Well, I guess it makes sense that the Cincinnati Bungles would yet again sign another nefarious jailbird to their roster. The past several years this team has been more of a half way house for the criminal element in the NFL than a legitimate franchise. I don’t see how Coach Marvin Lewis can continue to stand pat as his roster is filled with knuckleheads and ne’er do wells. Nor Carson Palmer for that matter, who deserves better and is legitimate top flight quarterback.

What a joke.

It seems the Cincinnati Bengals have room for one more “maverick” as notorious NFL problem player Adam “Pacman” Jones will soon be joining the team

It used to be a running “joke” around NFL circles that the Oakland Raiders and their patriarch Al Davis were the “Statue of Liberty” for NFL reclamation projects — Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.  In the past, Davis had been a master of picking-up cast-offs, usually players with “character” issues like former high motor pass rusher Lyle Alzado, and turning them into productive players on winning teams. 

Well anyone looking for the NFL’s new version of Father Flanagan’s Boys Town doesn’t have to look any further than the Cincinnati Bengals – noteworthy problem players on the team’s current roster include DE Frostee Rucker, WR Matt Jones, WR Antonio Bryant, WR Maurice Purify, DT Tank Johnson, DE Carlos Dunlap, and others.  However it seems that Bengals owner/GM Mike Brown and head coach Marvin Lewis are willing to take-on another “rap-sheet” player. 

As multiple sources are reporting that Cincinnati is very near to signing free agent cornerback and notorious NFL Bad Boy Adam “Pacman” Jones — suspended in the past for the entire 2007 season and part of the 2008 season (player misconduct policy) for numerous run-ins with the law including a much-publicized strip club shooting in Las Vegas.

Jones must have looked better in his recent audition than an earlier tryout in February, where it was reported that he was grossly out of shape.  Pacman will be trying to return to the NFL for the first time since the end of the 2008.  During the 2008 season, the NFL had suspended the former 2005 first round pick (6^th overall) from West Virginia again (4 games) after foolishness that included allegedly fighting a paid Cowboys’ security staff member in a hotel.

During his brief time with the Cowboys in 2008 — 9 games w/ 6 starts – Jones didn’t appear to still have the same burst and coverage skills that once made him an in-demand player despite his off-the-field problems.  So at age 26 and having missed almost two full years away from the field over the course of 5 years, that the 2009 AFC North champion Bengals are clearly Pacman’s last stop in the NFL. It will be interesting to see if the former Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys talented yet infamous corner can return to the dangerous player that he once was – in his second season for the Titans in 2006, he had 51 tackles, 12 pass deflections, 4 INTs – returned one for a touchdown — and 3 TD’s on punt returns.

I am figuring that the Bengals will use Jones in the nickel, dime, and on special teams as they already have talented corners Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph.  There are also rumors that the Bengals may try Pacman at free safety in competition with 2010 third-round pick Brandon Ghee and holdovers Tom Nelson and Chinedum Ndukwe (currently in the team’s doghouse) .  For his career, Jones’ numbers are 146 tackles, 4 INTs, 1 sack, over 2000 return yards and 4 TDs in 39 games played.

If the Bengals do sign Jones, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer – took Cincinnati’s defensive ranking from 21st to 4th in just one year – will be his new best and worst friend.  Zimmer, who has been in contact with former player Deion Sanders (Pacman’s friend), has made it abundantly clear that Jones is not coming in to start and that he will need to play with more discipline than he has shown in his career.

Though the Bengals have given second chances to multiple players, like the late Chris Henry, team chemistry is everything to Zimmer, Lewis, and Brown.  Zimmer recently said of the potential Pacman signing, “If we sign him…I’ll be on him at all times.”

So with Adam “Pacman” Jones soon to be entering the fold, I am wondering if the Bengals have any room left in their wacky locker-room for malcontent receiver Terrell “T.O” Owens, who is having trouble finding a job this offseason.

Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and Sports Journey Network , who is also an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

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A day or two ago, Adam (Pacman) Jones dropped a note to Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz, who once was his defensive coordinator in Tennessee.
“I texted him and just told him that I’m still available, I like what they did in the draft,” Jones said today in a telephone interview. “It was just a simple text message. And he was like, ‘Thanks. Keep your head up and keep the faith.’ We left it at that.”

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word

extirpate [ek-ster-peyt, ik-stur-peyt] v. used w/ obj. 1. to remove or destroy totally; do away with; exterminate 2. to pull up by or as if by the roots; root up: to extirpate an unwanted hair

birthday

Mary Wollstonecraft (1759), Samuel F. B. Morse (1791), Ulysses S. Grant (1822), Jack Klugman (1922), Casey Kasem (1932), Frank William Abagnale, Jr. (1948), Kate Pierson (1948), Ace Frehley (1951), Sheena Easton (1959)

standpoint

This past weekend, the NFL conducted its annual draft and it was all anyone could talk about. I didn’t really pay much attention. The only time I care about football is when it’s actually being played. To me, the draft seems to be just another reason for NFL fans, most of whom I regard as whiners, to bitch and moan, ask each other why their particular team took one guy and not another, failed to draft a player at one position and not another, and so on and so forth.

For the past several years the relationship between the NFL and its fans has fascinated me. Football enthusiasts are mostly fanatics, highly devoted folks who expect a lot from their chosen organization. Curiously, though, the same expectations do not extend to the individual athletes. And here’s why I think that’s so.

First and foremost, I’m a hockey fan. Training camp for the NHL begins at the end of each summer and the Stanley Cup Finals usually wrap up sometime in early summer of the next year. By comparison, NFL training camps start in early August and the Super Bowl is usually played the first week of February. In addition, football teams play once a week while hockey (and basketball and baseball) teams might play several times in the same amount of time. Bottom line, football fans feel an urgency, a need to do as much as they can with the little time afforded them. It’s the reason fall/winter Sunday afternoons and, to a slightly lesser extent, Monday nights have been bestowed with an almost venerable aura. There’s an almost obligatory sense to watch football when it’s on. You didn’t watch the game yesterday afternoon? Why not? You’d better have a bulletproof alibi.

The brevity of the NFL season also has an impact on its players. It provides them more time to pursue other interests with the massive amounts of cash they accumulate over the year. The majority of the athletes go home to their families, maybe investing in a hometown restaurant or contributing their time in a charitable fashion. But there are those who don’t make the best choices when it comes to how they spend their money and time in the offseason, getting in trouble with the law in a variety of ways. It seems you can’t turn on SportsCenter without seeing a new feature on some NFL knucklehead being brought up some kind of charges. Their actions are part bad decision making, part too much time and money on their hands. Someone’s bound to get into trouble.

When these stories come out, there’s always a heavy dose of public outrage by NFL fans and pundits. But it’s never sustained. The player always pays the fine or, less often, does the time and then it’s back to business as usual. An odd thing about the NFL is that, despite its massive fanbase, most of its teams flat-out suck, which means there’s always teams out there willing to take a chance on a skilled player. Even if that player beats his girlfriends, or fires guns at nightclubs, or recently completed yet another stint of drug rehab. When a team signs a guy like that, its fans, more concerned with a Super Bowl parade than a strong sense of morality, always jump on board.

In the weeks after Michael Vick was paroled, rumors surfaced about Dallas Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones tinkering with the idea of signing him. Every football fan in Philadelphia was laughing, shaking their heads and telling each other how perfect Vick would fit in with the rest of the criminals the Cowboys have gained a reputation for bringing aboard. Then the Eagles signed Vick. For a day or two, people seemed a little put off the organization would sign a convicted animal abuser. But within a week, no one was talking about dogs, but about another animal: the wildcat. As in the “Wildcat Offense” and how Vick would flourish in it. Nowadays, if you bring up the fact the guy used to beat dogs to death people roll their eyes and tell you to give it a rest. No wants to hear it. In essence, he’s been exonerated in the public eye because he puts on an Eagles’ uniform every Sunday (and the occasional Monday) for a few months out of the year.

