez's home in North Attleborough, Massachusetts.

The hospital visit, first reported by WBZ-TV in Boston, came a day after his attorneys said in a transfer request that Hernandez should be moved to a jail closer to Boston because communication with his attorneys and his personal safety are being compromised.

Boston-based attorneys Michael Fee and James Sultan complained their client has dealt with ''bizarre and unprecedented'' restrictions in his communications with his lawyers. Hernandez cannot always speak privately over the phone and in-person visits are limited to a specially-designated visitation room at the prison, they said.

The lawyers also suggested Hernandez's safety is at risk now that he faces criminal charges for allegedly threatening to kill a prison guard and his family, and in an alleged jail altercation with another inmate. Hernandez has pleaded not guilty.

Hernandez is set to appear in court in Boston this week in the 2012 drive-by shooting that killed Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado.

Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to all three killings.

Quote:Aaron Hernandez has been dating Shayanna Jenkins since 2007. They have a daughter, Avielle Janelle, who was born in November 2012.[26] That same month, Hernandez purchased a 7,100 square feet (660 m2) four-story home, with an in-ground pool, in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, for $1.3 million.[27] [28][29] On September 27, 2013, Jenkins was indicted on a perjury charge in connection with the killing of Odin Lloyd.

Toronto and Los Angeles are considered potential landing spots

 

Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula have a strong desire to see the Bills stay in Buffalo, and aren't ruling out making a bid to buy the NFL franchise.

In saying they're following the Bills' sale process, the Pegulas declined to go into further detail of their intentions, in a prepared statement released by Sabres vice president Michael Gilbert on Friday.

''Like everyone else in this community, they have a strong desire to have the Buffalo Bills remain a centerpiece of this region,'' Gilbert said. ''Accordingly, they have been following the developments involving the sale of the Bills.''

Out of respect for the sale process, Gilbert said the owners will not be issuing any further comments.

The statement was released in response to numerous reports of the Pegulas having serious interest in purchasing the Bills, who are on the market after the team's owner and founder Ralph Wilson died in March.

The latest development came on Thursday, when a person familiar with the sale process told The Associated Press the Pegulas were among prospective buyers who received a non-disclosure agreement and background on the Bills from a law firm representing Wilson's estate.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the sale process has not been made public.

Filling out the non-disclosure agreement would be the next step in providing interested groups full access to the Bills' financial data in order to begin formulating bids.

The Bills were last valued by Forbes to be worth $870 million. But their sale price could go much higher because NFL teams rarely go on the market.

The Pegulas made their fortune in the natural gas industry, after Terry Pegula sold off many of his company's assets for $4.7 billion to Royal Dutch Shell in 2010.

His net worth was last estimated by Forbes to be $3.3 billion, but that figure could rise after his company reached a deal to sell off 75,000 acres of land in Ohio and West Virginia to Oklahoma-based American Energy Partners last week.

Pegula has spent the past four years going on a major spending spree focusing on two of his passions: hockey and Penn State, his alma mater.

In 2010, he donated more than $100 million to Penn State to build a hockey arena and establish a Division I program.

In February 2011, he purchased the Sabres, the team he became a fan of in the 1970s.

The Pegulas have since shown a commitment to helping spur Buffalo's economy by building a $172 million hockey/entertainment complex called HarborCenter across from the Sabres'downtown arena.

The Bills' long-term future in western New York remains a question mark.

Though their lease essentially ties them to playing at their current home through the 2019 season, there are concerns the Bills could eventually relocate under a new owner.

Toronto and Los Angeles are considered potential landing spots.

People familiar with the sale have previously said an ownership candidate could be identified by the end of July, and the sale approved by NFL owners as early as the league's meetings in October.

Quote:Terrence M. "Terry" Pegula (born March 27, 1951) is an American multi-billionaire. Pegula holds business interests in natural gas development, real estate and professional sports, including full ownership of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League.

The ruling doesn't directly force the team to abandon the name

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ruled Wednesday that the Washington Redskins' name is ''disparaging of Native Americans'' and should be stripped of trademark protection - a decision that puts powerful new financial and political pressure on the NFL team to rename itself.

By a vote of 2-1, the agency's Trademark Trial and Appeal Board sided with five Native Americans in a dispute that has been working its way through legal channels for more than two decades.

The ruling doesn't directly force the team to abandon the name, but it adds momentum to the campaign at a time of increasing criticism of Redskins owner Dan Snyder from political, religious and sports figures who say it's time for a change.

''If the most basic sense of morality, decency and civility has not yet convinced the Washington team and the NFL to stop using this hateful slur, then hopefully today's patent ruling will, if only because it imperils the ability of the team's billionaire owner to keep profiting off the denigration and dehumanization of Native Americans,'' Oneida Indian representative Ray Halbritter and National Congress of American Indians Executive Director Jackie Pata, two of the leading forces in the campaign to change the name, said in a statement.

The Redskins quickly announced they will appeal, and the team's name will continue to have trademark protection while the matter makes its way through the courts - a process that could take years.

A similar ruling by the board in 1999 was overturned on a technicality in 2003.

''We've seen this story before,'' Redskins attorney Bob Raskopf said. ''And just like last time, today's ruling will have no effect at all on the team's ownership of and right to use the Redskins name and logo. We are confident we will prevail once again.''

Snyder and others associated with the team have long argued that the Redskins name is used with respect and honor and is a source of pride among many American Indians.

The ruling involves six uses of the Redskins name trademarked by the team from 1967 to 1990. It does not apply to the team's American Indian head logo.

If it stands, the team will still be free to use the name but will lose a lot of its ability to protect its financial interests. It will be more difficult for the team to go after others who print the Redskins name on sweatshirts, jerseys or other gear without permission.

