NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Russell Wilson throws 3 TDs in 49-27 Pro Bowl victory

HONOLULU (AP) ? With no Super Bowl trip this season for the Seattle Seahawks, their stars came to play ? and dominate ? at the Pro Bowl.

Russell Wilson threw three first-half touchdown passes to lead Team Irvin to a 49-27 victory over Team Rice on Sunday and earn offensive MVP honors at Aloha Stadium. Seattle teammate Michael Bennett was the defensive MVP after having the game's only sack and deflecting a pass.

"To see us Seahawks out there is a real special thing," Wilson said. "It's a testament to our hard work and to see two Seahawks out there as MVPs is really cool."

The Seahawks quarterback, who was the first player picked in the all-star game's draft, went 8 of 12 for 164 yards. He led scoring drives on three of Team Irvin's first four possessions.

Wilson threw touchdown passes of 14 and 2 yards to Atlanta Falcons teammates Julio Jones and Devonta Freeman, respectively, in the opening quarter. Early in the second quarter, Wilson connected with Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley for a 10-yard score.

 

When did they start naming offensive and defensive MVPs?

 

2014...

I wish they would bring back the skills challenges instead of adding another MVP...The game really sucks, but everything around it on Saturday is what made the weekend fun for fans.

 

They used to do a QB challenge with several qbs dont think it was with the pro bowl though but it was cool IMO

 

I remember that, it was in the 80s or 90s, right?

Maybe, that's what I was thinking of...I just remember the QBs had to do a series of different challenges and received points.

 

I always enjoyed the punt, pass and kick competition. Did they do away with that too ?

 

The Pro Bowl is a meaningless event that isn't worth having imo. It's an exhibition game with no meaning other than the winner getting a fatter winner's purse. I hate, ABSOLUTELY HATE, that former stars pick teams like some HS gym class game. That only adds to the "fluff factor". They removed the AFC vs NFC factor which the original premise. If that isn't a factor anymore with fans then why even have the two conferences anymore? It's not like MLB with slightly varying rules - just a holdover from the NFL-AFL merger. Absolutely insipid thinking for a $10B organization.

The the game is played like an aerial-exhibition game with defensive players and running backs HAVING to hold back to prevent injury. The box score tells that tale.

Obviously I don't watch it. It's not t true test of anything other than to see how much money the NFL can still make from the ghost of this event (Yes, it's really dead). I'd rather tune in AFTER THE SUPER BOWL (to have the SB players too) to see a Combine-style competition among the pros. That might not be in every top player's favor to show their bench, 40 time, or long bomb is not as good as his fans thought, but it would be at least as entertaining as the Home Run Derby or NBA Slam Dunk Contest - which I do watch.

*edit - Rant over. As you were...

 

Football is not a sport where you can have a serious exhibition game. Basketball yes even with the lower amount of defense. NHL yes, with the 3-on-3. MLB of course. Soccer, yup. A game all about physical contact (and reckless at that) will never have a consistently good or even decent all-star game.

 

AP survey: Concussions not most NFL players' chief concern

By EDDIE PELLS and HOWARD FENDRICH...

During a 15-year NFL career that sent him pinballing over the middle of the field too many times to count, absorbing hits as wicked as they come, former Denver Broncos receiver Brandon Stokley endured injuries that literally ran from head to toe.

And while, by his own estimate, that included at least a dozen concussions, the only health issue that made him seriously contemplate quitting the game was a problem with a small bone in the middle of his foot in his fourth season.

"I told my wife, 'This is it. I'm done. I can't deal with this pain every day,'" Stokley said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Yet he pressed on. Eventually the foot pain subsided. The concussions? Those kept accumulating. Stokley, essentially, shrugged them off, despite the seemingly unending drumbeat of news about the dangers of head injuries. During his playing days, he was more worried about short-term effects than later-in-life ones.

"The thing with concussions is, usually, you're out a week or two, and then you're back fine," said Stokley, 39, who caught passes from one of this week's Super Bowl quarterbacks, Peyton Manning, while both were with the Broncos and, before that, the Indianapolis Colts. "But you mess your knee up, you're out a year. You mess your shoulder up, you're done for a year."

That nonchalant attitude toward concussions that Stokley held while he was active in the league is not all that different from what was expressed by many current NFL players in an AP survey conducted this season and released Sunday. Less than half of the group ? only 39 of the 100 players ? said they are more worried about the long-term effects of concussions than those of other injuries.

