Sunday, July 31, 2011
Reggie Bush head to Dolphins!!
Reggie Bush was traded to the Dolphins and restuructered his contract to 2yrs and $10 million!!
Nnamdi Asomugha Headed to Eagles!!!
Nnamdi Asomugha signs a 5 year deal with Eagles for $60 million with $25 million guaranteed!!!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
NFL Lockout is over After 132 Days
WASHINGTON -- After months of public nastiness and private negotiations, of court filings and rulings, of players and owners squabbling over more than $9 billion a year, NFL fans finally saw the handshake and heard the words they awaited: "Football's back."
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players Association head DeMaurice Smith both used that phrase while standing shoulder to shoulder Monday, announcing their agreement on a 10-year deal to end the lockout that began in March.
Then came what may truly be the lasting image of the dispute's resolution: Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Jeff Saturday wrapped one of his burly arms around New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and enveloped him in a hug -- a gesture that symbolized the acrimony's end more than any statement could.
The lockout finally ended Monday but not without damage on both sides. Ashley Fox breaks down the winners and losers of the labor dispute. Story
With the lockout over, Gene Wojciechowski lists the biggest questions for the league going forward, including the Brett Favre rumors. Story
John Clayton expects the wildest free agency in the history of the NFL. With that in mind, he lists the 10 free agents to watch. Story
• Free-agency coverage | UFA list
• Reiss: Kraft carries on for labor peace
• Clayton: What new CBA means
• Blog: Back-to-work FYIs for teams
• Outsiders: First post-lockout moves
• Scouts Inc.: Team-by-team needs
• espnW: Get ready for wild ride
"I'd like, on behalf of both sides, to apologize to the fans: For the last five, six months we've been talking about the business of football -- and not what goes on, on the field, and building the teams in each market," Kraft said. "But the end result is we've been able to have an agreement that I think is going to allow this sport to flourish over the next decade."
Owners can point to victories, such as gaining a higher percentage of all revenue, one of the central issues -- they get 53 percent, players 47 percent; the old deal was closer to 50-50. There's also a new system that will rein in spending on contracts for first-round draft picks.
Players, meanwhile, persuaded teams to commit to spending nearly all of their salary cap space in cash and won changes to offseason and in-season practice rules that should make the game safer. Players also got the right to five consecutive days off during their bye week, sources told ESPN.
One important compromise came on expanding the regular season from 16 to 18 games, which owners favored. That can be revisited for the 2013 season, but players must approve any change.
"Both parties were trying to stand their ground -- and rightfully so," said Vikings linebacker Ben Leber, one of the 10 named plaintiffs in the players' antitrust suit against the league, which will now be dropped. "In the end, against all the negativity that was out there publicly, they took their time and hammered out what I think is going to turn out to be one of the best deals in the history of sports."
An interesting choice of phrase, given that Smith and some players grew fond of calling the owners' last offer before talks fell apart in March "probably the worst deal in sports history."
Here was Smith's take Monday: "We didn't get everything that either side wanted ... but we did arrive at a deal that we think is fair and balanced."
Now comes frenzied football activity, starting immediately. Club facilities will open to players starting at 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday, when 2011 draft picks and rookie free agents can be signed.
Also at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, teams can start making trades and begin conversations with veteran free agents from all teams. However, no player can officially sign until Friday at 6 p.m. ET. Teams will not have a window to negotiate exclusively with their own free agents.
However, when veteran free agents do sign with teams, they will not be able to participate in any practice, weight training or workouts until the beginning of the league year, slated to be Aug. 4. They will be required to attend classroom sessions and non-physical activity once the contracts are signed.
Rookies, both drafted and undrafted, will be allowed to fully participate and their contracts will be fully covered, regardless of whether the agreement is ratified.
Then, beginning Wednesday, the first group of teams can report for training camps, 15 days before each club's first preseason game.
The first 10 teams able to report are: Seattle, San Diego, Arizona, Oakland, Denver, Dallas, Jacksonville, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New England.
On Thursday, 10 more teams could report: Tampa Bay, Kansas City, Miami, Atlanta, San Francisco, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Washington, Cincinnati and Detroit.
And Friday, 10 additional teams can report: Buffalo, Chicago, Green Bay, Cleveland, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Minnesota, Tennessee, N.Y. Giants and Carolina.
The New York Jets and Houston Texans can first report on Sunday.
The Colts and Vikings announced later Monday they will open camp on Sunday instead, sticking to their original camp plans. The Cardinals said late Monday they will start camp Friday, two days later than the NFL had listed for them. Definitive dates for all 32 teams had not been released, yet.
