By Barry McBride Posted Jun 26, 2013 Ausar Walcott signed with the team last month, and is in deep water today. 0 Comments The bad news just never seems to stop for the Cleveland Browns. Ever. Now, a recent signee, Ausar Walcott, is charged with attempted murder for allegedly punching a man outside of a bar around 3AM on Sunday morning. The victim is in critical condition. The North Jersey Record reported that the linebacker, who played college ball at the University of Virginia, turned himself in to authorities on Tuesday. According to the report, he has been charged with first-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault, and third-degree endangering an injured victim. The Browns signed Walcott last month, and issued a brief statement on Tuesday saying they were aware of the situation. UPDATE: Around mid-day Wednesday, the Browns announced they have released Walcott.
They probably felt they needed to since NE acted so fast or else hes probably still on the team....I agree Bluez, this org. is pretty much a joke so far.
transpired since the end of last season. Jimmy Haslam and his company, Pilot Flying J, are under investigation by the FBI for a (alleged) massive rebate scam that Jimmy Haslam (allegedly) knew about. Fresh free-agent linebacker Quentin Groves was arrested for soliciting a prostitute after being caught in a police sting. Undrafted free agent Ausur Walcott was released from the team after being charged with attempted murder after punching a man who is now in critical condition. Wide receiver Josh Gordon will serve a two-game penalty after failing a drug test. The Browns' massively overblown announcement of a Bon Jovi concert to kick off the season at Browns Stadium is followed shortly by an announcement of a cancellation of said concert due to lackluster ticket sales. Browns allow "all-access" to Grantland's Chuck Klosterman leading up to draft day, however, they shut him out of most meetings and interviews. The only interesting tidbit from his story, which displays the unchecked paranoia of the Browns' regime: "The war room is tense. Its ambience falls somewhere between a maternity waiting room and an East Berlin safe house. Sometimes the cable cuts out and all three televisions flicker in unison ? but before an IT worker is allowed to enter the room and check the connection, Lombardi hastily erases Mingo's name from the white board. This IT worker is a Browns employee who (I assume) works in the facility every single day. He's nobody. Yet he still can't be trusted. It seems a little crazy, but that's how this world operates. It's crazy on purpose. I think they like it that way." They sold the naming rights to the stadium. First fucking something or other. For some reason, they thought it was huge news. Oh, and the Ravens won the Super Bowl. No. 2 for Cleveland that should have been, if you're keeping track. Factory of Sadness, indeed
The Hernandez dismissal by NE seemed like the right thing. Walcott? I feel like I am less than well informed on this one, and "First Degree Attempted Murder"? Isn't that a charge that carries "premeditation"? I guess I just find the circumstances murky, and "murder", well maybe, but it leaves a lot of leeway legally. I think. Not to defend what he did, but I am finding it hard to see the crime the same way as Hernandez, who is involved if not charged with the shooting, multiple shots, destroying any evidence, ets..... His behavior demanded his dismissal, and frankly his incarceration. A bad guy from any angle, but punching a guy? I admit to not having gotten much info, but it seems bizarre. From a team mgt standpint, "weak". Looks undecisive, then sheeplike in following NE's lead. Does anyone have a plan, a backbone, and intellect in this mix?
Have I ever mentioned how much I loath ignorance? The problem with this inept statement is that the Brown's released him, before the Patriots. National media had their heads so far up Tue Pats arse, they reported it much faster than the 2nd page report of the Browns dropping an undrafted free agent signer... Then again, you never have cared much about fact or truth...keep up the good work, or better yet go find a FSU board any where else but here.
He didn't just punch a guy and then go home. He continued beating him while unconcious. He was incapacitated, yet Walcott took him to the edge of his life. Most likely it would get reduced to voluntary manslaughter if he dies...but just like some martial arts patrons, being a professional athlete brings unfair responsibility when physical altercations occur. In other words, a normal guy can't physically defend himself against someone who's job is being the top 5% physically in the world...won't hold up in court, but he can certainly be charged. Either way, wrong type of player we want on our team, imho.