And Vick’s not even a close to be the only one. He’s a member of a rather large club. Ray Lewis may have been acquitted of his murder charge but everyone knows he at least had something to with the deaths of those people. Baltimore Ravens fans don’t care. Adam “Pacman” Jones has a criminal record detailing a wide array of offenses. Detroit Lions fans won’t care if the team signs him. Ben Roethlisberger most definitely has a problem with sexually assaulting women, although he escaped formal charges. After he serves his upcoming six-game suspension and leads the team down the field for a touchdown, Pittsburgh Steelers fans won’t care. These are guys you wouldn’t want working in your office building, but if they’re playing football, fans will rationalize why it’s okay to forgive, and even cheer, for him.

Sometimes, guys wake up and take advantage of a second (or third) chance like Cris Carter. But, unfortunately, most of them will end up like Rae Carruth.

For the record, I don’t hold the NFL owners in any contempt for signing or retaining criminals. They’re running a business. In terms of dollars and cents, it makes sense for them to take the chances they do and, sometimes, as in the Roethlisberger situation, they have no other choice.

But what’s the fans excuse? How can the rationality of all this be explained? If these guys weren’t playing football, they’d be in jail and no one would give a rat’s ass what they were up to. Lucky for them, that’s not the case. They continue to get the love and respect of millions of people despite the fact, outside playing a game, they’ve done nothing to deserve it.

It’s comical and pathetic.

quotation

Whenever I hear people talking about liberal ideas, I am always astounded that men should love to fool themselves with empty sounds. An idea should never be liberal; it must be vigorous, positive, and without loose ends so that it may fulfill its divine mission and be productive. The proper place for liberality is in the realm of the emotions. ↔ Johann von Goethe

tune

I’ve shared this before but I’m going to do it again because, well, I do what I want. I’m of the opinion Chuck D is a pretty solid dude. I present Public Enemy‘s “Harder Than You Think.”

gallimaufry

→ I think Stephen Hawking might be watching Independence Day a little too much. And who can blame him? It’s a good movie mostly. But he may not be completely wrong here.

→ Sometimes something as simple as a sandwich can be a strong indicator of where we’re headed as a society. People, we’re driving in the wrong direction here.

→ My favorite show on ESPN? It’s SportsNation. I’m sure some of you out there now think a little less of me.

ESPN’s Jemele Hill thinks Goodell’s reaction – or lack thereof – to Roethlisberger, who is white, may be racially motivated.

While it would be easy to dismiss Hill’s reaction as “just playing the race card” we should examine all of the facts at hand, and try to understand if Hill has a valid point.

On March 5, 2010 Roethlisberger was accused of sexually assaulting a young woman in the bathroom of the Capital City bar located in Milledgeville, Georgia. The accuser later received treatment at a nearby hospital for head trauma after the alleged attack.

Roethlisberger claimed the woman had fallen and hit her head in the bathroom of the bar. Authorities initially requested that Roethlisberger submit a DNA test, but later withdrew the request. By all reports, the two-time NFL champion is cooperating with police.

In July of 2009, the Steeler quarterback faced similar accusations stemming from an incident in Lake Tahoe where a woman claimed he forced himself on her after inviting her up to his room. It later came out through a co-worker’s statement that the accuser bragged about having consensual sex with Roethlisberger. Further, the accuser allegedly claimed that she hoped that Roethlisberger had impregnated her.

While it is still too early to determine what happened with the Milledgeville incident, it does appear as though Roethlisberger is innocent of the Lake Tahoe allegations. However, two sexual assault accusations in less than a year is a troubling pattern for the face of one of the most storied franchises in the NFL.

Since accepting his role as commissioner in 2006, Roger Goodell has been a no-nonsense disciplinarian. After a series of public scandals involving NFL players, the new commissioner introduced a fresh personnel conduct policy in 2007.  According to this policy, the league’s commissioner could sanction any player whose conduct was deemed “detrimental” to the league. In other words, Goodell is not bound by the due process ideals that our legal system is based on. He can punish a player before he is convicted.

