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NFL Random Thought of the Day

Wonder when they finally decide to charge both of them with leaving the scene of an accident and failing to render aid.

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Suspended SMU CB Teddy Knox surrenders to police
By Charean Williams
Published April 12, 2024 04:31 PM

Suspended SMU football player Teddy Knox surrendered to police Friday after arrest warrants were issued for him and Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice for their roles in a multi-car crash last month, Fox 4 reports.

Knox turned himself in to the Glenn Heights Police Department and was taken to the DeSoto jail, a day after Rice surrendered to police and posted $40,000 bond.

Knox, a former teammate of Rice’s at SMU, was speeding in one of two luxury cars linked to Rice. Knox and Rice both lost control of their vehicle while reportedly racing on a Dallas freeway and crashed, causing a six-vehicle wreck that resulted in two people being transported to the hospital.
SMU suspended Knox this week.

Knox faces the same charges as Rice — six counts of collision involving bodily injury, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and one count of aggravated assault as a result of a crash that resulted in two people being taken to the hospital. All are felonies.

Although Knox and Rice fled the scene, along with four passengers split between the two cars, neither Knox nor Rice has been charged with failure to stop and render aid. It’s possible they could face additional charges.

Knox played in 11 games last season, primarily contributing on special teams.
 
College football programs have had ridiculous numbers of speeding and dui ticketed players that are very seldomly suspended. Georgia is such a problem. Since Kirby Smart was named Georgia's HC in 2015, as of June 2023, Georgia players have been charged with nearly 300 traffic offenses. And virtually none have ever been suspended. These high speed tickets are becoming more prevalent with the NIL putting high powered cars in the hands of players whose responsibility has not increased with their increase monetary windfall.

When these players enter the NFL, their sense of responsibility does not seem to change.
 
College football programs have had ridiculous numbers of speeding and dui ticketed players that are very seldomly suspended. Georgia is such a problem. Since Kirby Smart was named Georgia's HC in 2015, as of June 2023, Georgia players have been charged with nearly 300 traffic offenses. And virtually none have ever been suspended. These high speed tickets are becoming more prevalent with the NIL putting high powered cars in the hands of players whose responsibility has not increased with their increase monetary windfall.

When these players enter the NFL, their sense of responsibility does not seem to change.
If no consequences, no need for responsibility. 😒
 
SMDH.......

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O.J. Simpson’s estate will fight payments to the families of his victims, Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman
By Mike Florio
Published April 13, 2024 08:03 PM

After the prosecution blew the criminal trial of O.J. Simpson, a civil jury found him responsible for the deaths of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman. The $33.5 million verdict has been largely unsatisfied, with the amount due growing to more than $100 million with the accumulation of statutory interest.

Now that Simpson his dead, the executor of his estate will oppose any effort by the families of his victims to secure payment.

Via ESPN.com, Simpson’s will was filed in a Nevada court on Friday. The document shows his property was placed into a trust created earlier this year.

Attorney Malcolm LaVergne, who has represented Simpson since 2009, is the executor of Simpson’s estate. LaVergne told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he hopes to keep Ron Goldman’s family from getting anything.

“It’s my hope that the Goldmans get zero, nothing,” LaVergne said. “Them specifically. And I will do everything in my capacity as the executor or personal representative to try and ensure that they get nothing.”

Hey LaVergne, your deceased client made Ron Goldman deceased. The kid was 25 when Simpson butchered him for simply being in the worst possible place at the worst possible time.

It’s shameful, in my opinion, for LaVergne to conduct himself this way. His deceased client did it, in the eyes of the civil justice system. He had a longstanding debt that was barely satisfied.

It’s one thing for LaVergne to discreetly wish to keep the Goldmans from collecting. Saying it out loud makes it far worse. It underscores the lack of contrition that Simpson had.

Simpson got to die a natural death. Ron Goldman did not. The justice system spoke, loudly and clearly. This malice toward the family of one of Simpson’s victims is significant, and it should be attributed directly to Simpson.

In his final days, as he knew his end was coming, Simpson opted not for reconciliation but retribution. His will and the trust that was created earlier this year are the apparent tools of that. And LaVergne seems to be ready to swing the hammer.

