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.