NFL - NEWS & NOTES

The Saints have agreed to terms with free agent Ty Montgomery, Nick Underhill of neworleans.football reports.

Montgomery has played both running back and receiver, giving Sean Payton yet another toy for his offense.

The Packers made Montgomery a third-round choice in 2015. He started his career at receiver before moving to running back after the Packers had injuries at the position.

He also returned kickoffs, and in fact, a fumble on a kickoff late in a 2018 game against the Rams, and the aftermath of whether he was told to down it in the end zone, got him traded to the Ravens.

Montgomery, 27, played with the Jets last season, seeing action in 16 games with two starts.

He had 45 touches for 193 yards and returned 18 kickoffs for a 20.2 yards average last season.

NBC

 

Team facilities can reopen Tuesday but remain closed to coaching staffs



The NFL will allow teams that are allowed to under state and local regulations to reopen their team facilities beginning Tuesday, but only for certain personnel.

The league ensured an equal playing field by specifically prohibiting coaching staffs from team facilities during the “Phase 1” reopening. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is among those who have said all facilities should open at the same time.

Some states remain under stay-at-home orders, while others have eased restrictions.

In a memo sent to team executives and General Managers on Friday that was obtained by PFT, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he expects coaching staffs to return to team facilities “in a relatively short time.”

Players could return as early as next month.

The criteria for the first phase of reopening include securing approval from state and local authorities, being in compliance with any additional public health requirements in the jurisdiction and implementing protocols developed by the league’s chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills.

Teams planning to reopen Tuesday must have Infection Control Officers employed by the team take a required training program Monday night.

Only 50 percent of a team’s staff is allowed in the facility at one time and no more than 75 people.

“No members of the coaching staff may return to the facility,” the memo reads. “This is important to ensure equity among all 32 clubs. Clubs may otherwise decide which employees may return to the facility, which may include members of the personnel, football operations or football administration staff, equipment staff, medical staff, and nutritionists. If the strength and conditioning coach is currently participating in player rehabilitation, he may continue that work in the facility. Otherwise, the strength and conditioning coach may not return until the rest of the coaching staff is allowed to return.”

Players still are prohibited from team facilities for now unless they are undergoing treatment or rehabilitation.

Teams unable to meet the league’s criteria for reopening Tuesday “may reopen their facilities on the earliest date thereafter on which they are able to meet the criteria.”

NBC

 

DeAndre Baker, Quinton Dunbar remain at large

More than a day after arrest warrants were issued for Giants cornerback Deandre Baker and Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar (pictured), both men remain at large.

They face felony charges arising from alleged involvement in an armed robbery. Via David Ovalle of the Miami Herald, Dunbar’s lawyer has professed his client’s innocence. [Editor’s note: They rarely if ever say, “Yep, he did it.”]

Lawyer Michael Grieco contends that he presented multiple affidavits to the prosecutor’s office, but that the authorities still expect Dunbar to turn himself in, or be arrested.

“All of the affidavits indicate my client is innocent,” Greico said, adding that the police seem to be reveling in the fact that they have a chance to reel in a big fish.

“I have never in my career seen a police department so excited about arresting a celebrity,” Greico said.

Greico wouldn’t say whether Dunbar will turn himself in. Although he’s not violating the law while remaining at large, showing up voluntarily typically entails a procedure less onerous than the cuffing and stuffing that is reserved for those who choose to force the police to come get them.

Even if Dunbar is innocent, the case won’t be dismissed based on comments his lawyer makes to the media. Dunbar needs to show up, go through the process, and hope that the strong constitutional protections aimed at keeping innocent men from being wrongfully jailed will keep him from being convicted.

Via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, Miramar, Florida authorities dispute the suggestion that the police are treating Dunbar and Baker any differently than anyone else. The police also say that none of the witnesses to the alleged crime have recanted statements given at the scene.

Regardless of whether that is or isn’t true, the charges stand, and they’re not going to go away simple because Dunbar, Baker, and/or Grieco want them to.

NBC

 

Next week, NFL teams will be able to launch a Phase 1 reopening of their facilities, if the state and local governments where the teams are located allow it.