Are you paying attention, Pro Football Hall of Fame? Hopefully someone on the group’s Board of Trustees will see LaVergne’s words and initiate an appropriate response.
 
Rashee Rice is still on the Chiefs roster with no hint from the team of any consequences. He gathered up everything in his wrecked Lambo before leaving.........except his Chiefs playbook. That alone is a firable offense. So after this much time having passed and so much confirmed information already available, where are the Chiefs and Andy Reid????
 
Rashee Rice is still on the Chiefs roster with no hint from the team of any consequences. He gathered up everything in his wrecked Lambo before leaving.........except his Chiefs playbook. That alone is a firable offense. So after this much time having passed and so much confirmed information already available, where are the Chiefs and Andy Reid????
Their silence speaks volumes!
 
Rashee Rice is still on the Chiefs roster with no hint from the team of any consequences. He gathered up everything in his wrecked Lambo before leaving.........except his Chiefs playbook. That alone is a firable offense. So after this much time having passed and so much confirmed information already available, where are the Chiefs and Andy Reid????
Obviously the Chiefs are all about winning SB's. They dont care about character as long as you can play. It's up to the rest of the NFL to catch up to the 2 time SB champs.
 
Not at all....................angry at the silence!

[This is why I've always thought the angry and thumbs down "ratings" can be interpretted too easily as either referring to the post or poster..........depending on who chooses to click on them.]
Then you've got Penguin.
 
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Still not a peep from Reid, the Chiefs or the NFL.

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As offseason program opens, Rashee Rice’s status remains unclear
By Mike Florio
Published April 15, 2024 06:42 AM

The Chiefs open their offseason program today, just days after receiver Rashee Rice turned himself in on eight felony charges arising from a Dallas street race that happened late last month.

To date, it’s still not clear whether and to what extent Rice will be present for Phase I.

The fact that the Chiefs will have a virtual Phase I makes the need for action a bit less urgent. It’s not as if he’ll be showing up at the facility, trying to carve a path through reporters shouting questions at him.

That said, if there are press availabilities from coach Andy Reid and/or select players, questions about Rice will be asked. The Chiefs surely know it, and they undoubtedly will have a plan for responding, even if it’s as simple as pointing out there’s a pending legal matter and they have no comment.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, per the Chiefs, has been throwing with Rice in Texas. (Scattered reports have emerged of other Chiefs players working with Mahomes.)

It remains to be seen whether the Chiefs or the NFL will decide to keep Rice away from the team while his criminal charges move forward. The eight felonies might just be a starting point; he has yet to be charged for leaving the scene of an accident involving injuries. That could eventually happen.

The most likely options include the league putting Rice on paid leave, the Chiefs and Rice agreeing that he’ll stay away from on-site work, or the Chiefs releasing him and moving on. (Toriano Porter of the Kansas City Star recently wrote that the team should terminate Rice’s contract.)

We know the drill by now when it comes to sports terms. Excuses are made for the stars and examples are made of the scrubs. Where does Rice land for the Chiefs?

The reality is that Rice has star potential that the team likely believes he is in the process of unlocking. He had 938 receiving yards in the regular season, along with 262 in the postseason. He was a second-round pick. They’d surely prefer to keep him.

Even if they do, they need to be prepared to not have him for all or part of the 2024 season, whether it’s because he’s on the Commissioner Exempt list (i.e., leave with pay) as the case proceeds or whether he’s suspended without pay if he pleads guilty to one or more charges in the coming months.
 
Still not a peep from Reid, the Chiefs or the NFL.

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As offseason program opens, Rashee Rice’s status remains unclear
By Mike Florio
Published April 15, 2024 06:42 AM

The Chiefs open their offseason program today, just days after receiver Rashee Rice turned himself in on eight felony charges arising from a Dallas street race that happened late last month.

To date, it’s still not clear whether and to what extent Rice will be present for Phase I.

The fact that the Chiefs will have a virtual Phase I makes the need for action a bit less urgent. It’s not as if he’ll be showing up at the facility, trying to carve a path through reporters shouting questions at him.