to be honest i had never heard of Walcott until he got arrested . *DONT_KNOW* . i vaguely remember them signing him .not really a loss IMHO . Stopper i never called this new regime a joke . i simply state that they are reaching for players with baggage . that is something we haven't had to deal with . i don't want to turn into Cincinnati north .i am all for second & sometimes third chances if the situation is right . they must feel that Bryant can contribute as he was busted for DUI a week after he was drafted . he fell in the draft because of his screw ups .if he pans out we may have a steal . are they trying to bring in players with swagger ? are they trying to bring in more players with a nasty attitude ? will it help the Browns win ? or will they upset the lockeroom ? a team that has a solid veteran core in its lockeroom can handle the knuckleheads as they can give them some guidance .i dont think we have that in place with all the youth . we have a few Vets like DQ & Joe Thomas but i have no idea how much influence they have over other players . Thomas is a pretty quiet guy .
We had this conversation after OTAs stopped bluez, the stupid thugs just don't get it. All the money in the world won't change STUPID! %) Hernandez, Young, Walcott........... The NFL and NBA are brothers >
since the Super Bowl ended there has been 27 players arrested in the NFL . we still have time before camp opens . how many more will screw up before then trying to get in there last fling before camp opens ? my over / under is 10 . just hop no more are ours . will be glad when camp opens and we can concentrate on football instead of all this other legal stuff . Haslams legal troubles wont go away with camp opening . i wish that would just go away . if it isn't one thing around here its another *WALL*
I agree blue..These guys work their arses off to get away from "the life", yet won't leave it behind when their dreams come to fruition. Instead they get a paycheck and want to be the Lord of their old domain. It simply sucks them right back in. It really is heart breaking...Too many youth won't ever get a chance, these guys continue to piss their chance away.
I spent a lot of time yesterday watching the events as they unfolded in the Aaron Hernandez story. I wondered how a talented young man who just signed a $40M contract extension and had the world by the ass could {allegedly} act in this manner. The look of surprise on his face when arrested in the foyer of his home and his demeanor during the arraignment suggested to me that he truly did not think he would be held accountable for his actions. I think he truly felt he could "get away with murder". IMHO, I think, at least part of the blame belongs to us . . . the fan. The Canonization process begins the second a young man's name is read during the NFL draft. To most of us, it doesn't mean chit if the man just drafted has a checkered past. It's only "what can he do on the field that will help our team"? If he has ANY success on the field at all, We elevate him to a God-Like status. In his mind, he was pampered all through college and now, he sees the same idolization only with a very good paycheck attached to it. When you look at the big picture (using Bluez' head count of arrests), there are currently 90 players on each of the 32 team rosters. That's 2,880 players. 27 of those players being arrested for one thing or another is less than 1%. I don't have a clue on how many "normal" citizens got arrested during this same time frame, but I would suspect that it is more than 1% of the general population and we don't turn a blind eye to any of these people. *SCRATCH*
another reason i respected Mangini so much . he grounded these guys from the outset . most have got free passes all through there school years .most were pampered spoilt atheltes who had a feeling of entitlement . Mangini would put a foot in there ass right form the get go by installing discipline and accountability . say what you want about him but IMHO that was not a good thing but a great thing to do not only for the team but also the individuals involved . i hope he gets another shot as a HC . as much i love Chud since he is in some ways one of us as he grew up a die hard Browns fan i still wish that the tubby duo of h&h had left Mangini to just coach !
Lyman, I got the same impression in regards to the Hernandez arrest. He looked stunned that the police were actually there to haul him away. I think he truly believed (and maybe he still does) that he's above the law. Standing there at his arraignment, the look of arrogance was still evident...And now it looks like they are connecting him to a double homicide on the streets of Boston from July of 2012. Some bar fight that ended up with 3 people getting shot, 2 of the fatally.... I think it's pretty obvious that he's a bad dude, and a dangerous individual....Maybe a complete psycho. I don't know...Going to be interesting to follow though. Hopefully justice prevails in this one. Not many multi millionaires get convicted of murder in this country....Sure seems to be a ton evidence stacking up on him. Don't see how he's going to buy his way out of this mess....I feel bad for the victim's families, but I'm sure a measure of justice would be appreciated....
