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Steve McNair's Tragic End Shouldn't Tarnish His Legacy

Posted: Jul 6th 2009 1:13PM by Nancy Gay (author feed)
Filed under: Ravens, Titans, NFL Quarterbacks, NFL Analysis

We tend to forget that there are human beings behind statistics -- the touchdowns, the passes, catches and tackles. The victories, mistakes and losses. Then Steve McNair, once a powerful, influential football player, but also a husband, father of four and a friend, was gunned down.

As the shock of his sudden death staggered friends and fans, the details quickly became muddled and disturbing. Why was McNair shot multiple times, including twice in the head? Who was the 20-year-old woman, found dead of a single gunshot wound to the head, lying near McNair's feet in the former quarterback's rented Nashville condominium?

The Tennessee Titans' signature player and a beloved figure in the Nashville community, gone at age 36.

Latest Details: Police Confirm Kazemi Recently Bought Gun
Travis: McNair Earned Respect | Mariotti: Case Puts Reputation in Question

Continue Reading Steve McNair's Tragic End Shouldn't Tarnish His Legacy

Joey Porter Defends Plaxico Burress, Athletes Who Carry Guns

Posted: Dec 9th 2008 7:30PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Dolphins, Giants, AFC East, NFC East, NFL Police Blotter, NFL Fans

11 COMMENTS

Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter comes off as a smack-talking buffoon, but it's all an act. He's sort of like Tony Kornheiser in that respect; he plays dumb for the crowd, but the reality is that he's a pretty sharp dude. So with that in mind, I was interested in his comments on the whole "Plax blew a hole in his own leg?!" fiasco that has since earned the Giants wideout a suspension for the rest of the NFL season and, if New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg gets his way, a three-plus-year stint in the slammer for, well, shooting himself in the thigh without a permit.

Porter admits that he considers Burress "a brother" (they played together in Pittsburgh) and takes it "real personal how he's being treated."

"Everybody has their mistakes, but that's exactly what they are ... Until you've been in that situation, when you've been robbed at gunpoint or you've had a gun waved in your face or had your house broken into before or been carjacked, you really don't know what it's like."

Or been shot in the butt while fleeing a night club.

Continue Reading Joey Porter Defends Plaxico Burress, Athletes Who Carry Guns

Brandon Jacobs Talks About Carrying a Gun: Come in My House and 'I Am Going to Kill You'

Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 1:15AM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Giants, Pressing Issues, NFL Media Watch, NFL Real Talk, NFL Rumors

40 COMMENTS

Anyone remotely associated with the New York Giants is, in the wake of the Plaxico Burress arrest and suspension, being questioned about their stance on guns and whether or not it's acceptable for NFL players to carry said firearms.

Brandon Jacobs is no different. However, he has a pretty spicy -- albeit fair -- response as to whether or not he should be holding onto a gun in his own home.

"All I will say is in the streets for me, there is no need for it," running back Brandon Jacobs said of carrying a gun. "But if you come in between that door frame of my home, I am going to kill you. Hands down."

When asked if he owns a gun, Jacobs added, "Listen to the words that are coming out of my mouth," Jacobs said. "If you come between the door. ... If I am out in the streets, I don't have anything to do with that. But at my house, where I have my wife and son there ..."

Look, there's nothing awesome about shooting another human being. Ever. But Jacobs has a point, constitutional interpretation be damned: he is allowed to own a gun in the privacy of his home and he has the right to use it in order to protect his family.

That doesn't make volunteering his willingness to kill an intruder any smarter ... actually, on second thought, yes it does. I don't think that Sean Taylor flexing his private muscles would have kept him any safer. I do, however, think that a potential media-driven warning probably serves to push future violators away from his private property.

Giants Wideout Steve Smith Was Robbed Last Week, Which May Explain Plax's Gun

Posted: Dec 2nd 2008 12:49PM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Giants, NFL Police Blotter, Pressing Issues, NFL Media Watch

96 COMMENTS

Despite Drew Rosenhaus' ridiculous comparison (Sean Taylor : Plaxico Burress) during Monday Night Football last evening, there is certainly, as has been noted numerous times this year, a significant stigma revolving around guns, violence and professional football players.

Athletes Robbed at Gunpoint

Giants receiver Steve Smith reportedly was robbed on Nov. 25 at his home in a gated community in New Jersey. Find out other athletes who have been robbed at gunpoint.

Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

Rashard Mendenhall, who was the Steelers' first pick in this year's draft, reportedly was robbed at gunpoint in Chicago.

Keith Srakocic, AP

Soccer legend Johan Cruyff revealed in a radio interview that he was the victim of a failed kidnap attempt prior to the 1978 World Cup.

Andrew Redington, Getty Images

Tennis player Anna Chakvetadze was tied up and robbed by six masked men at her home in December 2007. The burglars, who had at least one pistol, left with over $300,000 worth of goods and cash.

Thomas Kienzle, AP

Shelden Williams, who now plays for the Kings, was carjacked at gunpoint before a Hawks-Bobcats game in December 2007.