That said, if there are press availabilities from coach Andy Reid and/or select players, questions about Rice will be asked. The Chiefs surely know it, and they undoubtedly will have a plan for responding, even if it’s as simple as pointing out there’s a pending legal matter and they have no comment.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, per the Chiefs, has been throwing with Rice in Texas. (Scattered reports have emerged of other Chiefs players working with Mahomes.)

It remains to be seen whether the Chiefs or the NFL will decide to keep Rice away from the team while his criminal charges move forward. The eight felonies might just be a starting point; he has yet to be charged for leaving the scene of an accident involving injuries. That could eventually happen.

The most likely options include the league putting Rice on paid leave, the Chiefs and Rice agreeing that he’ll stay away from on-site work, or the Chiefs releasing him and moving on. (Toriano Porter of the Kansas City Star recently wrote that the team should terminate Rice’s contract.)

We know the drill by now when it comes to sports terms. Excuses are made for the stars and examples are made of the scrubs. Where does Rice land for the Chiefs?

The reality is that Rice has star potential that the team likely believes he is in the process of unlocking. He had 938 receiving yards in the regular season, along with 262 in the postseason. He was a second-round pick. They’d surely prefer to keep him.

Even if they do, they need to be prepared to not have him for all or part of the 2024 season, whether it’s because he’s on the Commissioner Exempt list (i.e., leave with pay) as the case proceeds or whether he’s suspended without pay if he pleads guilty to one or more charges in the coming months.
I heard on Sirius today that Reid expects Rice to be at OTA's.

I suspect he will end up with a 3 to 5 game suspension.

The Chiefs just care about winning championships and nothing else. They look at this like it's not their job to discipline players. Particularly if they're performing on the field.
 
In the lawsuit, Petrovskiy and Gromova claim injuries that include brain trauma, cuts to the face requiring stitches, bruises, disfigurement and internal bleeding.
 
In the lawsuit, Petrovskiy and Gromova claim injuries that include brain trauma, cuts to the face requiring stitches, bruises, disfigurement and internal bleeding.
This is after all previous reports stated that there were no significant injuries.

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TMZ
RASHEE RICESUED OVER DALLAS CAR CRASH FOR MORE THAN $10 MILLION
  • BREAKING NEWS
  • 4/15/2024 12:34 PM PT


    Two people who say they were injured in the car crash that Rashee Rice was involved in last month are now suing the NFL star ... asking that he fork over more than $10 MILLION for his role in the wreck.

Edvard Petrovskiy and Irina Gromova filed the lawsuit in Dallas County last week -- less than a month after they say Rice's reckless actions caused them injuries in a massive pileup on a Texas highway.

Petrovskiy and Gromova say on March 30, Rice was in a Lamborghini Urus, racing his friend Theodore Knox -- who was in a Corvette -- when the two lost control and barreled into other innocent drivers on the roadway.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA

The plaintiffs claim both Rice and Knox left the scene without making any effort to check on those impacted by the crash -- a problem, because they say some of the victims were "severely injured, bleeding, and visibly distressed."

LEAVING THE SCENETMZ.com

The two are now suing Rice and Knox, an SMU football player, for no less than $10 million in punitive damages ... after they claim they suffered, among other things, brain trauma, lacerations that required stitches and internal bleeding.

They're also seeking compensatory damages for the medical bills, mental anguish, property damage and more in the suit.Rice has not yet publicly commented on the lawsuit ... though his attorney, Royce West, said in the days following the accident that Rice would do all he could to make everyone involved whole again.


Both Rice and Knox, meanwhile, are facing criminal charges -- including one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury, and six counts of collision involving injury. Both men surrendered to police last week ... and were released shortly after taking mug shots.
 
As the Chiefs begin a voluntary offseason program, head coach Andy Reid said he would keep an open mind when it comes to Rice and his legal issues.

“We’ll just see how it goes, I want to keep gathering any information from the law enforcement people and we’ll just see where everything goes from there. Let the process take place,” Reid said.

*********

What more information does Reid and the Chiefs need to take any preliminary action? :mcnugget:
 
Still no answer for why Rice et al left the scene for such an extremely long period of time............likely needing a "dry out" period.

But this witness account may explain some other things:

Quinn explained that she saw men from the Lamborghini appear to pull someone out of the Corvette after the crash, and that a pair of white cleats were left in the back of the Lamborghini.