Players under contract must report to teams on Wednesday and Thursday in order to qualify for any weight, performance or attendance bonuses they may have in their current deals.
Teams then have until 4 p.m. ET on Thursday to waive or cut players.
"Chaos," said Jets fullback Tony Richardson, a member of the NFLPA's executive committee. "That's the best word for it."
Only one exhibition game was lost: the Hall of Fame opener between the Bears and Rams, scheduled for Aug. 7 in Canton, Ohio.
Otherwise, the entire preseason and regular-season schedules remain intact.
"Our players can't be more excited about going back to doing the thing they love the most," NFLPA president Kevin Mawae said. "We always said during this process we would do a deal when it's right and when it's the right deal. Our players did that. We stuck it out to the end."
With the NFL back in business, here's how the first days of league business will go for players and teams:
Monday at 6 p.m. ET
• NFL to publish official list of 2011 free agents.
Tuesday at 10 a.m. ET
• Trading begins.
• Teams can sign rookies and undrafted free agents.
• Teams can negotiate with, but not sign, veteran free agents.
Thursday at 4:01 p.m. ET
• Teams can begin to cut players.
Friday at 6 p.m. ET
• Teams can officially sign free agents. Players who sign must report to new teams but can't participate in physical activities until start of league year on Aug. 4.
Aug. 4 at 4:01 p.m. ET
• Clubs must be within salary cap.
When Saturday spoke to reporters, he offered an eloquent tribute to Kraft, lauding him as "a man who helped us save football," and to Kraft's wife, Myra, who died Wednesday from cancer.
"A special thanks to Myra Kraft, who even in her weakest moment allowed Mr. Kraft to come and fight this out," Saturday said. "Without him, this deal does not get done."
Kraft, meanwhile, took a verbal jab at the nearby White House and Congress, saying: "I hope we gave a little lesson to the people in Washington, because the debt crisis is a lot easier to fix than this deal was."
Owners overwhelmingly approved a proposal to end the dispute Thursday, but some unresolved issues needed to be reviewed to satisfy players. The sides worked through the weekend and wrapped up nearly every detail by about 3 a.m. Monday on a final pact that runs through the 2020 season and can't be terminated before then.
That's significant because the old collective bargaining agreement contained an opt-out clause, and owners exercised it in 2008. That led to the contract expiring when talks broke down March 11; hours later, owners locked out the players, creating the NFL's first work stoppage since 1987 -- and longest in league history.
"I know it has been a very long process since the day we stood here that night in March," Smith said in a brief appearance about 20 minutes before being joined by Goodell and three owners. "But our guys stood together when nobody thought we would. And football is back because of it."
As he spoke, Smith was surrounded by some players, including Saints quarterback Drew Brees, one of 10 plaintiffs in the antitrust lawsuit that players filed against the league March 11. Two unanimous NFLPA leadership votes cleared the way for that case to be dropped and the lockout to go away: first, to recommend to the plaintiffs that they accept the settlement; second, to recommend that all 1,900 players re-establish the union.
Late Monday night, Brees took to Twitter to celebrate the newfound labor peace.
"What a process. Thanks to the NFLPA leadership, owners, and fans for sticking it out during this time. Our game is now stronger than ever," Brees wrote. "Who Dat Nation. We can't wait to see you in full force this training camp and preseason. Man we miss you!"
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, also one of the 10 named plaintiffs, said in a statement, "I want to get back to work."
"My objectives were two-fold when joining the group of named plaintiffs in the labor-related lawsuit. First, to show unified strength on behalf of benefitting all players; second, to see a resolution that recognizes the interests of players and management. I believe both objectives have been achieved," Manning said in the statement. "As a fan of the game, I'm pleased the two sides have reached a deal and, as a professional, I want to get back to work."
Manning was invited to attend the news conference Monday but said he was unable to do so because of his rehabilitation and therapy recovering from neck surgery on May 23 to repair a bulging disk.
All players now will take a vote to re-certify the union -- it was dissolved March 11, turning the NFLPA into a trade association -- and then one more vote to approve the final CBA. It all needs to be wrapped up by Aug. 4 to make everything official, something everyone involved believes will happen without a hitch.
Only once it is back to being a union can the NFLPA finish the contract, covering remaining items such as player discipline, drug testing, disability programs and pensions.
Several people involved in the negotiations praised Goodell and Smith for working with each other to try get the sides to arrive at a deal.
"If we don't have a good relationship, it hurts the game and the business of football," Smith said. "I'm not sure any two people have ever come together in a more compressed, public, interesting time than Roger and I."
The major economic framework for the deal was worked out more than a week ago.