''Joe in Peoria is going to have a pretty good argument that he could put the 'Redskins' name on some T-shirt,'' said Brad Newberg, a copyright law expert in Virginia.

Newberg estimated that the ruling, if upheld, could cost the team tens of millions of dollars per year. Forbes magazine puts the value of the Redskins franchise at $1.7 billion and says $145 million of that is attributable to the team's brand.

The board exercised its authority under a section of the Trademark Act of 1946 that disallows trademarks that may disparage others or bring them into contempt or disrepute. Over the years, the courts have rejected arguments that the First Amendment guarantees the right to register any name as a trademark.

In reaching its decision, the board drew on the testimony of three experts in linguistics and lexicography and combed through old dictionaries, books, newspapers, magazines and even vintage movie quotes to examine the history of ''redskin,'' looking specifically at whether it was considered disparaging at the time the trademarks were issued.

The board concluded that today's dictionaries ''uniformly label the term 'offensive' or 'disparaging''' - a change that took place between the late 1960s and the 1990s - and that its derogatory nature is further demonstrated by ''the near complete drop-off in usage of 'redskins''' as a term for Native Americans beginning in the 1960s.

Also, the board said a ''substantial'' number of Native Americans - at least about 30 percent - have found the team's use of the term to be offensive.

Earlier this year, the agency rejected trademark requests for ''Redskins Hog Rinds'' and ''Washington Redskin Potatoes.'' It also turned down an Asian-American rock band called The Slants and the Jewish humor magazine Heeb.

Courts overturned the board's 1999 ruling in part because the plaintiffs waited too long to voice their objections after the original trademarks were issued. The case was relaunched in 2006 by a younger group of Native Americans who only recently became adults and would not have been able to file a case earlier.

The chorus of critics against the use of the name has grown over the past year.

President Barack Obama himself said last year that he would think about changing the name if he owned the team.

On Saturday, a major sector of the United Church of Christ voted to urge its 40,000 members to boycott the Redskins. On Capitol Hill, half the Senate recently wrote letters to the NFL urging a change because ''racism and bigotry have no place in professional sports.''

Washington Mayor Vincent Gray suggested Wednesday that the name will almost certainly have to change if the team ever wants to build a new stadium in the city.

Snyder, who has vowed repeatedly never to abandon the name, declined to comment as he walked off the field after a practice Wednesday.

Redskins players have mostly avoided the topic.

''Our job as players is to focus on what we can on this field day-in and day-out and let the legal people take care of that stuff,'' quarterback Robert Griffin III said. ''And when it's the right time, then we can voice whatever it is we know about the situation.''

The Redskins have responded to critics by creating a foundation to give financial support to Indian tribes. Suzan Shown Harjo, a leading figure in the trademark case, called the foundation ''somewhere between a PR assault and bribery.''

Supporters of a name change hailed the decision.

''Daniel Snyder may be the last person in the world to realize this,'' Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on the Senate floor, ''but it is just a matter of time until he is forced to do the right thing.''

Quote:Daniel Snyder - Daniel Marc Snyder (born November 23, 1964) is an American billionaire and the current owner of the Washington Redskins American football team and primary investor in Red Zebra Broadcasting, which is home to the Redskins Radio ESPN.

Since the NFLPA filed the grievance in Graham's behalf in early May

Jimmy Graham vs. the Saints has become a battle between the NFL vs. its players union. The NFLPA thinks it has the uppper hand, and it should.

Tuesday marked the beginning of Graham's system arbritation to determine whether the franchise tag he received from the Saints should pay him as a tight end or wide receiver for the 2014 season. There's more than $5 million at stake for the dominant pass-catcher, the difference in salary between the two tag values — $7 million and $12.3 million, respectively.

Since the NFLPA filed the grievance in Graham's behalf in early May, both the union and the league have had time to put together their best cases.

The union's strongest argument is based on analyzing just how Graham was used in the Saints' passing game: a "move" receiver who did limited work as an in-line tight end. Breaking down all their snaps, Graham acted like a wideout two-thirds of the time.

Among @NFLPA’s arguments: 67 percent of the time, Jimmy Graham lines up where a WR would line up. Union has expressed a lot of confidence

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 17, 2014
In contrast, the NFL doesn't have too much on which to stand, other than the fact Graham is listed as a tight end on the Saints' roster and Graham refers to himself as 'a Saints tight end' on social media. For the record, his Twitter profile (@TheJimmyGraham) also lists him as a 'private pilot'.

Among @NFL’s arguments: Jimmy Graham meets in the TE room, lines up where TEs line up… and lists himself as a TE on Twitter (really).

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 17, 2014
It's hard to see a compromise because under the tag, Graham wants to maximize his guaranteed money for the upcoming season, and his production is much more in line with the $12.3 million when you stack up his numbers (86 receptions, 1,215 receiving yards, 16 touchdowns last season) vs. the game's highest-paid wide receiver, Detroit's Calvin Johnson (84, 1,492 and 12 in '13). In additon, Graham would have been able to test unrestricted free agency for fair market value over the long term had he not been tagged.

Quarterback Drew Brees said if Graham prices himself out of New Orleans, the Saints' offense would be "fine" without him. If Graham needs to paid like a wide receiver now, it would mean the Saints need to prepare for that possibility in 2015. Tagging him again at an even higher rate wouldn't be a pleasing option. For '14, they would need to get creative with restructuring other contracts or cutting players to get back under the salary cap. According to OverTheCap.com, they currently have only $1.588 million in space.

Regardless of the decision, the franchise-tag model as a whole needs to be readdressed by the league and the union. In today's NFL with certain matchup-nightmare players having their positions less defined — offensively and defensively — the tag doesn't work when a player such as Graham is set up to get such an undercutting one-year deal.

