Detroit Lions FB James Bryant May Pack a Punch, Says Former Lions FB Cory Schlesinger (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 21:04:00 PDT)
COMMENTARY| James Bryant's usage, or potential usage, in the 2012 NFL season is one of the most interesting topics of the Detroit Lions' offseason.

NFL roundup: Giants' Nicks suffers broken foot (The SportsXchange)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 16:20:24 PDT)
New York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during Wednesday morning's organized team activity.

Sanchez sharp, Tebow tosses 2 INTs in Jets' OTAs (The Associated Press)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 16:10:34 PDT)
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) Mark Sanchez smiled for a split-second when a reporter labeled him as the most scrutinized guy in the New York Jets' locker room.

Saints' defense learning Spagnuolo's way (The Associated Press)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 15:08:13 PDT)
METAIRIE, La. (AP) The all-out blitzing the Saints unleashed during recent seasons appears to be a thing of the past under new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

Giants' Nicks breaks foot, ruled out for three months
(Thu, 24 May 2012 14:59:30 PDT)
(Reuters) - Powerful New York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks was expected to be sidelined for three months after breaking his right foot in practice, the National Football League team said on Thursday. Nicks fractured the fifth metatarsal while performing individual drills during an organized team activity workout earlier on Thursday. The 24-year-old was scheduled to have surgery on Friday to have a screw inserted into the broken bone with an expected recovery time of 12 weeks, the team said on their website. ...

Hakeem Nicks breaks right foot at Giants OTA (The Associated Press)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 13:33:39 PDT)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) New York Giants receiver Hakeem Nicks is expected to be sidelined up to three months after breaking his right foot at a team organized activity early Thursday.

Vegas has spoken, NFL season win totals are live (National Football Post)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 13:06:06 PDT)
Four picks to keep an eye on this summer as we approach the start of the 2012 season.

Hakeem Nicks out 12 weeks with broken foot (National Football Post)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 12:51:05 PDT)
Giants WR could miss start of training camp

Giants: Victory parade ends with White House trip (The SportsXchange)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 11:10:09 PDT)
It's been a good run for the Giants. The Super Bowl champions received their championship rings and can add a visit the White House to their summer itinerary.

Lawrence Taylor was told his Super Bowl ring was bought by Charlie Sheen (Shutdown Corner)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 10:17:31 PDT)
Lawrence Taylor's Super Bowl ring will hardly know it switched owners. According to Jay Glazer, the Hall of Fame linebacker was told that a fellow aficionado of all things illicit, Charlie Sheen, was the buyer of his Super Bowl XXV ring that recently sold for more than $230,000 at auction. It's not known whether Taylor's information is accurate but, man, we hope it is. Taylor's agent, Mark Lepster, confirmed to Glazer that LT was told Sheen bought the ring. They are still trying to confirm this poetic purchase. It's like Phil Spector buying O.J.'s Heisman. The actor has an extensive sports memorabilia collection that includes Babe Ruth's 1927 World Series ring and the contract that sold the baseball great from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees. He also owned the infamous Bill Buckner ball. Taylor's son, TJ, put the ring up for auction unbeknownst to his father . The troubled former star said he had no problem with the decision. [Y! Sports Fantasy Minute: NFL veteran tight ends in trouble ] Other popular content on the Yahoo! network: • New York Giants receive jewel-encrusted Super Bowl XLVI rings • Bobblehead blunder turns Phillies' Roy Halladay into a lefty • Y! News video: Bobsledder gives up Olympic dream to follow another

Alex Smith joins the burgeoning ‘stats are for losers’ movement (Shutdown Corner)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 07:03:48 PDT)
Add the voice of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith to those decrying the increasing use of stats to evaluate football performance. Usually, it's former head coaches unhappy about the numbers (used, as they sometimes are, to help describe why said former head coaches lost their jobs), but in Smith's case, he's tired of the stats despite his 2011 season, in which he finally played with some of the efficiency and consistency expected of the first overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft. When asked before the 49ers' divisional playoff win over the New Orleans Saints if he might someday throw for more yards in a season than Drew Brees, or some of the NFL's other more high-octane quarterbacks, Smith was quite defiant. "I really don't care," Smith said. "I'm looking to outscore him. He can throw for as many yards as he wants." So there! The 49ers did indeed outscore the Saints on their way to a close NFC championship loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants, and in the 2012 season, more will certainly be expected of Smith. He played the caretaker role for Jim Harbaugh in 2011, throwing just five interceptions and helping San Francisco's unflashy-but-effective offense as the 49ers shocked the league with a 13-3 record. He also had career highs in pass attempts (445), completions, (273), passing yards (3,144), and his second-highest touchdown total (17). Now, Smith is being asked if he's ready to bust out with bigger numbers ... and the answer is, he really doesn't care. "I could absolutely care less on yards per game," Smith told Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle on Wednesday . "I think that is a totally overblown stat because if you're losing games in the second half, guess what, you're like the Carolina Panthers and you're going no-huddle the entire second half. Yeah, Cam Newton threw for a lot of 300-yard games. That's great. You're not winning, though." Well, hold on there, Huckleberry! Cam Newton smashed many of the NFL's rookie passing records in 2011, and I would argue that he did do a lot of winning -- he took the worst team in the league and helped pull it to a six-win season. Now, the Panthers are rightfully seen as a fringe playoff contender, and Newton is the primary reason. In fact, it could be argued that Newton did everything Smith could not in 2005 -- take a horrible team to the next level with his own play as the first pick in the draft. It's a bit easier for Smith to say these things now, buttressed as he is by a dynamic rushing attack and supported by one of the NFL's best defenses. Joe Flacco has tried that whole "I'm just winning" thing as well, but he's very much in Smith's camp -- aided severely by his defense and running game. Total yards may not matter, but can Smith become the kind of quarterback capable of transcending the average and putting a team on his back? That's the real question for any quarterback looking to find that mysterious "elite." "We're up in the third and fourth quarter and naturally you're going to be in four-minute offense," Smith said of the wisdom behind the 49ers' more conservative game plan. "You're going to be grinding it out. You're going to be running the ball a lot more and you're not going to have as many 300-yard passing games."

