Eagles Look At Guard John Moffitt

Will the Philadelphia Eagles hire offensive guard John Moffitt?  Coach Chip Kelly’s words and actions are sending two different messages, writes ESPN.com.

The coach’s words indicate that Kelly is comfortable with Allen Barbre, Matt Tobin and Andrew Gardner as possible replacements for the guards that Kelly released.

Since Evan Mathis left with Todd Herremans this month, Kelly has tried to add veteran guards to the Eagles’ lineup.

According to a report by FoxSports.com, the Eagles are interested in signing guard John Moffitt, who retired from the NFL two years ago.  Moffitt was a third-round draft choice of the Seattle Seahawks in 2011, and he announced that he was returning to football last week.

NFL.com writes: “John Moffitt, a former third-round draft pick of the Seahawks, is set to sign with Philadelphia, reports Ross Jones of FOX Sports.”

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000498919/article/john-moffitt-set-to-sign-with-eagles-report-says

http://espn.go.com/blog/philadelphia-eagles/post/_/id/12563/report-eagles-eyeing-guard-john-moffitt

TMZ: NFL Hall of Famer Warren Sapp Suspect In Domestic Violence Probe

NFL Hall of Famer Warren Sapp seems to be finding trouble off the field, TMZ reports.

The former Bucs and Raiders star defensive tackle has been named a suspect in a domestic violence probe in Las Vegas, TMZ Sports is reporting.  Law enforcement sources reportedly told TMZ that the woman appeared to have minor injuries.

The website, citing law enforcement sources, reported that Sapp is accused of getting into a physical altercation with a woman at a Vegas casino. The alleged incident took place on April 28.

http://www.tmz.com/2015/06/20/warren-sapp-suspect-domestic-violence-investigation-las-vegas-casino/

BBC: FIFA President Sepp Blatter Fires PR Chief Over Joke

According to the BBC, the FIFA communications director Walter De Gregorio has been fired after telling a joke about the World Cup governing body on Swiss TV.

Gregorio told Swiss chat show Schawinski: “…the FIFA president, secretary general and communications director are all travelling in a car…Who’s driving?”

“The police.”

FIFA announced in a statement  that De Gregorio had “relinquished his office,” though according to the BBC, he was asked to leave by the still-acting-president Sepp Blatter.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33099881

MSNBC Discusses FIFA President Sepp Blatter

MSNBC

Despite the chaos and controversy engulfing world football’s governing body, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has secured a fifth term in charge, according to The Guardian newspaper.

The 79-year-old defeated his rival, the Jordanian Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein. Blatter polled 133 votes to Prince Ali’s 73, which would have been enough to take the contest to a potential second round but his 39-year-old challenger withdrew.

It could yet prove a hollow victory. Blatter has weathered the storm in the short term but the result leaves him presiding over a split FIFA as he faces the biggest self-inflicted crisis in its 111-year history. “For the next four years I will be in command of this boat called FIFA and we will bring it back ashore, we will bring it back to the beach,” he said, promising to make this four year term his last.

Blatter gained 133 votes to Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein’s 73 in the first round of voting, not enough to secure a two-thirds majority, but the challenger conceded defeat.

Prince Ali will claim a moral victory, writes The Guardian newspaper.

Blatter appeared giddy after winning his fifth term as president, writes The Guardian. “I like you, I like my job and I like to be with you. I’m not perfect, nobody’s perfect,” he said. “Trust and confidence, together we go,” he said.

Also, Zurich police confirmed today that they were  responding to a bomb alert at the venue where FIFA is hosting its widely-watched annual congress, amid a massive corruption scandal that has seen several FIFA officials detained.

Zurich police spokeswoman Brigitte Vogt confirmed that a bomb alert had been received at the venue where FIFA is holding the scheduled vote for the presidency that Blatter is expected to win, writes the South China Morning Post.

“I can confirm there has been a bomb threat against the FIFA congress, officers have been dispatched,” the spokeswoman said.

Above, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch comments on the FIFA corruption bust saying, it was a “long-running” investigation and the DOJ will bring the wrong-doers to justice.

(Updated post)

Vox: Deflate-Gate Explained

Vox

The NFL has suspended New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for four games for his role in the team’s “Deflategate” scandal.

The team has also been stripped of two draft picks and fined $1 million.

