NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Congratulations beachbum on your 4 year (Live 4 Sports Network) anniversary.

 

NFL team owners approve Raiders' move to Las Vegas

The Raiders are leaving Oakland again, this time for the neon lights of Las Vegas.

In a decision that would have been hard to fathom not so long ago, NFL owners voted Monday at the Annual League Meeting to approve the Raiders' proposal to relocate to Las Vegas.

The decision comes after years of fruitless efforts by Raiders owner Mark Davis to build a viable stadium in Oakland. The failure to do so, which goes back to Davis' late father Al Davis' stewardship of the team, led to exploring stadium options in Los Angeles and eventually Las Vegas, where Nevada lawmakers approved $750 million in public funding for a new stadium. The Autumn Wind will no longer blow through Raiders games as the team is expected to move into a planned $1.7 billion domed stadium in Las Vegas.

In what is sure to be an awkward process, the Raiders won't be moving immediately. The new stadium in Las Vegas is not expected to be ready until 2020. The Raiders will continue play at the Oakland Coliseum in 2017 and 2018, Davis said in a statement. After that, they are likely to need a temporary venue to play in until their new stadium just off the Las Vegas strip is built. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday that the league will look into venue options for the Raiders in 2019.

 

As long as the Golden Knights play 1st. Didn't need the Raiders stealing their thunder.

 

Miami is the one team that voted no.

 

Trevone Boykin is arrested on public intoxication, drug charges

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Trevone Boykin was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor public intoxication and marijuana possession after he was a passenger in a car crash that injured several people early Monday morning in Dallas.

According to a Dallas Police Dept. news release, Boykin was arrested after a vehicle he was in went into reverse at a high rate of speed onto a public sidewalk, striking pedestrians before hitting the wall of a club. Police said eight people were injured, including the bartender inside the club.

Seven people were transported to local hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the vehicle, Shabrika Bailey, 25, was arrested on suspicion of two felony counts of intoxication assault with a vehicle -- serious bodily injury.
Boykin was booked into Dallas County Jail and bond was set at $500, according to jail records.

It marks Boykin's second arrest in less than 15 months. The former TCU star was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault and resisting arrest after he allegedly struck a patrol officer and was involved in a bar fight in December 2015. Boykin, 23, later pleaded no contest to the resisting arrest charge and avoided jail time.

As part of his plea agreement, Boykin was sentenced to a year of probation and was ordered to attend alcohol awareness and anger management classes as part of the terms of his probation. In addition, he paid a $1,500 fine, submitted an apology letter to the arresting officer and had to complete 80 hours of community service.

He appeared in five games as a rookie for the Seahawks in 2016.

 

Jason Witten lands contract extension with Cowboys

According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, a four-year contract extension through 2021 -- which was first reported by ESPN -- will act as a "cap related move to lower his number for 2017." Witten, who is turning 35 in just two months, would theoretically be under contract until he is 39.

While there is no doubt the ironman tight end could make it that far, this is, as Rapoport mentioned, for bookkeeping. Witten was set to count $12.262 million against the team's cap this upcoming season.

There is little doubt that Witten, already the franchise leader in receptions (1,089), second in yards and fourth in touchdowns, would have retired a Dallas Cowboy anyway. Kicking some of his money down the road makes it almost a guarantee.

 

Teddy Bridgewater posts video of himself throwing

Sorry I couldn't show the vid, but...

The video clearly shows a balky brace that covers almost his entire left leg. While it's nearly impossible to ascertain anything else from the short gif, it substantiates comments made by Vikings brass this week at the NFL Annual Meeting in Phoenix.

"I know he's been working extremely hard," general manager Rick Spielman told The Star Tribune. "As far as a timeline, I know he was in last week and continuing to rehab with our medical staff and (Vikings trainer) Eric Sugarman. I can tell you there is no one I've seen other than Adrian (Peterson) when he came back from his ACL that has worked as hard as Teddy is working. And this is more significant than just an ACL.

"But Teddy is incredible with the attitude and work ethic that he's put in to get back on the field as quickly as we can."
At the time of the injury, it was still difficult to determine whether the 24-year-old Bridgewater would ever play again. The dislocation and tear was so severe that he had to be sedated before heading to the hospital. The Vikings immediately canceled practice and later traded for former Rams and Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford.

While the Vikings have been mum about a realistic timeline, or any timeline whatsoever, this week has provided more positive momentum than we've seen from the Bridgewater camp in almost a year. Obviously, the two years on Bradford's contract were important to Minnesota given the unpredictability of this situation.

 

Chase Daniel agrees to one-year deal with Saints

Chase Daniel is going back to the beginning.
The 30-year-old quarterback is signing a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints, where he began his NFL career, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.
ESPN first reported the news.

An undrafted free agent cut by Washington before the 2009 season, Daniel spent his first four years backing up Drew Brees, but never starting a game. The quarterback then moved to Kansas City as insurance for Alex Smith. Daniel started twice in three years with the Chiefs (both times in a Week 17 matchup versus the Chargers, in 2013 and 2014).

Daniel then signed with Philadelphia in 2016 to join coach Doug Pederson, hoping for a shot at the starting gig. When the Eagles traded away Sam Bradford before the start of the season it looked like the career backup might get his chance. Philly, however, went with No. 2 overall pick Carson Wentz.

The Eagles released Daniel this offseason when it was clear he wouldn't get a shot to compete for a starting gig. Philly still owed $5 million in guarantees to Daniel, which will be offset somewhat by whatever New Orleans pays him.

 

Andre Ellington moving from RB to WR for Cardinals

Andre Ellington will have a new position in 2017.
Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said Wednesday at the Annual League Meeting that Ellington will be a wide receiver this season and would move to the wideout meeting room, per Darren Urban of the team's official website.