She also alleged that one of the other witnesses said the men took guns and bags from the vehicles before they left the scene.
link

In addition to the above, the witness stated that "They were putting firearms under their stomach."
 
With Reid's history of dealing with illicit behavior including with his own sons, it doesn't surprise me how nonreactive he has been to this recent incident. The above article refers to Reid's home being a "drug emporium." Not specifically explained why.............but Reid allowed/encouraged his sons to routinely do their drugs at the family home.

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Chiefs seem to be inclined to stick with Rashee Rice
By Mike Florio
Published April 16, 2024 10:12 AM

The Chiefs still haven’t had much to say about receiver Rashee Rice, after last month’s street racing incident that led to a six-car crash. However, it’s becoming more clear that the Chiefs won’t be ending their relationship with him — even though some have called for that outcome.

For now, he’s participating in the offseason program virtually. Everyone is. Will Rice be in the building when the players show up?

“We’re just gonna take it day by day here as we go,” coach Andy Reid told reporters on Monday.

On any of those days, the NFL could make a decision that forces the team’s hand. For now, however, the league has said or done nothing beyond confirming that it is monitoring the developments.

Reid repeatedly said on Monday the Chiefs plan to let the legal process unfold. Currently, Rice faces eight felony charges arising from the incident.

Asked whether the Chiefs still trust Rice, Reid said this: “As long as he’s learned from it . . . that’s the important part of it.”

Yes, that sounds like a team that sees Rice on the right side of the dividing line between star and scrub that buys him the benefit of the doubt.

The lesson doesn’t come from experiencing the consequences of reckless behavior. It comes from the consequences. And even though a good scare will get a guy to not do it again, a good scare often isn’t good enough.
Sometimes, more than a good scare for someone like Rice is needed in order to give others who have yet to engage in similar behavior a good scare.

For the Chiefs, the reality is that they don’t seem to be inclined to sever ties with a good player. Even if they’ll likely be without him for all or part of 2024.
 
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IMO Rice should be (at a minimum) suspended for the whole 2024 season. If it were up to me, and IF everything I'm reading is true, he should be booted out of the NFL.
 
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Watson is full of it. This is trying to make him sound like superhuman. He did not have a fracture of his glenoid in week 3. He had problems with his rotator cuff. His surgeon has to know this and is otherwise being quite disingenious.

Watson underwent several MRIs since week 3. There was no hint of any fracture to the glenoid of the shoulder.............not even a "crack"/stress fracture..........until the day it was diagnosed and he stopped playing. An MRI is considered the best way to diagnose stress fractures. It can visualize the lowest grade of stress injuries (stress reactions), even when x-rays have no chance of detecting them.

Watson and his "crew" (including Mary Cabot who initially put it out) apparently will go to all lengths to try to gain positive PR.



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Deshaun Watson’s shoulder fracture “possibly” happened in Week 3
By Charean Williams
Published April 16, 2024 04:29 PM

Deshaun Watson was questioned about his willingness to play when he was scratched from the lineup with a right shoulder injury in Week 4. It turns out Watson’s “bullshit” declaration in October was accurate: He didn’t play because he couldn’t play.

The Browns quarterback revealed Tuesday that “it’s possible” he fractured his shoulder in Week 3 on a big hit by Amani Hooker.

Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the Rams team physician who operated on Watson, speculated that Watson might have fractured the glenoid bone in Week 3 instead of Week 10. Watson played through the injury to lead the Browns to a comeback victory over the Ravens in Week 10.

Watson initially was diagnosed with a rotator cuff strain, which cost him all or most of four games.

“That’s one thing that Dr. ElAttrache was super, super surprised, especially when I first got to him in November, is how did I play in the Baltimore game?” Watson said, via Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. “Really the Cardinals game too, but especially the Baltimore game. He was amazed by that. So if I can play through that right now, the glenoid is healed and it’s just building that endurance and the management of just throwing footballs constantly and not getting it tired. So I think that part is good as far as being patient.”

Watson said he is throwing “full speed” now, but ElAttrache is having Watson take a conservative approach in his return. The three-time Pro Bowler is not expected to throw much during the offseason program.

