Archives for July 14, 2016

'The other option would be for both the NFL and Brady to negotiate a settlement that could result in a reduction of the suspension, although that seems unlikely given how far both parties have come.'

'"Yeah. I mean, we win, all right, we win, but I don't feel like I really won until we beat the guy," Dareus said. "I love playing against Brady. I get up for him. I've been playing against him every year. He knows I'm coming.;

'In a recent ranking of the league's backup quarterbacks, Sporting News did not share Whaley's lofty view of Manuel. The publication ranked him No. 18 among No. 2 quarterbacks, with author Bill Bender writing "Tyrod Taylor is the established starter, and the battle for the backup spot between EJ Manuel and Cardale Jones will be interesting. Jones plays with a lot of confidence and has a strong arm. At some point, Rex Ryan might give Jones a chance if he takes advantage. It’s on Manuel to step up his game.";

'“Apparently, assaults recorded on video are prosecuted everywhere except in Philadelphia, particularly when the victims are police officers,” McNesby wrote in a letter to members. “In Philadelphia, a vicious assault on off-duty police officers by a rich athlete and his friends goes completely unpunished. Serious and permanent injuries were inflicted on these officers as a result of a brutal assault captured on film, but a season-ticket hunting District Attorney refuses to do his sworn job and prosecute the attackers.”'

'In April, Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams said McCoy wouldn't be charged in the incident, concluding that he couldn't prove who initiated the February fight in a Philadelphia after-hours club. Williams said at the time that it's legal to act in self-defense or the defense of others.'

'The fight involved McCoy and some friends, some off-duty law enforcement folks, and a bottle of champagne. After several months of investigation, the Philadelphia district attorney's office decided not to prosecute McCoy. Then the Pennsylvania state attorney general's office reached the same conclusion. Now, the NFL is declining to discipline McCoy, too.'

'In a letter to union president John McNesby dated July 7, Castor says he thoroughly reviewed the case and his office won't be taking it over.'

'McCoy's Philadelphia defense attorney, Dennis Cogan, said McCoy was only trying to break up a fight between the officers and his friends, who were arguing over a $350 bottle of champagne.'

'There were lingering questions in recent months whether or not McCoy would be suspended by the league for his role in an altercation at a Philadelphia nightclub back in February. McCoy was involved in a brawl that resulted in two off-duty philly police officers being hospitalized.'

'Defensively, the deepest position they have is along the defensive line, consisting of some combination of Cobin Bryant, Adolphus Washington, Leger Douzable, and Jerel Worthy coming off the bench in the event of an injury. One of those players must start, alongside Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams, but that player hasn't been identified as of yet.'

'As long as there isn't an injury that slows down McCoy, he will be on the field for the Buffalo Bills to start the 2016 regular season as scheduled. The Buffalo News was the first to report the McCoy news.'

'The best case scenario for the Bills is if he kept to his workout and eating regimen, and hit the initial target weight set for him. Even then, the Bills might want to start him out with conditioning only, just to get him where they want him for the start of the season.'

'The tight end offers athleticism on par with Charles Clay. Slightly taller and longer than Clay, Annen demonstrated impressive speed for a player his size (6-4, 247) and sure hands. The coaches took notice as well as he was getting consistent reps with the first team offense in the spring practices. With a firm working knowledge of the offense after serving on the practice squad late last season, Annen could land a coveted roster spot at tight end if his play from the spring carries through training camp.'

'“Everyone has something to prove in this league and if you think you don’t something is wrong,” he said. “That’s how I play. Every time you practice you should feel that way too. …My goal as I said from day one is to better myself and better the team too and ultimately prepare ourselves and get after everybody to make a Super Bowl run. We know it takes a one game at a time and one step at a time…”'