Quote:Born in Goldsboro, North Carolina, Graham had a difficult upbringing. At age 11, he was placed in a group home where he was physically beaten by older children. In high school, with help from a church youth counselor who took him into her home, he improved his grades, became a basketball star as a senior at Community Christian in Wilson, North Carolina and at Charis Prep in Wilson, North Carolina, and earned a basketball scholarship to the University of Miami.

The Texans have a starting quarterback

The Texans have a starting quarterback. Now they need star wide receiver Andre Johnson back in the fold.

New coach Bill O'Brien named Ryan Fitzpatrick the starter, an announcement overshadowed somewhat by Johnson's absence Tuesday on the first day of a mandatory three-day mini-camp.

Johnson hasn't participated in any of the team's voluntary offseason workouts and said last month that he wouldn't attend these workouts, either. On Tuesday, he missed the opening day of workouts that are the last before training camp in late July.

Fitzpatrick signed with the team in the offseason a day before Matt Schaub was traded to the Raiders and O'Brien made him compete with the three other quarterbacks on the roster for the starting job.

''He definitely earned it,'' O'Brien said. ''He earned it with his preparation. He earned it with his accuracy. He earned it with his command at the line of scrimmage.''

A former starter for the Buffalo Bills, the nine-year veteran started nine games last season for Tennessee after Jake Locker was injured. Fitzpatrick threw for 2,454 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.''This is where I wanted to be,'' Fitzpatrick said. ''I wanted another shot at it. I wanted another chance to be the guy.''

O'Brien said this decision doesn't mean that things can't change as the year progresses.

''Everybody on our team every single day has to go out there and earn their spot on the team, earn their starting spot,'' O'Brien said. ''So quarterback is no different. We have confidence in his ability to lead our football team. He's done a really good job in the offseason of picking up our system and he's executed it well.''

Case Keenum, who took over as starter when Schaub was benched last season, T.J. Yates and rookie Tom Savage are vying to be the backup to Fitzpatrick.

''With all three of those guys we need just a little bit more consistency,'' O'Brien said. ''It has nothing to do with effort or work ethic. Those guys have all worked extremely hard. They've all done what we've asked them to do.''

Johnson has said he has not asked for a trade but last month wondered if Houston was ''still the place for me.'' The 32-year-old receiver is Houston's longest-tenured player after joining the franchise in its second season.

O'Brien said that he has spoken to and text messaged with Johnson, but wouldn't reveal any details. He said he isn't concerned that Johnson has missed the implementation of his new offense.

''I believe based on the different systems that he's been in that he'd be able to pick up on our system,'' O'Brien said. ''He's a bright guy, a very bright guy and a guy that's done a lot in this league. So I think he'd be able to figure it out.''

O'Brien also doesn't think that Johnson's absence is taking away from the rest of the team's work.

''It's really about the guys that are here and they're working extremely hard,'' O'Brien said. ''They don't seem to be too distracted.''

With Johnson out, Houston's young group of receivers is led by last year's first-round pick DeAndre Hopkins and includes third-year players DeVier Posey and Keshawn Martin.

''We've thrown a lot at them,'' O'Brien said. ''It's not easy to play receiver in this system and those guys seem to be getting better every day.''

Houston had preseason Super Bowl aspirations last year, but wound up with an NFL-worst 2-14 record. Rather than choosing a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick, they chose defensive lineman Jadeveon Clowney, who is recovering from surgery to repair a sports hernia and also not at the mini-camp.

Quote:Andre Johnson -- Andre Lamont Johnson (born July 11, 1981) is an American football wide receiver for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Texans third overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Miami. Johnson is second all-time in NFL history in receiving yards per game (80.4), trailing only Calvin Johnson (83.0), and holds nearly every Texans receiving record. 

Former Indianapolis tight end Dallas Clark will retire Wednesday with the team that brought him into the NFL

Former Indianapolis tight end Dallas Clark will retire Wednesday with the team that brought him into the NFL.

Clark was Indy's first-round pick in 2003. In nine seasons, he broke the franchise's career tight end records for receptions (427) and TD catches (46) and finished second in yards receiving (4,887) and 100-yard games (seven). He also set Colts single season records with 100 receptions and 1,106 yards in 2009 and 11 TD catches in 2007.

He was released following the 2011 season, part of the rebuilding purge that included the release of Peyton Manning and defensive captain Gary Brackett among others.

Clark landed with Tampa Bay in 2012 and played in Baltimore last year. He finished with 505 receptions, 5,665 yards and 53 TDs.

The Colts announced the retirement Monday.

Quote:Dallas Clark -- Dallas Dean Clark (born June 12, 1979) is a former American football tight end who played 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Iowa, earned All-American honors, and was recognized as the top college tight end in the nation. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft and he was a member of the their Super Bowl XLI championship team.
He has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Baltimore Ravens.

Former Dallas Cowboys tackle Josh Brent was released from jail on Sunday

Former Dallas Cowboys tackle Josh Brent was released from jail on Sunday following his conviction for a drunken car crash that killed his friend and teammate, Jerry Brown, the Dallas County sheriff's office said.

The 26-year-old Brent was convicted in January of intoxication manslaughter for the December 2012 crash that killed Jerry Brown, a Cowboys practice squad player. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 10 years' probation. It was not immediately clear whether he would be required to report to a rehab facility to complete his six-month sentence, which was expected to end in July.

Brent crashed his Mercedes sedan on a suburban Dallas highway on the way back from a nightclub. Brown was in the passenger's seat. Witnesses recalled seeing Brent trying to pull Brown from the wreckage of the vehicle.

Tests later showed Brent to have a blood-alcohol level of 0.18 percent, more than twice the legal limit for drivers in Texas.

Brent faced up to 20 years in prison for intoxication manslaughter, and prosecutors pressed hard for prison time, saying his case would send a message to other would-be drunken drivers.