He should be full-go for training camp, and Watson said last week he’s confident he will be ready for Week 1.

“I’ve learned how to be patient the last three years, so for me, that’s not a big part either,” Watson said. “I think it’s just honestly just staying focused and on track of what they’re allowing me to do and just taking it one step at a time. And if I can do that and focus on myself to be the better person and be the better teammate and player that I can be through this process, then I think that’s the best thing.”
 
Watson is full of it. This is trying to make him sound like superhuman. He did not have a fracture of his glenoid in week 3. He had problems with his rotator cuff. His surgeon has to know this and is otherwise being quite disingenious.

Watson underwent several MRIs since week 3. There was no hint of any fracture to the glenoid of the shoulder.............not even a "crack"/stress fracture..........until the day it was diagnosed and he stopped playing. An MRI is considered the best way to diagnose stress fractures. It can visualize the lowest grade of stress injuries (stress reactions), even when x-rays have no chance of detecting them.

Watson and his "crew" (including Mary Cabot who initially put it out) apparently will go to all lengths to try to gain positive PR.



***********************************************************

Deshaun Watson’s shoulder fracture “possibly” happened in Week 3
By Charean Williams
Published April 16, 2024 04:29 PM

Deshaun Watson was questioned about his willingness to play when he was scratched from the lineup with a right shoulder injury in Week 4. It turns out Watson’s “bullshit” declaration in October was accurate: He didn’t play because he couldn’t play.

The Browns quarterback revealed Tuesday that “it’s possible” he fractured his shoulder in Week 3 on a big hit by Amani Hooker.

Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the Rams team physician who operated on Watson, speculated that Watson might have fractured the glenoid bone in Week 3 instead of Week 10. Watson played through the injury to lead the Browns to a comeback victory over the Ravens in Week 10.

Watson initially was diagnosed with a rotator cuff strain, which cost him all or most of four games.

“That’s one thing that Dr. ElAttrache was super, super surprised, especially when I first got to him in November, is how did I play in the Baltimore game?” Watson said, via Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. “Really the Cardinals game too, but especially the Baltimore game. He was amazed by that. So if I can play through that right now, the glenoid is healed and it’s just building that endurance and the management of just throwing footballs constantly and not getting it tired. So I think that part is good as far as being patient.”

Watson said he is throwing “full speed” now, but ElAttrache is having Watson take a conservative approach in his return. The three-time Pro Bowler is not expected to throw much during the offseason program.

He should be full-go for training camp, and Watson said last week he’s confident he will be ready for Week 1.

“I’ve learned how to be patient the last three years, so for me, that’s not a big part either,” Watson said. “I think it’s just honestly just staying focused and on track of what they’re allowing me to do and just taking it one step at a time. And if I can do that and focus on myself to be the better person and be the better teammate and player that I can be through this process, then I think that’s the best thing.”
Cleveland fans getting fed up

 
With Reid's history of dealing with illicit behavior including with his own sons, it doesn't surprise me how nonreactive he has been to this recent incident. The above article refers to Reid's home being a "drug emporium." Not specifically explained why.............but Reid allowed/encouraged his sons to routinely do their drugs at the family home.

***************************************************************

Chiefs seem to be inclined to stick with Rashee Rice
By Mike Florio
Published April 16, 2024 10:12 AM

The Chiefs still haven’t had much to say about receiver Rashee Rice, after last month’s street racing incident that led to a six-car crash. However, it’s becoming more clear that the Chiefs won’t be ending their relationship with him — even though some have called for that outcome.

For now, he’s participating in the offseason program virtually. Everyone is. Will Rice be in the building when the players show up?

“We’re just gonna take it day by day here as we go,” coach Andy Reid told reporters on Monday.

On any of those days, the NFL could make a decision that forces the team’s hand. For now, however, the league has said or done nothing beyond confirming that it is monitoring the developments.

Reid repeatedly said on Monday the Chiefs plan to let the legal process unfold. Currently, Rice faces eight felony charges arising from the incident.

Asked whether the Chiefs still trust Rice, Reid said this: “As long as he’s learned from it . . . that’s the important part of it.”

Yes, that sounds like a team that sees Rice on the right side of the dividing line between star and scrub that buys him the benefit of the doubt.

