NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Coby Fleener: Concussion symptoms “still there, unfortunately”

When the Saints released tight end Coby Fleener early in May, head coach Sean Payton said that Fleener was still dealing with symptoms from the concussion that ended his 2017 season and nothing has changed over the last month.

Fleener spoke to Don Banks of The Athletic about where things stand and said that he’d still like to play during the 2018 season, but that the symptoms are “still there, unfortunately.” There’s no timetable for that to change and that leaves Fleener, who has been diagnosed with five concussions over the course of his career, unable to say he’ll be back on the field with confidence.

“Ummm. I don’t know,” Fleener said. “That’s a really hard question to answer, because, like I said, if you’d asked me a day or two after it happened, I would have said of course. But now I’m kind of taking it as the cliche’ goes, one day at a time. Tomorrow if I wake up and there are no symptoms, then we approach things differently.”

Fleener’s agent said he’s heard some interest in Fleener’s services pending clearance from the concussion protocol, although it remains anyone’s guess if that’s going to come in time for the 2018 season. (PFT)

 

It looks like the NFL is about to have another battle on its hands after disciplining a Patriots player.

Julian Edelman will have his four-game suspension appeal heard on Monday, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano.

Graziano stated that the two major elements of the wideout’s defense are that the substance he tested positive for a substance that wasn’t recognized by the drug testers—which was first reported by The MMQB’s Albert Breer—and that the NFL mishandled the documentation and delivery of Edelman’s test results.

ESPN had reported that Edelman was facing a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy in early June.

The 32-year-old pass-catcher missed the entire 2017 season after tearing his ACL during a preseason contest. If the NFL were to uphold its reported punishment, Edelman would miss games against the Texans, Jaguars, Lions and Dolphins...

 

Royce Freeman pushing Devontae Booker to be Broncos’ lead back

The Broncos’ leading rusher from last season, C.J. Anderson, is now in Carolina. Which leaves an opening for the lead role in Denver this year.

Devontae Booker, who was second on the team in rushing last season, is the presumed favorite. But rookie third-round draft pick Royce Freeman is making a case for himself.

Broncos coach Vance Joseph said Freeman “absolutely” has a chance to be the team’s starting running back this year, according to ESPN.

Freeman is accustomed to being a lead back. He was a four-year starter at Oregon who finished his career with 947 carries for 5,621 yards and 60 touchdowns, plus another 79 catches for 814 yards and four receiving touchdowns.

“I think I showed durability and the ability to be there game in, game out,” Freeman said. “I think I showed at Oregon I can deliver the blow as a runner. I’m excited to compete, and we have a good environment in the running back room. I think we do want to see each other do well.”

Last year Anderson finished with 245 carries for 1,007 yards. The Broncos would be thrilled if Freeman could replace that production. (PFT)

 

the Eagles know all about that Tim !

 

got to take my picture with the SB Trophy yesterday! The Eagles are allowing season ticket holders a chance to get their picture taken with the trophy at the Linc. they've been doing this in groups for 3 months. Yesterday was the day. My older brother, who is the season ticket owner, couldn't go, so me, his wife and son went and got our pictures with the trophy as a group and alone. we couldn't touch the trophy, but wow, what a day for us! Thanks NFL and Eagles !

 

You have season tickets? How much is the seat license?

 

no gid. my brother is a season tic owner. he couldn't go, so I took his place.

the seat license was a 1 time fee he paid for the transition from the Vet to the Linc. Those that didn't want to pay it got seats in the second level. those who paid it got seats in the lower level. When my 3rd brother sold his seat license to my other brother, I think he sold it for $3000. im almost positive they don't pay it every year. it was a one time fee.

 

Seat licences are 1 time. The regular season tix price for the seats are yearly, obviously.

 

Former Chiefs safety Ron Parker signs with Falcons

It hasn't been a good offseason for safeties, but things are looking up for Ron Parker.

The free-agent backstop signed a one-year deal with the Falcons on Monday, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. The Falcons later confirmed the signing.

Parker, 30, spent the past five seasons with the Chiefs. He started 64 games in Kansas City and was heavily relied upon last season when Eric Berry tore his Achilles tendon in Week 1.

Atlanta has a pair of starting safeties in Ricardo Allen and Keanu Neal, but Parker gives the club a dose of veteran depth to battle for snaps alongside Damontae Kazee, Kemal Ishmael and a handful of young challengers.

Parker's signing comes days after free-agent safety Tre Boston complained about the market for his position of choice.

"It's kinda' rough, man. They got us where they think they want us," Boston told SiriusXM NFL Radio. "For us, we have to communicate with each other so we don't take this minimum wage."

Hopefully Parker has done his part. (NFL.com)

 

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/parents-tyler-hilinski-cte-committed-suicide-124846146.html

sad a 21 yr old kid had the brain of a 65 yr old and took his own life. does anyone with CTE not commit suicide ? seems like most of them do. tragic.

 

Everyone has CTE. Especially if they played football. I don’t know why some choose suicide. I think a lot of those committing suicide also used steroids.

 

interesting point there Gid.

 

What is there to look forward to if you have CTE? I mean, besides being a drooler for life. You could get to the point where you are no longer able to DIY, then you’ll need a Kevorkian in your pocket. That’s a huge process all in its own. I completely understand those who choose suicide when facing an irreparable, degenerative and debilitating medical circumstance.

 

HALO-good point, but for someone like Junior Seau, whose after NFL life businesses were doing well, so he had the money to help himself live a better life. Isn't finding treatment better than suicide ?

 

I still say it’s steroids combined with cte that is causing the suicides. You don’t see any QBs offing themselves, and I guarantee you many of them have cte, but didn’t take roids.

 

Michael Bennett arraignment postponed until August 7

Eagles defensive lineman Michael Bennett’s arraignment on a charge of intentionally and knowingly causing bodily injury to a person 65 years or older has been postponed again.

Bennett’s attorney Rusty Hardin told Tom Pelissero of NFL Media that his client’s arraignment on that felony charge was scheduled for Wednesday, but has been postponed to August 7. The arraignment has been postponed several times in recent months.

Bennett turned himself in to authorities in Houston in March after being charged in relation to his alleged behavior at the end of Super Bowl LI. Bennett is accused of pushing a 66-year-old paraplegic woman working to control access to the field when he was making his way onto the field to celebrate with his brother Martellus, who won the game as a member of the Patriots.

Hardin has said that Bennett will plead not guilty to a charge he called “ludicrous” in April. Per Pelissero, the hope on Bennett’s side is that the charges are dismissed before the start of the regular season. If not, the expectation is that a trial would not begin until after the 2018 season. (PFT)

 

Wasn’t Jim McMahon suicidal?

 

Yes and in a big way! He suffered terribly from memory loss and was diagnosed with dementia. He contemplated death many times.