But Brown's mother, Stacey Jackson, testified she had forgiven Brent and that ''you can't go on in life holding a grudge.''

Brent and Brown were college teammates at the University of Illinois and roommates in Texas, where Brown was a practice squad linebacker for the Cowboys.

Brent was a defensive tackle for the Cowboys. He retired from the NFL months before his January trial, though he could attempt to be reinstated now that he has been released. It's unclear whether the NFL will suspend him before he can play again.

At least one Cowboys player, linebacker Sean Lee, attended part of Brent's trial, and owner Jerry Jones has said he is supportive of Brent.

Quote:Josh Brent - Joshua Aaron Price-Brent (born January 30, 1988) is an American football nose tackle who recently played for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was drafted by Dallas in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Supplemental Draft. He retired on July 18, 2013 to focus on his off the field issues.

The surgery was performed Thursday

 
Jadeveon Clowney, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft by the Houston Texans, is recovering from sports hernia surgery.

Coach Bill O'Brien disclosed the procedure Friday and said Clowney had been struggling with a groin issue. O'Brien said the standout from South Carolina was sent to a specialist in Philadelphia.

''We decided the best thing for (Clowney) and for the best team for our team and the best thing for the organization was to have sports hernia surgery,'' O'Brien said.

The surgery was performed Thursday. O'Brien expects Clowney to be ready for training camp, which begins in late July.

O'Brien wasn't sure exactly how long he's been dealing with this issue.

''I don't think it was too long,'' O'Brien said. ''I think it wasn't too long, but again you know, we looked at it as let's take care of it now and he will be ready to go for training camp.''

Clowney signed a four-year contract with the Texans a week ago. Houston has an option for a fifth year, as in all NFL contracts with first-round picks under the current collective bargaining agreement.

The defensive end will play outside linebacker in Houston's 3-4 scheme. The 6-foot-5, 266-pound Clowney is expected to pair with 2012 Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt to boost Houston's already solid pass rush. Clowney had 47 tackles for losses and 24 sacks in a three-year career at South Carolina. He has said he doesn't think the transition to linebacker in Houston will be that difficult.

Clowney is the third top overall pick in team history. Houston selected quarterback David Carr in 2002 and defensive end Mario Williams in 2006.

The Texans have their mandatory mini-camp next week and all eyes are on star receiver Andre Johnson and if he'll actually skip the practices after saying he would last month. He hasn't attended any of Houston's voluntary workouts this offseason after saying: ''I just kind of wonder sometimes: 'Is this still the place for me?'''

O'Brien was asked if he expects the 11-year veteran and longest tenured Texan to attend mini-camp.

''I don't know,'' O'Brien said. ''I don't know.''

Quote:Clowney was selected as the number one overall pick by the Houston Texans in the 2014 NFL Draft.Clowney joins David Carr and Mario Williams as the third player selected first overall by the Texans. He is also the first defensive player selected No. 1 overall since Williams. Clowney will wear #90.Since the Texans run a 3-4 defense, Clowney will project to be a rush outside linebacker.

Falcons will be the featured team on HBO's Hard Knocks this summer

The Atlanta Falcons will be the subject of this summer's "Hard Knocks" as the team prepares to bounce back from a forgettable 2013 season.

The Atlanta Falcons will be the featured team on HBO's Hard Knocks this summer, the team announced Thursday. The series will begin on Aug. 5.

The long-running documentary series, entering its ninth season, follows one NFL team as it goes through training camp in preparation for the season. The Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets have been featured most recently.

The Falcons will be doing the show for the first time, though owner Arthur Blank and general manager Thomas Dimitroff have reportedly been interested for several years. ESPN reported in 2012 that the team had extensive internal discussions at every level of the organization about being featured, before ultimately declining the opportunity.

This season's series will focus on a team that saw its record drop precipitously in 2013. The Falcons were considered potential Super Bowl contenders, before injuries ravaged key players in what was supposed to be a high-powered offense. Those injuries left an underwhelming defense overexposed. Atlanta fell to 4-12 after going 13-3 with a trip to the NFC Championship Game game during the 2012 season.

Blank released a statement in conjunction with the announcement, via the team's official site:

"We are excited about the opportunity to give our fans a behind the scenes look at what it takes to prepare an NFL team for the rigors of a 16-game regular season and beyond," said Falcons Owner & Chairman Arthur M. Blank. "This marks the first time that our franchise will be featured on HARD KNOCKS and we look forward to showcasing our great players and coaches to football fans all across America."
Beginning Tuesday, Aug. 5, five hour-long episodes will be shown at 10 p.m. ET on the same day each week, culminating in a Sept. 2 season finale. Each week's episode will be replayed at 11 p.m. every Wednesday.

The Falcons will be the seventh different team to be featured on Hard Knocks. The Bengals (2009, 2013) and Cowboys (2002, 2008) have been featured multiple times. The Baltimore Ravens (2001) were the first subject of the series. Joining those three teams have been the Kansas City Chiefs (2007), the Jets (2010) and the Dolphins (2012).

The reaction over at the Falcoholic is somewhat mixed, given how much work the team needs to do this offseason.

Obviously, this is great exposure for the Falcons and an opportunity to get the kind of national love that sometimes eludes this team. It also is going to be a sharply divisive show for Falcons fans, with some already excited and others viewing it as an unnecessary distraction after a 4-12 2013 season. I'm not 100% certain how I feel about this yet-the announcement blindsided me-but as a fan of the team, I'm at least going to enjoy getting deeper insight into the players from the show.