The lesson doesn’t come from experiencing the consequences of reckless behavior. It comes from the consequences. And even though a good scare will get a guy to not do it again, a good scare often isn’t good enough.
Sometimes, more than a good scare for someone like Rice is needed in order to give others who have yet to engage in similar behavior a good scare.

For the Chiefs, the reality is that they don’t seem to be inclined to sever ties with a good player. Even if they’ll likely be without him for all or part of 2024.
What's BS is this was on video. They know how fast he was going and they know he caused a wreck and fled. That's all they need to know. They don't have to know of he was under the influence, had drugs, or a weapon. The KNOWN items are enough for the Chiefs to suspend him.
 
Watson is full of it. This is trying to make him sound like superhuman. He did not have a fracture of his glenoid in week 3. He had problems with his rotator cuff. His surgeon has to know this and is otherwise being quite disingenious.

Watson underwent several MRIs since week 3. There was no hint of any fracture to the glenoid of the shoulder.............not even a "crack"/stress fracture..........until the day it was diagnosed and he stopped playing. An MRI is considered the best way to diagnose stress fractures. It can visualize the lowest grade of stress injuries (stress reactions), even when x-rays have no chance of detecting them.

Watson and his "crew" (including Mary Cabot who initially put it out) apparently will go to all lengths to try to gain positive PR.



***********************************************************

Deshaun Watson’s shoulder fracture “possibly” happened in Week 3
By Charean Williams
Published April 16, 2024 04:29 PM

Deshaun Watson was questioned about his willingness to play when he was scratched from the lineup with a right shoulder injury in Week 4. It turns out Watson’s “bullshit” declaration in October was accurate: He didn’t play because he couldn’t play.

The Browns quarterback revealed Tuesday that “it’s possible” he fractured his shoulder in Week 3 on a big hit by Amani Hooker.

Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the Rams team physician who operated on Watson, speculated that Watson might have fractured the glenoid bone in Week 3 instead of Week 10. Watson played through the injury to lead the Browns to a comeback victory over the Ravens in Week 10.

Watson initially was diagnosed with a rotator cuff strain, which cost him all or most of four games.

“That’s one thing that Dr. ElAttrache was super, super surprised, especially when I first got to him in November, is how did I play in the Baltimore game?” Watson said, via Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. “Really the Cardinals game too, but especially the Baltimore game. He was amazed by that. So if I can play through that right now, the glenoid is healed and it’s just building that endurance and the management of just throwing footballs constantly and not getting it tired. So I think that part is good as far as being patient.”

Watson said he is throwing “full speed” now, but ElAttrache is having Watson take a conservative approach in his return. The three-time Pro Bowler is not expected to throw much during the offseason program.

He should be full-go for training camp, and Watson said last week he’s confident he will be ready for Week 1.

“I’ve learned how to be patient the last three years, so for me, that’s not a big part either,” Watson said. “I think it’s just honestly just staying focused and on track of what they’re allowing me to do and just taking it one step at a time. And if I can do that and focus on myself to be the better person and be the better teammate and player that I can be through this process, then I think that’s the best thing.”
Do massages help with this sort of recovery? Nevermind. I'll see myself out.
 
What's BS is this was on video. They know how fast he was going and they know he caused a wreck and fled. That's all they need to know. They don't have to know of he was under the influence, had drugs, or a weapon. The KNOWN items are enough for the Chiefs to suspend him.
Not gonna happen
 
This is what Mary Cabot reported November 18, 2023:

"Watson is set to have surgery on a displaced glenoid fracture in the socket of his right throwing shoulder this coming week, and it will be performed by pre-eminent shoulder specialist Neal S. Elattrache, MD, at the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles, California. Watson is set to stay there rehabbing for a bit, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

“If all goes as planned, Watson will begin throwing in a couple of months, and one orthopedic surgeon who’s worked with NFL teams but hasn’t treated Watson told cleveland.com that he should be back to full football activity within about six months, regardless if the surgery is arthroscopic or open,” Cabot stated.

It will be May six months from now and the NFL Draft will have just finished up and teams will be preparing for spring workouts. Being able to get Watson back at the beginning of team workouts for next season is important, as he will have a whole offseason to make sure the shoulder is ready to go.

