NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Ravens Justin Forsett has announced his retirement from the NFL.

 

Jay Cutler retires from NFL to join Fox Sports as a game analyst


Jay Cutler, who played 11 NFL seasons with two teams is no longer a free agent. He's?joining Fox Sports?to be part of the network's No. 2 broadcast team --? behind Joe Buck and Troy Aikman -- working alongside Kevin Burkhardt and Charles Davis. ?NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and Good Morning Football's Peter Schrager first reported the news.

Here's Cutler's official statement:

I don't know if retirement is the right word; I don't feel that anyone ever really retires from the NFL. You are either forced to leave, or you lose the desire to do what's required to keep going. I'm in between those situations at this point in my life.

Words can't express how grateful I am to everyone who helped me along the my journey. I started playing tackle football at the age of 10 and was so lucky to have supportive parents and great coaches along the way that made my path possible. If I listed each person individually, this would quickly turn into an essay, but you know who are and I wouldn't be in this situation without you. So thank you.

To my parents, my sisters, my wife and kids - thank you for putting your wants and needs on the back burner while I played a game every Friday, Saturday or Sunday. You made it all possible.

I recently read a quote that struck a cord with me at the time. It was attributed to Henry Rollins (but with the internet these day, you can never be too sure who really said it). 'I did that, I gave everything I had to give to that. Now, if I returned to that it would be repetition - it might be fun repetition, but it wouldn't be meaningful repetition.' Thank you to everyone along the way. You made my dream come true.
_______

"We're thrilled to welcome Jay to the Fox Sports family," Fox president of production and executive producer John Entz said in a statement. "We're very excited about the potential he brings to the booth and are looking forward to hearing his analysis during what is sure to be another great season of the NFL on Fox."

 

Hopefully he is a lot better as a broadcaster than he was as a player. Otherwise people will be listening to music while they watch the game

 

Former Oregon Duck and Green Bay Packer Colt Lyeria escaped from jail with 4 months remaining on his sentence. He was found the next day after he overdosed on opioids and had CPR performed on him. He left Oregon a year before his draft year for personal reasons and after going undrafted the Packers signed him but he got injured in practice and was placed on IR before being released with a settlement.

 

Cowboys want NFL to re-examine marijuana?policy

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/05/03/cowboys-want-nfl-to-re-examine-marijuana-policy/

Way to go NFL's Cowboys and others! That's what we all need ... stoned football players. No thanks.

Still cracks me up that some people, a lot of people, still think Marijuana is not dangerous. I know the effects of todays weed and I'll just say again no way should this even be questioned.

 

It cracks me up when people think marijuana is dangerous. I know the effects of today's weed no way should anyone call it dangerous. The alternative is opioids and other very dangerous painkillers . No players will be playing while stoned because it would not benefit their game at all.

 

Well, I'm anti-drugs for any professional athlete, whether you start with pot and all the other stuff. Football players already have a problem with opiates and pain killers, so I don't think adding a substance makes much sense.

 

Jay Cutler the football analyst, must take two days off and a roll a marijuana cigarette, Nevah would have thunk it.

 

Don't bogart that joint my friend pass it over to me

 

Aaron Hernandez's guilty verdict was thrown out due to Massachusetts law where guilty verdicts are thrown out if the accused dies during the appeal process.

This is just bullshit. He couldn't do it while alive so he killed himself to help his family. Now Odin Floyd's mother won't have a guilty verdict to use in her wrongful death suit vs Hernandez's estate and Hernandez's GF who his estate goes to can claim money from the Patriots and government among other entities because by not being legally guilty then technically Hernandez suffered unlawful damages, like loss of bonus money and NFL pension. Even the suicide note to her saying "You're rich" alluded to it. No way should you be allowed to off yourself for this loophole. This is like a suicide bomber.

 

The system in Massachusetts sure needs changed and how they cant see the damage this causes for the innocent is ludicrous.

It being treated as Hernandez didn't commit a crime at all which really screws the NFL, the victims family, not to mention he clearly killed a person. What a bunch of BS...

 

Odds are she will now win her lawsuit vs the nfl and patriots if there is justice in the world she will then loose the money to the victims families.

 

Wait, there may be a silver lining here. The Hernandez cap hit may cause the Patriots to be over their salary cap and then cut Brady.

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/besie...uoniconti-says-feel-like-child-155426713.html

sad news for HOF'er Nick Buoniconti...

 

Buffalo Bills name Brandon Beane general manager

Buffalo's search for a new general manager has come to a close.