That included dividing revenue; a per-club cap of about $120 million for salary and bonuses in 2011 -- and at least that in 2012 and 2013 -- plus about $22 million for benefits; a salary system to rein in spending on first-round draft picks; and unrestricted free agency for most players after four seasons.
"If I don't have to hear the word 'lockout' for a long time, I'll be happy about that," Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald said. "I know guys are ready to get back to work."
Information from ESPN.com's John Clayton, ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter and The Associated Press was used in this report.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players Association head DeMaurice Smith both used that phrase while standing shoulder to shoulder Monday, announcing their agreement on a 10-year deal to end the lockout that began in March.
Then came what may truly be the lasting image of the dispute's resolution: Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Jeff Saturday wrapped one of his burly arms around New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and enveloped him in a hug -- a gesture that symbolized the acrimony's end more than any statement could.
More From ESPN.com
The lockout finally ended Monday but not without damage on both sides. Ashley Fox breaks down the winners and losers of the labor dispute. StoryWith the lockout over, Gene Wojciechowski lists the biggest questions for the league going forward, including the Brett Favre rumors. StoryJohn Clayton expects the wildest free agency in the history of the NFL. With that in mind, he lists the 10 free agents to watch. Story• Free-agency coverage | UFA list
• Reiss: Kraft carries on for labor peace
• Clayton: What new CBA means
• Blog: Back-to-work FYIs for teams
• Outsiders: First post-lockout moves
• Scouts Inc.: Team-by-team needs
• espnW: Get ready for wild ride
"I'd like, on behalf of both sides, to apologize to the fans: For the last five, six months we've been talking about the business of football -- and not what goes on, on the field, and building the teams in each market," Kraft said. "But the end result is we've been able to have an agreement that I think is going to allow this sport to flourish over the next decade."
Owners can point to victories, such as gaining a higher percentage of all revenue, one of the central issues -- they get 53 percent, players 47 percent; the old deal was closer to 50-50. There's also a new system that will rein in spending on contracts for first-round draft picks.
Players, meanwhile, persuaded teams to commit to spending nearly all of their salary cap space in cash and won changes to offseason and in-season practice rules that should make the game safer. Players also got the right to five consecutive days off during their bye week, sources told ESPN.
One important compromise came on expanding the regular season from 16 to 18 games, which owners favored. That can be revisited for the 2013 season, but players must approve any change.
"Both parties were trying to stand their ground -- and rightfully so," said Vikings linebacker Ben Leber, one of the 10 named plaintiffs in the players' antitrust suit against the league, which will now be dropped. "In the end, against all the negativity that was out there publicly, they took their time and hammered out what I think is going to turn out to be one of the best deals in the history of sports."
An interesting choice of phrase, given that Smith and some players grew fond of calling the owners' last offer before talks fell apart in March "probably the worst deal in sports history."
Here was Smith's take Monday: "We didn't get everything that either side wanted ... but we did arrive at a deal that we think is fair and balanced."
Now comes frenzied football activity, starting immediately. Club facilities will open to players starting at 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday, when 2011 draft picks and rookie free agents can be signed.
Also at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, teams can start making trades and begin conversations with veteran free agents from all teams. However, no player can officially sign until Friday at 6 p.m. ET. Teams will not have a window to negotiate exclusively with their own free agents.
However, when veteran free agents do sign with teams, they will not be able to participate in any practice, weight training or workouts until the beginning of the league year, slated to be Aug. 4. They will be required to attend classroom sessions and non-physical activity once the contracts are signed.
Rookies, both drafted and undrafted, will be allowed to fully participate and their contracts will be fully covered, regardless of whether the agreement is ratified.
AP Photo/Carolyn KasterColts center Jeff Saturday hugged Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose wife Myra died last week, during Monday's news conference.
Then, beginning Wednesday, the first group of teams can report for training camps, 15 days before each club's first preseason game.
The first 10 teams able to report are: Seattle, San Diego, Arizona, Oakland, Denver, Dallas, Jacksonville, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New England.
On Thursday, 10 more teams could report: Tampa Bay, Kansas City, Miami, Atlanta, San Francisco, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Washington, Cincinnati and Detroit.
And Friday, 10 additional teams can report: Buffalo, Chicago, Green Bay, Cleveland, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Minnesota, Tennessee, N.Y. Giants and Carolina.
The New York Jets and Houston Texans can first report on Sunday.
The Colts and Vikings announced later Monday they will open camp on Sunday instead, sticking to their original camp plans. The Cardinals said late Monday they will start camp Friday, two days later than the NFL had listed for them. Definitive dates for all 32 teams had not been released, yet.