Quote:The series was created by Marty Callner in 2001.
The series has been narrated by Liev Schreiber since 2001, with the only exception being the 2007 season which was narrated by Paul Rudd, a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs.
The San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, and Washington Redskins each declined to be the show's featured team for the 2013 season, while the Cincinnati Bengals accepted, marking their second appearance on the show. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell subsequently said that he wanted more teams to be featured on the series, on "some kind of formal rotation."
Despite the difficulty each year in finding a team willing to participate, NFL Films announced on July 18, 2013, that it had signed a "multiyear" contract extension with HBO to continue producing the show.
On October 8, 2013, the NFL announced that one team each year will be required to participate in Hard Knocks. Teams may still volunteer to be on the show. Teams with new coaches, teams that have been in the playoffs at least once in the past 2 years, or teams that have done the show once in the past 10 years are exempt from being forced into appearing on the show.
On June 12, 2014 it was announced that the Atlanta Falcons will be the team featured on this season's edition of Hard Knocks. 

Tony Scheffler is retiring from the NFL

 
 
Tony Scheffler is retiring from the NFL.

Scheffler told The Associated Press on Wednesday that having three concussions over the past four years had ''a lot'' to do with his choice.

He had 258 receptions for 3,207 yards and 22 touchdowns in his eight-year career. The Detroit Lions released Scheffler in October. He later had workouts with Chicago and Kansas City and says there was ''moderate'' interest in him as a free agent this offseason.

Denver drafted him in the second round in 2006 out of Western Michigan and traded him four years later to Detroit.

Scheffler says his plans include becoming a real estate agent and assistant football coach at the high school in his hometown of Chelsea, Michigan.



Jadeveon Clowney and J.J. Watt get to chase Peyton Manning around for a few days at practice this August, not that fans will get to watch in person.

The Denver Broncos and Houston Texans will conduct three joint training camp practices in Colorado leading up to their Aug. 23 preseason game at Sports Authority Field. They will practice together Aug. 19-21 at the Dove Valley training headquarters.

Because of a $35 million construction project of an indoor practice facility, the Broncos aren't allowing fans to view their workouts this summer for safety reasons. They can watch three practices at their stadium, all of which will take place before the Texans' visit.

It's the first time the Broncos will have hosted another team at the Dove Valley facility since practicing with the Dallas Cowboys in the 2008 preseason. The Texans and Broncos last held joint practices in 2003 and 2005 in Houston.

''It's always good to do that when you can, to practice with another team, especially after a couple of weeks of camp. You're seeing the same things from your offense and they're seeing the same things from us. So, it can be a good change-up,'' Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio said.

''And it can be very beneficial as long as both teams come to work with the idea that you're going to practice and not spend the day being chippy.''

The Texans are coming off a miserable 2-14 season. But it allowed them the top overall draft pick, which they used to select Clowney, the star defensive end from South Carolina who is converting to outside linebacker as Houston adopts a 3-4 alignment for 2014.

Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase put a positive spin on seeing so much of Clowney and Watt, the 2012 Defensive Player of the Year, this summer.

Noting that AFC West rival Kansas City also operates a 3-4 defense, ''it'll be good experience for us and going against those players, that pass rush especially,'' Gase said. ''That will get us ready to go into the season.''

Weatherspoon suffered the injury while running under the supervision of the team's medical staff

 
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon ruptured his Achilles tendon on Tuesday and will miss the 2014 season.

Weatherspoon suffered the injury while running under the supervision of the team's medical staff.

Weatherspoon had been held out of the organized team activities as he was continuing his recovery from a foot injury that limited him to only seven games in 2013.

The loss of Weatherspoon, the team's first-round pick from Missouri in 2010, is a blow to the Falcons, whose disappointing 4-12 finish in 2013 was marked by a string of injuries. Weatherspoon has eight sacks and two interceptions in his first four seasons.

Weatherspoon has managed to play a full 16 games in only one season, 2011, when he had 80 tackles and a career-high four sacks.

Coach Mike Smith said in a statement released by the team on Tuesday night Weatherspoon is expected to make a full recovery following surgery.

''During Sean's run today with our medical staff, he suffered an injury,'' Smith said. ''We sent Sean to the doctor for some additional testing and evaluation and unfortunately the results showed that he ruptured his Achilles tendon.

''Sean had been working extremely hard to get back on the field, but regrettably he will miss the entire 2014 season. He will have a procedure done in the near future and we expect him to make a full recovery.''

Weatherspoon's 2013 injury forced the Falcons to rely on two undrafted rookies, Joplo Bartu and Paul Worrilow. Worrilow led the team in tackles and Bartu was third.

Before Weatherspoon's latest injury was disclosed, Smith said Tuesday that Bartu and Worrilow have matured in the offseason.

''Two guys who ended up playing a bunch of snaps for us last year have improved and matured,'' Smith said, referring to Worrilow and Bartu.

''If you would have told me at this time last year that one was going to be our leading tackler and the other was going to play 70 percent of the snaps I would have said 'I don't think so.'

''They are a much more mature group. We went through some growing pains with them last year that are going to pay dividends moving forward.''

The Falcons added four linebackers late in this year's NFL draft.

Notre Dame's Prince Shembo was selected late in the fourth round. Syracuse's Marquis Spruill was the team's fifth-round pick. Connecticut's Yawin Smallwood and South Dakota's Tyler Starr were seventh-round picks.

Quote:Sean Weatherspoon - Franklin De'Sean "Sean" Weatherspoon (born December 29, 1987), better known as "Spoon," is an American football linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He played college football at University of Missouri, and was drafted by the Falcons with the 19th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

In addition to installing the world's largest HD LED video boards

The Jacksonville Jaguars are getting creative -- again -- to lure fans to EverBank Field.

In addition to installing the world's largest HD LED video boards, the Jags are adding spaside seats as part of the stadium's $63 million renovation.

The team has finalized plans for two new spas in the upper deck, per The Florida Times-Union. Access to the spas comes with tickets to the spaside cabanas with plush seating, TVs and all-inclusive food and beverages packages.