Of the remaining 61 players, 20 either said they are not concerned at all about concussions or less concerned about them than other injuries, while 41 said the concern is equal for all injuries.

"Personally, I don't think about head injuries. They don't affect me," said Nikita Whitlock, a New York Giants special teamer. "I wonder: What are my joints going to be like in 20 years? How will my knees hold up in 20 years? What about my shoulders and wrists? These are the real weak points of your body."

That sort of sentiment was heard repeatedly by AP reporters, as if players were ignoring everything related to head trauma and football.

Just last week, a member of the Giants' 2012 Super Bowl championship team who died at age 27, safety Tyler Sash, was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The disease is linked to repeated brain trauma and associated with symptoms such as memory loss, depression and progressive dementia.

Sash was just the latest CTE headline: The suicide of Pro Football Hall of Famer Junior Seau. The sudden retirement of San Francisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland. The concussion-related lawsuits brought by former players. Various safeguards added by the NFL, including attempts to increase in-game monitoring of head injuries and more vigilant policing of illegal hits.

During regular-season games, the NFL said Friday, there were 182 reported concussions, a 58 percent increase from a year ago.

And yet ...

"Not worried," Oakland Raiders running back Jamize Olawale said. "I think it's blown out of proportion."

"You can get a head injury from anywhere," Houston Texans cornerback Charles James said. "A dude could sucker-punch me, and I could get the same injury I get from hitting a running back head-on."

There is, to be sure, a segment of the NFL population that takes concussions and their consequences seriously.

A few players interviewed by the AP mentioned the ability to repair knees or hips, "but you can't get a brain replacement."

"I'm not trying to lose my memory. I need to know what's going on in my life," Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay said. "If you get hit in the head and have a concussion, you might forget who your son is, your momma is. I ain't got time for that. ... You can take the legs."

As eight-year defensive end Chris Long of the Rams put it: "I try not to think about it, but the evidence seems to be mounting that we're in trouble. Eight years in, the damage is done."

Now out of the NFL for two years, Stokley was asked if he has any concussion symptoms.

His reply: "I'm not really wanting to discuss my standing right now."

As the conversation continued, he noted that he thinks the NFL is improving how it handles head injuries. And that, in turn, is changing how concussions are discussed in the locker room.

"If a guy's out for a couple weeks with a concussion, you're not getting the same kind of stares you did 10 or 12 years ago," he said. "It's a serious injury, and they need to treat it like that."
______________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Kind of a long read, but i thought it was interesting. Some guy's take it serious, some just blow it off. To me its a very serious issue that will have to be addressed even further.

 

Former Dallas Cowboy Joseph Randle arrested in Texas

IRVING, Texas (AP) ? Former Dallas Cowboy Joseph Randle has been arrested in Texas after it was determined he was wanted for speeding.

Irving police spokesman James McLellan says 24-year-old Randle was arrested early Monday. McLellan says police were called to a home after a woman said her daughter's ex-boyfriend was ringing their doorbell at 3 a.m.

Upon arrival, police ran a standard warrant check and discovered Randle was wanted on a speeding ticket warrant in the nearby suburb of Coppell. He was taken into custody and released from jail after $359 bond was posted. McLellan didn't know of an attorney for Randle.

Randle has had a string of run-ins with the law, beginning with a 2014 shoplifting arrest. The Cowboys released him last fall.

 

Broncos team bus involved in minor accident

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) ? The Denver Broncos are back at their hotel in Santa Clara after their buses were involved in a minor accident following their practice at Stanford Stadium.

Team spokesman Patrick Smyth says nobody was injured.

Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware tweeted a photo of players standing alongside their bus. He posted: "To keep the day interesting, we have a small wreck. Looks like everyone is ok though."

 

Justin Tuck retires. Biggest Golden Team snub from a winning team.

 

Tuck announced his decision Monday and says he leaves the NFL with very few regrets.

"After months of praying and careful consideration, I have decided to retire from the game of football," Tuck said on Facebook. "I've had 11 great years and, honestly, I leave with very few regrets."

Tuck played his first nine seasons with the New York Giants, helping them win two Super Bowl titles. He spent the past two years in Oakland where he was a mentor to All Pro pass rusher Khalil Mack.

"Justin Tuck is a leader and a true professional on and off the field," Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said. "His commitment to his teammates and the organization was awesome, and he was a pleasure to coach. I wish Justin and his family nothing but the best."

Tuck was an All-Pro in 2008 when he had 12 sacks. He finishes his career with 66 1/2 sacks, 22 forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and three interceptions in 147 career games. Tuck missed the final 11 games this season with a torn pectoral muscle.