The Bills on Tuesday announced that Brandon Beane has been hired to replace Doug Whaley, who was fired along with his scouts after the draft. A close associate of Bills coach Sean McDermott, Beane received a five-year deal that runs concurrent with the pact for Buffalo's new head coach, a source involved in negotiations told NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.

Beane spent 19 years with the Panthers, where he served as Carolina's assistant general manager over the past two seasons. Prior to that, he operated as the team's director of football operations for eight years.



"During our search for a new general manager, Brandon stood out to Kim [Pegula] and I as he embodies the type of leader and type of person we want in our organization," Bills owner and CEO Terry Pegula said in a statement released by the team. "Brandon has excelled in a variety of roles for a Panthers team that has consistently competed at a high-level in this league. We feel his vast understanding and experience in many facets of football operations will be invaluable to our club moving forward."

 

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/usain-bolt-whether-john-ross-beat-race-no-chance-123839227.html

NFL Draftee John Ross wants to race Usain Bolt in the 40 yrd dash. He thinks he would win. Bolt says "no chance!" haha.

 

Alberto Riveron named NFL senior VP of officiating

The NFL has a new team atop their officiating department.

Alberto Riveron was named the senior vice president of officiating, the league announced Wednesday morning, filling the role vacated by former officiating head Dean Blandino.

Russell Yurk, an NFL replay veteran of seven years and a former NCAA and high school referee, has been named the vice president of replay and administration while Wayne Mackie, an NFL official with a decade of experience, was brought on as the vice president of officiating evaluation and development -- a department in charge of week to week grading of referees as well as managing the league's developmental pipeline for officials.

"Al has done a terrific job as a key member of our officiating staff for the past four seasons," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "Prior to that, Al was an outstanding on-field official who earned the respect of his fellow officials, as well as coaches and players alike. To have Al leading our officiating department, and then to add talented, knowledgeable instant replay and officiating experts like Russell and Wayne, is a tremendous positive for us as we look forward to the 2017 season."

The search for Blandino's replacement began in earnest on April 14, the day NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and NFL network reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala broke the story of Blandino's move into television.

 

Katherine Berman, wife of legendary ESPN broadcaster Chris Berman, died on Tuesday afternoon in a two-car accident.

Police on the scene in Woodbury, Connecticut, indicated that Edward Bertulis, 87, was also involved in the accident. According to local reports, the 2003 Lexus of Berman, 67, apparently rear-ended Bertulis?s Ford Escape, left the road, and overturned in a small body of water. Bertulis?s car struck a utility pole; Bertulis died at nearby Waterbury Hospital.

?This is a devastating tragedy and difficult to comprehend,? ESPN president John Skipper said in a statement. ?Chris is beloved by all his ESPN colleagues and for good reason: He has a huge heart and has given so much to so many over the years,? he said. ?We know how much his family means to him and all we can do at a moment like this is give him the love and support he will surely need at this hour. Our thoughts and prayers are with Chris, Meredith, Doug and the entire family.?

 

Ex-Cards, Pats WR Michael Floyd to sign with Vikings

Michael Floyd's short foray into unemployment has ended.

The maligned former first-round pick is signing with the Minnesota Vikings after a quiet free agency, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the situation. Floyd, 27, most recently played with the New England Patriots. He was dismissed from the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 14 -- two days after he was arrested on drunken driving charges in Scottsdale, Arizona.

According to a police report obtained by NFL.com, Floyd was "unconscious behind the wheel of his running vehicle at the intersection in Scottsdale" just before 3 a.m. He pleaded guilty to an extreme DUI charge in February and was sentenced to jail and counseling.

Rapoport noted that Floyd's contract buffers the Vikings from many risks. The heavily-incentivized deal is worth $1.5 million for one year, but could be worth as much as $6 million.

Floyd caught 33 balls for 446 yards and four touchdowns over his final 13 games with the Cardinals, and added an additional four catches for 42 yards and a touchdown while with the Patriots.

The move will obviously be applauded by Vikings fans looking for more offensive punch. The team relied heavily on Stefon Diggs, Kyle Rudolph and Adam Thielen during the first year of the Sam Bradford era, though none produced a 1,000-yard season. Laquon Treadwell, the team's first-round pick in 2016, appeared in just nine games, catching one pass for 15 yards.

 

Patriots extend a May 9th tender to LaGarrette Blount. It is 110% of his 2016 salary. By doing so it keeps his compensatory rights with New England past the May 9th deadline. Also because if that teams that wanted to sign him after the deadline for compensatory reasons now can't get those benefits. Also, if he isn't signed by July 22nd then no one besides the Patriots can sign him until after Week 10 unless they rescind tender.