Whenever I see another ridiculous fine for something so trivial as this I have to ask: Is there a list of 'Thou Shalt Nots' written somewhere by the NFL that constitute 'conduct unbecoming'.
Certainly acts like stepping on an opponent's head, or a coach yoking a player, may fall into the category of 'Thou Shalt Not' in the NFL -- but $20,000 for waving a buck at an official? C'mon.
Ocho Cinco was recently fined $20,000 by the NFL for joking about bribing an official during Sunday's Cleveland game against the B'more raves.
So far, depending on which way the wind blows (or how low the NFL petty cash fund is) an NFL player can get fined excessively for
1)Wiping shoes during a game 2)Celebrating in the end zone after a touch down 3)Throwing a game ball into the stands after scoring 4)Autographing a ball for a fan during a game 5)Using eyeblack to honor a fallen player (teammate) 6)Outbursts at an official
There seem to be so many items that players can get fined for that I wonder if the players are aware of them all.
Having said that, it reminds me of the scene in the 2002 movie 'Undercover Brother' where Eddie Griffin asks Dave Chappelle, "Can I get a list of the words that trigger these fits?"
Hey, NFL! Can I get a list of actions that constitute receiving a hefty NFL fine?
We think the NFL should save fines for real indiscretions like this here.
More Ocho Ocho on Pacquiao fight via OCNN SPORTS NEWS:
"Just got off the phone with Manny Paquiao, due to the fact I couldn't understand a word he said I can't report a damn thing."
Howard men’s soccer freshman Phillip Borde (Ocoee, Fla./Ocoee H.S.) was named the Atlantic Soccer Conference (ASC) Rookie of the Year in voting conducted by the league’s head coaches. Borde was also named to the ASC first-team and was joined by teammate Matt Marshall (Atlanta, Ga./Grady H.S.). Goalkeeper Victor Thomas (Scarborough, Trinidad/Signal Hill) garnered second team honors and Howard placed a league-high four members on the ASC All-Academic team.
Borde was a unanimous selection for Rookie of the Year. He scored three goals with four assists for 10 points in 17 games. The Florida native also led the team in goals, assists, game winning goals, shots, shots on goal and points. He earned ASC Rookie of the Week accolades once this season.
Marshall scored three goals this year, tying the team-high and ranked second on the squad with seven points. He scored the game-winning goal against Houston Baptist on Oct. 30 and also garnered a selection to the ASC All-Academic team.
Thomas was named ASC Goalie of the Week three times this season. He posted three shutouts with a 1.72 GAA while racking up 1,360 minutes on the year.
Jamil Devers (Los Angeles, Calif./Loyola H.S.), Rotimi Iziduh (Lagos, Nigeria/Greater Tomorrow Secondary), Harvey Livingston (Sacramento, Calif./Bella Vista H.S.) were also named to the ASC All-Academic team.
Howard concluded the 2009 season with a 3-12-3 mark and 1-1-2 record in league standings.
NFL Pro Bowler and San Diego Chargers’ Shawne Merriman returns to his collegiate alma mater, the University of Maryland, to collect coats for the homeless.
With a renewed commitment to help the increasing number of homeless individuals and families, Merriman’s Lights On Foundation will call on local residents to donate coats and other cold weather clothing.
Merriman remains relentless in the 7th year in collecting coats for the shelter’s 1,350 homeless men, women and children. This year’s drive is more critical than ever as the U.S. economy has increased the homeless rate while putting a new face to those families in need.
The Lights On foundation was inspired and established by Merriman to put the “Lights Out” on homelessness.
Helping those who are less fortunate is a personal commitment of Merriman, who as a youth, spent time in several homeless shelters.
"I am 100% committed to making a difference in the lives of homeless families," said Merriman. "During these tough economic times, there are more people in need of assistance. As long as I am in a position to help others, my foundation will continue to aid people without a home," stated Merriman.
The official coat drive will be held on Tuesday, November 17th from 6:30-8:30 pm during the TERPS vs. FAIRFIELD Men's Basketball game at the University of Maryland and will include a donor appreciation and autograph session hosted by Merriman.