The slightly built, 5-foot-9 Ellington spent his first four seasons in Arizona as a running back, but proved to be better in the passing game than run game. In the one season the Cards tried to make Ellington the featured back, he dealt with injuries and proved to be inefficient between the tackles. After 201 totes in 2014, he saw just 45 carries in 2015 and 34 last season as David Johnson took over the every-down role.

Ellington has speed in open space and can catch the ball -- 112 receptions in four seasons -- but how he translates to running routes as a receiver and his ability to beat press coverage remains to be seen. His build is already in line with the fast, smallish receivers that clutter the Cardinals' wideout corps -- John Brown (5-foot-10), J.J. Nelson (5-foot-10).

 

T.J. McDonald suspended eight games of 2017 season

Free-agent safety T.J. McDonald has encountered a major setback in his search for a new team.

McDonald has been suspended without pay for the first eight games of the 2016 regular season for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse, the league announced Wednesday.

The discipline stems from a May, 2016 arrest which led to a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of drugs.
He pleaded guilty in January according to a spokesman with the L.A. City's Attorney Office. McDonald was sentenced to the following: 36 months of summary probation, $390 fine plus penalty assessments, a three-month alcohol program (AB541), 200 hours of court approved community service, and 18 narcotic anonymous classes.

McDonald, 26, started all 53 games he has appeared in since the Rams selected him with the No. 71 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Placing No. 18 on Around The NFL's list of the Top 101 free agents, he's the third-highest ranked player remaining on the open market.

The suspension explains McDonald's cold market and will end up costing him money. The question now is whether the clarification of his 2017 status could be the impetus he needs to sign an incentive-laden, prove-it contract with a team in need of safety help.

 

The process of recovery begins now for Cam Newton.

The Panthers announced that their star quarterback is on the mend after undergoing surgery on his throwing shoulder in Charlotte on Thursday.

"Head team physician Dr. Pat Connor performed surgery this morning at Carolinas Medical Center to repair Cam Newton's partially torn rotator cuff," Panthers head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion told the team's official website. "Dr. Connor was pleased with the results of the surgery and Cam is at home resting. He will begin his rehab program Monday."

 

HOFer Michael Irvin of the NFLN has been turned into the police for rape by a woman. It's under investigation. The woman went and had a medical exam for whatever thats worth. Irvin's attorney said that the woman's past is not exemplary........

Edit: This was an article on MSN.com yesterday.....

 

Sharrif Floyd is fighting to save his football career.

The Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle has yet to recover from nerve damage that occurred during September surgery to repair the meniscus in his knee, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, via a source close to Floyd. The nerve that controls the quadriceps still isn't firing six months later.

Although there's optimism that the nerve will eventually cooperate, Rapoport added, no one knows for sure.
USA Today's Tom Pelissero first reported the lingering complications from Floyd's knee surgery.

"Sharrif is rehabbing, has seen some of the best doctors in the country," agent Brian Mackler told Pelissero, "will continue to rehab and hopefully, this will heal sooner than later."

Floyd alluded to the health issue last weekend, posting an Instagram message that indicated he is praying the "road doesn't end here."

"Don't let me go out this way," Floyd continued. "... This game means so much to me and the foundation is still being laid one stone at a time. ... Grant me one last run, I promise I'll lay my soul on the line."
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I'm beginning to think the Vikings have some sort of curse... definitely bad luck.

 

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/o...-he-wants-raiders-out-of-stadium-immediately/

more of a mess with the Raiders move and their stadium in Oakland and the lease...

what a mess. glad im not a Raiders fan.

 

I also read somewhere a higher up doesn't want the Raiders in Vegas either. He thinks their moving there because the NHL has already approved a team and their trying to copycat off the NHL......So can Vegas fill a 60,000 seat NFL stadium? Or will people be more interested in going to the casino's?

 

I think Raiders Nation will travel well and attendance shouldn't be a problem. At least at first... time will tell.

 

The one thing the Raiders might have is that there is a Raider Nation that will travel with the team if it stays in the region (i.e. pacific US) but are most of those fans over the hill?

 

I don't see the fans traveling that distance as many are already pi$$ed off now. If the Chargers were smart, they'd try to cut a deal to get into Oakland now........I don't see all those teams in California lasting long unless they have a winner. How are all those teams going to draw if their all losers? Going to the beach is much better than going a paying money to watch a loser also, imo......

 

Well, whether or not Raiders Nation travels, I still think there will be enough 'new' fans in the Vegas area at first that will love to have a team.

I would think the NHL and NFL execs would have done some homework on this issue.

 

T.J. McDonald signs one-year deal with Miami Dolphins

Days after T.J. McDonald learned of his eight-game suspension, he found a new home.
The Miami Dolphins announced the signing of the free-agent safety on Friday. According to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, it's a one-year deal with the team.

The Miami Herald's Armando Salguero first reported the signing was for the veteran minimum. Salguero noted that McDonald had multiple offers, but chose the Dolphins based on opportunity and a fresh start away from the West Coast -- where he went to college at USC and played last season for the Rams.

"The whole attitude of this team plays ball the right way and it's something that I want to be a part of," McDonald said in comments provided by the Dolphins.

McDonald is suspended for the first eight games of the 2017 regular season for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse, stemming from a May 2016 arrest and misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of drugs.

"This is something that will never happen again and I've learned (from it) and owned up to (it)," McDonald said. "I definitely want to grow from (it). (My) priorities changed, everything's changed. This whole experience is something I'm definitely going to grow from. Whatever I can do to help this team is what I'm ready to do."