 

Browns tired of Johnny Manziel's antics, point to release

CLEVELAND (AP) ? The Browns are about to throw Johnny Football away.

The team issued a strong statement Tuesday, condemning quarterback Johnny Manziel's actions and pointing to his release in March, a move that has seemed inevitable for months.

The conduct by the 23-year-old player ? rampant partying, two domestic incidents and a general lack of commitment ? have been a major problem almost from the day Cleveland drafted the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner in the first round two years ago.

Last weekend, Manziel was involved in a disturbance with his ex-girlfriend in Dallas that is being investigated by police and the NFL.

"We've been clear about expectations for our players on and off the field," said Sashi Brown, the team's vice president of football operations. "Johnny's continual involvement in incidents that run counter to those expectations undermines the hard work of his teammates and the reputation of our organization. His status with our team will be addressed when permitted by league rules."

 

The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to terms with DE Vinny Curry on a five-year contract worth $47.5 million with $23 million guaranteed.

 

Colin Kaepernick apparently wants out of the 49ers and would like to play for the Jets. Chip Kelly apparently wanted him so this is interesting. Also would the Jets want to deal with him and hope he gets better when they have success with Ryan Fitzpatrick?

 

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-kGosnzvjU[/video]
Animal Party!

 

Former NFL quarterback Ken Stabler had brain disease CTE



BOSTON (AP) ? Former Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler, the late NFL and Super Bowl MVP who is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, has been diagnosed with the brain disease CTE, Boston University researchers said Wednesday.

Stabler, who died of colon cancer at 69 in July, had Stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Dr. Ann McKee told The Associated Press. McKee said the disease was widespread throughout his brain, with "quite severe" damage to the regions involving learning, memory and regulation of emotion.

"We've now found CTE in former NFL players who played every position except kicker," said McKee, a professor of neurology at Boston University. "While we know on average that certain positions experience more repetitive head impacts and are more likely at greater risk for CTE, no position is immune."

The diagnosis was first reported by The New York Times.

The disease, which can only be diagnosed after death, is linked to repeated brain trauma and associated with symptoms such as memory loss, depression and progressive dementia. CTE has been found in the brains of dozens of former football players.

According to Chris Nowinski, the founder of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, Stabler told his family he wanted to have his brain studied after learning that former NFL linebacker Junior Seau had been diagnosed with the disease. In 2012, Seau shot himself in the chest at the age of 43.

"What is interesting about Ken Stabler is that he anticipated his diagnosis years in advance," Nowinski told the AP. "And even though he's a football icon he began actively distancing himself from game in his final years, expressing hope that his grandsons would choose not to play."

McKee said the extent of the damage to Stabler's brain was surprising because he was relatively young when he died and because he was a quarterback and thought to be less exposed to repeated head trauma.

"There was no evidence of any other brain disorder to explain the difficulties he experienced during life," McKee said.

The left-handed Stabler, nicknamed the "Snake" for his ability to escape from defenders, led Alabama to an undefeated season in 1966. A second-round draft pick by Oakland, he was the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1974, and he was named Super Bowl MVP in 1977 after leading the Raiders to victory.

In all, Stabler threw for 27,938 career yards and a .661 winning percentage over 15 seasons, which also included stints with the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints. He was selected as a finalist for the Hall of Fame by its Seniors Committee; the inductees will be announced on Saturday.
__________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

Back in the days of my youth, the 'Snake' was a lot of fun to watch...

 

Broncos' T.J. Ward, Darian Stewart to practice today

When the Denver Broncos hit the practice field Wednesday for their ramp up to Super Bowl 50, they'll have two key members.

Coach Gary Kubiak reiterated that both safeties T.J. Ward and Darian Stewart will practice today.

"They are scheduled to work," Kubiak said. "Will they work full? Will they work limited? (That) probably depends on once we get over there and how they are doing. But the expectations today are for those two guys to be back at work full time."

Getting both Ward (ankle) and Stewart (knee) back at practice is key for the Broncos secondary, which was decimated late in the AFC Championship game. Kubiak has insisted he expects both to play versus the Panthers, barring a setback.

Facing a dual threat quarterback like Cam Newton and the NFL's No. 2 rushing offense Sunday, the Broncos will need both safeties on the field for most of the Super Bowl. Both Ward and Stewart ranked in the top 25 at their position in run defense, per Pro Football Focus.
_______________________________

Big news for Broncos fans... I have a feeling those two will be busy.