Players under contract must report to teams on Wednesday and Thursday in order to qualify for any weight, performance or attendance bonuses they may have in their current deals.
Teams then have until 4 p.m. ET on Thursday to waive or cut players.
"Chaos," said Jets fullback Tony Richardson, a member of the NFLPA's executive committee. "That's the best word for it."
Only one exhibition game was lost: the Hall of Fame opener between the Bears and Rams, scheduled for Aug. 7 in Canton, Ohio.
Otherwise, the entire preseason and regular-season schedules remain intact.
"Our players can't be more excited about going back to doing the thing they love the most," NFLPA president Kevin Mawae said. "We always said during this process we would do a deal when it's right and when it's the right deal. Our players did that. We stuck it out to the end."
NFL timeline of transactions
With the NFL back in business, here's how the first days of league business will go for players and teams:Monday at 6 p.m. ET
• NFL to publish official list of 2011 free agents.
Tuesday at 10 a.m. ET
• Trading begins.
• Teams can sign rookies and undrafted free agents.
• Teams can negotiate with, but not sign, veteran free agents.
Thursday at 4:01 p.m. ET
• Teams can begin to cut players.
Friday at 6 p.m. ET
• Teams can officially sign free agents. Players who sign must report to new teams but can't participate in physical activities until start of league year on Aug. 4.
Aug. 4 at 4:01 p.m. ET
• Clubs must be within salary cap.
When Saturday spoke to reporters, he offered an eloquent tribute to Kraft, lauding him as "a man who helped us save football," and to Kraft's wife, Myra, who died Wednesday from cancer.
"A special thanks to Myra Kraft, who even in her weakest moment allowed Mr. Kraft to come and fight this out," Saturday said. "Without him, this deal does not get done."
Kraft, meanwhile, took a verbal jab at the nearby White House and Congress, saying: "I hope we gave a little lesson to the people in Washington, because the debt crisis is a lot easier to fix than this deal was."
Owners overwhelmingly approved a proposal to end the dispute Thursday, but some unresolved issues needed to be reviewed to satisfy players. The sides worked through the weekend and wrapped up nearly every detail by about 3 a.m. Monday on a final pact that runs through the 2020 season and can't be terminated before then.
That's significant because the old collective bargaining agreement contained an opt-out clause, and owners exercised it in 2008. That led to the contract expiring when talks broke down March 11; hours later, owners locked out the players, creating the NFL's first work stoppage since 1987 -- and longest in league history.
"I know it has been a very long process since the day we stood here that night in March," Smith said in a brief appearance about 20 minutes before being joined by Goodell and three owners. "But our guys stood together when nobody thought we would. And football is back because of it."
As he spoke, Smith was surrounded by some players, including Saints quarterback Drew Brees, one of 10 plaintiffs in the antitrust lawsuit that players filed against the league March 11. Two unanimous NFLPA leadership votes cleared the way for that case to be dropped and the lockout to go away: first, to recommend to the plaintiffs that they accept the settlement; second, to recommend that all 1,900 players re-establish the union.
Late Monday night, Brees took to Twitter to celebrate the newfound labor peace.
"What a process. Thanks to the NFLPA leadership, owners, and fans for sticking it out during this time. Our game is now stronger than ever," Brees wrote. "Who Dat Nation. We can't wait to see you in full force this training camp and preseason. Man we miss you!"
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, also one of the 10 named plaintiffs, said in a statement, "I want to get back to work."
"My objectives were two-fold when joining the group of named plaintiffs in the labor-related lawsuit. First, to show unified strength on behalf of benefitting all players; second, to see a resolution that recognizes the interests of players and management. I believe both objectives have been achieved," Manning said in the statement. "As a fan of the game, I'm pleased the two sides have reached a deal and, as a professional, I want to get back to work."
Manning was invited to attend the news conference Monday but said he was unable to do so because of his rehabilitation and therapy recovering from neck surgery on May 23 to repair a bulging disk.
All players now will take a vote to re-certify the union -- it was dissolved March 11, turning the NFLPA into a trade association -- and then one more vote to approve the final CBA. It all needs to be wrapped up by Aug. 4 to make everything official, something everyone involved believes will happen without a hitch.
Only once it is back to being a union can the NFLPA finish the contract, covering remaining items such as player discipline, drug testing, disability programs and pensions.
Several people involved in the negotiations praised Goodell and Smith for working with each other to try get the sides to arrive at a deal.
"If we don't have a good relationship, it hurts the game and the business of football," Smith said. "I'm not sure any two people have ever come together in a more compressed, public, interesting time than Roger and I."
The major economic framework for the deal was worked out more than a week ago.