With that timeline, Watson will surely be ready by the time training camp rolls around and 100 percent."
 
In March, Prescott filed a suit seeking monetary relief in excess of $1 million after receiving a letter in January from attorneys Bethel and Yoel Zehaie on behalf of the woman accusing Prescott of sexually assaulting her in February 2017, according to the suit. The letter stated, "Despite the tragic events, she is willing to forego pursuing criminal charges, along with disclosing this information to the public, in exchange for compensating her for the mental anguish she has suffered. [The woman's] damages are valued at the sum of $100,000,000.00."

In his suit, Prescott committed to donate any such relief to the Joyful Heart Foundation or another "like-minded organization."

The accuser then filed a civil complaint and a police report over the alleged incident that occurred in 2017. In March, Prescott's attorney, Levi McCathern, called it a "completely fabricated story," and Prescott "has never engaged in any nonconsensual, sexual conduct with anyone."
 
Patriots deny ESPN report that Robert Kraft told Arthur Blank not to trust Bill Belichick
By Mike Florio
Published April 17, 2024 10:04 AM

ESPN.com has a new #longread about the failure of Bill Belichick to get a job in the 2024 hiring cycle. And there’s plenty of stuff in there.

The biggest bomb is the allegation that Falcons owner Arthur Blank decided against hiring Belichick after getting direct input from Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

An unnamed source told ESPN.com this: “Robert called Arthur to warn him not to trust Bill.”

The unnamed source didn’t speak directly to Kraft or Blank, however. The source is a “source who spoke to two people: a close Kraft friend and a longtime Belichick confidant.”

Is that enough to justify making that claim? Apparently, ESPN.com decided it was.

The Patriots deny the report, via team spokesman Stacey James.
“Robert steadfastly denies saying anything negative to Arthur Blank about Bill Belichick after Robert and Bill mutually agreed to part ways,” James told ESPN.com. “In fact, Robert advocated for Bill to get the job.”

Did Kraft ever say anything negative to Blank about Belichick?

“It would not surprise me to learn that owners sometimes lament to those close to them when their teams are struggling,” James said, “but Robert Kraft never questioned Bill’s character or trust when talking with Arthur Blank. Trust is important to Robert. He wouldn’t have employed Coach Belichick for the past 24 years if he ever questioned his trust.”

Trust is a key word in this context because Blank needed to be able to trust Belichick’s claim that he would work with the existing power structure and not attempt to take over the organization.

Why would Kraft torpedo Belichick’s effort to get a report? Per the report, Kraft still owes Belichick $25 million, and that amount would have been offset by the money Belichick received from Blank in 2024. (That nuggest had never before been reported, and it possibly justifies its own headline.) From Belichick’s perspective, the $25 million could be money well spent by Kraft.
“If Bill goes on to have success and Tom [Brady] already had success, then who does [Kraft] have to blame?” an unnamed source close to Belichick said.

Regardless, Blank supposedly is smart enough to see through potentially petty motivations and other associated self-serving strategies. The bottom line is that Belichick’s mere presence would have made it very difficult for G.M. Terry Fontenot to “do his job.” While trying to make the best possible decisions about who to draft, who to sign, who to keep, who to cut, Fontenot would be listening for grunts and harrumphs and looking for eye rolls and otherwise monitoring the clues from Belichick, who could act on his disagreement with new players by simply burying them on the depth chart.

In the end, Belichick reportedly didn’t finish in anyone’s top three when Blank and his lieutenants ranked the candidates. That’s really not a surprise; when the time came to cast votes, it sounds as if it was crystal clear that Belichick wasn’t getting the job.

By then, why would he even be on the ballot?
 
The good ole honest NFL. Any wonder why the player are allowed to get away with all that they do..............

***********************************************************

Terry McDonough’s lawyer suggests NFL covered up Cardinals’ violation of Steve Keim suspension
By Mike Florio
Published April 17, 2024 04:58 PM

Tuesday’s interview of Terry McDonough’s lawyer, Mike Caspino, on Doug Franz Unplugged included plenty of eyebrow-raising allegations. One set of claims arose from the notion that the Cardinals violated the terms of the five-week suspension imposed on G.M. Steve Keim in 2018, after he pleaded guilty to extreme DUI charges.