Wednesday's Sports in Brief (The Associated Press)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 04:08:45 PDT)
The players union claimed Wednesday that the NFL imposed a secret salary cap during the uncapped 2010 season that cost the players at least $1 billion.

49ers QB Alex Smith facing higher expectations (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 18:24:17 PDT)
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) Alex Smith looked one way, then another, finding open receivers with such ease that the toughest part might've been deciding whose turn it was in the rotation.

NFL roundup: Players union files suit, accuses owners of collusion (The SportsXchange)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 16:30:14 PDT)
The NFL Players Association filed a lawsuit on Wednesday that accused NFL owners and the league of collusion during the 2010 NFL season.

Manning, Giants focused as they return to field (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 15:42:09 PDT)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) As far as Eli Manning is concerned, the fulfillment of teammate Justin Tuck's claim that the New York Giants can turn into an NFL dynasty began Wednesday with the first organized team activity.

Ex-Eagle, Giant admits failing to file tax returns (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 15:39:19 PDT)
CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) Federal prosecutors in New Jersey say a former New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles player has admitted he intentionally failed to file federal income tax returns for several years.

Bears agree to 1-year deal with DT Collins (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 14:32:49 PDT)
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) The Chicago Bears have agreed to a one-year contract with defensive tackle Nate Collins.

Ex-NFL player admits failing to file tax returns (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 14:16:21 PDT)
CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) Federal prosecutors in New Jersey say a former NFL player admitted that he intentionally failed to file federal income tax returns for several years.

Woodson preps for new 'title' for Packers (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 13:56:35 PDT)
MILWAUKEE (AP) There has been plenty of talk about whether Charles Woodson is going to move to safety for the Green Bay Packers.

Players union files collusion suit versus NFL
(Wed, 23 May 2012 11:08:22 PDT)
(Reuters) - The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) filed a federal lawsuit on Wednesday accusing the NFL and its owners of collusion to establish a secret salary cap during the 2010 season. According to the complaint, NFL teams operated with a $123 million salary cap in 2010 even though the season was played without a spending limit under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement that expired after the season. "When the rules are broken in a way that hurts the game, we have an obligation to act," NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith said in a statement. ...

NFLPA files collusion lawsuit (The SportsXchange)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 10:31:10 PDT)
The NFL Players Association filed a lawsuit on Wednesday that accused NFL owners and the league of collusion during the 2010 NFL season.

NFL players' union charges owners with collusion
(Wed, 23 May 2012 10:22:11 PDT)
The National Football League Players Association charged the league, its clubs and team owners with collusion during the 2010 season in a complaint filed on Wednesday.

