NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Hall of Fame voter: I would have snubbed T.O. if I’d known he wouldn’t show up

One of the most vocal opponents of Terrell Owens’ Hall of Fame candidacy has a new retroactive basis for opposing Owens’ induction.

Gary Myers, formerly of the New York Daily News, was at the front end of the bashing of Owens that occurred when voters snubbed him twice for enshrinement. In the aftermath of Owens’ decision not to show up for the Hall of Fame ceremony, Myers has a new basis for trying to keep Owens out.

“Terrell Owens informed Pro Football HOF he’s not attending induction ceremony,” Myers said in a Thursday tweet that has since been deleted. “Unprecedented. Classy guy. If I knew he would not show up, I would have voted for somebody who would have. T.O was not happy it took until third year to get in. Don’t know reason he’s not showing up.”

It wasn’t just that it took Owens three tries to get in. Plenty of guys need three tries to get in, including Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin. But when Irvin didn’t make it on his first or second try, none of the voters felt compelled to say anything other than, “Only five modern-era candidates get in each year, which means that many eventual Hall of Famers will have to wait.”

And they could have said other things. After all, Irvin stabbed a teammate in the neck with scissors. But it’s Owens, not Irvin, who has the “bad teammate” label routinely applied to him.

“The bottom line on T.O. is he was so disruptive,” Myers said after Owens was overlooked the first time, in early 2016. “[H]e tore teams apart. . . . He’s a Hall of Fame player that five teams couldn’t wait to get rid of. So what does that tell you about how disruptive he was?”

Apart from the fact that the “couldn’t wait to get rid of” Owens take is deeply flawed, the exercise remains gratuitous and, in light of the fact that he eventually got in, odd. By obsessing over trumped-up narratives and downplaying the finest moment of his career before eventually letting him in — possibly in response to the enormous pressure to relent — the voters have created a sense that Owens is only reluctantly welcome, and that he’s not truly as worthy as the rest of the Hall of Famers.

Owens gets it, and it could be (should be) one of the reasons why he doesn’t want to attend the ceremony. Myers’ admission that his vote on Owens’ eligibility would have been influenced by knowledge of his willingness to show up for the enshrinement could be (should be) a basis for the Hall of Fame to consider whether Myers should continue to have a vote. (PFT)

 

Yeah, I agree with the article above. If your vote is even remotely dependent on whether someone will be there for the ceremony or not, you shouldn't be voting. Putting someone in the Hall of Fame is about whether or not they've accomplished / shown enough, and that's all. It's not about whether they want to be a part of the pageant or not.

TO not being there shouldn't be a big deal. It just shouldn't matter. The sad part is, due to everyone that's making a big deal out of it (including those here), the ceremony this year and those that deserve the honor and recognition will be second to nonsense, egotistical drama that people are perpetuating. It's a damn shame that the other people on that stage have to suffer for it - not because of TO, but because of every other damn person that thinks that him not being there is important.

 

with a monster HOF class this year, fans are looking forward to some great speeches. not having TO there doesn't take away from the other honorees. I can't wait to see Ray Lewis' and Brian Dawkins' speeches among others.

 

I just find it funny that he wont be there. I find it strange that he snubbed the norm to have his own party... so what, its just an opinion. I think he's a goof and he thinks im a goof... were even.

 

I rarely look forward to hearing honorees speak but I am really interested in hearing Dawkins. Can't help but be a fan of both the game he plays and the man himself.

 

I didn't know much of him till I just researched him... its amazing the dichotomy and the life spectrum of NFL players. Sometimes there's more than meets the eye. Sometimes the 'man' is larger than the game.

 

he likes to cry, so expect a lot of tears !

 

Do you think Ray Lewis will wear the bloody suit?

 

that's so wrong.

 

Twitter going crazy over Pats rumour that Gronk is getting traded today or that any major move could be happening today. LOL

 

Gronk to the Vikings …. book it !!!!!

 

Andre Hal diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Texans safety Andre Hal announced on Friday that he has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Hal got an initial diagnosis from the team physician and is undergoing further testing at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston as he puts together a treatment plan.

“My faith in God and the support from my family, friends, teammates and coaches will see me through this difficult time,” Hal said in a statement. “I will not let this diagnosis stop me from fulfilling my dreams and I do not want anyone to feel sorry for me. I know how to beat this and I will beat it.”

The McNair family and head coach Bill O’Brien also released statements pledging their full support for Hal as he battles the disease.

It’s a process the Texans know all too well after offensive lineman David Quessenberry was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2014. Quessenberry returned to action last year and played in the team’s final two games of the season.

Everyone at PFT hopes for a similar outcome for Hal as well as Giants General Manager Dave Gettleman, who announced his own lymphoma diagnosis earlier this week. (PFT)

 

Cardinals think they can have the best offensive line in the NFL

There’s nothing more important to the Cardinals this season than protecting the oft-injured starting quarterback, Sam Bradford, and giving first-round rookie, Josh Rosen, time to develop. The Cardinals think they have the offensive line to make that happen.

That’s the word from Cardinals offensive line coach Ray Brown, who said he believes the Cardinals can have the best offensive line in the NFL.

“What I tell guys all the time, when I got this job and went into that first meeting, I said, ‘Guys, we really can be the best in the world. We can be the best in the league. We can have the best offensive line in the league.’ I was like, ‘Wow, I said that,'” Brown told the team’s website. “When you say things like that [out loud], you have to work toward it. I always tell guys, you don’t necessarily need to have sight to have vision. For me, I have this vision of us being the best, of us winning championships. Now, that’s me saying that. The minute you put that out in the air . . . you’ve got to move toward that. You have to work your tail off.”

The Cardinals have a new right side of the line with right guard Justin Pugh and right tackle Andre Smith, while center A.Q. Shipley, left guard Mike Iupati and left tackle D.J. Humphries remain. If that group really can jell well enough to be the best line in the NFL, that would dramatically change the fortunes of a team that has missed the playoffs two straight years. (PFT)

 

Julian Edelman issues statement after failed PED test

New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman has responded to reports that he's facing a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance enhancing substances.

"I am very sorry -- I don't know what happened," Edelman wrote on his Instagram story on Friday. "I've taken many, many tests obviously over the course of my career, and nothing like this has ever happened. I apologize to the Kraft family, my coaches, teammates and fans. As this matter is being appealed, I can't say anymore but no matter what, I will be ready to play and pursue another championship with our team and for Patriots fans around the world."

We won't get into the semantics of a player saying he's "sorry" while simultaneously appealing the act for which he is apologizing for allegedly committing.

If the suspension holds, Edelman will miss the Patriots' first four regular-season games against the Texans, Jaguars, Lions and Dolphins.

The 32-year-old missed the entire 2017 season after suffering a torn ACL during a preseason tilt. If Edelman loses his appeal, he would still be eligible to participate in training camp practices and preseason games. (NFL.com)

 

You can still say “sorry” to the fans and the organization, all the while appealing the result and/or punishment. It is not an admission of guilt for intentionally trying to cheat. The “journalist” is a twit... par for the course of recent news articles.

Bert Sugar, where have you gone?

 

Aren't you supposed to have a new AV

 

We are currently working on that request. See the hockey boards for further updates.
Thank you and have a nice day.
firehalo

 

yeah I saw that looks like a welch

 

Nothing is definite. Please stand by...

 

I'm gonna miss crazy Dennis Hopper.



...and if that's not Dennis Hopper, it's who I see!