According to Judy Battista of NFL Media, roughly 22 of 32 franchises will be permitted to return to work.

The league is allowing the disparity, even though almost a third of the league won’t be permitted to return employees to work. Minimizing the inequity is the fact that coaches aren’t allowed to return to the facilities.

According to the NFL, this also includes the one coach who also is the team’s General Manager. Bill O’Brien of the Texans will be prevented from returning to the facility (if the Texans are able to open their facility), even though he technically runs the football operation.

NBC

 

Confusing

 

I’m not sure how to feel about this article. I’m all for the advancement of minorities in NFL front offices. But part of me wonders if this idea is simply another version of inequality. Maybe my issue is with how many levels of benefits there are. Maybe it’s simply hard to follow. Anyways, here’s the link

https://www.thescore.com/nfl/news/1974238

 

Attorney says Deandre Baker turned himself in this morning



The attorney for Giants cornerback Deandre Baker says Baker surrendered to police on Saturday morning in connection with felony charges arising from alleged involvement in an armed robbery.

“Reports are correct that Deandre turned himself in this morning,” attorney Bradford Cohen wrote on Instagram. “I am a believer in the system and that if everything works the matter will be appropriately resolved. Both my client and I have felt @miramarpd and the Detective working the case, were accommodating and went out of their way to assure Mr Bakers privacy during this hard time.”

Cohen wrote that the full story of what happened is not reflected in the police report.

“Police reports are just that, reports of what was told to them or said to them. Court is what we use to then examine those reports, investigate those claims and allow the Defendant an opportunity to confront the evidence. Don’t rush to judgement,” Cohen wrote.

Baker is accused of drawing a semi-automatic firearm and, in coordination with Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar, robbing multiple victims of more than $11,000 in cash, an $18,000 Rolex watch, a $25,000 Hublot watch, a $17,500 Audemars Piguet watch and other valuables.

NBC

 

Cody Latimer arrested for assault, menacing, illegal discharge of a firearm



Washington wide receiver Cody Latimer was arrested early this morning on several charges after someone called police and reported shots fired inside an apartment.

According to the Sheriff’s Office in Douglas County, Colorado, deputies were called at 12:11 a.m. They arrived at the apartment in question and arrested Latimer and took him to the Douglas County Detention Facility, where he has just posted $25,000 bond.

Latimer was booked on assault in the second degree, menacing, illegal discharge of a firearm, prohibited use of a weapon and reckless endangerment.

A 2014 second-round draft pick of the Broncos, Latimer lasted four years in Denver and then played two more years with the Giants. He signed in Washington last month. Given Latimer’s overall lack of production and the seriousness of these charges, it wouldn’t be surprising to if this turns out to be the end of his NFL career.

NBC

 

It gets tricky when people try to legislate morality and force issues. It would seem to me, in this day and age of money talks, that if your a winner at any level, you'd get a job if you were green skinned.

 

Clearly the quarantine was too much for NFL players.

 

Quinton Dunbar turns himself in

Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar has turned himself in to authorities in Florida, two days after the issuance of an arrest warrant charging him with armed robbery and aggravated assault.

Dunbar’s lawyer, who has extended the all-time record of claiming that his client didn’t do it, announced the move on social media — repeatedly spelling Dunbar’s name (first and last) incorrectly.

“Today our client Quintin [sic] Dubar [sic] voluntarily surrendered at the Broward County jail pursuant to a bogus arrest warrant based solely on uncorroborated witness statements that have since been recanted,” Michael Grieco said. “As I write this an innocent man sits in jail, facing charges that hold no water. His career and reputation have been put in jeopardy as a result of an overzealous [Miramar police department] that was so excited about arrested a pro football player that they tweeted out their celebration and even tagged his employer in their ‘virtual touchdown dance.’

“When this case gets dropped I wonder if the Miramar cops will be tweeting out their apology to. In my 20-year criminal justice career I have rarely seen an injustice like this. Quintin [sic] has never been in trouble before and to think he’s now sitting in jail risking his health during a pandemic due to recanted false allegations makes me sick. This is when the prosecutors can correct the wrongs committed by the police’s rush to judgment.”

