Tag: NFL

Super Bowl Ring Too Much?

This year’s Super Bowl ring is the biggest ever. It seems that after the “deflate-gate” scandal, the Patriots treated themselves.

The New England Patriots handed out their Super Bowl XLIX rings at a party at owner Robert Kraft’s home in Chestnut Hill, Mass., Sunday night.

This year, the team won its fourth title since 2001, and the players and coaches in attendance celebrated accordingly, writes Yahoo! Sports.

The Patriots’ website states that the rings were “formally presented as the dessert” after dinner, writes Yahoo! Sports.

They are “cast in white gold” and feature – among other details – the players’ number “encrusted in diamonds,” the Pats’ logo outlined by 44 diamonds, and a “field of 143 diamonds highlighting the four large Lombardi trophies cast with marquee-cut diamonds.”

The team says it is the “largest Super Bowl ring ever made” with 205 diamonds in all, according to Yahoo! Sports.

Be sure to check out the GIF below for the 360 degree view.

(Updated article)

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)

Mother Of NFL Star Aaron Hernandez Apologizes To Mother Of Murder Victim

One day after Aaron Hernandez began serving his sentence of life in prison for the crime of murder, the former New England Patriot’s mother is directing her comments to the mother of murder victim Odin Lloyd, WCBV News reports.

“As mother to mother, I’m very sorry. I don’t know what happened, but I’m very sorry for all this,” Terri Hernandez told Ursula Ward, according to the Boston Herald.

She said Ward was “a great woman, nice and caring.”

When told of what Terri Hernandez said, Ms. Ward replied that she said all she will say outside the courthouse, when she expressed forgiveness.

NFL Player Aaron Hernandez Guilty Of Murder In Death Of Odin Lloyd

CNN

Former New England Patriots football star Aaron Hernandez looked on Wednesday as he was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

Hernandez once enjoyed a $40 million pro-football contract and now stands convicted in the 2013 murder of onetime friend Odin Lloyd.

Fantasy reaction: LeSean McCoy traded to Bills

“With Tuesday night’s stunning news of a potential blockbuster trade sending McCoy to Buffalo, you don’t get the feeling that (Chip) Kelly’s tenure coaching the Philadelphia Eagles will be geared toward longevity,” according to SI.

“But while he’s in charge in Philly—and, man, is he ever—he has resolved to give it his best possible shot exactly the way he sees fit. There are no sacred cows. There are no assumptions that can’t be challenged.”

The Eagles sent running back LeSean McCoy to the NFL’s Buffalo Bills for linebacker Kiko Alonso, writes CBS Sports. The trade will become official next Tuesday.

What are the Fantasy implications now?

Start in Buffalo, where McCoy (barring a holdout) becomes the primary running back for new coach Rex Ryan.

“You know Ryan is going to lean on McCoy, and this is a great scenario for him to remain an elite-level No. 1 Fantasy option,” writes CBS Sports.

More:

http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/03/04/lesean-mccoy-trade-chip-kelly-philadelphia-eagles-kiko-alonso

(Updated)

What Is The Domestic Violence Arrest Rate In The NFL?


Video by yazchat

On Sunday, ABC’s This Week previewed the Super Bowl by discussing the tumultuous year the NFL has gone through, from child abuse charges to Deflategate.

During a panel discussion at the end of the broadcast, Gwen Ifil, anchor of PBS NewsHour, lamented the fact that millions of Americans “may know, the evidence may be in front of them, but it’s almost sad that many Americans just don’t want to be bothered with it.”

According to the website FiveThirtyEight, domestic violence arrests are the NFL’s worst category of crimes arrested for.   However, the arrest rate is 55.4 percent of the national average.

FiveThirtyEight points out that this could be explained by the high incomes.  In fact, people in the same income bracket as a whole have only a 39 percent arrest rate compared to the national average.

More here

Jets Haven’t Requested Interview With Ex-Denver Broncos Coach John Fox

ThatsGoodSports video.

According to NJ.com, there are conflicting reports as to whether the New York Jets have requested an interview with former Denver Broncos coach John Fox.  Some sources claim the Jets actually have not yet requested an interview with him.  Moreover, Fox would be willing to speak with the Jets if they do reach out, according to a source with knowledge of Fox’s thinking.

JohnFox1

Former Denver coach John Fox has declined the Jets’ request to interview for their head coaching vacancy, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

It seemed likely that the Jets would at least try to contact Fox, who parted ways with the Broncos earlier Monday, because he is now the most experienced head coaching candidate available. However, sources say Fox said no thanks immediately.

Charley Casserly, the former NFL general manager who is consulting Jets owner Woody Johnson on his coach and GM searches, went on ESPN New York radio on Monday and said he was not surprised that Fox and the Broncos had a mutual split.

According to AJC.com, John Fox is out at Denver, but don’t expect him to be in with the Falcons. The team has no plans at this time to interview him.

That could be a mistake.  Fox has coached two franchises (Carolina, Denver) to Super Bowl appearances, and he’s the only proven veteran head coach on the market and he’s familiar with the NFC South from his years with the Panthers.

However, Fox is going to interview with the Chicago Bears.  They seem like a perfect match to some sources, and it would be surprising if they didn’t make a deal.