That included dividing revenue; a per-club cap of about $120 million for salary and bonuses in 2011 -- and at least that in 2012 and 2013 -- plus about $22 million for benefits; a salary system to rein in spending on first-round draft picks; and unrestricted free agency for most players after four seasons.
"If I don't have to hear the word 'lockout' for a long time, I'll be happy about that," Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald said. "I know guys are ready to get back to work."
Information from ESPN.com's John Clayton, ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter and The Associated Press was used in this report.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Heat and Mavs Ready for Game 1 of the 2011 NBA FInals
The Miami Heat has been called whiners, opportunists and other derogatory names this year on its quest for championship rings.
And for many years now, the Dallas Mavericks has had to deal with the perception it is not tough enough to earn the trophy.
So winning the NBA Finals, which start Tuesday night, is a lot about vindication for both teams.
A championship win would also be sweet justice for several high-profile players on either side:
Jason Terry: Losing would be most painful -- literally -- for Mavericks shooting guard Jason Terry.
Terry had the Larry O'Brien championship trophy tattooed on his right bicep before the season began because he was confident the Mavs would clinch the title, he told CNN affiliate WFAA.
If the Mavs lose, Terry said he will have it removed.
Dirk Nowitzki: A finals victory could take the Mavericks power forward off the infamous "greatest NBA superstars to not have an NBA championship" list.
Nowitzki has been a perennial all-star and has averaged a whooping 23 points per game in his career.
But a championship ring has eluded him. And time may be running out: Nowitzki, 32, is in his 13th season.
He was part of the team when the Mavs last duked it out with the Heat in the 2006 NBA Finals. Nowitzki's team lost.
"You never know in this league if you ever get another chance, and we're able to get to this stage again. And it feels good and so now we just got to go for it and do all the things that got us here," Nowitzki told CNN affiliate KDAF.
LeBron James: The finals for LeBron James may be about acting on a promise he made before the season.
When he was introduced as a new addition to the Heat last summer, he told a cheering crowd that he did not want to just win one championship. He told the crowd he expected multiples.
"Not two. Not three. Not four..." James told the cheering crowd as he took the count all the way up to seven.
Some criticized him for that statement, and for his decision to abandon the Cleveland Cavaliers for Miami.
James knows all too well the chance these Finals present for him.
"I have played in the Finals before and did not win it," James said recently. "I have been to the Eastern Conference Finals against Orlando and lost. We have had years in Cleveland where we were the best team in the league and did not get back to that point. Now I am back here. And I am ready to change the outcome."
Jim Tressel Era over In Ohio St
"After meeting with university officials, we agreed that it is in the best interest of Ohio State that I resign as head football coach," Tressel said in a statement released by the university. "The appreciation that [wife] Ellen and I have for the Buckeye Nation is immeasurable."
Forde: A Relatively Fitting End
The key part of a sordid five-month saga has come to a delayed but inevitable end, leaving Ohio State damaged and its former coach's reputation in tatters, ESPN.com's Pat Forde writes. Story Rittenberg: OSU Depth Chart Might Take Hit
The most damning part of SI's inquiry into Tressel and the Ohio State program is the charge that memorabilia sold for money and tattoos wasn't confined to the so-called "Tat-5," writes ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg. Blog • Big Ten blog: Tressel by the numbers
Maisel: Picture Remains Puzzling
College football has been left mystified that a coach so smart would commit career suicide so dumb, ESPN.com's Ivan Maisel writes. Story • Stats & Info: A tradition of success
Feldman: Heavy Hitter As Replacement?
Ohio State offers the kind of head coaching job that can get the attention of almost every guy in the business, ESPN The Magazine's Bruce Feldman writes. Story 
• McGee: Long-lasting stain for OSU
• Newberg: Recruits remain resolute
Luke Fickell will be the coach for the 2011 season. He already had been selected to be the interim head coach while Tressel served a five-game suspension.
Ohio State spokesman Jim Lynch said he was unaware of any buyout or severance package. He added that Tressel had returned from vacation Sunday night and met with athletic director Gene Smith, who then met with staff. Tressel typed his resignation and submitted it to Smith, he said.
Under terms of Tressel's contract, which was worth around $3.5 million a year through the 2014 season, Ohio State is not required to pay him any money or provide any benefits upon his resignation.
The resignation was first reported by The Columbus Dispatch.
Clearly, the turmoil had been building. The resignation comes nearly three months after Ohio State called a news conference to announce it has suspended Tressel for two games -- later increasing the ban to five games to coincide with the players' punishment -- and fined him $250,000 for knowing his players had received improper benefits from the owner of a local tattoo parlor. The school said at the time it was "very surprised and disappointed" in Tressel. Yet, the school still managed to crack jokes.