NFLPA files collusion claim against NFL, claiming salary cap arrangement in uncapped year (Shutdown Corner)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 10:05:06 PDT)
The question we were asking all along when it came to the "spirit of the salary cap" penalties handed down to the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints was, of course, "How on earth can teams be in violation of salary cap rules when there is no salary cap in place?" Turns out, the NFL Players Association was asking the same question, and now, they will do so in court. On Wednesday morning, the NFLPA released this statement in part: The Class Counsel under the Reggie White settlement agreement and the NFL Players Association today filed a complaint, on behalf of the NFL players, charging the NFL, its clubs and their owners of collusion during the 2010 NFL season. The complaint details a conspiracy to violate the anti-collusion and anti-circumvention provisions in the White Settlement Agreement (SSA) by "imposing a secret $123 million per-Club salary cap for that uncapped 2010 season." The written claim is filed with the United States District Court of Minnesota, which oversees the SSA and alleges that the league and owners acted illegally and "solely by self-interest, unconstrained by their clear and unambiguous SSA obligations." The claim was filed just one day after Special Master Stephen Burbank dismissed the appeal filed by the Redskins and Cowboys. Clearly, the NFLPA had this one on a tripwire. The Cowboys and Redskins were the hardest-hit by the league; the Redskins were docked $36 million in salary cap room over two seasons, and the Cowboys $10 million, for the offloading of onerous player contracts during the uncapped year of 2011. At that time, there was no official rule regarding just how much salary and other player income a team could dump during that time, but as it turned out, the NFL had verbally warned all teams that any nebulous violation of the rules that could be perceived during a capped year would be dealt with severely. Of course, the uncapped year occurred during the lockout, after the old collective bargaining agreement ran out, and the salary cap with it. Until a new agreement could be struck, the NFL could not possibly send out written instructions for teams to avoid either offsetting or "overpaying" its players without providing the NFLPA with a boilerplate collusion case.  According the NFLPA, the penalties handed down, and the language used by the league and the Management Council, is enough to warrant the complaint. "When the rules are broken in a way that hurts the game, we have an obligation to act. We cannot stand by when we now know that the owners conspired to collude," said NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith. "Our union recently learned that there was a secret salary cap agreement in an uncapped year. The complaint today is our effort to fulfill our duty to every NFL player. They deserve to know, above all, the facts and the truth about this conspiracy," added NFLPA President Domonique Foxworth. ''The claims have absolutely no merit and we fully expect them to be dismissed,'' the NFL said in a statement. ''On multiple occasions, the players and their representatives specifically dismissed all claims, known or unknown, whether pending or not, regarding alleged violations of the 2006 CBA and the related settlement agreement. We continue to look forward to focusing on the future of the game rather than grievances of a prior era that have already been resolved.'' The complaint centers around one very damning quote from New York Giants owner John Mara, who also serves as the Chair of the NFL Management Council Executive Committee. When the penalties were handed down in March, Mara was asked about the reasoning. "What they did was in violation of the spirit of the salary cap," Mara said. "They attempted to take advantage of a one-year loophole … full well knowing there would be consequences."

2012 free-agent tracker, by position (Pro Football Weekly)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 09:19:34 PDT)
Updated May 23, 2012 @ 12:20 p.m. ET

Jerry Jones says Cowboys need to win now (The SportsXchange)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 08:41:34 PDT)
The Dallas Cowboys' window for contending is closing, and Jerry Jones sees it.

Report: Most NFL players would have no problem with an openly gay teammate (Shutdown Corner)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 07:27:34 PDT)
If football isn't the ultimate masculine/gladiator sport, it's certainly right up there. As a result of that factor, not to mention the perceived group-think of the locker room, meeting room and huddle, and supposed "caveman" mentality some believe it takes to play the game, there are some who would tell you that no openly gay player would be able to survive (literally or figuratively) in the NFL. But in a recent series of interviews with current and former NFL players , OutSports.com found that the perception is not reality. If the small group interviewed represent the majority, attitudes have definitely come around about any NFL player who would choose to come out. Former star defensive end Jevon Kearse, who once lived with an openly gay male cousin, told OutSports that as long as such a teammate did what was expected of him between the lines, the personal stuff wouldn't really matter -- and that was the overriding message from the players interviewed. "In the game of football, it's like a war out there," Kearse said. "Once you get out on the field, all that stuff is to the side. You're on my side. I played in the NFL for 11 years, I'm sure there were at least one or two guys along the line that were gay." Kearse's former teammate with the Tennessee Titans, running back Eddie George, said the same, and added that he didn't believe an openly gay teammate would have been ostracized on any of his teams. "I just don't care about that," George said. "If that's what you do, that's what you do. I don't hate you because of it or dislike you because of it. That's not my personal preference, but I respect your decision. I'm not going to like you less or not be your friend because of that." That tolerance goes back further than you think. Vince Lombardi, seen as the ultimate authority figure, and championed as a pillar of supposed "clean-cut" values for generations of football fans, had an openly gay brother, and often told his players that anyone who had a problem with the concept of homosexuality could not play for him. It was the same as any other kind of bias to the coach -- and in an era where he had to wait far longer than he should have for a head-coaching job because of his Italian heritage, Lombardi despised prejudice of any kind. No NFL player has ever made his homosexuality public while playing in the league, but the sheer odds tell us that just about every professional football player in at least the last two generations has had at least one gay teammate through his career. The sheer odds also tell us that there will be a wide variety of views on the subject on any roster. Former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan added his support to New York's same-sex-marriage legislation right about the time that former teammate David Tyree was telling an anti-homosexual publication that same-sex marriage would lead America to "anarchy." "How can marriage be marriage for thousands of years and now all the sudden because a minority, an influential minority, has a push or agenda ... and totally reshapes something that was not founded in our country," Tyree said. Strahan clearly disagreed. "I have plenty of gay friends, and I don't judge them. I want them to have all the same rights I have, and all the opportunities I have to be in a relationship, a great relationship, with the person that they're in love with." So, maybe the picture isn't as rosy as OutSports paints it. Former running back Ahman Green, who has a gay sister and brother , isn't so sure about the acceptance of a player who admitted his homosexuality while still playing in the league.

Tuesday's Sports in Brief (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 04:33:08 PDT)
ATLANTA (AP) The NFL made thigh and knee pads mandatory equipment for the 2013 season, a move that drew criticism from the players' union and some of the players.