Jones was one of the first players to be suspended under the league’s new policy. The troubled cornerback had been arrested on numerous occasions for an assortment of reasons, but was never convicted at the time of his suspension. Goodell claimed that the reason for the suspension was that Jones brought embarrassment to his fellow players and damaged the reputation of the league.

Jones is black. Roethlisberger is white. Some, like Hill, are claiming that they are beginning to see a double standard.

Rest of the article can be found at: http://www.opposingviews.com/i/roger-goodell-s-treatment-of-ben-roethlisberger-is-race-an-issue

He is arguably the best quarterback of the 2009 NFL season, if not the entire decade… or maybe of all time. Since entering the NFL in 1998 he has started in 191 games, passed for 50,033 yards, and thrown for 366 touchdowns (no less than 26 TDs in any season). He has won a record three league MVP awards (tied with Brett Favre). Time and time again he has brought national attention to the Indianapolis Colts franchise, which without him would be as contemporarily relevant as, well, the Cleveland Browns. To list all of Manning’s accolades would take a while, so let me assure you that he is really, really good.

In 2009 Peyton Manning has been nothing less than spectacular, having thrown for 4,405 yards and 33 touchdowns, ranking him second in the NFL in both categories. He was declared the number one ranked player in the NFL by the Sporting News. Probably most astonishing, Manning has led the Indianapolis Colts to set an NFL record 23 consecutive regular season wins. On top of all this he accomplished these feats without his former head coach Tony Dungy or his usual go-to targets, Marvin Harrison and Anthony Gonzalez. This streak was brought to a close this past Sunday, but you can not blame Manning, who was benched early to keep him healthy for the playoffs, again proving just how much Manning serves as the lifeblood of his team.

You might be thinking, “Bu,t Babe Ruthless aren’t Drew Brees and Tom Brady having good years too? What makes Peyton Manning any more special?” The difference is his personality. Peyton Manning is an absolutely amazing athlete, entertainer, and philanthropist. It is like he was made from the DNA of Archie Manning, Will Ferrell, and Oprah.

Peyton Manning might just be as entertaining as he is athletically talented. Think about it. Manning has endorsement deals all over the place with companies like DirectTV, Mastercard, and Gatorade just to name a few… so he has to be doing something right. With that much exposure America would be getting sick of him if he was not entertaining. Manning is funny. For proof look no further than his appearance on Saturday Night Live. His United Way skit is still a hit on the Internet.

Peyton Manning is also an involved philanthropist. Just like his commercial exposure, Manning tends to be everywhere in the charity world as well. In 2009, his charitable organization, The Peyton’s Peyback Foundation, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help underprivileged kids in Indiana, Tennessee, and Louisiana. He is also an advocate of the American Red Cross. He currently serves, alongside his brother Eli, and others, on the Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet. Similarly, the Manning brothers are still involved with Hurricane Katrina relief programs. Peyton Manning is not just another self-absorbed athlete, he is a real person who cares about others. This guy just keeps getting better.

Ultimately, Peyton Manning is a great all-around guy. He is the type of athlete role model you want your kids to be like (he just barely edged out Adam “Pacman” Jones and Plaxico Burress). He projects a funny, affable nature that makes him marketable and the subject of many platonic-man-crushes throughout the country. He also had a good 2009, and I see great things in his future. That is why he gets my vote for the best athlete of 2009.

Although Sports Geek correctly identifies the value of being able to market an “underdog” story, I am awarding the debate to Loyal Homer. It is correct that many people are inspired by underdogs, and as Sports Geek stated, “fans eat up the underdog comeback story.” I have a hard time accepting Sports Geek’s assessment, however, that Vick qualifies as an underdog.

I wonder if Sports Geek would consider Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones an underdog, whose situation of suspension and reinstatement into the NFL was very similar to Vick’s (up to the point that Jones got himself suspended again).