Asked if he considered firing Tressel, Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee said then: "No, are you kidding? Let me just be very clear: I'm just hopeful the coach doesn't dismiss me."
Gee was not joking about the Tressel situation over the weekend. Ohio State released a letter from Gee to the university's board of trustees which said, "As you all know, I appointed a special committee to analyze and provide advice to me regarding issues attendant to our football program. In consultation with the senior leadership of the university and the senior leadership of the board, I have been actively reviewing the matter and have accepted coach Tressel's resignation."
Tressel's downfall came with public and media pressure mounting on Ohio State, its board of trustees, Gee and Smith.
"I want you to know that last night, when Jim returned from his vacation, he and I sat down for a while and talked about the state of our program. It's at that time that he decided to resign," Smith said in a video released Monday. "We met again this morning in his office and chatted some more, and he submitted his formal letter of resignation. We did meet with part of the team this morning and those who were not there, they were contacted by their position coaches. Coach Tressel did what we all knew he would do. He did an eloquent job of explaining to the young men what transition really means and what they needed to focus on."
Before the meeting, Smith met with Fickell and asked him to be interim coach, which he accepted. Smith also met with full coaching staff and support staff.
"We are under NCAA investigation. We will not discuss any of the matters around that case, or any further accusations that may emerge," Smith said. "We will do what we always do: we will respond to them, we collaborate with the NCAA and try and find the truth. I do want to thank Coach Tressel for his long service to our university. There was a lot of people he touched in a highly positive way. We're very thankful for his leadership during the years we had great success on the field and off the field, but more importantly in the classroom."
Tressel and Ohio State were to go before the NCAA's infractions committee Aug. 12 to answer questions about the player violations and why Tressel did not report them. He denied knowledge of improper benefits to players until confronted by investigators with emails that showed he had known since April 2010.
After several NCAA violations by him or his players over the years, Tressel's problems deepened after learning six Ohio State players -- including star quarterback Terrelle Pryor -- were found to have received cash or discounted tattoos. All were permitted by the NCAA to play in the Buckeyes' 31-26 victory over Arkansas in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, with their suspensions to begin with the first game of the 2011 season.
“ During the course of an investigation, the university and the NCAA work jointly to review any new allegations that come to light, and will continue to do so until the conclusion of the investigation.
” -- Ohio State AD Gene Smith, in response to the release of Monday's SI article
After the team returned from New Orleans, Ohio State officials began preparing an appeal of the players' sanctions. It was then that investigators found that Tressel had learned in April 2010 about the players' involvement with the federally-investigated parlor owner, Edward Rife.
A local attorney and former Ohio State walk-on player, Christopher Cicero, had sent Tressel emails detailing the improper benefits. Tressel and Cicero traded a dozen emails on the subject.
Tressel had signed an NCAA compliance form in September 2010 saying he had no knowledge of any wrongdoing by athletes. His contract, in addition to NCAA rules, specified that he had to tell his superiors or compliance department about any potential NCAA rules violations. Yet he did not tell anyone, except to forward emails to Ted Sarniak, reportedly a "mentor" for Pryor back in his hometown of Jeannette, Pa.
Also on Monday, The Columbus Dispatch reported that Pryor is the subject of a "significant" inquiry by the NCAA and Ohio State regarding cars and other improper benefits he may have received.
Later Monday, Sports Illustrated reported that at least 28 players -- 22 more than the university has acknowledged -- were involved in exchanging memorabilia for services as far back as 2002, Tressel's second season at Ohio State.
SI reported that nine current players -- defensive back C.J. Barnett, linebacker Dorian Bell, running back Jaamal Berry, running back Bo DeLande, defensive back Zach Domicone, linebacker Storm Klein, linebacker Etienne Sabino, defensive tackle John Simon and defensive end Nathan Williams -- and nine others beyond Pryor and the others already banned were involved at the Dudley'z or Fine Line Ink tattoo parlors. A tattoo artist told SI the memorabilia-for-tattoos exchange has gone on since 2002.
After the article's publication, athletic director Smith issued a statement.
"During the course of an investigation, the university and the NCAA work jointly to review any new allegations that come to light, and will continue to do so until the conclusion of the investigation," he said. "You should rest assured that these new allegations will be evaluated in exactly this manner. Beyond that, we will have no further comment."