The Jags have 10 spaside cabanas that fit 50 people for $250 per person for a single game -- including all-you-can-drink wine and beer.

(On the one-in-a-million chance Blake Bortles' girlfriend shows up, this seems worth it.)

There are also 14 upper-level, all-inclusive "party cabanas" without spa access that fit 20 people with a season price of $150 per ticket.

The team has already sold 65 percent of the tickets for the new cabanas, per the SportsBusiness Journal.

"We wanted to take areas in our stadium that were underperforming and get creative," Chad Johnson, senior vice president of sales, told ESPN. "It's no secret that we've had tarps on seats, so we wanted to turn that around and build premium areas."

Packaging all-you-can-eat/-drink offers could be the best way for NFL teams to entice fans to leave their couches on Sundays.

Quote:EverBank Field (originally Jacksonville Municipal Stadium and formerly Alltel Stadium) is an American football stadium near downtown Jacksonville, Florida, and the home stadium facility of the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). It also hosts the annual Florida–Georgia game, a college football rivalry game between the University of Florida and the University of Georgia, and the Gator Bowl, a post-season college bowl game. The stadium assumed its current name on August 10, 2010, following the approval of a five-year naming rights deal with the financial services company EverBank. EverBank Field is also one of the venues used by the United States men's national soccer team.
The current stadium opened in 1995 on the site of the old Gator Bowl Stadium, which had been erected in 1949. Located on the St. Johns River, it sits on 10 acres (4.0 ha) of land, including portions of the older stadium. At its opening, it had a total capacity of 73,000 and expansions over the past decade have since increased that to 76,867. The stadium hosted Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005 and has also held a number of college football games as well as concerts and other events.

Just call him Johnny Baseball

Just call him Johnny Baseball.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 28th round of the Major League Baseball draft Saturday - the 837th player taken.

Manziel was listed as a shortstop for Texas A&M, although he never played for the Aggies as he focused on football. He hasn't played baseball since high school and probably won't see the diamond again as he embarks on his NFL career, but was happy the Padres took a swing at him.

''Big thank you to the (at)Padres and (at)padresmikedee for selecting me in the MLB draft,'' Manziel wrote on his Twitter page. ''What a great day!''

Mike Dee, the Padres' president and CEO, tweeted back: ''Best athlete on the board... (hash)JohnnyBaseball.''

Manziel, the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy in 2012, was taken by the Browns with the 22nd overall pick in the NFL draft last month.

''It was kind of, 'Why not?''' Padres general manager Josh Byrnes said Saturday before the Padres hosted the Washington Nationals.

In May 2013, Manziel visited the Padres when he was in San Diego to work with a quarterbacks coach.

''He certainly loves baseball,'' Byrnes said. ''We kind of talked about it at that time, 'Do you want us to draft you?' He said, 'Yeah, absolutely.'''

Why in the 28th round?

''We really liked our 27th-rounder,'' Byrnes said.

Asked the odds of actually signing Manziel, Byrnes, a big football fan, just smiled.

Manziel played baseball and football at Tivy High School in Kerrville, Texas, and asked Texas A&M coaches about being part of the baseball team before winning the Aggies' starting quarterback job as a redshirt freshman.

Earlier this week, Manziel - decked out in an Indians jersey - was set to throw out the first pitch in Cleveland before the Indians played Boston. He warmed up earlier with Indians pitcher Josh Tomlin, but his toss was washed out by rain that delayed the start.

But, in May 2013, Manziel took batting practice with the Padres at Petco Park and tossed out a football-style first pitch as he dropped back, scrambled to the side of the mound and floated a bootleg ''pass'' to San Diego outfielder Mark Kotsay, who caught it behind his back with his glove.

On Manziel's first swing in batting practice, the bat flew out of his hands, but he settled down and later drove a pitch off the right-field wall.

''I didn't know he played baseball,'' Padres right-hander Ian Kennedy said Saturday. ''Anybody in Texas probably plays all those sports, football, baseball.''

Padres closer Huston Street, who pitched at Texas and whose late father, James, played quarterback for the Longhorns, liked the pick, even if Manziel did play for the Aggies.

''I'm a fan. I think he's an exciting player,'' Street said. ''I think he's good for sport. I think he plays hard. I don't know if he'll ever wear a Padre uniform, but it sure is exciting that the organization took him. I know he hung out here last year a couple times and everybody really enjoyed his presence. Everybody liked him. I came away from that day thinking, 'Man, that's a good dude, that's a cool guy.' It seemed like he was a very focused, mentally strong guy. He wanted to do something. We know what he can do in football.

''Heck, if he wants to come out here and hang around before games ... I don't know if they let 28th-round picks do that,'' Street said. ''But he's a great athlete. I don't think anybody expects to see him in the big leagues, but maybe he's going to try and do both. I don't know. If he does, he's one of the more competitive people I've been around. We'll see what happens with his football career. He's potentially got a baseball one.''

Street isn't sure if Johnny Football would try both sports.

''I would tell him to don't try to be a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none,'' Street said. ''But at the same time, it's been done before. I don't know about at the quarterback position. A little bit tougher position.''

Big-time quarterbacks are no stranger to recent Major League Baseball drafts. John Elway, Dan Marino, Tom Brady, Daunte Culpepper, Colin Kaepernick and Jake Locker were all drafted by big league teams but instead stuck to the gridiron.

Russell Wilson of the Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks was a 41st-round selection by Baltimore out of high school in 2007, but opted to go to North Carolina State. He was a fourth-rounder of Colorado in 2010 and played in the Rockies' system as a second baseman.

Wilson, who had transferred to Wisconsin, told the Rockies in January 2012 that he wanted to pursue an NFL career, and in December 2013 was acquired by the Texas Rangers in the Rule 5 draft. A few weeks after winning the Super Bowl, Wilson attended Rangers spring training and participated in infield drills.