The arrest of New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez for murder yesterday is obviously bad news for the NFL and its most successful team since Tom Brady took over at quarterback in 2001. CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 25: Running back Trent Richardson #33 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates after running for a touchdown during the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns Stadium on November 25, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Steelers 20-14. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife) But the NFL?s bigger concern right now are the Cleveland Browns. The Browns should be one of football?s flagship small-market franchises. The reincarnated version of the team, which replaced the version that moved to Baltimore for the 1996 season, moved into a great stadium in 1999. And the Browns have historically had rabid fans in football-crazy Ohio. But bad management has made a mess of things in Cleveland. The Browns have posted only two winning seasons over the past 13 years. FirstEnergy Stadium is being filled to only 90% of capacity despite having the league?s lowest ticket prices ($54.20). We pegged the team?s revenue at $258 million for the 2011 season, tied with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for 20th in the NFL. The Browns, which have the second-lowest general ticket prices among the league?s 32 teams, have not attempted to increase prices in five years. The Browns were looking to re-boot after James Haslam bought the team last October for an enterprise value of $987 million (part of the $1.01 billion purchase price will paid in the future) from Randy Lerner. So much did the NFL love Haslam that the Browns were not sold or vetted by an investment banker. Instead, the league handled the sale. The new owner moved quickly to rebuild the team and fan base. Haslam fired team president Mike Holmgren immediately after buying the Browns. Then he hired a new head coach, Rob Chudzinski in January and vowed to take a hands-on role with the NFL draft. The Browns also dropped the requirement for new season ticket owners to buy personal seat licenses. But the Browns now appear on the verge of imploding. Haslam?s Pilot Flying J Pilot Flying J, his source of wealth, is being investigated by the FBI for defrauding customers. Three of the truck stop company?s employees have entered guilty pleas. And credit ratings for Pilot Flying J have been put on negative watch for possible downgrade by both Moody?s Investors Service and Standard & Poor?s. Meanwhile, a few players that joined the Browns after Haslam bought the team have already gotten in trouble with the law. Quentin Groves, signed as a free agent, was arrested in April and charged with solicitation in a prostitution sting. Seventh-round draft pick Armonty Bryant was cuffed by the cops in May for drunken driving. And undrafted free agent Ausar Walcott was cut by the Browns after he was arrested for an attempted murder on Tuesday. Will Haslam be able hang on to the Browns, let alone rebuild the team? Who knows? Haslam has said he had no knowledge of the wrongdoings. He has also stated it will be business as usual for the Browns and has apologized to the other owners and has done the same with the team?s fans. But lawsuits can be expensive. So is keeping a company under attack by the government afloat. Don?t be shocked if Haslam unloads his team. It might be the best thing for both the Browns and the NFL.
Lyman, as an umpire, I see it way down in Little League age also. Pampered and elevated youngsters' self importance becomes to much for them to stay on an even course. Bad attitude towards other players and adults, in general for some, come at a very early age. Through travel ball, high school ball the stage becomes harder and emotionly some crack. They just quit or they will act out their rage under the pressure and soon become their own worst enemy. Parents in most cases are to blame for these youngsters because they supply the pressure and some just can not handle it and the cork pops off and trouble will follow. It is sad, not for Hernandez in general but it is odd that for all that the professional player has achieved for a life long pursuit, poor judgement gets in the way of a comfortable later years.
Which was my whole point of the post... You latch on to a single negative sentence from one report and exploit it into your own hate...It is negligent The media is driven by the headlines and those are bigger as the star is brighter... The Patriots released Hernandez at 10:26am officially, it was being reported around 10:20am they were releasing him The Browns released Walcott at 10:20am officially and Schefter reported it around 12:20 via Twitter, this was "breakng news" Then came the retorts, "the Browns figured they needed to follow the Patriots lead", by imposters like you What is APPARENT is that neither organization knew what the others intentions were, just felt doing the right thing trumped the circumstances of keeping these men on their respective rosters. If they had been reported in chronological order, would you have been on the Patriots board saying the Patriots were just following the Browns lead??? Or course not...that is why I can't show you an ounce of respect
Now take those arrests in the general population and put a dollar amount on the statistics..How many of these arrests are done in the highest tax brackets in America, which these NFL athletes are a part of? Many acts of violence are out of desperation, not forgivable, but at least explainable. These guys have opportunities that the other 99% of the world will never imagine. IMHO, that is the difference...not the fact they are only 1% of the NFL