Tressel's History Reveals Much
Jim Tressel's resignation won't come as a surprise to many who have followed his career. Indeed, the story of a coach's behind-the-scenes struggle has been more than two decades in the making:• Youngstown roots strong but soiled
• A father's take: 'You're a liar'
• Clarett: My side of the story
• Former players react to resignation
The 58-year-old Tressel had a record of 106-22-0 at Ohio State. He led the Buckeyes to eight Bowl Championship Series games in his 10 years. Combined with a 135-57-2 record in 15 years at Youngstown State, where he won four Division I-AA national championships, Tressel's career mark was 241-79-2.
"Coach Jim Tressel has made positive contributions to Ohio State and its student athletes during his tenure," Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said in a statement. "He has also acknowledged making a serious mistake and his resignation today is an indication that serious mistakes have serious consequences."
With speculation swirling that Urban Meyer would be an apt replacement, the former Florida coach, who works as a college football analyst for ESPN, said he wasn't interested.
"I am committed to ESPN and will not pursue any coaching opportunities this fall," Meyer said in a statement. "I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the people at ESPN this spring and remain very excited about my role with the network this fall.
"Jim Tressel has been a respected friend and colleague for a long time. I wish Jim and his family the very best now and in the future."
Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, whose Huskers are moving from the Big 12 to the Big Ten this season, commended Tressel.
"Jim Tressel is an outstanding football coach and a good man," Pelini said in a statement. "I've followed and respected his career since his days at Youngstown State, and through his tremendous success at Ohio State the past decade. He will be missed in college football."
The author of two books about faith and integrity, Tressel remains a scapegoat to many and a hypocrite to others. Even though he has many backers, a rising chorus of detractors had stepped forward during the ongoing NCAA investigation. There were also questions about his players and their friends and family members receiving special deals on used cars from two Columbus dealers.
But at one time his image was that of an honest, religious man who never said or did anything without thinking it through first. His nickname was "The Senator" for never having a hair out of place, praising opponents and seldom giving a clear answer to even the simplest of questions.
He'd gotten into trouble with the NCAA even before coming to Ohio State. He was the coach at Youngstown State when it received scholarship and recruiting restrictions for violations involving star quarterback Ray Isaac.
Still, Andy Geiger, then Ohio State's athletic director, favored Tressel over Minnesota coach and former Buckeyes linebacker Glen Mason for the job after John Cooper was fired in January 2001.
Cooper was let go ostensibly because the program lost direction, with several off-the-field problems. But perhaps more damaging was his 2-10-1 record against rival Michigan and 3-8 mark in bowl games.
Introduced at an Ohio State basketball game in 2001, Tressel vowed that fans would "be proud of our young people, in the classroom, in the community, and most especially in 310 days in Ann Arbor, Mich., on the football field."
Tressel's first team went just 7-5, losing the Outback Bowl, but upset 11th-ranked Michigan 26-20. But in his second year, with a team led by freshman tailback Maurice Clarett, the Buckeyes won everything.
They went 14-0, winning seven games by seven or fewer points. Ranked No. 2, they took on top-ranked Miami in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl for the BCS national title. In the second overtime, Clarett bulled over the middle for a touchdown and the Buckeyes held on to clinch their first national title since 1968. After the game, Tressel held aloft the crystal football.
The following summer, Clarett reported that a used car he had borrowed from a local dealer was broken into and that he had been hit by thousands of dollars in losses. Clarett's call to police came from Tressel's office. Clarett admitted he had made up the break-in call and later took a plea deal. But the NCAA began looking into Clarett and the team. Soon after, he was declared ineligible. He would never play another college game.
For NFL Draft, A Warehouse Of Talent
From 2002-11, with Jim Tressel as its coach, Ohio State boasted the most players drafted by NFL teams.Most players drafted: 2002-11
| 2002-11, Jim Tressel | Ohio State | 66 |
| 2002-10, Pete Carroll | USC | 60 |
| 2002-11, Mark Richt | Georgia | 57 |
| 2002-11, Bob Stoops | Oklahoma | 49 |
| 2002-11, Frank Beamer | Virginia Tech | 47 |
| 2002-07, Larry Coker | Miami | 47 |
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The Buckeyes went 11-2 in 2003 and followed that with an 8-4 mark in Tressel's fourth season. There had been a stream of players getting in trouble, but in December 2004 backup quarterback Troy Smith was suspended for the bowl game and the 2005 regular-season opener for accepting $500 from a booster.
Smith would go on to win the 2006 Heisman Trophy, leading the Buckeyes to a 12-0 record and a season-long No. 1 ranking. Despite being a heavy favorite in the national title game, the Buckeyes were routed by Florida 41-14.
A year later, Tressel guided the Buckeyes to the national championship game but lost again -- 38-24 to underdog LSU.