The NFL doled out this punishment because its investigation found that team locker room attendant Jim McNally likely released air from a set of game footballs used during the AFC Championship this past December.

The investigation concluded that player Tom Brady was likely “at least generally aware” of McNally’s activities. There’s no evidence Patriots’ coach Bill Belichick knew what was going on.

Under-inflated footballs are easier to play football with, and each team uses its own set of footballs.

The Patriots’ opponent – the Indianapolis Colts – wouldn’t have enjoyed the same advantage.

In the above video, “deflate-gate” is explained.

NFL Moves Extra Point To 15-yard line

NFL American Football team owners approved a Competition Committee’s proposal on extra points for the 2015 season, writes nfl.com.

The NFL announced the extra point will now be kicked from the 15-yard line as opposed to within the 10-yard line, with two-point conversions remaining at the 2-yard line.

The new rule also gives the defense the ability to score two points on returns.

According to the rule change, if the defense returns a blocked extra point or failed two-point try for a touchdown (i.e. on an interception), they will be awarded two points, writes nfl.com.

Under the previous rule, on a failed try, the ball was a “dead ball” and could not be moved.

NFL Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino said teams could change their attempt decision if a penalty occurs.

The approved rule, which was decided by a 30-2 vote by owners, was one of three proposals considered by owners on Tuesday at the NFL’s Spring League Meeting, writes nfl.com.

Owners considered a proposal by the New England Patriots similar to the adopted plan, but without the defense’s ability to score. A plan proposed by the Philadelphia Eagles called for a 15-yard Point After Touchdown (PAT) and the ball on the 1-yard line for two-point tries.

The NFL has been tinkering with the PAT in hopes of making it a more difficult and therefore entertaining play for spectators. The latest change might be just the first step of further adjustments in years to come.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport also reported that the Redskins‘ proposal to have roster cuts done all at once  – moving from 90-man to 53-man rosters prior to the start of the season – was voted down by owners, per a source.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000493347/article/nfl-moves-extra-point-to-15yard-line-for-2015-season

Patriots Equipment Managers Suspended

The New England Patriots employees Jim McNally and John Jastremski were suspended on May 6th over deflate-gate.  These two were in charge of inflating Patriots’ footballs to regulation.

According to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, it was actually the NFL’s decision to punish McNally and Jastremski, not the team’s.

From ESPN:

“For those asking why Patriots suspended two employees if those two did nothing wrong, as New England claims: NFL asked Pats to suspend them prior to discipline being handed down, per a league source in New York. New England obliged with the NFL’s request.”

This makes what the NFL said in a statement about the punishments unclear, writes Business Insider.

“Patriots owner Robert Kraft advised Commissioner Roger Goodell last week that Patriots employees John Jastremski and James McNally have been indefinitely suspended without pay by the club, effective on May 6th,” the statement read.

That seems to imply that the team suspended the two. But note the language — it only says that Kraft told Goodell that they had been suspended, not that he had ordered it, according to Business Insider.

If ESPN’s report is to be believed, it gives the Patriots’ denials a little more weight because the team never actually felt the need to punish McNally and Jastremski.

It’s also worth noting that ESPN’s information comes from a “league source in New York,” not from someone within the Patriots who wants to make them look innocent.

It also makes things messy. The NFL released the Wells report on May 6 but waited until May 11 to punish the team and Brady. Yet according to the league’s statement, McNally and Jastremski were punished on May 6.

Business Insider asks:  If that decision was the NFL’s, why did they hand down discipline for the two employees immediately but wait nearly a week to go after the team and Brady? And why did the Patriots comply?

(Updated article)

Soccer Held At New York’s Yankee Stadium

Is it blasphemy?  Soccer is being held at New York’s Yankee Stadium, built for baseball.

Wikipedia states that “(O)n April 21, 2014, it was announced that New York City FC, a Major League Soccer expansion team owned jointly by the New York Yankees and Manchester City, would play in Yankee Stadium from 2015 until their new stadium is completed.  NYCFC played their first game at Yankee Stadium on March 15, 2015.”

On a gorgeous Thursday night in April, fans chanted “olé olé olé olé” under banners of Babe Ruth on the concourse outside, according to USA Today. Young men in bright blue scarves discussed Mix Diskerud’s latest performance while going through security.

Over 20,000 fans showed up at Yankee Stadium on April 11th (a weekday evening) to see New York City F.C., the city’s new MLS expansion team, take on Philadelphia Union in a game that was being branded as a possible new rivalry, states USA Today.