An underdog is a person or team that is universally perceived as weak, or who is the anticipated loser in a struggle (David, when he faced off against Goliath). Michael Vick is neither of those things. Being contrite, apologetic, and asking for acceptance after committing a crime does not automatically make someone an underdog. Keep in mind that Vick’s repentance, no matter how sincere it may or may not be, is also a requirement for his continued participation in the NFL. I do not mean to diminish the sincerity of Vick’s words, but they MUST be taken with a grain of salt. No one can say for certain how sorry Vick REALLY is, because the alternative of being unremorseful would most certainly mean Vick could never play in the NFL again. His appearance in the media as being sorry for his sins is just as much a manufactured façade, intended to help him gain access again in the NFL as it may be a genuine display of regret and forward progress.

It all comes down to credibility.

For every person who perceives Vick as being genuinely regretful, there is another person who thinks he is simply saying the things that he thinks the public will want to hear. That distrust of his sincerity can cast doubt on his credibility, which is a necessity for successful endorsement of a product. Vick’s credibility is not yet fully restored, and he cannot afford to be perceived as attempting to capitalize financially on the fact that he created a negative situation. A corporation, therefore, cannot afford to be perceived as condoning his attempts to profit from that same situation. In order for Vick to maintain his sincerity, it must be done without the taint of corporate involvement (at this time). If Vick were to walk onto the stage at a Humane Society function with a secondary motive of promoting Nike, as Sports Geek suggests, it would diminish his credibility as an advocate for that organization, which would subsequently diminish his credibility as a viable spokesperson for the corporate sponsor.

What ultimately won the debate for Loyal Homer, though, was in presenting the doubt still cast on Vick’s ability to successfully perform on the field at this point. I disagree with Loyal Homer’s statement that Vick has not made a successful return to the NFL (he earned reinstatement, was signed to a potential multi-million dollar contract, and has an opportunity to once again compete in the NFL… I would call that success so far). But, I do agree that his performance on the field has not qualified him for superstar status once again. Vick has apparently answered the question of whether or not he is sorry for his crime, and has also shown a dedication to improving himself. He still has not, however, proven that he has returned to the superstar celebrity status that he once enjoyed.

Ultimately, major brands are looking for major stars to promote their product. At this point, the jury is still out on whether or not Vick is truly “back.” I think that his efforts to use his personal experience as a platform to advocate more noble causes are extremely admirable, and I hope he is sincere. None of that translates to success on the football field, though, which is ultimately what corporations seek from their endorsements. They want to be associated with proven success, like Tiger Woods, LeBron James, Derek Jeter, or Roger Federer.

It is too soon to consider Michael Vick for celebrity endorsement.

Reality TV Star, Tila Tequila, makes outlandish acquisitions against Merriman.

Tila Nguyen, more commonly known as Tila Tequila, has made a name for herself through her myspace page and a crazy reality TV show.  On Sunday, September 6th, San Diego Charger’s linebacker, Shawne Merriman, was arrested on allegations of Assault, Battery, and False Imprisonment.  These allegations were made by Ms. Nguyen after she had been at Merriman’s home that night.

Just because a person is known as a drinker or partier does not give anyone the right to completely dismiss acquisitions as serious as these.  In fact, I feel that athletes should be held to the exact same standards as all citizens.  That does not mean punishments should be made more severe; but there is absolutely no reason for every athlete to have multiple “get out of jail free” cards and serve sentences in relaxed “celebrity jails” with TVs and buffets.  Sure Plaxico Burress can catch a football, however, I am fairly certain he cannot spell is name correctly.  Plaxico is arrogant, selfish, and a felon; that is not a role model for children, neither is Michael Vick, Chris Henry or Pacman Jones.

This case is generating steam and publicity off of the current wave of NFL’s law trouble.  People are quick to judge and crucify anyone in the NFL who makes a mistake.  Regardless of the actual outcome, this series of allegations may effectively end Shawne Merriman’s career as a San Diego Charger, as reported by ESPN.

But for every one of these cases, there is the complete opposite situation.  Whenever a situation like this (Celebrity or athlete accused of serious crime) arises, I think about the three Duke Lacrosse players and Kobe Bryant.  To write off Tila Tequila’s allegations as false would be completely and utterly irresponsible and wrong, but to automatically assume Merriman is guilty is a crime in itself.