The Buckeyes were national contenders each of Tressel's next three seasons, with off-the-field problems mixed in. In 2005 offensive coordinator coach Jim Bollman was reprimanded for trying to arrange for a car and a loan for a recruit. Several other Buckeyes players were arrested on a variety of charges.
But the Buckeyes continued to win and play in rich bowl games. That was enough until Tressel's latest brush with the NCAA.
Ohio State announced in December, during what would be a 12-1 season and a top-five national ranking, that it would suggest to the NCAA that five players -- most of them top players, including Pryor -- would sit out the first five games of the 2011 season after they admitted they had received improper benefits.
They had sold memorabilia such as championship rings, uniforms and in the case of Pryor, a Fiesta Bowl sportsmanship award, for cash or discounted tattoos at a Columbus parlor. The violations came to light in a U.S. Attorney investigation into drug trafficking involving the owner of the parlor. When federal agents raided his home and the parlor, they came across hundreds of signed Ohio State items.
Michael Buckner, an attorney who specializes in NCAA litigation and has represented schools and coaches, said despite Tressel's resignation, the NCAA Committee on Infractions can still impose a penalty on him that would be attached to his next job, if he were ever to try to coach again, such as suspension or probation.
"They've been creative with their individual penalties on coaches lately," Buckner told ESPN's Joe Schad.
Moving forward, the NCAA may look favorably upon Ohio State's separation from Tressel, Buckner said.
"In this case, Ohio State may benefit because one of the causes of the infractions at Ohio State is no longer at Ohio State," Buckner said.
A 10-day investigation by Ohio State resulted in the self-imposed five-game penalties and the players repaying the money they gained to charity. The NCAA allowed the players to play in the Sugar Bowl, a move many observers said showed the national governing body put the money interests of the bowl ahead of routine punishment in other similar cases.
Tressel had learned that Pryor and wide receiver DeVier Posey were involved in the memorabilia deals when he received an email from Cicero, a former Ohio State walk-on and letterman in the 1980s, back in April 2010.
It was not until Ohio State began to work on an appeal of the five-game suspensions for the players that investigators came across the emails between Cicero and Tressel. The coach then finally admitted that he knew of what has been called Tattoo-Gate by local media.
"It's fair. He would have been fired anyway," said Aaron Kniffin, a car salesman who sold about 50 cars to Ohio State players and their relatives, transactions that are under scrutiny by a state agency and school officials. "You had a coach who knew about and covered up a scandal about memorabilia and tattoos."
At a March 8 news conference, Tressel said he chose not to tell anyone because he was bound by confidentiality to not expose the federal drug trafficking investigation. Yet he had forwarded the very first email he received from Cicero to Ted Sarniak, a businessman and "mentor" of Pryor. Sarniak knew about the NCAA violations -- and of Tressel's coverup -- for almost nine months before Smith and Gee found out.
"As I think back to what I could have done differently ... I've learned that I probably needed to go to the top legal counsel person at the university and get some help," Tressel said.
He said he hadn't given a thought to what the rest of the country thought of Ohio State's program and that he was not beating himself up over the violation.
"I don't think less of myself at this moment," he said. "I felt at the time as if I was doing the right thing for the safety of young people."
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Cassidy Clears Up Murder Rumors And Spits A New Freestyle
Last week rapper Cassidy was arrested and the initial reports was that he was facing murder charges. Well the Philly rapper is now out of jail and last night the rapper sat down with DJ Cosmic Kev and cleared the rumors up saying there were never any murder charges. Oh yeah, and spit some killer bars too.
Cassidy explained on the radio that he was on probation from the aggravated assault charges that he caught six or seven years ago. The “I’m A Hustla” MC missed an appointment with his P.O. and a warrant was automatically issued for his arrest.
“I’m still on probation from the situation I dealt with about six, seven years ago,” he told Cosmic Kev. The fact that Cass’ warrant was issued in Philly and he was staying in New Jersey made matters worse. “That’s why the police bought the whole SWAT team.”
The rapper was arrested at a convenience store and shipped to Bergen County Jail Annex. Because of the previous murder charges that Cassidy faced in 2005 he was considered armed and dangerous, however many media outlets began to report that the Swizz Beatz protege was facing new murder charges. Cassidy explained to Kev that all he was wanted for was the probation violation and admitted that even he was confused by the whole ordeal.
“I wasn’t even sure what I was charged with. they bringing the whole SWAT team out, they talkin’ about I’m on maximum security, I’m armed and dangerous,” he said. “I didn’t even know what I was goin’ down for.
“I was confused and if I know if I was confused the people in the streets were definitely confused.”
After clearing up the confusion, Cassidy did what he did best and spit murderous bars.
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/en/play/s/edab0e4-298677/
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