The 7th Annual “Lights On” Foundation Coat Drive will benefit the Community for Creative Non-Violence Shelter (CCNV) in Washington DC.
The Washington Wizards announced today that the team has signed 5'5" free agent guard Earl Boykins and waived C/F Paul Davis.
“Earl is a proven veteran point guard who will provide us with leadership and stability off of the bench,” said Grunfeld.
Boykins has career averages of 9.4 points and 3.4 assists (2.8 to 1 assist to turnover ratio) in 520 career games over 10 NBA seasons. Undrafted out of Eastern Michigan, Boykins has also played for New Jersey, Cleveland, Orlando, L.A. Clippers, Golden State, Denver, Milwaukee and Charlotte. His best season as a professional came during the 2006-07 campaign when he averaged 14.6 points and 4.4 assists while shooting .898 (220-245) from the free throw line in 66 contests with Denver and Milwaukee. Boykins played for Virtus Bologna of the Italian A League in 2008-09.
Davis appeared in two games for Washington this season and averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 assists in 4.0 minutes per game.
Wizards have been hampered with injuries from its top players in Antawn Jamison, Randy Foye, and Mike Miller. _____________________________________
Arenas, Butler, and Jamison Named to 2010 NBA All-Star Ballot
Three Washington Wizards are featured on this year’s ballot; former All-Stars Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison. Arenas is a three-time All-Star (2005, 2006, 2007) who was voted in by the fans as a starter in the 2007 game. Butler (2007 & 2008) and Jamison (2005 & 2008) have each made two All-Star appearances.
Fans can cast their votes at each NBA arena, on NBA.com; and through mobile phones by texting the player’s last name to 6-9-6-2-2 (“MYNBA”), via Web2Go® on T-Mobile phones or wap.nba.com for any wireless carrier. Follow www.washingtonwizards.com for complete details.
Television personalities Maury Povich and Connie Chung will moderate a panel on the value and challenges facing intercollegiate athletics at the fourth annual Shirley Povich Symposium, Wednesday, November 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Stamp Student Union at the University of Maryland.
The symposium is titled "Intercollegiate Athletics: Pro/Con: the Joys and Challenges of College Sports." A free-flowing exchange of ideas is expected among panelists William E. Kirwan (chancellor of the University System of Maryland), University of Maryland athletic director Deborah A. Yow, University of Maryland men's basketball coach Gary Williams, Maryland graduate Stephon Heyer of the Washington Redskins, Michael Wilbon of The Washington Post and ESPN's Scott Van Pelt.
C.D. Mote, Jr., president of the University of Maryland, and Kevin Klose, dean of the Phillip Merrill College of Journalism, will make opening remarks.
The event was established to honor the late Shirley Povich, who was a sports columnist for The Washington Post for 75 years and for many years the sports editor of the newspaper. Mr. Povich died in 1998. The event is co-sponsored this year by the University of Maryland's Phillip Merrill College of Journalism and the Maryland Society. The Maryland Society is exclusive to donors who make cumulative lifetime gifts or pledges of $100,000 or more to the University of Maryland.
The program is free and open to the public. Reservations may be made by e-mailing: events@ur.umd.edu
No jelly donuts for officers of Baltimore, Maryland. At least not when Ray Lewis is around.
The inside linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens is using his onfield fitness know how to help whip Baltimore's police officers into great fitness shape.
Each Tuesday night - for one hour - the officers participate in the Ray Lewis 'boot camp' style workout session.
Whether it be jump rope, push ups, sit ups, Lewis won't let up.
In the first 30 days of the program, officers are seeing results.
Okay, readers. It's time for another one our 'Not So Sports Related' moments. Since you're here anyway, you may as well take a listen.
I happened upon this band last Saturday night. Introducing: Epitome Band. I like their Go-Go sound. Their performance last Saturday at Indulj was uplifting.
One day after the Redskins fell 17-31 to the Atlanta Falcons, the team struggles to get back to basics.
That will first begin with getting players healthy. Several players, including running back Clinton Portis, suffered injuries on Sunday.
Portis suffered a concussion in the first quarter and did not return to the game. The day after, Portis reportedly “has a headache”, and doesn’t even “remember the play” that concussed him.
This isn’t a good thing.