Look at the evidence; it is overwhelmingly inconsistent.  In fact, there is none.

Ms. Nguyen claims Merriman, a 270 lb linebacker, choked her and threw her to the ground before confining her to his home.  Despite these claims, Tila Tequila had no visible marks, scrapes, or bruises on her body.  It is my experience that drunk people do not always remember things exactly how they happened.

Ms. Nguyen told police that she was not drunk and said in a Twitter comment that she does not drink alcohol because she is allergic to it (comment deleted shortly after posted).  However, at the bar where Merriman and Ms. Nguyen planned to meet, the owner and multiple bartenders stated that they witnessed Ms. Nguyen consuming alcoholic beverages that night.  Not only does this create a weakness in Tila’s story, it confirms Merriman’s report that Tila was intoxicated and he wanted her to have a safe mode of transportation.

On the outside looking in, it appears that Tila Tequila’s allegations may be false and that very well may be the case, but just because something appears one way does not mean that is necessarily the truth.  As of right now, Merriman is saying and doing all of the right things for himself and his team, however, if it turns out Merriman did commit these unexplainable actions, I still would not be surprised- this stuff happens.  If recent history has taught us anything though, it taught us all to wait until all is said and done before passing judgment.

Jones’ attorney, Worrick Robinson, said Tuesday he has been in “consistent negotiations” with a CFL team. Robinson told The Associated Press a deal could be completed by the end of the week.

“He’s still young and has a lot of playing days ahead of him,” Robinson said. “If the CFL deal works out, it will be a good opportunity for him to get back on the field and show what he can do.”

The Canadian Press and SI.com reported that Jones would play for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but Robinson wouldn’t confirm with which team he’s negotiating.

Jones, who turns 26 at the end of this month, spent last season with the Dallas Cowboys after missing the previous year because of multiple violations of the NFL personal conduct policy. The cornerback’s time with the Cowboys was cut short by six games for another behavior-related suspension, an off-field scuffle with a member of the security detail provided by the team.

After weeks of courting Spanish league officials for a favorable contract buyout, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ brash general manager, David Kahn, failed to deliver point guard Ricky Rubio(notes), sources told Yahoo! Sports on Monday night.

Rubio – the fifth pick in the 2009 NBA draft – has agreed to a six-year contract with Regal FC Barcelona that doesn’t allow for an escape to the NBA until 2011. Kahn made several trips to Spain to try to get Rubio’s previous team, DKV Joventut, to lower his $8 million buyout price, but couldn’t get it done.

The Timberwolves will retain Rubio’s rights, and will now hand the team’s point guard duties to rookie Jonny Flynn(notes). Kahn drafted Flynn one pick behind Rubio.

Rubio, 18, apparently won’t play for the T’wolves until the 2011-12 season, and that’s devastating for the franchise’s new regime, which hoped to tout Rubio as one of its fresh-faced stars. Minnesota was able to legally pay only $500,000 toward the buyout, and the relative constraints of the Twin Cities’ market made the accumulation of endorsement deals difficult to close the gap on the buyout figure. Rubio would’ve made nearly $3.3 million in the NBA this season as the fifth pick in the draft.

Rubio is one of the most celebrated young prospects to ever come out of Europe, a cult figure who has played pro ball since his 15th birthday. Kahn, the NBA Developmental League owner who was the surprise choice of Minnesota’s ownership to replace former GM Kevin McHale, has banked a lot of his early credibility on how he’s handled Rubio’s buyout negotiations.

Rubio and his family were never enamored with Minnesota, and along with agent Dan Fegan, longed for a big-city franchise to market Rubio’s wares. Now, there’s a chance that Minnesota eventually will have to trade Rubio’s rights – perhaps to the New York Knicks, a preferred destination – when it’s time for the point guard to leave Europe in 2011.

For now, Rubio will play for Spain in the upcoming European Championships in Poland. After that, he’ll be with Barcelona for a minimum of two years. His future in the NBA – with Minnesota, or elsewhere – remains in the future.

from yahoo sports