Fernando Medina, NBAE / Getty Images

Texans cornerback Dunta Robinson was the victim of a home invasion in September 2007 and was robbed of several pieces of jewelry at gunpoint.

Stephen Dunn, Getty Images

In July 2007, NBA forward Antoine Walker was held at gunpoint and robbed at his own home in Chicago. The assailants made off with close to $200,000 worth of merchandise, including Walker's Mercedes.

Rocky Widner, NBAE / Getty Images

Just 19 days after Walker was victimized, Knicks center Eddy Curry was held at gunpoint and robbed in his Chicago home. Two of the men charged in the robbery of Curry were also linked to the Walker case.

Nathaniel S. Butler, NBAE / Getty Images

Eagles defensive end Jerome McDougle was shot in the stomach by armed robbers after handing over his watch in July 2005.

Brian Killian, WireImage.com

Indians star pitcher C.C. Sabathia was robbed of $44,000 in cash and jewelry at a hotel party in the Cleveland area in 2002.

Charles Krupa, AP

Plax was the latest episode and one that left us wondering "Hey, man, why are you carrying a loaded gun into a nightclub?" The initial answer seemed to be "stupidity." But it turns out that maybe Burress had a legitimate reason to fear for his safety, considering that his teammate and fellow wide receiver Steve Smith was robbed at gun point recently.

Smith went out with friends on the night of Monday, Nov. 24, the day after the Giants beat the Cardinals in Arizona. He arrived home early last Tuesday morning - the Giants had the day off - and he was held up, apparently by the driver who took him to his home in a gated community in Clifton, N.J., according to a league source.

Shortly after being dropped off, Smith had a gun pointed to his head and was ordered to give up his jewelry and cash, which he did. The assailant then left the scene, and Smith called police.

Police have said that Smith doesn't own a gun ... but that doesn't mean there's not an easy, logical leap to figure out why Plaxico might be carrying one. Additionally, it's beyond terrifying to realize that his own driver was the one that robbed him.

Whether or not it was a personal hire or someone farmed out from a company is an entirely different issue, but it's still scarily similar to the whole deal in Vegas with Pacman Jones and his bodyguard in that it seems to be becoming increasingly difficult for these athletes to even know whom to trust.

Drew Rosenhaus Claims the Giants Are More Concerned About Plax's Health, Not Football

Posted: Dec 1st 2008 10:30PM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Giants, Redskins, NFL Police Blotter, NFL Media Watch

8 COMMENTS

Drew Rosenhaus just gave a very bizarre (although mostly scripted interview) at halftime of Monday Night Football. Obviously, he did this because he is Plaxico Burress' agent and he was trying to do some quick media scrambling on Plax's behalf in the most public of situations.

Honestly, he didn't say much, but three things stood out. First, he deigned to compare being Sean Taylor's agent to representing Burress ... and somehow thinking that the two items compare. Secondly, he told Tony Kornheiser, who did a nice job of questioning R-Haus on the set, he could "privately" discuss why Plax had a gun on his person at the club, but couldn't talk about it publicly for legal reasons, which is just beyond stupid/ridiculous.

And finally, he said that the Giants weren't concerned about football. Just Burress' health. I'm going to go ahead an call BS on all three of those.

For starters, Drew, don't do America and your late client and revered Redskin the disservice of comparing Burress idiotically carrying a loaded and unsafetyed gun into a nightclub with Sean Taylor being freaking murdered. Seriously, that's screwed up. Like, really screwed up.

Next, why on Earth would you tell Mr. Tony, a tremendously public member of the media, why Plax was carrying a gun, or even promise to tell him? And yes, this is less important, but still, it seems really ridiculous.

And finally, you want us to believe that the Giants, who watched Burress casually stroll into the New York City police station today, are totally unconcerned with his contract or performance on the field? Sure, that's sounds nice in principle, but come on, man. It might be Monday and we might be used to tuning out talking points in the ESPN booth at this point, but at least be reasonable with your discussions of things that involve logic and common sense.

Oh, and if you don't mind, refrain from insulting dead people with shoddy analogies when the only common threads between the two situations being compared are: football and you.

YouTube of Sean Taylor's Induction Into the Redskins' Ring Of Fame

Posted: Dec 1st 2008 12:29PM by Sportz Assassin (author feed)
Filed under: Redskins, NFL Fans, NFL Video

4 COMMENTS

The Redskins honored the late Sean Taylor by placing him in their Ring of Fame prior to yesterday's loss to the Giants. Sean's dad, Pedro Taylor, spoke to the crowd. As did Joe Gibbs, who made his first appearance at FedEx Field since retiring last January. Sean's daughter, Jackie, was held in the arms of her mother Jackie Garcia as a video of Sean's days in high school, the University of Miami, and the Redskins played.

It all ended when Clinton Portis, one of Taylor's best friends, ran onto the field carrying a flag with Taylor's No. 21 on it.

After the jump, catch the second part of the ceremony.

