NFL (National Football League) US Football

[samarchepas]

Like I said MAYBE he didn't do anything bad too (a robbery or something) BUT it sounds suspicious.And even if you never heard any thing bad about him you can't tell how someone is personally without knowing that person(the medias don't know everything about every superstars)

[shorty]

I didn't see a thread on McNair and started one.

Sad.

[Legmann]

[TheLancinator]

Say it isn't so....is it really...*GASP*...over??

Brett Favre says no to a comeback with the Vikings
By JON KRAWCZYNSKI, AP Sports Writer


MINNEAPOLIS (AP)—The purple No. 4 jerseys with “FAVRE” on the back were already in heavy circulation around the Twin Cities and it seemed almost inevitable that Brett Favre would end his second retirement to join the Minnesota Vikings.

Then Favre dropped the news that surprised many—inside the organization and out—when he called Vikings coach Brad Childress on Tuesday to tell him he was staying retired and would not be joining the Vikings for training camp.

“The writing on the wall was, as long as his arm was healthy he was going to play,” Vikings linebacker Ben Leber said. “I thought it was just a contractual deal that was taking so long and I really expected him to be at camp. So I was really surprised.”

Now the Vikings are left to pick up the pieces after their summer-long courtship of the future Hall of Fame quarterback ended with a phone call just two days before players are required to report to training camp in Mankato.

“It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made,” Favre told ESPN. “I didn’t feel like physically I could play at a level that was acceptable. I would like to thank everyone, including the Packers, Jets and Vikings—but, most importantly, the fans.”

Set to turn 40 in October, Favre told Childress that he didn’t think his body could withstand a 19th season in the NFL. This after he retired for a second time, was granted his release from the New York Jets and had surgery to alleviate a torn biceps in his throwing arm, presumably to get him ready for one last run at a title.

But after two months of throwing to kids at Oak Grove High School in Mississippi, and a few interviews that seemed to indicate he was leaning toward joining the Vikings, Favre came to the conclusion that he just doesn’t have it in him.

“I had to be careful not to commit for the wrong reasons,” Favre said. “They were telling me, ‘You went through all this, you had the surgery and you’ve got to finish it off.’ But I have legitimate reasons for my decision. I’m 39 with a lot of sacks to my name.”

In the end, the player who set nearly every significant passing record the NFL has during 16 brilliant seasons with the rival Green Bay Packers managed to hand the Vikings one more loss.

He turned down a chance to join the defending NFC North champions, a team with a stingy, veteran defense and the best running back in the NFL in Adrian Peterson. Adding Favre would have made the Vikings a stylish pick to win the NFC, but now they will have to go back to their original plan of having Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels compete for the job.

“It was a rare and unique opportunity to consider adding not only a future Hall of Fame quarterback but one that is very familiar with our system and division,” Childress said in a statement. “That does not detract from the team that we have.”

Jackson’s agent, Joel Segal, said his client is eager to show the Vikings, and their fans, that they had the right man for the job all along. He will be entering his fourth season in the NFL and took strides at the end of last year before a poor performance in the playoffs contributed to Minnesota’s loss to Philadelphia at home.

Segal said the Vikings’ pursuit of Favre has not bothered Jackson.

“Tarvaris is very even-tempered,” the agent said. “He’s got a very calm demeanor. No matter what he’s always ready to compete.”

This is Favre, of course. Over the past two seasons he has shown a penchant for changing his mind, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see him reverse course and try to join the Vikings later in the preseason.

For now, at least, the Vikings seem eager to put the circus behind them and move on.

“I would love to believe him. I would love it if everybody involved could put this thing to bed and have a little respect for the other quarterbacks involved and maybe for the team,” Leber said. “Nobody wants this to linger on and be an ongoing distraction. We’ll see if he keeps his word. I understand he’s a guy that doesn’t like training camp. Nobody does.”

Leber called it “a relief” to finally have an answer to the drama and Childress said he is content with what he has on his team.

“As we have consistently communicated, we feel good about our team and they have put forth a tremendous effort this offseason preparing for the season ahead,” Childress said. “With this behind us, we look forward to getting to Mankato and getting training camp under way.”

[Lee Is Bob]

Tooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon

[samarchepas]

Originally Posted by TheLancinator

Say it isn't so....is it really...*GASP*...over??

sarcasm? I guess his arm didn't heal as much as he hoped and it forced him to stay retired.

[grie78]

Originally Posted by samarchepas

sarcasm? I guess his arm didn't heal as much as he hoped and it forced him to stay retired.

oh well.
still looking forward to another Bills season (regardless of T.O.)

[samarchepas]

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason emerged from retirement Saturday, less than three weeks after abruptly announcing the end to his 12-year career.

Mason called team owner Steve Bisciotti on Saturday morning, expressing his desire to return. The 35-year-old Mason showed up at training camp after the morning practice session and met with general manager Ozzie Newsome.

The Ravens then announced that Mason would be in uniform for Sunday's practice.

"It was a tough decision, but I think it was a good decision for me to come back," Mason said in a statement. "I needed to evaluate my life, football and my career.

"I still have an intense fire inside me, and I want to play. ... I felt like I had left something undone, and I wanted to finish it. I believe this is a good example for my son and my daughter on how to be thoughtful and also follow through."

On July 13, Mason said, "After 12 years, I have seen it all and done it all. Right now, I am content with the decision I am making. All good things come to an end, and I am ready to see what else life has to offer."

But Mason never submitted his retirement papers to the NFL, and within days it became clear that he was waffling over his decision to quit.

