March 2014 - Football Wiretap

Raiders Interested In Renewing Pursuit Of Jon Gruden

Nov 1, 2014 4:47 PM

Mark Davis may contact Jon Gruden about rejoining the Oakland Raiders as head coach.

"I don't know," Davis said. "He may reach out to me, I may reach out to him. I may reach out to anybody. I'm not going to talk about future coaches."

 

Davis has previously pursued Gruden, according to Jason La Canfora. Gruden has been offered substantial money and power.

Gruden's primary issues are in regards to the Raiders' stadium plans, how they compete financially and what would be the new front office structure.

Jason La Canfora/CBS Sports

Tags: Las Vegas Raiders, Misc Rumor

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Study Finds 76 Of 79 Deceased NFL Players With Brain Damage

Oct 1, 2014 10:14 PM

New data from the nation’s largest brain bank focused on traumatic brain injury has found evidence of a degenerative brain disease in 76 of the 79 former NFL players it’s examined.

The findings represent a more than twofold increase in the number of cases of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, that have been reported by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ brain repository in Bedford, Mass.

Players represented in the data represent a skewed population.

Nonetheless, Dr. Ann McKee, the director of the brain bank, believes the findings suggest a clear link between football and traumatic brain injury.

“Obviously this high percentage of living individuals is not suffering from CTE,” said McKee, a neuropathologist who directs the brain bank as part of a collaboration between the VA and Boston University’s CTE Center. But “playing football, and the higher the level you play football and the longer you play football, the higher your risk.”

An NFL spokesman did not respond to several requests for comment.

Jason M. Breslow/PBS

Tags: Legal

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Raiders Name Tony Sparano Interim Head Coach

Oct 5, 2014 10:47 AM

The Oakland Raiders have named Tony Sparano as interim head coach.

Sparano had served as the Raiders' offensive line coach.

Dnnis Allen was fired this week.

ESPN

Tags: Las Vegas Raiders, Misc Rumor

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Raiders Fire Dennis Allen

Oct 21, 2014 5:02 PM

The Oakland Raiders have fired head coach Dennis Allen, the team announced Monday night.

Allen was 8-28 as Oakland's coach.

Allen was fired after the Raiders, who retooled their roster this offseason, started 0-4.

An announcement on the interim coach will come Tuesday.

ESPN

Tags: Las Vegas Raiders, Misc Rumor

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LaRon Landry Suspended Four Games For PED Violation

Dec 1, 2014 2:57 PM

LaRon Landry has been suspended for four games for a violation of the NFL's performance enhancing drugs policy.

Landry is the Indianapolis Colts' starting safety.

The Colts signed Dewey McDonald from their practice squad in a related move.

Marc Sessler/NFL.com

Tags: Indianapolis Colts, Suspension

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Jovan Belcher's Brain Showed Signs Of Pervasive Brain Damage

Nov 25, 2014 6:40 AM

Jovan Belcher showed signs of pervasive brain damage like that found in other deceased NFL players, according to a neuropathologist.

Belcher shot and killed his girlfriend in 2012 before committing suicide.

In a report obtained by "Outside the Lines," Dr. Piotr Kozlowski writes that he detected neurofibrillary tangles of tau protein, which is identified with chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The tangles were distributed throughout Belcher's hippocampus, an area of the brain involved with memory, learning and emotion.

Dozens of former NFL players have been diagnosed posthumously with CTE, a neurodegenerative disease linked to dementia, memory loss and depression. The disease, researchers say, is triggered by repeated head trauma.

Belcher's body was exhumed one year after his death, and his brain was examined two weeks later.

If it can be shown that Belcher did have CTE, Belcher's daughter and mother, together, would be eligible for up to $4 million under the proposed concussion settlement between the NFL and former players.

Steve Delsohn/ESPN

Tags: Kansas City Chiefs, Injury, Legal

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Morris Claiborne Out For Season With Torn Patellar Tendon

Sep 30, 2014 9:47 PM

Morris Claiborne's season has ended because he tore a patellar tendon in his left knee.

Claiborne suffered the noncontact injury on a third-and-3 play with 5:52 left in the first quarter. He did not return to the game, and owner and general manager Jerry Jones said initial fears were a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Claiborne walked out of the Dallas Cowboys' practice facility last week when informed that he'd lost his starting job to Orlando Scandrick.

Todd Archer/ESPN

Tags: Dallas Cowboys, Injury

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Bills Replace Manuel With Orton As Starting QB

Oct 21, 2014 5:02 PM

The Buffalo Bills have replaced EJ Manuel with Kyle Orton as starting quarterback.

The Bills signed Orton shortly before the start of the season.

Manuel is 76 for 131 for 838 yards, five touchdowns, three interceptions and a fumble. Manuel has a 19.8 QBR.

RealGM Staff Report

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Jonathan Dwyer Charged With Nine Counts

Oct 21, 2014 5:02 PM

Jonathan Dwyer has been formally charged with assaulting his wife in two arguments in July at their Phoenix apartment.