Continue Reading YouTube of Sean Taylor's Induction Into the Redskins' Ring Of Fame

Ryan Clark Lays Out Wes Welker; Hope It Was Worth It Because It's Going to Cost Him

Posted: Nov 30th 2008 11:00PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Patriots, Steelers, AFC East, NFL Fans, NFL Injuries

133 COMMENTS

I'm pretty sure the NFL Collections Department might make an example out of Steelers safety Ryan Clark. Late in the third quarter, with Pittsburgh leading 23-10, Clark leveled a defenseless Wes Welker, who would stagger to the sidelines and not return to the game. In fairness, "defenseless" doesn't begin to describe what happened; it was about a bazillion times worse than that.

Clark was rightly flagged for unnecessary roughness on the play, and there's a great chance he becomes the first player to incur a seven-figure fine*, courtesy of Commissar Goodell. That Clark was penalized for a similar transgression earlier this season against the the Jags' Matt Jones probably doesn't help his case.

On the upside, at least he didn't try to honor Sean Taylor while violating the league's dress code, so there's that.

* I'm kidding, but, frankly, it wouldn't surprise me, either.

On a Day We Should Be Honoring Sean Taylor, Plaxico Burress Dominates the News

Posted: Nov 30th 2008 12:00PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Giants, Redskins, NFC East, NFL Police Blotter, NFL Fans

6 COMMENTS

Sean Taylor died a year ago Thursday. He was shot in his Florida home by an intruder, a senseless act that, 12 months later, still defies explanation. The Redskins, the team that drafted him fifth overall in 2004, will induct him into the Ring of Fame today, the 43rd player to receive that distinction.

Washington faces the New York Giants in an important division game this afternoon, and a win would take them to 8-4, good for second in the NFC East. Vegas has the Giants giving four points, and that line presumably reflects the news that Plaxico Burress, the NFL's version of Barney Fife, would not play. Not because he accidentally shot himself in the leg, but because he was already listed as out with a right hamstring injury.

That Burress' inability to not shoot himself leads the Sunday headlines, in a week when the league and its fans should be memorializing Sean Taylor, is a microcosm of his New York career. The Giants have fined and suspended Burress for any number of transgressions (and this doesn't even include his more absurd off-field antics) and his latest act -- fumbling a gun down his pants before shooting a hole in his thigh -- is both symbolic and foreboding.

Continue Reading On a Day We Should Be Honoring Sean Taylor, Plaxico Burress Dominates the News

A Year After Boom King, NFLers Say: 'We Are Targets' and They 'Don't Know What Safe Is'

Posted: Nov 20th 2008 1:15AM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Buccaneers, Jaguars, Redskins, Pressing Issues, NFL Fans, NFL Media Watch, NFL Rumors

3 COMMENTS

There's a well chronicled history of violence in the NFL -- it is, after all, a very dangerous sport. But there's also a heavy awareness of the even darker violent side of professional football off the field. Numerous players have been accosted, robbed, beaten and even killed in usually completely unnecessary acts of violence.

And, based on Dave Fleming's Mag article surrounding this violence, you would be amazed at how succinctly aware and terrified many players are with regards to potential intrusions on their private lives, almost a year after the Sean Taylor tragedy.

"We are targets," says Buccaneers corner Ronde Barber. "We need to be aware of that everywhere we go."

[...] "I don't think the NFL is gonna ever be the same," says [Clinton] Portis. "As a football player, Sean thrived on instilling fear in people on the field. Then you wake up in the middle of the night, and you hear something rattling around in your house, and in a split second-now the fear is in you."

[...]Fred Taylor, meanwhile, has equipped his Jacksonville home with every conceivable security apparatus. "I still don't think I have enough," he says. "Who knows what's enough? I wouldn't say I'm safe.

"I don't know what safe is."

In other words, yes, these gentlemen that are idolized for their on-field bravery and relentless drive and attack are, pardon the cheddar, shrouded in fear when roaming the outside world. But that's because Barber is absolutely spot on -- as famous celebrities with an even more insane fan base that sometimes come from questionable backgrounds, NFL players have the ideal recipe to become targets for people seeking to gain from their fame or try and rebel against it.

Continue Reading A Year After Boom King, NFLers Say: 'We Are Targets' and They 'Don't Know What Safe Is'

Roger Goodell Talks About Ryan Clark Fine, Fred Smoot Sets Commissioner Straight

Posted: Nov 7th 2008 4:45PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Redskins, Steelers, AFC North, NFC East, NFL Fans

6 COMMENTS

Used to be the case that during the NFL season bloggers spent their weekdays recapping the games that just wrapped and previewing those on tap. It was a simpler time.

Now, though, much of my mid-week writing focuses on the NFL's insane stance on player punishment. I could end every post with "things can't get any more ridiculous next week, can they?" And, like clockwork, that's exactly what happens.

Last Thursday, it was announced that the league was fining Steelers safety Ryan Clark $5,000 for memorializing fallen former teammate Sean Taylor, which wasn't in accordance with the NFL's mourning policy. Classy.

Sports Bog's Dan Steinberg has a thoughtful post on the whole thing, and even talked to the commissioner about Clark's fine. Roger Goodell, who's more slick politician than high-powered executive, was predictably vague in his response:

Continue Reading Roger Goodell Talks About Ryan Clark Fine, Fred Smoot Sets Commissioner Straight