Next year, Florida State's Jameis Winston could be in the same situation as Manziel. The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback also is a hard-throwing closer for the Seminoles' baseball team. Winston was already a 15th-round pick of the Rangers in 2012.

Quote:Johnny Manziel -- Jonathan Paul Manziel (man-zel; born December 6, 1992), also known by his nickname "Johnny Football", is an American football quarterback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL), and a baseball shortstop drafted in 2014 by the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB).
He was drafted by the Browns with the 22nd overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft. He was nationally recruited out of high school as a dual-threat quarterback.In 2012, Manziel debuted for the Texas A&M Aggies as a redshirt freshman in Kevin Sumlin's Air Raid offense during A&M's first season in the SEC. He broke numerous NCAA Division I FBS and SEC records, which include becoming the first freshman and fifth player in NCAA history to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a season.At the end of the regular season, he became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy,Manning Award,and the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award.Manziel capitalized on his redshirt freshman season by leading Texas A&M to a 41–13 victory over Oklahoma in the 2013 Cotton Bowl Classic.

Clowney has been touted as a potential superstar since his days as a top high school recruit

Jadeveon Clowney and the Texans have agreed on a four-year deal that will pay the defensive end handsomely, and give Houston a pass rush to rival any in the NFL.

Jadeveon Clowney and the Houston Texans have come to an agreement on a rookie contract, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. Clowney earned a healthy paycheck after being selected No. 1 overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. Per McClain, the deal is worth $22.272 million guaranteed, with a $14.518 million signing bonus.

Clowney's deal is in line with those of the last three No. 1 overall picks, Eric Fisher (2013), Andrew Luck (2012) and Cam Newton (2011), all of whom were selected after the NFL agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement with players that reined in spending on rookie contracts. Clowney's contract will include a team option for a fifth year worth that season's transition tag, which is standard for top-10 picks.

Clowney has been touted as a potential superstar since his days as a top high school recruit. He put together a prolific career at South Carolina (albeit with a somewhat disappointing, hot take-inducing junior year) before declaring for the NFL Draft with a year of eligibility left. Clowney was a first-team All-SEC and All-American in 2012 and 2013, and was named SEC Defensive Player after a sophomore season in which he racked up 13 sacks among 23.5 tackles for loss.

With Clowney signed, offensive guard Xavier Su'a-Filo is the only rookie yet to be signed by the Texans. There is still a significant number of first-round draft packs yet to be signed by NFL teams. The list:

No. 2 pick Greg Robinson, OT, St. Louis Rams
No. 3 pick Blake Bortles, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
No. 7 pick Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
No. 8 pick Justin Gilbert, CB, Cleveland Browns
No. 10 pick Eric Ebron, TE, Detroit Lions
No. 11 pick Taylor Lewan, OT, Tennessee Titans
No. 13 pick Aaron Donald, DT, St. Louis Rams
No. 16 pick Zack Martin, OT, Dallas Cowboys
No. 19 pick Ja'Wuan James, OT, Miami Dolphins
No. 22 pick Johnny Manziel, QB, Cleveland Browns
No. 24 pick Darqueze Dennard, CB, Cincinnati Bengals
No. 26 pick Marcus Smith, OLB, Philadelphia Eagles
No. 29 pick Dominique Easley, DT, New England Patriots
No. 31 pick Bradley Roby, CB, Denver Broncos
Now that Clowney's contract is set, it could encourage other first-rounders to sign. We'll see in the coming days.

With Clowney in tow, the Texans should have a pass rush to rival any team in the NFL, with J.J. Watt forming the other half of a formidable duo. The Texans were rumored to be trading the No. 1 overall pick for several months, knowing that several teams coveted Clowney and that they were already well-set in the defensive front. Clowney's freakish athleticism may have made him difficult to pass up, however.

(Quote:Jadeveon Clowney (pronounced jə-deh-vee-on clow-nee;born February 14, 1993) is an American football linebacker[3] for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He graduated from South Pointe High School in Rock Hill, South Carolina and played college football at the University of South Carolina. A unanimous College All-American as a sophomore in 2012, Clowney set South Carolina school records in quarterback sacks (13.0) and tackles for a loss (23.5) per season while also earning Defensive Player of the Year honors in the Southeastern Conference. Described by ESPN as "one of those rare game-changers on defense",Clowney was projected to be a top 5 selection in the 2014 NFL Draft,and was picked first overall by the Texans.)

Irsay refused a blood test after his March 16 arrest in Carmel

A court has suspended Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay's driver's license for one year following his arrest for driving while intoxicated.

The Indianapolis Star reports that recently released documents in Hamilton County confirm the license suspension effective starting May 27. Police and prosecutors have declined to discuss the case.

Irsay refused a blood test after his March 16 arrest in Carmel, a suburb of Indianapolis. Indiana law requires a one-year license suspension for refusing such a test. Police later obtained a warrant ordering Irsay to submit to a blood draw.

Irsay faces a June 19 initial hearing on two misdemeanor counts of impaired driving. A probable cause affidavit said Irsay was driving under the influence of powerful painkillers.

A message seeking comment was left with a spokeswoman for Irsay.

(Quote:Jim Irsay -- Irsay married Meg Coyle in 1980, and the couple have three daughters, Carlie, Casey and Kalen.
Irsay has a habit of quoting rock music. It is rumored that he brings his guitar on Colts road trips and plays until 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning.In 2001 Irsay purchased the original manuscript of On The Road, or "the scroll": a continuous, one hundred twenty-foot scroll of tracing paper sheets that Jack Kerouac cut to size and taped together, for $2.43 million.Irsay is a big fan of British rock band The Who. Irsay also has purchased guitars originally owned by Elvis Presley, George Harrison, and Jerry Garcia.)

