Roger Goodell will finally get his chance to hear New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s side of the DeflateGate story. Brady’s appeal hearing has been set for June 23 and if necessary June 25.
Goodell elected not to recuse himself in spite of a request from the NFLPA. Last week Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced that he and the team will not fight their punishment handed down from the league in the DeflateGate cheating scandal.
Tom Brady's appeal date set (via @AlbertBreer): http://t.co/GclHhkMwj0 pic.twitter.com/8mduhnATTa
— NFL (@NFL) May 29, 2015
Friday at organized team activities Brady split time at quarterback with Jimmy Garoppolo as the team prepares to lose Brady to open the 2015 season. Garaoppolo has completed 19-of-27 pass attempts in his one-year NFL career for one touchdown and no interceptions. Garoppolo was the Patriots’ second round pick in 2014.
Head coach Bill Belichick, who escaped DeflateGate completely unpunished save for a revocation of his honorary science citizen badge from the Kids Korner of the Boston Museum of Science, claimed he’s already put the incident and the team’s punishment behind him.
“That’s a long time ago,” Belichick told reporters Friday. “We’re on to next year. It’s 2015. You can forget about last year. That was last year.”
Garoppolo, getting around 50 percent of the practice snaps, is being coy as well, but you know he’s got to be chomping at the bit to get his shot.
“I’m just going out to practice every day, trying to improve, trying to get my teammates better, me better, and we’ll go from there,” Garoppolo said. “I just have the mindset I’m trying to get better. That’s all you can control at the end of the day.”
Meanwhile a local bar near Gillette Stadium has named a Blonde IPA beer in honor of the suspended New England quarterback. It’s called “Free Brady” and $1 from the sale of each beer will be donated to Best Buddies in Brady’s name.
Word is they serve it flat.
Falcons cut Shembo after animal cruelty arrest
The Atlanta Falcons have to be experts on animal cruelty allegations at this point. Friday, after linebacker Prince Shembo was charged for killing his ex girlfriend’s dog, the Falcons sent the 2014 fourth-round pick packing.
Getting the feeling "Prince" Shembo… Should've never been named Prince. Don't let the door hit you on the way out
— trey wingo (@wingoz) May 29, 2015
Shembo, according to Gwinnett County Police, was dog-sitting his girlfriend’s Yorkie and kicked it to death after she left him alone with the dog. Shembo turned himself into polic Friday and the Falcons cut him immediately.
“We are aware of the charges that have been filed against Prince Shembo,” the Falcons said in a statement. “We are extremely disappointed that one of our players is involved in something like this. Accordingly, we have decided to waive Prince Shembo.”
Shembo recorded 59 tackles for the Falcons last year. My guess is he’ll have a hard time landing on another team this season, especially since this is his second brush with the law. Back in 2010 when he was still at Notre Dame he was under investigation for inappropriately touching a St. Mary’s College student. If convicted, Shembo could face 1-to-5 years in prison.
Other news
The Falcons used the open roster spot to sign veteran guard Chris Chester.
The Buffalo Bills cut back-up quarterback Jeff Tuel and signed former New York Jets quarterback Matt Simms.
St. Louis Rams running back Trey Watts has been suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. With the Rams’ crowded backfield, this will likely cost Watts his jobs.
The Denver Broncos officially placed offensive tackle Ryan Clady on injured reserve Friday.
Philadelphia Eagles Sam Bradford displayed what reporters are calling a “pronounced limp” after his practice with the team Friday. He still reportedly displayed the arm that got him drafted No. 1 overall back in 2010. Head coach Chip Kelly has no timetable on when Bradford will be 100 percent.
The Detroit Lions re-signed cornerback Cassius Vaughn. Vaughn is a six-year veteran who was with the lions last year, recording 18 tackles, one fumble recovery and two interceptions and five passes defended.
