March 2013 - Football Wiretap

Andrew Luck Hopeful Gay NFL Player Would Be Supported

Nov 28, 2014 3:20 AM

Andrew Luck expressed support for gay football players, trying to foster an environment that would make them feel comfortable to be open with their sexuality.

"I hope if someone's thinking about (coming out), that if they do come out as gay and it makes them happy and it makes their life easier, then I think they should do it," Luck said.

"It's the 21st century, and I know I would have absolutely no problem with it," he said. "I hope no one would treat him any differently than any straight player, no special treatment -- he's just another guy."

CNN

Tags: Indianapolis Colts

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Lattimore Signs Four-Year Deal With 49ers

Sep 2, 2014 7:28 AM

Marcus Lattimore has signed a four-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers.

Lattimore was considered a steal for the 49ers in the fourth round, but he is still recovering from three torn ligaments and a dislocated right knee.

"I just want to train as hard as I can," Lattimore said. "But I understand why they want me to slow down."

Lattimore said that being around Frank Gore is inspiring as he overcame major knee surgeries in college.

"It was great to finally meet him in person," Lattimore said. "He's been wonderful to me."

Chris Wesseling/NFL.com

Tags: San Francisco 49ers, Misc Rumor, Signing

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Evan Rodriguez Arrested For 2nd Time In Offseason

Oct 31, 2014 3:44 PM

Evan Rodriguez, tight end for the Chicago Bears, has been arrested for the second time this offseason.

Rodrgiuez was charged with driving under the influence at 3:30 AM on Friday.

Rodriguez was also arrested in Miami Beach, Fla., on March 21 for resisting an officer without violence and disorderly intoxication after a car in which he was a passenger was involved in a traffic incident.

Rodriguez played 12 games as a rookie last season.

Michael C. Wright/ESPN

Tags: Chicago Bears, Legal

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Patriots Will Have Critical Decision To Make On Gronkowski In 2015

Nov 28, 2014 12:17 AM

A string of injury issues has put into question the longevity of Rob Gronkowski's career.

Gronkowski has posted several of the best seasons in NFL history at the tight end position, but the 24-year-old has had multiple surgeries on his forearm and now will undergo back surgery. Gronkowski missed his senior year in college after a major back injury.

The New England Patriots signed Gronkowski to a six-year, $53 million extension in 2012.

The Patriots will have a decision to make on the final day of the 2015 league year when they have a $10 million option bonus. If New England doesn't pick up the bonus, the remainder of his contract would be voided.

James Walker/ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots, Misc Rumor

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Saints Have Highest 2014 Cap Commitment In NFL

Sep 2, 2014 7:27 AM

The New Orleans Saints have $143.4 million committed to the salary cap for the 2014 season, which leads the NFL.

The 2014 cap is expected to be slightly more than $120 million, giving Mickey Loomis another offseason in which he will have to creatively reduce the Saints' cap issues.

The Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions are the only other teams with more than $130 million committed to the cap for 2014.

Pat Yasinskas/ESPN

Tags: New Orleans Saints, IQ, Misc Rumor

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NFL Offered Help To Titus Young 18 Months Ago

Oct 31, 2014 8:39 AM

Titus Young was offered help by the NFL nearly 18 months before he was arrested three times in one week.

Troy Vincent, the NFL's director of player engagement, said a member of Young's camp phoned the NFL last year expressing concern about his well being.

"It was someone very, very close to him who was just concerned – really concerned," Vincent told Yahoo! Sports by phone on Tuesday. "Once we got the call, we sent someone out to meet with him."

Vincent said they reached out to Young several times.

"We were told he was not interested in support," Vincent said. "We went to people very close to his center of influence, to reach out to see how we can support him. The response was of someone who is not open arms to being supported."

The Detroit Lions released Young after an offseason fight with Louis Delmas.

Young also had difficulties with several members of the Lions' coaching staff.

Vincent said he still wishes to help Young, who is currently in jail in Orange County and faces up to 10 year in prison on 11 counts of burglary. 

Vincent called situations like this "our greatest challenge."

Eric Adelson/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Legal, Misc Rumor

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Tebow's Camp Privately Admitting NFL Career Could Be Over

Oct 31, 2014 1:30 PM

Tim Tebow remains unsigned and members of his camp are privately admitting that his career in the NFL may be over.

Tebow led the Denver Broncos to a playoff win during the 2011 NFL season, but was traded to the New York Jets when the team acquired Peyton Manning.

Tebow was cut by the Jets in April and no team appears willing to gamble on his questionable abilities at quarterback combined with the media circus that follows his every move as one of the most polarizing players in recent memory. But Tebow's abilities as a leader and a quality teammate are unquestioned.

Tebow has struggled badly with the mental side of the game, according to one source. Tebow scored below average on his Wonderlic test and is more of a kinesthetic learner.

Tebow has been offered a backup role in the Canadian Football League, though he could presumably start in the Arena Football League.

"There's no going halfway with Tebow anymore," said Tony Dungy. "You either gotta sell out and give him the keys to your team or stay away. Because, unfortunately, there's too much attention for him to be a regular, developing backup like everyone else."

David Fleming/ESPN

Tags: Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Griffin Using Rehab Process As Time To Increase Study Of Game

Jul 20, 2014 6:30 AM

Robert Griffin III is limited in his physical activity due to his offseason knee surgery, giving him time to improve his mental approach to the game.

Griffin was unable to to be as mobile as he typically is during the final two games of the regular season and the Washington Redskins' playoff game, forcing him to rely on his abilities to read coverages and move through his pass progressions.