Caspino explained that the team’s position in McDonough’s arbitration proceeding was that former Cardinals executive Mike Disner distributed burner phones for use in communicating with Keim during his suspension and that, once owner Michael Bidwill became aware of it, he immediately gathered the devices.

But here’s a twist. Caspino said that McDonough still has his burner phone. Caspino also said that he offered to give the phone to NFL general counsel Jeff Pash, and that Pash didn’t want it.

There’s also a question of whether Disner would corroborate Bidwill’s version of the events. Caspino said that both the Cardinals and the Lions (where Disner now works) fought successfully to keep Disner from being questioned under oath in the McDonough case.

Caspino, during the interview with Franz, blasted the failure of the arbitration process to compel Disner to testify — and possibly to expose that Bidwill wasn’t telling the truth.

“The NFL is a sham,” Caspino said. “It exists for one reason and one reason only: To protect 32 billionaires. . . They don’t care if an owner breaks the rules and in fact all they try to do is cover it up.”

The good news for those who care about the truth is that Disner won’t be able to avoid testifying in the separate lawsuit that McDonough, his wife, and his daughter have filed against the Cardinals and various other entities. The challenge for Caspino will be to make the “burner phone” issue sufficiently relevant to the claims in the lawsuit to allow that evidence to be pursued.

It’s safe to say the Cardinals (and the Lions) will do their damnedest to keep Disner from having to answer questions as to the question of whether Bidwill was the one who stopped the “burner phone” scheme, or whether he was the one who started it.
 
This a seemingly very exciting breakthrough. However, as you dig more deeply into the the data, the excitement must be approached with caution. As I have reviewed FDA submissions for decades, this is what I would offer.

This test has never been test in sports. The test demonstrates 95.6% sensitivity. But no specificity data is offered. Keep in mind that in general, the higher the sensitivity, the lower the specificity, and vice versa.

A highly sensitive test means that there are few false negative results, and thus fewer cases of disease are missed. The specificity of a test is its ability to designate an individual who does not have a condition as negative. A highly specific test means that there are few false positive results.

Beyond the above limitations of the test, in the NFL there is an additional very important limitation............a concussion must be suspected AND acted upon before any test is ordered. We have commonly seen players demonstrate gross signs of concussion that are either missed or ignored.

Another potential problem is that players have historically been against having blood tests taken from them. They seldom have a problem with taking an MRI or CT scan........but they do have a problem with blood testing outside of routine physical exams unless they are mandated.

The trials mostly included Emergency Room cases such as auto accidents and other usually severe trauma (including those with crushed skulls). A clinical trial will have to be performed if validity of the test in that arena is to ve validated.

There is also a question as to if the detected "markers" for concussion are affected by previous concussion history.

The authors of the trials themselves acknowledge that they cannot prove the validity of the test when applied now to those with an immature brain...........ages <25 years old.............which make up such a large percentage of the NFL player population.

So in essence we have a concussion blood test now with as many questions as potentials. Only time will answer the critical questions for its value in the NFL.

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Rapid concussion blood test gets FDA approval, could be used on sidelines in future
By Josh Alper
Published April 18, 2024 08:13 AM

A blood test designed to aid in the rapid diagnosis of concussions has gained FDA approval.

The i-STAT Alinity test can detect two proteins released into the blood when someone suffers a concussion and, per statistics from its developer Abbott, has a 95.6 percent rate of ruling out concussions if the test is conducted within 24 hours of the injury. The test is faster than the existing i-STAT TBI test, which requires blood serum and the use of a centrifuge to process results.

Dr. David Okonkwo, a University of Pittsburgh professor and the Steelers’ team neurologist, helped lead the development team of the test and said it could be used during NFL games and other sporting events after further research.

“The nature of the studies performed to gain FDA clearance for these tests were done in patients brought to level one trauma centers,” Dr. Okonkwo said, via Abby Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “We have every reason to believe there is significant overlap with the injuries to athletes who sustain a concussion, but we need to do studies specifically in that patient population to confirm that use.”

Abbott expects the test to be available in emergency rooms and urgent care centers this summer.
 
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