An indictment publicly released late Friday charges Dwyer with felony aggravated assault and eight misdemeanors.

Dwyer allegedly broke his wife's nose during a July 21 argument and engaged in a dispute the following day in which he punched his wife and threw a shoe at his 17-month-old son, who wasn't injured.

AP

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Suspension

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Jim Harbaugh Disputes Notion Of Players Wanting Him Out

Oct 21, 2014 5:02 PM

Some players on the San Francisco 49ers would like Jim Harbaugh to be replaced as head coach, according to Deion Sanders.

"They want him out. They're not on the same page," Sanders said. "I really want to know if they're really playing for the head coach. I got a question with that. Are you really down with your head coach, San Francisco 49ers? Because the way it looks and what I'm hearing, you're really not down for your head coach. And that's a problem.

"They really got some problems that we hear rumblings. We all know people inside locker rooms."

Harbaugh was asked about those comments during his Monday press conference.

"Personally, I think that's a bunch of crap," said Harbaugh.

Sanders didn't specify which players he spoke to, but he was involved with Michael Crabtree early in his career.

Ian Rapoport also reported that grumblings about Harbaugh are getting "louder and louder" because he treats his players like "children."

Gregg Rosenthal/NFL.com

Tags: San Francisco 49ers, Misc Rumor

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49ers Return To Old Identity In Week 4
The 49ers returned to their roots and emphasized the run in their Week 4 win

Paul Gutierrez/ESPN

LeSean McCoy 'Embarrassed' By Week 4 Performance
LeSean McCoy continued his slow start to the 2014 season, rushing 17 times for just 10 yards in the Eagles' 26-21 loss in Week 4 to the 49ers.

Phil Sheridan/ESPN

AP Writer Deletes Report Of Raiders Firing Dennis Allen
The Raiders are 0-4 heading into their bye week.

Terry Collins/AP

Ndamukong Suh Likely To Leave Lions In Offseason
Ndamukong Suh has told people in the past that he would love to play in New York.

Adam Schefter/ESPN

49ers Want To Be More Fluid On Offense
The 49ers gave Frank Gore just one carry in the entire second half.

Paul Gutierrez/ESPN

Joe McKnight Ruptures Achilles
Joe McKnight has suffered a ruptured Achilles during a Thursday practice.

Matt Gitlin/CBS Sports

NFL Finds No Evidence They Were Given Tape
The NFL on Friday said it had no evidence the Ray Rice elevator tape was ever sent to its offices or received by them, or that a call was made by a woman, from league lines, confirming delivery of the

ESPN

Vernon Davis Originally Told He's Miss Week 4 But Could Still Play
Vernon Davis missed Week 3 with a deltoid ligament injury in his left ankle.

Paul Gutierrez/ESPN

Arian Foster Remains Game-Time Decision For Week 3
Arian Foster rushed 55 times for 241 yards in the first two weeks of the season.

Tania Ganguli/ESPN

Calvin Johnson Returns To Practice
Calvin Johnson did a full complement of work during the team's individual workouts.

Michael Rothstein/ESPN

Law Enforcement Official Sent Tape To NFL Security Chief
A law enforcement official tells the Associated Press that he sent video of Ray Rice to the attention of NFL security chief Jeffrey Miller.

Rob Maadi/AP

Vikings Want To Get More Touches For Cordarrelle Patterson

Josh Alper/Pro Football Talk

Demaryius Thomas Acknowledges Slow Start To 2014
Demaryius Thomas has already dropped four passes this season.

Jeff Legwold/ESPN

Ray Rice Appeal Likely Delayed Until After Mueller Investigation
Ray Rice's appeal will likely be postponed until after Robert Mueller completes his investigation into the NFL's pursuit and handling of evidence in his domestic violence incident.

Ian Rapoport/NFL.com

Brees Criticizes NFL's 'Unilateral' System Of Issuing Punishment
Drew Brees voiced criticism of Roger Goodell's unilateral powers on disciplinary issues.

Mike Triplett/ESPN

Cousins: Washington Remains Griffin's Team
Kirk Cousins has been impressive filling in for Robert Griffin III and clearly wants the starting quarterback job for Washington.

John Kelm/ESPN

McCoy Doesn't Believe He's Struggling In 2014
LeSean McCoy has just 175 yards on 60 rushes this season after finishing 2013 with 1,607 yards.

Andy Jasner/ESPN

Chip Kelly, Greg Roman Shared Ideas In 2011, 2012
Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman competed against Chip Kelly while they were in the Pac-12 and again in the NFL.

Matt Maiocco/Comcast

Matt Cassel Done For Season With Broken Bones In Foot
Matt Cassel has been played on injured reserve after sustaining "several fractured bones" in his foot in Week 3.

Marc Sessler/NFL.com

Tomlinson: Le'Veon Bell Has Become NFL's Best Running Back
Le'Veon Bell leads all NFL players with 461 yards from scrimmage through the first three weeks of the season.

Chris Wesseling/NFL.com