“A lot of film work, watching the film – alone and with the coaches, within the rules of the CBA,” Griffin said. “That part of it helps, and I was talking to the guys about [it] toward the end of last year, being slowed down kind of slowed the game down for me, because I had to slow down, and it made me have to get through all of my reads. That’s what I’m getting forward to doing this upcoming season: getting through every single option that I need to get through, and while at the same time, being able to use my legs as a weapon.”

Mike Jones/Washington Post

Tags: Washington Football Team, IQ

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Steve Smith Announces Retirement From NFL

Sep 24, 2014 1:50 PM

Steve Smith is retiring from the NFL after dealing with ongoing knee issues.

Smith was a second round pick by the New York Giants in 2007 and caught 245 balls for 2,641 yards and 12 touchdowns during 64 career NFL games.

"I've been blessed to play the game that I love at the highest level for the past six years. I will always cherish my time with the New York Giants and our Super Bowl victory in 2007," Smith said in a statement through the Bucs.

"This was not an easy decision," Smith added, "but it's the right decision for me at this time."

Smith played for the St. Louis Rams last season and was most recently with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

AP

Tags: New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Misc Rumor

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Prank Callers Of Nix-Dominik Face Federal Charges, Potential Jail Time

Oct 31, 2014 10:36 AM

A March prank call of former Buffalo Bills' general manager Buddy Nix and his counterpart with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Mark Dominik, has become a more serious situation.

Two 20-year-olds from Plymouth, Massachusetts have received federal charges of intentionally intercepting a wire communication and making a telephone call without disclosing their identity with the intent to annoy or harass the person at the called number.

The penalty carries a maximum of five years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

Prosecutors said Barber and Kaiser then sold the unauthorized recording to Deadspin.

Dale Anderson/Buffalo News

Tags: Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Legal

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D.J. Hayden Released From Hospital
D.J. Hayden was released from the hospital on Wednesday following surgery to remove scar tissue as a result of last November's heart surgery.

Levi Damien/Silver and Black Pride

Adrian Peterson Close To 100 Percent Recovered From Sports Hernia
Adrian Peterson practiced on Wednesday just three months after undergoing surgery for a sports hernia.

ESPN

Arian Foster To Sit Until Training Camp With Strained Calf
Arian Foster was on crutches on Wednesday, one day after he suffered the injury on the first play of team drills.

ESPN

Quentin Jammer Signs With Broncos
Quentin Jammer started 161 games for the Chargers.

Lindsay H. Jones/USA Today

Gronkowski To Undergo Back Surgery
Rob Gronkowski will need back surgery, which was expected and tentatively is planned for mid-June.

Albert Breer/NFL.com

Rodgers, Wilson, Peyton Rank As NFL's Best QBs Under Pressure
Pro Football Focus studied how quarterbacks performed when under pressure over the past five seasons.

Steve Palazzolo/Pro Football Focus

Vernon Davis Improving Bond With Kaepernick
Vernon Davis caught six passes in Colin Kaepernick's debut as starter against the Bears, but only had seven receptions over the next seven games.

Cam Inman/Oakland Tribune

JaMarcus Russell Receiving 'Significant' NFL Interest
JaMarcus Russell also is "more than open" to signing with a team in the CFL.

Ian Rapoport/NFL.com

Browns To Hire Jim Brown
James Brown had tumultuous relationship with former owner Randy Lerner.

Gregg Rosenthal/NFL.com

49ers Give Nate Montana Another Opportunity
Nate Montana is former backup at Pasadena City College, Notre Dama and the University of Montana.

Gregg Rosenthal/NFL.com

Seahawks Call Team Meeting To Discuss PED Issue
The Seahawks have accounted for 10 percent of the NFL's 50 PED suspensions since 2010.

John Breech/CBS Sports

Falcons Must Wait Until June 1 To Sign Seymour
The Falcons will have $4.5 million in cap space cleared this week due to how they designated the release of Tyson Clabo for June 1.

Pat Yasinskas/ESPN

LeBron Offered Quarterback Tutoring From Theismann
Joe Theismann is interested in tutoring LeBron James how to play quarterback.

Chris Tomasson/FoxSports

Agent: Ravens Erred In Not Agreeing To Earlier Flacco Deal
Due to the size of Joe Flacco's contract, the Ravens were unable to sign several of their key players in the offseason.

Jim Corbett/USA Today

NFLPA Investigating Geno Smith's Recruitment To Jay-Z's Agency
Geno Smith posted a picture of Jay-Z and himself during his re-recruitment process.

Albert Breer/NFL.com

QB Everett Golson Out At Notre Dame
Starting QB Everett Golson is no longer enrolled at Notre Dame, the university confirmed to ESPN.com on Saturday night.

ESPN.com

Flacco Confident In O-Line Amid Ravens' Big Changes
While the Ravens have undergone considerable change following their Super Bowl win, Joe Flacco's offensive line has remained the same with the exception of the retired Matt Birk.

Marc Sessler/NFL.com

Saints Currently $5.1M Under Cap Following Harper's Restructure
The Saints were just $1.6 million below the cap before Roman Harper's cap number dropped from $7.1 million to $3.66 million for 2013.

Nakia/Hogan/Times-Picayune

Edelman Reworks Contract With Patriots
Julian Edelman reinjured his right foot and has been a limited participant in the team's offseason program.

Peter Berkes/SB Nation

Favre Settles Lawsuit With Former Jets' Massage Therapists
Brett Favre harassed two massage therapists of the Jets, eventually leading to their dismissal.

AP