The game ended in a 1-1 tie.

Regional rivalries are part of MLS’ development strategy, similar to the three-team grouping in the Pacific Northwest – Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps.  The rivalries drove fan interest and ratings when they played on national TV, states USA Today.

No one is sure if the NYCFC–Union rivalry will take off.  It still feels new, states USA Today, but NYCFC is a new team.

It was “born of the wealth of Manchester City and the New York Yankees and the desire to bring soccer to the Big Apple. (The New York Red Bulls actually play in Harrison, New Jersey, which is just a PATH train-ride away.)

Despite being the wrong shape for a soccer venue, Yankee Stadium is surprisingly intimate. The field is packed into the outfield and reaches just to the pitching mound, which is covered for every game.

(NYCFC’s schedule was worked around the Yankees schedule to give the stadium crew time to set up the field.)

The supporters’ section, located in the left field bleachers, is loud and still figuring out what it means to be a supporters’ section.

It’s “beautifully raw,” according to USA Today.  The fans sing songs, usually made famous by other soccer clubs. (They particularly love an updated version of “Hey Baby” by Bruce Channel, which is a mainstay at stadiums on both sides of the pond.)

But the teams may need some new chants.  “We don’t like most of the chants,” said Marvin Blugh, a 25-year-old from Brooklyn who bought season tickets in the bleachers this year. “Feels like we’re ripping off the other teams.”

‘Grandad Hooligans’ Terrorizing British Soccer

Soccer (football) club chairmen in Britain are warning of a new threat of football hooliganism from retired grandfathers.

Dave Doggett, boss of the soccer team Cambridge United, says a hardcore of around 10 men in their 50s and 60s are trying to relive the 1980s by arranging fights with rivals on match days.

“Club chiefs say ageing thugs who took part in violence during the 1970s and 80s are returning to the terraces,” according to the Daily Mirror.

Mr. Doggett warns the violence has increased recently as the men return to the club in their retirements after being distracted by years of having a career and raising families.

Doggett says there is a danger that they will spread violence as they try to encourage younger men to join their “gangs,” states The Telegraph.

Writing in his club’s latest program, Mr Doggett says: “Unfortunately football clubs still attract an undesirable element of society that appear determined to ruin the enjoyment of real supporters of football clubs.

“Our promotion to the Football League appears to have encouraged our ‘risk’ from the 1980s to come out of retirement.

“Many of them are grandparents trying to encourage the next generation to join their ‘gangs’.

“It sounds pathetic but unfortunately it is reality.”

Doggett states they are working closely with police on the matter.

More:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/grandad-football-hooligans-coming-out-5493256

British Soccer Player Fired For Sex In Stadium

Jay Hart of the British semi-pro soccer team Clitheroe was cut from the team after video of him and the fan you see was made public.  They were having sex in the opposing team’s dugout after a match, writes the publication Screamer.

The match in question was a 4-1 Clitheroe loss to team Mossley.  Coincidentally, Mossley had advertised the game as “ladies day” in appreciation of their female fans, according to Screamer and The Daily Mirror.

While the two were going at it, someone nearby secretly began recording the encounter. Afterward, the video was shared online and caught the attention of Hart’s football club, which swiftly made the decision to get rid of the player.

The Mirror:

“Striker Jay Hart can be heard laughing on the mobile phone footage as he was caught still in his club T-shirt…”

The Mirror continues:

“The face of the fan cannot be seen. Within hours of the footage being circulated to team-mates and fans, Hart was sacked by the club, who play in Evo-Stik Division 1 North.”

Club chairwoman Anne Barker said that Hart had brought the club into disrepute. She said “Any players, while wearing a Clitheroe tracksuit, represents the club.”

“We expect a certain level of behavior and discipline. And that wasn’t it.”

To his credit, Hart – of Accrington, Lancashire – apologized for the incident and said he was “full of regret.”

The video appears to have been scrubbed from the internet. However, there is still an image on twitter.

The story isn’t all fun, though. Hart’s girlfriend slammed whoever was responsible for posting the video clip, according to The Daily Mirror.

She took to the Clitheroe Football Club Facebook page to vent her frustration at those who had made light of the incident.

She wrote: “Have a bit of decency for the people it’s affected. Thank god my kids are too young to read.”

(Updated post)