Mason and coach John Harbaugh met last week, and Harbaugh emerged from the session "optimistic" that Mason would return.

Mason played a key role in helping Baltimore reach the AFC championship game last season. He started all 16 games and led the Ravens in receptions (80) and yards receiving (1,037). He then added 12 catches for 190 yards and a touchdown in three playoff games.

After playing eight seasons with the Tennessee Oilers/Titans, Mason joined the Ravens as a free agent in March 2005. Last season the two-time Pro Bowler became the 31st player in NFL history to reach 10,000 career yards receiving.

[TheLancinator]

Burress indicted on 3 weapons counts
ESPN News


NEW YORK -- Former New York Giants star Plaxico Burress was indicted by a grand jury on weapons charges for shooting himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub and faces a minimum prison sentence of 3½ years if convicted, prosecutors announced Monday.

The indictment charged the 31-year-old Burress with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of reckless endangerment, Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said.

"The grand jury applied the law to the facts of this case," Morgenthau said. He said the accidental shooting at the Latin Quarter nightclub on Nov. 29 was treated "like any similar case against any other defendant."

Burress' lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said he was disappointed but not surprised by the indictment, which came after Burress testified before the grand jury and expressed remorse.

"When you have the mayor and the district attorney both publicly demanding a maximum prison sentence, it was perhaps too much to hope for the grand jury to conduct a sympathetic review of the unique facts of this sad case," Brafman said in a statement.

Burress' former teammate Antonio Pierce, who was with Burress in the club and drove him to the hospital, was not indicted. Immediately after the decision was announced, the NFL said Pierce would not face a league suspension.

The panel also did not indict the nightclub security guard who carried the gun to Pierce's car or the hospital staff members who failed to notify police that Burress had been shot.

Morgenthau said hospital personnel were guilty of "a screw-up rather than a cover-up" and the security guard exhibited "bad judgment in the first degree" but did not commit a crime.

Pierce, who also testified before the grand jury last week, was practicing with the Giants in Albany when he learned of the panel's decision. He was not going to speak with the media on Monday, team officials said.

Giants president John Mara said the team was pleased that the linebacker was not indicted.

"We said last week we felt strongly that Antonio's actions did not warrant criminal charges, and obviously the grand jury, having heard all of the testimony, felt the same way," he said.

Pierce's lawyer, Michael Bachner, said, "By appearing before the grand jury for almost three hours and answering the grand jury's very direct and very considered questions, it was clear to us that they understood that Mr. Pierce acted as any citizen under extraordinary circumstances would have acted."

Giants coach Tom Coughlin was glad the matter was now behind the team.

"As I said yesterday, we are anxious to start the new season, nobody more than Antonio," Coughlin said. "Today's decision allows him and this team to move forward and focus on our preparation for the season."

Having Pierce on the field is important to the Giants. He calls the defensive plays.

"Antonio is a leader on this team, but he is still human, and this has been an emotionally draining experience for him," general manager Jerry Reese said. "We know he was happy to get to training camp [Sunday], and with this behind him, he can focus all his energy and efforts on football. He took this matter very seriously."

Burress was inside the club when a gun tucked into his waistband slipped down his leg and fired, shooting him in the right thigh.

Prosecutors said Monday that after taking Burress to the hospital, Pierce drove the gun to his own home in New Jersey -- not to Burress' home, as was originally reported. They said he later arranged for it to be taken to Burress' home.

Assistant District Attorney John Wolfstaetter said the bullet that hit Burress narrowly missed a nightclub security guard who was standing inches away.

The bullet lodged in the floor and was recovered by a bartender, Morgenthau said.

"He wanted it as a souvenir but we told him he had to turn it over," he said.

The gun was not licensed in New York or in New Jersey, where Burress lived, prosecutors said. Burress' license to carry a concealed weapon in the state of Florida had expired in May 2008.

The charges Burress was indicted on carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 3½ years in prison. He pleaded not guilty to weapons charges earlier this year and is free on $100,000 bail.

The grand jury indictment comes after plea bargain negotiations broke down, apparently because Morgenthau was insisting that Burress serve at least two years in prison under any plea agreement.

Assistant District Attorney Mark Dwyer said it is standard policy to request a two-year sentence as part of a plea bargain on such serious charges.

Burress, who caught the winning touchdown for the Giants over the New England Patriots in the final minute of the 2008 Super Bowl, also could face disciplinary action by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Goodell's office announced in June that the league already had started its examination of the shooting, and NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Monday's indictment "will be considered as part of that review."

The Giants released Burress in April and he has yet to sign with another team.

[samarchepas]

Talk about shooting yourself in the foot....errrr leg

[Legmann]

If the Vick decision is any sign, Plaxico will be back someday.

[samarchepas]

I would not say WILL yet...it all depends on how much time he spends in jail.3 1/2 years minimum if I remember correctly...dunno about the maximum time he can spend there..

BTW: he was released by the Giants but not suspended by the NFL (yet) right?

[Legmann]

Yes, but 3 1/2 years with good behavior, he could be out in under 2.

And he could work out a plea deal, or even be acquitted.

[treesmoke]

Originally Posted by Legmann

Yes, but 3 1/2 years with good behavior, he could be out in under 2.

And he could work out a plea deal, or even be acquitted.

Yeah and no one is going to mess with him in prison cause he shot someone. No one will mess with some one like that.

[samarchepas]

Originally Posted by Legmann

Yes, but 3 1/2 years with good behavior, he could be out in under 2.

And he could work out a plea deal, or even be acquitted.

but that's IF he gets the minimum he might get more (I doubt it)