Grieco last point is his strongest, that Dunbar (if truly innocent) is being placed at undue risk of contracting the coronavirus. Instead of complaining on social media, however, Grieco should be focusing all efforts on getting Dunbar in front of a judge ASAFP and getting him released on bail, so that the charges can be fought properly while Dunbar is somewhere other than behind bars. At a minimum, Grieco should be pestering the police to ensure that Dunbar has sufficient protections against the virus while awaiting a bail hearing.

Giants cornerback Deandre Baker faces similar charges for the May 13 incident, an alleged armed robbery at a private party. Baker’s lawyer also has proclaimed his client’s innocence.

Both men are entitled to the presumption of innocence. It’s now up to their lawyers to parlay that presumption and other Constitutional protections into a dismissal of charges by a judge or, if need be, an acquittal at trial.

NBC

 

I hope they have a better defense than they played on the field last season

 

Both men are entitled to the presumption of innocence. It’s now up to their lawyers to parlay that presumption and other Constitutional protections into a dismissal of charges by a judge or, if need be, an acquittal at trial.


WOW..........stayed tuned eh.

 

Bills defensive lineman Ed Oliver was arrested overnight in Houston.

According to the Montgomery County Jail, Oliver is being held on one count of driving while intoxicated and one count of unlawfully carrying a weapon.

Oliver was pulled over in response to a 911 call by another driver, according to MontgomeryCountyPoliceReporter.com. According to the report, Oliver had an open beer between his legs and was brought in for a mandatory blood draw before being taken to jail. A search of his car found a pistol. No drugs were found.

The Bills chose Oliver with the ninth overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft. He had a good rookie season and is viewed as a building block for the Bills’ franchise, but this incident leaves open the possibility that he’ll miss part of this season with a league-mandated suspension.

NBC

 

It's fuckong stupid week.

 

Seriously, the players clearly need work to keep them busy

 

This happens every offseason. You just hope you don’t hear of your favorite team having someone who does it.

 

The 'Boys vs. The Birds
2020 Season
Week Opponent

2 vs Falcons


3 at Seahawks

6 vs Cardinals

8 at Eagles

13 at Ravens

16 vs Eagles

"The Bird Gauntlet" was previously run by the 2009 Chicago Bears, who took on an Alfred Hitchcock-esque attack to the tune of a 1-4 showing, and the 2014 Panthers, who needed playoff games against the Cardinals and Seahawks to finish said gauntlet and emerge with a 2-5 record in doing so.

While the Cowboys already have a regular season cluttered with feathered foes, two of their NFC East brethren – the Giants and Redskins – also have a chance at playing the "Bird Gauntlet," but would have to face the Falcons in the playoffs.

Of further historic note was that a four-team "Bird Gauntlet" obviously existed prior to the Ravens being hatched.


That gauntlet was last run by the Redskins and the Cowboys in 1992. Dallas went 6-1 (the Cardinals were members of the NFC East then) that season on its way to winning a Super Bowl, propelled no doubt by having previously taken the wind beneath their opponents' wings for themselves.

As Dallas looks once more to complete its running of the birds, it's staring at some unkind history, as well.

Despite playing in an NFC East that was ridiculously lacking in 2019, the Cowboys lost out to the Eagles for the division title with Philadelphia winning the crown and the teams' last meeting. However, the Cowboys are 4-1 over their last five against the Eagles. Against their other upcoming flighty foes they've interestingly defeated all of them in their last meeting, but have struggled over their last five. Dallas is 1-4 over its last five and all-time against Baltimore, it's 1-4 versus Arizona, 2-3 against Seattle and it's 2-3 versus Atlanta.

Thus, while the bird is the word for the Cowboys in 2020, the schedule doesn't promise any smooth surfing.

Nearly 30 years later after running the four-team "Bird Gauntlet," Dallas has a stacked offense boasting Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper, a talent-laden roster overall and the sky's the limit for the Cowboys. And it's also where they'll find a good many of their opponents.

NFL.com

 

Seattle used to be in the AFCW back in 1992