Just two weeks ago NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell participated in a congressional hearing on Capitol Hill about the affects of concussions on NFL players and its relation to neurological disorders and Alzheimers disease.
“He’s doubtful for this week”, said coach Zorn, referring to the upcoming game against Denver. “We have to be very cautious with a concussion.”
Rock Cartright could take up the slack for Portis, if needed. Or Larry Johnson.
Johnson, the former Kansas City Chief who was released by the team for this, and this, may be considered by the Skins.
In today’s presser however, Zorn left the possibility undetermined.
"I don't know. I need to have a longer conversation than I've had to make a decision."
Where Was The Love? A few things noticed in the game Sunday against Atlanta. With Jason Campbell getting sacked six times, one has to ask, where was the defense? Jason has got to get better protection from his teammates. Campbell suffered a chest contusion and re-injured a nagging (right) ankle leaving many wondering if he’ll be able to perform this coming week.
But with stats like these for the season you have to ask, where was that love for the quarterback this past Sunday?
DeAngelo ‘Get At Me’ Hall Amid DeAngelo Hall claiming Falcons’ head coach Mike Smith verbally threatened him, put his hands on him “in a harmful way”, and Hall advising Smith that if "he wants to see me, he can definitely find me”, many were wondering where was the Redskins bench in all the mêlée.
A sea of Atlanta Falcons red jerseys could be seen (from Sara Palin’s front porch in Alaska) while hardly a Redskin uniform could be found.
“I’m glad our players didn’t get involved”, said Zorn. “Hall was calm, and I thought the players did a good job of not escalating this.”
It’s not clear, at this time, if any fines have been levied against any of the players, or Coach Smith. (Hall fined by Falcons before).
**Update** Coach Smith was fined $15,000. The NFL also fined Redskins safety LaRon Landry $7,500. Washington defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth was fined $5,000 and Falcons director of athletic performance, Jeff Fish was fined $2,500. DeAngelo Hall was not fined.
Lots Of Love for Marko Mitchell. The rookie from Nevada who sat out most of the season, even after showing a lot of potential during the preseason games – finally got his chance on Sunday. Mitchell caught for two passes and told us he “was pleased with his performance.” The Skins could certainly use more from the likes of Mitchell.
More Injuries. Safety, Chris Horton is expected to see a specialist about a strained ligament under his big toe, and could be out 4-6 weeks. If surgery is needed on Horton’s toe he could be out for 4-6 months and is “likely an Injured Reserved candidate”. Horton registered 36 tackles, including two for loss, three passes defensed and a fumble recovery.
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**Horton Update** Horton On IR. Skins Resign Ganther. The Washington Redskins placed safety Chris Horton on Injured Reserve and re-signed running back Quinton Ganther. Ganther, originally signed with the team on Oct. 20, but was inactive for the team’s Week 7 contest against Philadelphia, prior to the Redskins bye week. He was released this past Saturday.
Ganther, has played in 13 games over the last three seasons for the Tennessee Titans. He spent the majority of 2006 and 2007 on the Titans’ practice squad before sticking to the 53-man roster for all of 2008. Last season, Ganther had nine carries for 61 yards (6.8 avg.) and caught six passes for 43 yards. _______
Offensive tackle, Mike Williams will be out for a minimum of two weeks with a ligament tear in his ankle. He is not expected to have surgery.
Chris Cooley is still out with a broken ankle sustained against the Philly Eagles two weeks ago.
With All The Injuries, Team Still Competitive?
“One thing that we will do is be competitive. We’ll go out and compete. We will put our best effort out on the field. These guys want to compete. I didn’t have any kind of doubt that we put people on the field that want to play hard. It will just be something that we have to be mindful of as we get our group together and see what they can do. We have to ask them to rise up. That’s the nature of football.”
Aw, the optimism never seizes from the head coach.
Skins To Honor Veterans In honor of Veterans Day, the Washington Redskins will host retired service men and women at an afternoon practice. The Washington Redskins will host 25 service men and women from the Southeast Veterans Service Center in Washington, DC for lunch at Redskins Park followed by an afternoon of watching the Redskins practice. The veterans will have the opportunity to meet with Redskins players and coaches.
