Archive for the ‘News-ish’ Category

Since the investigation into Aaron Hernandez and his possible connection with a homicide began early this week, reports have repeatedly stated that he’s not viewed as a suspect. This latest report from CBS Boston is the exception.

Citing an unnamed law enforcement source, the report indicates that Hernandez hasn’t been ruled out as a possible suspect in the North Attleboro investigation. The same source added that Hernandez currently isn’t cooperating with the authorities, meaning his attitude has apparently changed from last night when police entered his home, and arrested two men who tried to leave during the search. Police also left with a box of some kind.

Earlier this morning Hernandez drove away with a woman in the passenger seat of his Audi. The link between Hernandez and the body discovered by a jogger Monday (later identified as 27-year-old Odin Lloyd of Dorchester) is a rented Chevrolet Suburban. Both the car and the victim’s body (Odin has been referred to as an “associate”) were found roughly a mile away from his home.

I’ll update this post with further information when/if it’s available.

UPDATE (1:42 p.m. ET): I almost didn’t add this update because it’s not directly related to the story above, and therefore isn’t a true “update”. Then I started thinking about how often we stick to regular journalistic practices around here, and the fact that when a follow-up item comes with the headline “HE SHOT ME IN THE FACE”, there’s a certain sense of obligation. So, here we are.

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One small step for Victor Cruz, and one leap of faith for those who enjoy watching a wide receiver post a lot of large numbers on Sundays, for both reality and fantasy purposes.

Every summer we have the pleasure of at least one contract standoff, and Cruz is fashionable this year. You’re surely well aware of the details by now, but here’s the gist to refresh: he’s a restricted free agent, he wasn’t offered a contract by another team prior to the draft, and now he had until June 17 (Monday) to sign his RFA tender worth a fully guaranteed $2.879 million before the Giants could slash it.

So although yes, it may indeed be a small step and a sort of peace offering, Cruz is signing his tender today, according to Josina Anderson. Embrace the olive branch, Giants.

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I hesitate to make too much of this, even though that’s never stopped me from noting something that’s notable before. So I’ll just toss it out there, and if you don’t like it, you can toss it right back: six months after his latest foot procedure, Ahmad Bradshaw is still in a walking boot.

That’s the (bad) word from the Indianapolis Star, with Mike Chappell observing that the newly signed Bradshaw will be easy to spot at the Colts’ minicamp today, partly because he’ll be standing still and not doing much, but mostly because of the large boot on his foot.

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So there you have it, kids. A few days after Bill Belichick strongly came out against reports that he doesn’t like Tim Tebow, everyone’s favorite running back who sometimes throws an accurate pass is set to sign in New England, according to ESPN’s Ed Werder. He’ll do something behind Tom Brady and Ryan Mallett, while being reunited with Josh McDaniels. Something.

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There’s a pretty stark contrast between Adam “Pacman” Jones’ two tweets so far on this lovely Monday. Let’s see if you can catch it.

First, there’s this…

Hello world

— ADAm Pacman Jones (@REALPACMAN24) June 10, 2013

Standard and harmless, right? Right. This would be the most generic morning athlete and overall famous person tweet if it wasn’t for the ever-present “RISE AND GRIND”. Bros always be grindin’.

Alright, so what else do you have to share with us today, Pacman?

Just got arrestedfor protecting myself, I will not let this break me or change what I have work so hard for ….

— ADAm Pacman Jones (@REALPACMAN24) June 10, 2013

Oh, cool. So over a 24-hour period we’ve now seen Shawne Merriman rushed to the hospital after an emergency at a club (he’s fine now, and back to fist pumping), another basically retired player in Chad Johnson is going to jail for slapping a man’s rear region (not really…but sort of), and now Jones with his infamous history of disregarding the basic laws of our society has been booked for a still unknown crime.

Welcome to June, everyone.

UPDATE (1:11 p.m. ET): So upon further review, Jones may have indeed been in a pretty difficult situation. ProFootballTalk has the details after speaking with Jones’ agent, Peter Schaffer:

Jones was approached by two women that he deemed to be intoxicated, and they wanted to take a picture with him.  Jones declined.

After he declined, one of them threw a beer bottle at him, striking his head from point blank range.  So he turned and slapped her and said, “What are your doing?  Stop it!”

Schaffer says that he has spoken to multiple eyewitnesses who corroborate Jones’ version of the events.  Schaffer also says that the police have spoken to none of the witnesses, other than the two women.

I’m not sure what the generally accepted rules are regarding post beer bottle throwing conduct, but I think searing rage is a pretty natural reaction.

UPDATE (5:05 p.m. ET): Security footage of the incident has surfaced, and while it doesn’t tell the whole story (we have no idea what was said), it arguably paints Jones in a less innocent light.

Jones was understandably not pleased with having a beverage thrown at his head. Fair enough, as I’m sure that’s not an enjoyable experience. But as someone who’s put himself in a few bad situations and has vowed repeatedly to stay away from said situations, he had an easy exit from this one. The beer thrower was on one side of the fence, while he was on the other.

I’ll take the blame on this one, guys. I hopped aboard the Josh Gordon hype train so very long ago. He was still in pre-school, actually, and I had already pegged him as a 2013 breakout candidate.

And now he’s Justin Blackmon’ed us, and he’ll be suspended for the first two games of the 2013 season due to a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy. He’s also been fined four game checks.

Sigh.

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Retirement life is a very good life.

Sometimes I’ve made jokes about Terrell Owens, because not doing that is pretty difficult. More often lately, I’ve sympathized with him, because even though every discernible sign is pointing him towards retirement, giving up the only job you’ve ever had and the only job you’ve ever loved isn’t a task that should be wished upon anyone, especially someone like Owens who seems to get little fulfillment in his life beyond football.

Yet here he is today, admitting what’s inevitable. If he doesn’t get signed this year and before this upcoming season, Owens says he’ll retire.

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