The legal issues could lead to disciplinary action from the NFL

 

Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus is taking the next two weeks off from voluntary practices as he faces criminal charges for the second time in a month.

Coach Doug Marrone said after practice Tuesday that he and Dareus had a lengthy discussion and agreed the player should take a break from football.

Dareus crashed his 2012 Jaguar into a tree while allegedly racing another car not far from Ralph Wilson Stadium on Friday. According to Hamburg Town police, Dareus was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment. He was also ticketed for several traffic violations, including drag-racing.

The accident occurred about a month after Dareus was arrested in his native Alabama and charged with possession of synthetic marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Marrone was disappointed in Dareus for making what he called ''some poor decisions.''

''I just want to make sure that I'm clear that everyone understands that I believe in Marcell, and I will do everything I can to make sure that we can get him on the right track,'' Marrone said. ''I'm going to do everything I can to help a 24-year-old man make better decisions.''

Without going into detail, Marrone said Dareus was dealing with ''personal issues.'' Marrone also wouldn't reveal what Dareus would be doing during the next two weeks or where that would occur. He does expect Dareus to return for the team's three-day mandatory minicamp that opens June 17.

The accident occurred about three hours after Marrone closed a three-day voluntary minicamp by warning his players to avoid trouble during their long weekend off.

After receiving a complaint of two cars racing down a major street, police arrived to discover Dareus' Jaguar badly damaged by a crash into a tree near a busy intersection. Dareus was arrested and then released and is scheduled to appear in court June 17.

A person familiar with the investigation confirmed to The Associated Press that Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes is alleged to have been driving the second car, described by witnesses as a black Camaro. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the accident is still under investigation.

The Buffalo News first reported on its website Tuesday that police are investigating whether Hughes was driving the other vehicle.

Dareus was the Bills' 2011 first-round draft pick. His troubles date to the end of last season, when was benched for portions of each of Buffalo's two final games because he violated a team rule.

The legal issues could lead to disciplinary action from the NFL, including a fine or suspension.

As recently as last week, Dareus said he was ready to put his troubles behind him when he arrived for the start of minicamp.

''I feel like I'm on the straight and narrow,'' he said then. ''Things happen: young, dumb. You've got to correct it and just work through it.''

Dareus has been a three-year starter in Buffalo since being drafted with the third pick out of Alabama. He's coming off a career season in which he was credited with 71 tackles and 7 1/2 sacks and made his first Pro Bowl appearance as an injury replacement.

It was a bounce-back year for Dareus, who acknowledged he lacked focus on football the previous season after his younger brother was one of three people shot and killed during a burglary in Alabama.

Marrone emphasized that Dareus' two-week break was not a punishment.

''It was both of us sitting down and talking about how do we move forward, how do we get this thing right, and working together in coming up with that decision,'' Marrone said. ''Anyone that makes a poor decision hurts. I have to do whatever I can to make sure that our players, our coaches, everyone, makes a better decision.''

(Quote:Marcell Dareus was born in Huffman, Alabama on November 18, 1989. His father who was a native of Haiti, died when Marcell was "5 or 6", and his mother, Michelle was left to raise Marcell along with five brothers and a sister. Marcell's mother is now confined to a wheelchair after nearly losing her life due to various health problems and congestive heart failure. Through it all, Marcell was a standout football player at Huffington High School in Alabama while playing for coach Scott Livingston. Marcell had to deal with more heartache, as Livingston passed away following a car crash during Marcell's Senior season. Following his Senior season, Marcell was awarded a full scholarship to play football at the University of Alabama under renown coach Nick Saban. )

Hall of Fame quarterback said he doesn't suffer any effects from head injuries

Dan Marino says he inadvertently became a plaintiff in a concussion lawsuit against the NFL and is withdrawing immediately.

The Hall of Fame quarterback said he doesn't suffer any effects from head injuries.

''Within the last year I authorized a claim to be filed on my behalf, just in case I needed future medical coverage to protect me and my family in the event I later suffered from the effects of head trauma,'' Marino said in a statement Tuesday. ''I did not realize I would be automatically listed as a plaintiff. ... I have made the decision it is not necessary for me to be part of any claims or this lawsuit, and therefore I am withdrawing as a plaintiff.''

Marino's withdrawal costs the litigants a high-profile plaintiff. He was by far the best-known of 15 former players who filed a lawsuit in federal court in Philadelphia last week.

They joined more than 4,800 others who allege the NFL misled players about the long-term dangers of concussions. The league has denied those allegations.

''I am sympathetic to other players who are seeking relief who may have suffered head injuries,'' Marino, 52, said in his statement.

The NFL and the original group of players agreed on a $765 million settlement last August, but that deal was rejected by a federal judge in January.

Marino spent his entire 17-year career with the Miami Dolphins and retired as the most prolific passer in NFL history.

He worked as an analyst for CBS from 2002 to 2013 but wasn't retained for this season. He has had recent discussions with the Dolphins about a role in their front office, and a lawsuit might have complicated such a hiring.

(Quote:Dan Marino -- Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. (born September 15, 1961) is a former American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. The last quarterback of the Quarterback Class of 1983 to be taken in the first round, Marino held or currently holds dozens of NFL records associated with the quarterback position. Despite never being on a Super Bowl-winning team, he is recognized as one of the greatest quarterbacks in American football history. Best remembered for his quick release and powerful arm, Marino led the Dolphins to the playoffs ten times in his seventeen-season career. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.

He led the Miami Dolphins to an AFC championship in the 1984 season, only his second season in the NFL. During that year, he threw a then-NFL record 48 touchdown passes. Despite the 14–2 season and Marino's touchdown record, the Dolphins lost Super Bowl XIX 38–16 to the 15–1 San Francisco 49ers.)